The Mission Centre Design Team

The Mission Centre Design Team is a group of volunteers who worked to envision how we will move Onward Together as one Canadian Mission Centre. This plan emerged from the testimonies shared during our All Voices discernment process.

The team carefully considered questions like what funding and conference representation model we will embrace, what regional and local traditions we should preserve, among many others, and has prepared five recommendations for your consideration.

We invite you to add your voice to the conversation as we prepare for our 2025 Mission Centre Conferences in Canada. Please review and share your feedback with us at [email protected].

Please mark your calendars for the upcoming Onward Together Town Hall meetings on:​​
  • August 28 – 8 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. MT / 5 p.m. PT

Summary of the Recommendations

Conferences and Representation Model
The Conferences and Representation Model committee considered the current representation models–member and delegate–to discern an equitable model for the unified Canadian Mission Centre, as well as the purpose, frequency, and administration of Mission Centre conferences.

The team recommends:
  1. Holding Mission Centre Conferences (MCC) as member conferences(*)
  2. Scheduling MCCs annually
  3. Offering MCCs in a hybrid format, ensuring full participation for online attendees
  4. Organizing every 3–5 years a mission-focused conference in addition to the MCC
  5. Considering nominations from the MCC for the Canadian Corporation Board
(*) All registered members have voice and vote at business meetings.


Budget & Funding Systems
The Budget & Funding Systems committee considered the two existing models of funding—generosity and assessment—to recommend a model that will lead us Onward Together as a unified Canadian Mission Centre grounded in financial sustainability.
 
The team recommends:
  1. Using a generosity model for supporting Mission Centre operations
  2. Using a generosity model for supporting campground operations
  3. Allowing individuals and congregations to support the campground of their choice
  4. Coordinating fundraising campaigns to support special projects and needs
  5. Considering alternative sources of funding such as:
    1. Maximizing our investments
    2. Transforming our real estate assets into sustainable ventures


Preserving & Integrating Traditions, Fostering Prayerful and Spiritual Support
The Preserving & Integrating Traditions, Fostering Prayerful and Spiritual Support committee considered how a unified Canadian Mission Centre can honour the wide diversity of worship, spiritual, fellowship, and educational experiences that exist across the vast geography of our country. The group also explored how to strengthen our shared identity and nurture relationships across Canada.

The team recommends:
  1. Developing disciples to serve
    1. Offering diverse leadership and professional development opportunities for all ages
    2. Exploring supportive models, such as mentoring
    3. Embracing new approaches to spiritual development, such as companioning
  2. Creating and sharing meaningful content that
    1. Supports new and traditional spiritual practices for congregations and individuals
    2. Facilitates online and in-person connections across Canada
    3. Provides alternatives to traditional Sunday worship formats
    4. Can be reused for Advent, Lent, Christmas, Easter, etc.
    5. Helps promote congregations as welcoming places that foster spiritual growth
  3. Considering what to let go of and what to retain
    1. Encouraging congregations to evaluate strengths and challenges
    2. Letting go of what no longer works
    3. Retaining temple school courses, youth camps, family camps, and retreats
    4. Retaining CWM’s tradition of including fun and fellowship at conferences


Mission Alignment and Planning
The Mission Alignment and Planning committee considered how to streamline resources to effectively support congregations, campgrounds, and mission. The group focused on education, relationships, and peace and justice issues.

The team recommends:
  1. Establishing guiding principles to ensure coherence between how we live as church and what we seek to embody
  2. Regularly reviewing these principles to ensure they remain relevant in a changing context
  3. Providing ways to connect and align congregations and individuals working on similar projects and missional activities
  4. Identifying emerging mission needs and responding with relevant resources
  5. Fostering the emergence of leaders and volunteers
  6. Creating a Mission Alignment committee to review the adoption and implementation of mission alignment strategies


Communication and Transparency Processes
The Communication and Transparency Processes committee considered how a unified Canadian Mission Centre can promote transparency and diversity in all communications to support our congregations, campgrounds, and mission. The group emphasized the importance of connection, clarity, and trust.

