The Canadian church has seen its fair share of shifts and trends in recent years….
… you may be familiar with the term “deconstruction,” or perhaps you or someone you love has gone through a season of questioning, spiritual peril or even a total loss of the Christian faith.
The implications of a faith unmooring are often painful and disorienting, but for others, it has been a pathway for a more authentic and Christ-like faith. While some debate its merits or dangers, it’s our conviction as Jesus-followers rooted in the Canadian context that we can’t dismiss it. Quiet deconstruction is a real and living phenomenon occurring in every theological tradition in Canadian churches and ministries from coast to coast.
In light of this reality what can pastors, ministry leaders, and those earnestly trying to follow Jesus learn from the stories and concerns of Canadians deconstructing?
What ecclesial, theological and sociological implications do these stories, research and reflections mean for us as the Body of Christ here on Canadian soil?
How can we faithfully serve and lead during our personal faith disruptions?
How can we lead communities of Christians to navigate their questions and concerns?
Join us for a two-day event:
Blessed Are the Undone—
Leading in the Era of Quiet Deconstruction
We will explore the balanced and honest findings from the newest release from New Leaf Press, Blessed are the Undone: Testimonies of the Quiet Deconstruction of Faith in Canada by Angela Reitsma Bick and Peter Schuurman.
Onsite conversation “surfacing the genius in the room”, the Table 2023
Together, we’ll hear stories rarely told in Canadian churches – the real-life deconstruction testimonies of Canadians. As the Body of Christ, we will wrestle to analyze themes from these stories and examine the sociological and theological implications for those continuing to lead and minister in the Canadian context in this era of quiet deconstruction.
We will pause and give space for the artists, poets, and musicians among us to use their artistic gifts and talents to reflect on the Canadian deconstruction experience.
In our workshops, we will hear from Canadian academic practitioners who will offer practical and Biblical insights exploring the Canadian experience of how individual faith deconstruction has led to changes in Christian institutions, including both church and parachurch.
In our panel discussions, we will learn from fellow pastors, practitioners, and ministry leaders how they lead themselves and their communities in an era of deconstruction through sharing best practices, cross-pollination of ideas, and mutual equipping and encouragement.
We will process together through keynotes, workshops, live discussions, Q&A time, and smaller break-out opportunities to meet others and discuss the topic.
Collectively, we will prayerfully uncover the hope-filled possibilities for churches and ministries here in Canada.
Onsite locations:
22 Willow Street, Waterloo ON (Elevation & Trillium Lutheran Churches)
1502 Acadia Drive, Saskatoon, SK (Wildwood Mennonite Church)
These are accessible buildings – please feel free to reach out if you have any questions about that!
Online: an interactive and engaging synchronous livestream experience over Zoom.