 We are pleased to announce that Vonda DenBoer has been selected as the new Director of Camping and Campgrounds for Community of Christ in Canada. This newly created position is a direct response to the ideas, testimonies, and discernment shared during the All Voices process. In this role, Vonda will provide leadership in collaborating with our camps and campgrounds, supporting operational sustainability, and implementing a shared camping strategy across Canada.
Vonda’s experience, especially her executive leadership in the healthcare field, brings a valuable professional perspective to the implementation of our strategic plan. She also carries with her a deep love for camping ministry and a strong commitment to nurturing sacred spaces where community and spiritual growth flourish. She will begin her professional responsibilities on June 2, while continuing to serve in a volunteer capacity as Mission Centre President through the end of the year. We are grateful to all who submitted letters of interest following the posting of this position in December 2024. The selection process was thoughtful and difficult, as several gifted individuals with a deep passion for our camping tradition were considered. After careful discernment, we are confident that Vonda is uniquely equipped to guide and support our camping communities as we move Onward Together. Please join us in welcoming Vonda into this new role by reaching out to her at [email protected]
1 Comment
 The team met and discussed the current methods of budget and finance management for congregational and campground support—the assessment method in the east and the generosity model in the west.
We recognize that campgrounds and camping programs need to identify priorities and share that information so people can respond to the need. There are a variety of ways in which generosity is realized—through finances, skills, labour, time, food, and other necessary supplies. The ways individuals and congregations respond to missional and campground needs will vary based on capacity. Funding for the mission comes from a variety of sources: congregations, individuals, investment returns, and other sources. Canada West Mission has used a generosity model for congregations for the past two to three decades, while Canada East Mission has developed and used an assessment model. Some congregations have indicated issues with meeting their assessments, and there is no fair model for assessment to meet every congregation’s concerns. The team recommends:
We would love to receive your questions, ideas, and comments via email at: [email protected] Team: Sandra Hunter, Brian Shantz, Roy Young, Sam Smalldon Co-Chairs: Vonda DenBoer and Shannon McAdam Please visit the Design Team page to learn more and stay up to date on the latest information.  The Conferences and Representation Model committee is one of the five groups comprising the Mission Centre Design Team. This committee is pleased to present to the church the following draft recommendation on representation models (member vs delegates). The goal is to ensure equitable representation at Canada-wide conferences.
We would love to receive your questions, ideas, and comments via email at [email protected] and [email protected]. Team: John Scherer, Bryce Taylor, Marian Thompson Co-Chairs: Vonda DenBoer and Shannon McAdam Please visit the the Mission Centre Design Team page to learn more and stay up to date on the latest information.  By Vonda DenBoer, Canada East Mission Centre Co-President
These are exciting times for the church in Canada! The Mission Design Team committees have begun their work, and we want to share a little about the process. A few years ago, we began this journey by traveling across the country, listening to members and friends. The stories and testimonies gathered during those visits became All Voices. From there, our Apostle, Art Smith, worked with leaders to develop a strategic plan that reflected those shared experiences of faith. At last year’s conferences, the final version of that plan--Onward Together —was introduced. The plan outlines three strategic functions for mission:
It also includes two supporting functions:
Alongside these priorities, the concept of a Mission Design Team was introduced, exploring the development of one mission centre for Canada. A call was made for volunteers to self-identify their interest in this work, and about twenty people stepped forward. Art then invited Shannon McAdam and me to co-chair the team’s efforts. Forming the Committees Shannon and I wanted to include everyone who had volunteered, but we quickly realized that one large committee would be unmanageable. To make the work more effective, we created smaller, focused committees. With volunteers across multiple time zones and varying availability, selecting teams and scheduling meetings was a challenge—but we made it work! The first meetings have taken place. Each team has read its mandate, shared individual interests, and discussed how we can build something new that enables Community of Christ in Canada to thrive. Each team includes members from both the east and the west, ensuring diverse perspectives. In addition to their work, we will also invite others to offer prayerful support and dialogue. Over the next four months, these teams will develop recommendations, which will be shared in June with congregations, reunions, and online. Ultimately, these recommendations will be presented at each mission conference, where we will determine our collective support for creating a unified mission centre for Community of Christ in Canada. Our Mandate The Mission Design Team’s mandate is: "To design a unified, Canada-wide Mission Centre to support the mission, programming, and diverse needs of Community of Christ members and stakeholders across the country. The team will prioritize alignment with the Community of Christ in Canada strategic plan, as well as the broader church’s mission and values." Meet the Teams We encourage you to engage with team members, ask questions, and offer feedback as they share their progress. Here are our five teams:
Finally, we invite you to hold this work in your prayers as we continue discerning the next faithful steps for Community of Christ in Canada.  What will our church look like for the next generation, and how can your ideas help shape it? Your insights can create a unified mission centre that honours our traditions and prepares us for the future. Joining the Mission Centre Design Team gives you a vital role in building a structure that reflects the values and aspirations of our shared community.
