As encapsulated in our Onward Together document, Community of Christ in Canada has clearly articulated our mission through goals for renewal and sustainability as we move forward.
Unified in a single governance model with the oversight of the board, the Field Apostle will chair a Canadian Leadership Team of five persons focusing on three strategic functions and two functions in support of those three:
Strategic Functions for Mission
(1) Congregational Development: Leaders are needed whenever people come together for mission. In-person congregations continue to include many of our most committed members. We develop and support leaders as congregations struggle with the graying trend faced by churches across Canada.
(2) Camping and Campgrounds Sustainability: Camp programs have become central to the way church identity is experienced intergenerationally across Canada. We are collaborating with camps and campgrounds to achieve operational sustainability.
(3) Outreach and Innovative Ministries: In a changing environment, we are developing new ways to live as the church in the 21st century. Innovative Canadian programming like “Beyond the Walls” has demonstrated that new people are attracted to our values and mission and we will continue to build on these successes.
Supporting Functions
(4) Information and Communications: We strive to create quality content that supports our mission and that modern audiences of all ages can relate to. We recognize that timely communication of key announcements and effective engagement with members—guiding, inspiring, and celebrating their missional success—is central to our strategy. We know that clearly conveying our distinctive identity and values to seekers promotes sustained growth, and that strategically promoting key events to relevant audiences and raising public awareness of our mission further strengthens our church’s lasting impact.
(5) Shared Services: Taking advantage of efficiencies afforded by operating at a national level, we are offering shared administrative services to all expressions of the church in Canada to allow members to focus on mission.
While we recognize 5 areas of focus, these are fully interconnected: congregations and camps rely on communications and shared administrative services and innovation and renewal are vital across operations.
