 By Brian Carwana, Director of Encounter World Religions
In 2024 I traveled to India where I spent days exploring religious sites, and since that time I have been dreaming about how to take you all back with me (Read more here). And now I am delighted to invite you to accompany Encounter on a once-in-a-lifetime journey into the spiritual heart of one of the world’s most vibrant and diverse cultures. India is an incredible country, full of history, architecture, music, colour, and celebration where religions overlap and interweave into an extraordinary tapestry, visible in nearly every aspect of daily life. During our visit to India we will:
Registration is now open for our India trip. There are limited spaces and we expect it to sell out. Lots more information is available on our website and in our detailed itinerary.
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 Community of Christ Formation Ministries and the Community of Christ Institute for Ministry (CIMM) are offering a new two-year Discernment Facilitator Training Certificate beginning in August 2026.
Designed for experienced ministers, this online program prepares participants to accompany congregations, leadership groups, and communities as they seek direction, explore important questions, and deepen practices of communal discernment. Participants will learn models and processes for facilitating discernment and supporting communities as they listen for God's guidance and identify faithful next steps. The program combines online learning with practical application. During the first year, participants will attend a four-hour Zoom session every two months and complete online coursework between sessions, including readings, discussions, and assignments. In the second year, participants will take part in a peer-supervised practicum, applying what they have learned while accompanying a community through a discernment process. Mentor support will be available throughout the practicum as needed. The certificate program runs from August 2026 through April 2028 and is offered entirely online. Participants may register for individual courses at $50 USD per class or for the full certificate program at $350 USD. A total of seven Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are available upon completion.  Take part in the first Canada Mission Centre Conference on Saturday, Nov 7. Our theme, Risk Something New, echoes the opening question of our Mission Prayer, “God, where will your Spirit lead today?” and reflects the continuing call to discern how God is inviting the church to move onward with courage, generosity, and openness. This will be an opportunity to gather with old and new friends from across Canada to worship, celebrate mission, and make important decisions as we continue to move onward together. Find all the key dates to keep in mind below, learn about organizing a remote site, and register today.
Send your congregational reports by October 2. These reports help us remember what has been happening across Community of Christ in Canada over the past year: what is new, what has changed, which ministries have taken shape, which stories have inspired your congregation, and who is no longer with us but should not be forgotten. Be sure to include your best photos! Your report helps us write the history of Community of Christ in Canada and Celebrate Mission together. Planning to gather in person with your congregation? Although conference will bring us together across great distances, we encourage congregations to gather locally when possible. Please let us know in advance to help ensure all technical aspects run smoothly. The remote site application deadline is October 2. The registration deadline is October 30. This gives us enough time to ensure that only members have voice and vote at the conference, while allowing non-members to participate as observers. Please register today. Conference Dates:
Prepare for conference We invite you to prayerfully prepare for conference by considering the following scripture passages:
 Registration is now open for two upcoming sessions through the Centre for Innovation in Ministry and Mission (CIMM). In partnership with Community of Christ and Graceland University, CIMM offers online courses that support priesthood formation, leadership development, child and youth worker training, and deeper engagement with scripture.
These eight-week online classes are open to everyone and are structured for flexible participation. Each course includes weekly readings, discussion forums, and facilitator feedback, with assignments due Sundays by 2:00 p.m. CT. Participants who complete three classes earn certification. Summer Session: June 29–August 23, 2026 CIMM0307 – Ministry of High Priest – Jennifer Killpack ($25) CIMM0308 – Ministry of Evangelist – Mareva Arnaud/Kris Judd ($25) CIMM1150 – Introduction to Hebrew Scriptures – Susan Oxley ($100) Fall Session: August 24–October 18, 2026 CIMM0300 – Introduction to Priesthood Ministry ($25) CIMM0304 – Ministry of Priest – Geri Norman ($25) CIMM0305 – Ministry of Elder – Kat Hnatyshyn ($25) CIMM1250 – Ministries of the Church – Linda Stanbridge ($100)  Our field apostles Shannon McAdam and Lachlan Mackay will tour southern Ontario June 8 to 11.
After visiting mission centres in our field from the British Isles to the Pacific Islands, Shannon and Lach are looking forward to seeing how congregations and members here in Canada continue to promote communities of joy, hope, love, and peace at the local level. They are also interested in learning about the specific challenges members here in Ontario are encountering in our ministry, the opportunities arising, and the reasons to celebrate our missional success. Don’t miss this chance to meet your field apostles, share your story with them, and hear about the inspiring developments taking place in our church around the world. Directors of Community of Christ in Canada Sam Smalldon and John Hamer will be accompanying them on specific visits. Find the schedule below: Monday, June 8, with Sam Smalldon
Tuesday, June 9, with Sam Smalldon
Wednesday, June 10, with John Hamer
If you would like to meet your apostles at any of these opportunities, please get in touch with the local pastor or send us an email at [email protected], as some congregations may have limited capacity to accommodate guests.  The Community of Christ Corporation Board Annual General Meeting will be held online Tuesday, June 2, at 7:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. CT / 5:30 p.m. MT / 4:30 p.m. PT.
