 This week I am in Independence for my first World Church Leadership Council meetings as an apostle designate. The Council of 12 Apostles, Presiding Bishopric, President of the High Priests Quorum. President of 70, and First Presidency all gather for these meetings.
It is so inspiring to be in the Temple and Auditorium, hearing wisdom of leaders from around the world, and sharing my Canadian voice. Looking forward to seeing many of you here again during world conference! And the table will be wide. And the welcome will be wide. And the arms will open wide to gather us in. And our hearts will open wide to receive. ~Jan Richardson
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 Historian's Corner, Vol. 3, No. 1 By Stephen Thompson, Canada West Mission Centre Historian On January 29, 2025, Prophet-President-Designate Stassi Cramm released a second "Pastoral Letter" to the church, addressing upcoming changes in church leadership that will be considered at World Conference. Among these changes is the call for Shannon McAdam to extend her ministry as a special minister for Christ, joining the Council of Twelve Apostles. This news brought several thoughts to mind—chief among them, my strong support for Shannon’s call. Another thought was how deeply World Conference impacts our church and even us as individual members. That is the theme I will explore in this and the next two to four columns leading up to World Conference. Mark Scherer’s third volume of The Journey of a People: The ERA of WORLDWIDE COMMUNITY, 1946 to 2015 includes a useful "Timeline of Major Events" spanning pages 577–618. One key moment stands out: On April 7, 1960, General Conference delegates Jack Waddell and James Christenson proposed changing "General Conference" to "World Conference" to better reflect the church’s global nature. The conference agreed, and while some "old-timers" still use the former term, "World Conference" and "World Church" quickly became standard. (For more on early challenges related to the term "World Church," see pages 263–265.) That name change reflected a growing reality. Within a page or two of this notation, Scherer highlights several significant moments in the church’s international expansion. For instance, on June 1, 1959, The Saints’ Herald reported that Apostles Blair Jensen and Charles Neff were setting out on a "survey trip" to Japan, Korea, and Okinawa. Then, in October 1962, the First Presidency received a letter from Mrs. Dinah Tommy in Nigeria—the first recorded contact from the African continent. By January 1964, Apostles Percy Farrow and Duane Couey reported on efforts to establish the church in Africa. Later that year, Emerson Gobert Edett arrived at Graceland College, was ordained an elder the following year, and later returned to Nigeria to help build the church there. Scherer’s timeline continues with a striking event from July 1970: "Over 400 baptisms of Saora tribal members occur in the Orissa Province of India. Fewer than six baptized men have plural wives." (That last detail could lead us into another long story—but maybe another time!) Richard Howard’s The Church Through the Years – Volume 2 similarly traces the church’s international growth between 1960 and 1991 (Chapter 33, pages 319–352). He details the church’s development in several African nations—including Nigeria, Kenya, Liberia, Zaire, Zambia, Ivory Coast, and Malawi—as well as the Caribbean (Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Grand Cayman, and Haiti). He also summarizes the church’s expansion in India during the 1950s and 1960s, crediting early work to Keith McCormick and W.E. Connell. In 1965, Apostles Charles Neff and Clifford Cole formally established the church in the Orissa region, baptizing 29 people and ordaining G.S. Chawla as an elder. By 1990, at the 25th-anniversary celebrations, Apostle Jim Cable reported an attendance of 3,000 people from the tribal areas (Howard, p. 337). Howard also documents the church’s growth in Latin America (Mexico, Peru, Colombia, El Salvador, Brazil, Argentina, and Honduras) and throughout Asia and the Pacific (Japan, Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines, Fiji, and New Caledonia). These last two paragraphs cover just over 30 years of world-wide church growth. Whew! All I have done is name the countries. Truly just a whirl-wind world tour! I commend to you the reading of either or both of Scherer’s and Howard’s writings for much more interesting detail. The approval of the motion at the 1960 “General” Conference to change the terminology to “World” Conference was truly both descriptive of the time and prophetic of the events of the future. Interestingly, Scherer observes: “That the resolution prompted almost no questions or discussion from the delegates suggested they did not realize its importance.” (Scherer, p. 264) The church has been on quite a “ride” since then – admittedly, a bit of a rocky ride at some points along the way. And that is what decisions at World Conference are supposed to do – make us think, and make a difference! Thanks for reading!   Canada West Mission Conference will take place September 12–14 in Chilliwack, BC, with the theme "Love in Action."
A special highlight of the weekend will be the ordination of Gwyn Beer to the office of Seventy by Karin Peter, Senior President of Seventy. Watch for registration and billeting details coming soon!  By Kat Goheen, Canada West Mission Centre Co-President
World Conference has so many great memories for me: seeing friends from far and wide, sharing in meaningful worship, and participating in the business of the church. It was in the Auditorium main chamber that I realized my affinity for the business of the church, even when sessions were filled with amendments and clarifications. It’s a powerful thing to know that you can request the floor and share your opinion or experience as part of international debate—common consent in action. It’s not as fun to sit through legislative sessions when you’re not well-informed. Three years ago, I was asked to be one of the facilitators for the pre-legislative online sessions held before World Conference. It was wonderful to lead different groups of between 20 and 30 people who came together to seek understanding and to ask better questions. Each group practiced deep listening and revealed the roots that discernment practice is growing in our community. I’m happy to be serving in this capacity again this year. I encourage each of you, whether you will be in Independence on May 30 or not, to register and log in to at least one session. It’s always lovely to see familiar Canada West faces! See what’s moving in the church and how the debate is unfolding. Be in the know! I hope to see you there.  The Canada West Camping Committee is seeking dedicated individuals with a deep connection to Hills of Peace camping to help shape its future. We’re forming a dedicated team to support and strengthen our camps, and we need experienced volunteers who are passionate about camping ministry to join us.
