Please join us for the Canada West Mission Conference 2024, taking place from September 27 to 29. The Edmonton congregation will be hosting this year, and you are warmly welcome to join us either in person or online via Zoom. Our theme this year is "Bright Hope."
Register
Whether you plan to attend in person or via Zoom, please register in advance. Your registration helps us prepare to meet everyone's needs and ensures a welcoming, joyful, and successful conference. Thank you!
Vonda DenBoer - Canada East Mission Centre Co-President
Vonda is a third generation church member. She was raised on a farm and cherishes those roots. Her career in health care spanned four decades and ranged from pediatric to palliative care. She retired early from her executive role of a home nursing agency. She has served as Sunday school teacher, pastor, worship leader, reunion director and for the past three years as mission centre president in Canada East. In retirement she took up painting in addition to her passion for gardening and preserving fruits and vegetables. She is married to John and has two daughters and two grandchildren. Vonda has degrees from University of Windsor and Central Michigan and is currently a seminary student with Graceland University. In her effort to leave a smaller carbon foot print, Vonda has chosen to be a vegetarian and strives to follow the principles discussed in our “Heal the Earth” reunion text.
Apostle Art Smith - Canadian Field Apostle
Arthur E. Smith, a minister for Community of Christ, is a member of the Council of Twelve Apostles, the lead missionary quorum of Community of Christ. He is assigned to the Canada Mission Field and the Haiti/South Central Asia Mission Field, in addition to working with Indigenous Ministries and Temple Ministries.
He has served in various church leadership and leadership development roles in Canada, Latin America, and in the South Pacific, where Art and his family lived for a time on the island of Tahiti in French Polynesia.
A native of Gatineau, Quebec, Canada, Arthur received a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Religion from Graceland College, Lamoni, Iowa, and a Master of Arts in Religion from Park University, Parkville, Missouri. Arthur speaks English, French, Spanish and Portuguese.
Arthur Smith and Laura Horning have been married for 33 years. They have two children, Eliza (deceased) and Tiona 18. They’ve lived in Independence, Missouri for 20 years.
Leandro Palacios (he/him) - Information and Communications Officer for Community of Christ in Canada
Leandro is responsible for developing and executing marketing and communications strategies. He is one of the directors at Centre Place Toronto, where he designed and implemented the systems that make possible the online services and lectures broadcasted weekly on multiple social media platforms, including the Centre Place YouTube channel, which currently has nearly 77,000 subscribers. In addition, he oversees marketing efforts to continuously invite people into the community and directs the Beyond the Walls Choir, which has recorded over 170 hymns from the church’s current hymnal Community of Christ Sings.
Leandro was born in Argentina, where he worked for two decades as an Information Systems Engineer. He has lived in Toronto since 2009, where he became a member and later an elder of Community of Christ. He is expected to receive a Master of Arts in Religion degree from the Community of Christ Graceland University Seminary at the end of 2024.
Edith Wallace - Musical Guest
Singer, songwriter, storyteller Edith Wallace, loves sharing her experiences of life and living. Her commitment is to sing of ordinary things, everyday moments, find light amongst shadow, bring light to shadow, and give through song and story, love and joyful expression. She has been about her business since she was a teenager, and as the decades have moved along their linear lines, she has travelled and toured, performing for, and with many lovely souls. Life is beautiful!
Conference Schedule - all times are in MDT
Sunday September 22 2:00 pm Pre-Legislative Session Online Only – We will discuss the business meeting agenda and have time for questions and discussion.
Wednesday September 25 7:00 pm Pre-Legislative Session Online Only – We will discuss the business meeting agenda and have time for questions and discussion.
Friday September 27 5:30 pm Doors open 6:30 pm Welcome and Songs 7:00 pm Telling Your Story with Leandro Palacios 8:00 pm Snacks and Board Games in the Social Hall Saturday September 28 9:00 am Coffee, Muffins and Visiting 9:50 am Gather together in Quiet Reflection 10:00 am Morning Worship Service 10:30 am Break 10:45 am Canadian Church Updates, Onward Together, Priesthood and Relationships – Apostle Art Smith - Community of Christ in Canada is moving into the future, guided by our Onward Together strategic priorities. This session will provide an important overview of how we plan to increase support for important legacy and future ministries across Canada. We’ll also offer an update on our progress towards a Canada specific cohabitation policy. This session will also look at the financial future of Community of Christ in Canada.
12:00 am Lunch 1:30 pm Financial Updates and Q&A 2:30 pm Games and Fun 3:00 pm Break 3:15 pm Polling Orientation 3:30 pm Business Meeting 5:00 pm Dinner 6:30 pm We Celebrate, We Remember Videos 7:00 pm Evening Activity – Music with Edith Wallace 8:00 pm Dessert and Visiting 8:00 pm Young Adult Pub Night with Leandro Palacios Sunday September 29 9:30 am Coffee, Muffins and Visiting 10:30 am Guided Prayer and Meditation 10:45 am Communion Service – Guest Minister Vonda DenBoer – CEM MCP team member 12:15 am Lunch and Visiting