Members are invited to attend as observers to learn more about the work of the board and stay connected with the structures that support our shared ministry, stewardship, and mission of Community of Christ in Canada. As we move onward together with members and seekers across Canada, we renew our commitment to more transparency, clearer communication, and greater understanding of how leadership bodies carry out the vision shared by all disciples. Attending the AGM is one simple way to stay informed about this work and the opportunities ahead for congregations, camping communities, and individuals committed to mission.  Food systems affect far more than our individual diets and kitchens. The May climate webinar, hosted by the North American Climate Justice Team, continues the conversation on food systems by exploring the larger systems that shape how food moves from farm to table and how those systems contribute to climate change. Participants will examine topics including industrial and regenerative farming, transportation, land use, food waste, and the challenges farmers face within systems heavily dependent on fossil fuels. The webinar will also explore practical ways individuals and communities can better understand food waste and make more sustainable choices. As preparation for the webinar, participants are invited to track and record one week of household food waste and identify the oldest expired item in their pantry or fridge as part of the discussion on waste and sustainability. Date: Sunday, May 31, 2026 Time: 2:00 p.m. PT / 3:00 p.m. MT / 4:00 p.m. CT / 5:00 p.m. ET Where: Zoom (If you registered for a past Climate Justice webinar, no new registration is required. You’ll receive the Zoom link automatically.)  By Leandro Palacios, Director of Communications
Save the date to join us at the Ottawa congregation on June 12 and at the Calgary congregation on September 13 for two special in-person Beyond the Walls services. Moving onward together, we are committed to highlighting the unique expressions of ministry taking place across Canada. When members from coast to coast formed the Mission Centre Design Team—a committee tasked with transforming vision into recommendations concerning all aspects of church life—preserving and celebrating local and regional traditions was recognized as an important priority. Far more than just an online ministry, Beyond the Walls seeks to share with members and seekers around the world what is happening at the local level across our mission centre. In the past, the Chilliwack congregation in British Columbia, the Woodfield and Kitchener congregations in Ontario, and the Ziontario campground have hosted Beyond the Walls services, allowing local voices to be heard far beyond their usual audiences while creating opportunities for people in the area to gather for worship and fellowship. Whether in person or online through our usual YouTube and Facebook live streams, we hope you will join us on June 12 and September 13 as the ministries of the Ottawa and Calgary congregations reach beyond their walls.  Everyone is invited to celebrate 150 years of community, worship, and shared history of the Corinth, Ontario, congregation in this special anniversary weekend Aug. 29–30, 2026. The Corinth Branch was organized on Oct. 29, 1876, at the home of Christopher Pearson. Robert Davis, J.J. Cornish, and John Shippy served as the administrative officers, and Brother Christopher Pearson was elected the first pastor of the church, then known as the Bayham Branch. Twelve people were in attendance. Meetings were first held in homes. In 1878, a District Conference took place in the home of Christopher Pearson, and later that year President Joseph Smith III and W.H. Kelley of the Council of Twelve were present at a service. In 1882, the branch approved plans to build a church in Corinth, and on Oct. 30, 1882, the Bayham Branch officially became the Corinth Branch. Services began in the “little white church” in Corinth in 1883. Throughout the years, the congregation has continued to welcome members, family, and friends while serving the surrounding rural communities. We invite everyone to join our 150th anniversary Aug 29–30 and have a chance to meet our prophet-president, Stassi Cramm. Make your reservation Please RSVP to [email protected] for each event, service, and meal with name and number attending by Sunday, Aug. 16. Schedule Saturday, Aug. 29 11 a.m.–3 p.m. — Meet and greet with President Stassi Cramm and her husband Steve. Ongoing activities will include the labyrinth and congregation history and photo displays. Light refreshments provided. 3 p.m. — Hymn sing and worship service with President Stassi Cramm. Offerings will support the congregation’s Care Bag ministry for people experiencing homelessness. Dinner — Lasagna, caesar salad, garlic bread, cake, and ice cream. Vegetarian and gluten-free options available upon request. 5 p.m. first sitting 6 p.m. second sitting Please include sitting preference in your RSVP. Cost $25 adults $10 children 12 and under Sunday, Aug. 30 9–10 a.m. — Social time with light refreshments. 10 a.m. — Hymn sing and worship service with President Stassi Cramm. Offerings and donated dry/canned goods will support the congregation’s Food Bank ministry. Potluck lunch following the service.  A new online book club is beginning on May 14. In this first eight-week series of weekly gatherings, we will read and discuss Henri Nouwen’s “Spiritual Formation: Following the Movements of the Spirit” through prayer, reflection, and conversation together.
Over the next eight weeks, the group will explore Spiritual Formation: Following the Movements of the Spirit by Henri Nouwen. Facilitated by Beyond the Walls community members Vickie Thatcher and Don Wiley, sessions will take place Thursdays at 8:00 p.m. ET, 7:00 p.m. CT, 6:00 p.m. MT, and 5:00 p.m. PT. Each session will begin with prayer and a Visio Divina or Lectio Divina before moving into presentation and discussion of a chapter. This is not intended to be an academic study, but an opportunity to grow in our understanding of spirituality and deepen our personal spiritual practices together. Each week will also provide time for sharing experiences of spiritual growth. Weekly Reading Schedule May 14 — Introduction to Henri Nouwen and overview of the writings May 21 — Chapter 1: From Opaqueness to Transparency May 28 — Chapter 2: From Illusion to Prayer Jun 4 — Chapter 3: From Sorrow to Joy Jun 11 — Chapter 4: From Resentment to Gratitude Jun 18 — Chapter 5: From Fear to Love Jun 25 — Chapter 6: From Exclusion to Inclusion Jul 2 — Chapter 7: From Denying to Befriending Death |
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