If you have experience with Hills of Peace programming—as a volunteer, staff member, or long-time camper—and have a heart for camping ministry, we’d love for you to be part of this team. This committee is a hands-on group focused on strengthening and supporting our camps. While camp directors will be involved in conversations, this committee is specifically for those who are not currently serving as camp directors but have experience with camp programming and a passion for its future. The committee will meet twice per year—once in late winter or early spring to prepare for the upcoming camping season, and once in the fall to debrief, troubleshoot, and confirm camp directors for the following year. An initial online meeting will be scheduled soon. The committee will provide guidance and support for camping at both Hills of Peace and Samish Island, ensuring strong programming, assisting with staff recruitment, maintaining the summer camp calendar, and overseeing budgeting and training needs. Members will also help facilitate feedback from campers and staff, sharing insights to improve future camps. If you are passionate about camping and want to help it thrive, we’d love to hear from you! To express interest or ask questions, please email Shannon McAdam at [email protected]  Good news! It’s always great to start a new year with a healthy financial position!
The draft financials for CWM in 2024 show that assets have grown to $713,371, a 22% increase over the previous year. This includes our investments with CIBC Wood Gundy, which now total $573,366, having earned over 15% this past year. To maximize returns, we will continue investing as much of our CIBC operating account ($140,005) as possible. The current balance is higher than normal due to accounts payable of $58,039 (to Hills of Peace, Samish, and World Mission Tithes) that will be paid after year-end. Our net budget result was positive, with revenues exceeding expenditures by $54,340 in 2024. Total revenues reached $250,756, 11% above budget, driven by investment returns and individual contributions, though congregational support was 5% below budget. Total expenditures were $196,416, aligning closely with our budgeted amount of $197,100. Programming expenditures increased to $96,868, reflecting expanded offerings in 2024. Registrations achieved a cost recovery rate of 86%, a notable improvement over 2023. Both the growth in programming and the higher cost recovery indicate positive progress as we continue to rebuild from the lower activity levels during the pandemic. A special note: Youth Subsidy budgets for Youth Camping were not fully used in 2024. Encouraging greater youth participation at Spectacular or summer camps in 2025 will be a key way to utilize these funds. A more detailed financial update was presented at the CWM Special Conference in January 2025. This report provides a summary for those who could not attend. A full audited financial report will be prepared for the Fall 2025 CWM Conference. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me directly. Respectfully submitted, Sam Smalldon Mission Centre Financial Officer (MCFO), CWM 📧 sam@communityofchrist.ca 📞 403-586-2702  By Becky Middleton, Canada West Mission Centre Co-President Doug and I are currently in Honduras along with Jim Wigood, with Mike Tettenborn and David Levitt soon to join us. We are here to implement a Prince Albert congregation-sponsored project to replace a badly damaged school roof and repair the floor in another. At the same time, Ribstone congregation continues its ongoing initiative, providing school scribblers and pens/pencils for students in need. These supplies are purchased locally—supporting the economy—and distributed by some of our local volunteers. There was literally a truckload of school supplies. There are many generous people who contribute to both of these projects. All volunteers who come do so at their own expense, covering both travel and living costs while here. The people here are no longer strangers but friends who help us help others. Incidentally, we have been reading lately about some well-known celebrities who live simply and donate most of their money to charity. This amounts to millions of dollars in aid and a diverse variety of recipients. Despite what we see on the news, there are many good people in the world who desire to help others have a better life. HOPE IS HERE!  Canada West Mission Centre (CWM) is looking for registered Child and Youth Workers (25 and older) to chaperone youth as part of the Northwest Delegation as they travel to Spectacular (SPEC) at Graceland University. Whether you’re coming on your own, as a couple, or with friends, this is your chance to support youth on a life-changing trip.
As a chaperone, you’ll travel with the delegation, attend SPEC, help lead team activities, take part in nightly devotions, and be there to support the youth as they need. You’ll experience the energy, excitement, and deep connections that make SPEC so special—all with your expenses covered by the mission centre. The adventure begins in Independence, MO, where the delegation spends time bonding, forming teams, and leading the Prayer for Peace at the Temple. There’s also a chance they might spend an afternoon at a waterpark before heading to Graceland for Spectacular. Once on campus, the days are packed with sports, the arts, worship, and special events like a campfire on the quad and a final-night dance. This is more than just a trip—it’s a chance to connect, grow, and share in an experience that stays with you long after it’s over. You’ll leave tired, but grateful you said yes. If you’d like to join the delegation or have questions, please contact Gwyn Beer [email protected] |
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