The team recommends:
  1. Nurturing a culture of two-way feedback through town halls, surveys, story sharing, etc.
  2. Equipping congregations with tools, templates, and guidance to improve outreach and mission success at the local level
  3. Exploring an intentional engagement strategy tailored to different audiences, such as younger adults, seekers, and those longing for connection and meaning
  4. Clearly articulating our church’s decision-making processes to build trust across our community
  5. Embracing a variety of communication tools and practices to better reflect the generational and technological diversity of our church

Full Text of the Recommendations

Conferences and Representation Model: What representation model (member or delegate) will Canada-wide Mission Centre conferences implement? What is the purpose, frequency of conferences?
Previous update from the Conferences and Representation Committee (APR 17)
Previous update from the Conferences and Representation Committee (MAR 19)
Budget & Funding Systems: ​What financial structures and funding models will support ministries at all levels—from local to global? How to we ensure transparency and long-term sustainability?
Previous update from the Budget and Funding Committee
Preserving & Integrating Traditions, Fostering Prayerful and Spiritual Support: How to honour diverse worship practices and spiritual identities, and how do we foster relationships across Canada?
Mission Alignment and Planning: How to support congregations, pastors, and mission endeavours? How to  streamline resources to achieve our shared purpose?
Previous update from the Mission Alignment and Planning Committee (May 1)
Communication and Transparency Processes: How to promote transparency and diversity in all communications to support mission success across Canada?
Previous update from the Communication and Transparency Processes Committee (May 1)

Our Mandate & Goals

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.
Our goals include:
  • To preserve cherished regional traditions while envisioning unified practices for the future.
  • To explore how congregations can fund the mission centre equitably, whether through quotas, generosity, or new models.
  • To reconcile differing voting models (delegates vs. all-member voting).
  • To envision Canada-wide conferences that foster community.
  • To examine how campgrounds, reunions, youth camps, and retreats can continue to thrive.
  • To build stronger connections with those not connected to any congregation.

Our Five Groups

The Mission Centre Design Team is composed of five groups under the leadership of:
  • Vonda Vonda DenBoer - Canada East Mission Centre co-President
  • Shannon McAdam – Canada West Mission Centre co-President

Communication and Transparency Processes
Communication is key to the success of any organization and especially so for the church across
Canada. This group has identified the importance of transparency and diversity in all communications. No one method reaches all needs, and this group is striving to find the best solution for quickly, effectively and efficiently keeping members and friends apprised of opportunities, events and updates.

Team members include:
  • Wende Badder - Canada East
  • Troy Roach – Canada East
  • Shirley Smith – Canada West
  • Steve Thompson – Canada West


Conferences and Representation Model
This team is focused on looking at the two existing models of representation: member and delegate.  The goal is to arrive at the recommendation for an equitable representation model for Canada that best fits the current and future direction of the church in Canada. It also discusses the purpose, frequency and management of conferences.

Team members include:
  • John Scherer – Canada East
  • Bryce Taylor – Canada East
  • Marian Thompson – Canada West


Budget & Funding Systems
​This team is focused on looking at the two existing models of funding: generosity and assessment and possible alternative models.  The goal is to arrive at the recommendation for a funding model for Canada that best fits the current and future direction of the church in Canada.

Team members include:
  • Sandra Hunter – Canada West
  • Brian Shantz – Canada East
  • Sam Smalldon - Bishop of Canada 
  • Roy Young – Canada East

​
Preserving & Integrating Traditions, Fostering Prayerful and Spiritual Support
This team has a multipronged task of identifying key traditions and ways to support them as well as methods of fostering spiritual formation. Their challenge is finding the most appropriate opportunities, for a diverse membership across great distances, several time zones, from congregations, camping communities and general membership  that lead to developing lasting and meaningful  relationships.

Team members include:
  • Lindsay DenBoer – Canada East
  • Sarah Glassford – Canada East
  • Emelia Goheen – Canada West
  • John Nichols – Canada East
  • Susan Scott – Canada East

​
Mission Alignment and Planning
This group is seeking to identify areas of mission planning that are not currently identified in the strategic plan. They seek to identify ways in which the mission centre can best support congregations, pastors, and mission endeavours.

Team members include:
  • Rod Downing – Canada West
  • Parker Johnson – Canada West
  • Pat Pallister – Canada East
  • Sam Smalldon – Bishop of Canada 
  • Susan Trimble - Canada East


Please note: The volunteer teams may reach out to others with specific skills to assist in their work. Each committee’s efforts are interconnected, all working toward the common goal of addressing successes and challenges in a way that positions the church to grow and thrive in the 21st century.

Previous Team Updates

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