The team will explore ways to honour cherished regional traditions while envisioning unified practices for the future. Their work includes examining equitable methods for congregations to support the mission centre—whether through quotas, generosity, or innovative funding models. They will address differing voting approaches, such as the delegate system used in Canada East and the all-member voting model in Canada West, and envision Canada-wide conferences that promote connection, community, and shared purpose. Additionally, the team will focus on ensuring the vitality of campgrounds, reunions, youth camps, and retreats, while seeking opportunities to strengthen connections with individuals not currently engaged in a congregation. Because we hope the team will faithfully reflect the diversity of our church, we extend this invitation to members of all ages and locations across Canada. Whether you have church administration experience, facilitation skills, a passion for community, or simply a heart for prayer, your contribution matters. This is not just about decision-making—it’s about shaping how we live out our mission together. The team will meet monthly from January to June 2025, leading up to the fall conferences where the design proposal will be presented. If you feel called to contribute, please submit a letter of interest to Field Apostle Art Smith at [email protected] by December 8, 2024. Let’s build a mission centre that reflects the richness of who we are and prepares us for a vibrant, united future. Learn more at: Onward Together  "How can we expand the camping program to reach people throughout the year?" Mary Jean Belrose asks, inviting us to imagine the possibilities for nurturing the hearts and spirits of campers of all ages. We are inviting members from across Canada to share their voices and ideas by joining the Mission Centre Design Team. This is an exciting opportunity to come together to shape a vision for a bright future as a unified mission centre.
Together, the team will explore how we can support our beloved camping traditions. Camps and retreats have long been a place where souls of all ages are nourished, including many whose only connection to Community of Christ is through these experiences. As Vonda DenBoer reminds us, “we have people associated with camps and campgrounds that are not associated with congregations” and challenges us to consider, “How will we reach out to those ‘attached on the fringes’?” By helping to sustain our campgrounds and grow these programs, we can carry these treasured traditions into the future and strengthen connections with those who find belonging through camping. The team will also work to preserve cherished regional traditions while envisioning unified practices for the future. They will explore equitable ways for congregations to fund the mission centre, whether through quotas, generosity, or new models. Additionally, the team will reconcile differing voting models, such as delegates versus all-member voting, and envision Canada-wide conferences that foster community and connection. Because we hope the team will faithfully reflect the diversity of our church, we extend this invitation to members of all ages and locations across Canada. Whether you have church administration experience, facilitation skills, a passion for community, or simply a heart for prayer, your contribution matters. This is not just about decision-making—it’s about shaping how we live out our mission together. The team will meet monthly from January to June 2025, leading up to the fall conferences where the design proposal will be presented. If you feel called to contribute, please submit a letter of interest to Field Apostle Art Smith at [email protected] by December 8, 2024. Let’s build a mission centre that reflects the richness of who we are and prepares us for a vibrant, united future. Learn more at: Onward Together  We are happy to present “Onward Together” the emerging plan for Community of Christ in Canada, drawn from the ideas, testimonies, and dialogue gathered in the All Voices discernment. Diverse stakeholders who share in the church’s identity and mission across Canada have been sharing what matters most: why they are committed to Community of Christ as well as their concerns and hopes for our future. “Onward Together” organizes what we have heard into five statements about our identity, activities, mission, and values as a sacred community. Most of the ideas shared in the statements will not sound new: for example, our commitment to camping, retreats, and reunions or our focus on peace and justice initiatives. After all, these are the things we have been talking about together in All Voices. Some aspects may sound less familiar as we have not all been able to hear everything that has been said during the discernment process. For this reason, we have scheduled a Canada-wide gathering this Saturday with Apostle Art Smith to hear more about “Onward Together,” to ask questions and to receive clarification. The gathering will begin the next phase of the discernment process as more voices are heard and the strategic plan for Community of Christ in Canada becomes fully formed. We hope you will read and ponder the “Onward Together” statements and join us Saturday to hear more and to share your thoughts in dialogue and community. 
|
Archives
June 2025
Categories
All
|
||
RSS Feed