Living Faith Stories Workshop

Greetings from the members of Faith Story and Community Covenant Committee of Region 15!  And blessings be with you in the ministry and service you provide in Communities of Faith (CoF) across this region!  We are coming to Baddeck on the 26^th of November, from 10 am to 3 pm, to hold a workshop on developing your Living Faith Story for your Community of Faith.

Over the past few years, the governance structure of the United Church of Canada has been transformed.  There are changes to the way CoFs declare openings for ministerial positions, do self-assessments of your life and work, and keep the Region up to date on their needs and challenges.  A central tool for this work is the Living Faith Story.  You will post your profile and your Living Faith Story on the new on-line resource known as ChurchHub.ca, a secure website which, during Search, prospective ministerial leaders can view.

Maintaining and updating your Living Faith Story is important to help CoF and ministry personnel discern the best fit for one another.  Even you are not declaring a vacancy right now, updating and maintaining your Living Faith Story is a helpful tool in clarifying your mission and envisioning a plan for the future.  All CoF’s need to continually define your reason for being, your priorities, your vision, and your mission.  Creating a ‘Living Faith Story’ is an important piece of the work and ministry you are a part of in your neighbourhood.

This may sound daunting, especially for those not yet acquainted with ChurchHub or the technology involved in posting materials.  So to help you get started, Faith Stories and Community Covenants is coming to Cape Breton to get you started.  This is the first of several workshops set to take place in various sites around the region over the next several months.  You will be able to connect with other Communities of Faith facing the same challenges, and who are looking for help with the processes described above.

You don’t need to start from scratch.  Previous joint needs assessments (JNACs), narrative budgets, strategic plans, and other materials you have used in visioning and for job postings are helpful and can be used in crafting your ‘Living Faith Story.’  Like all living documents, they should be revised and updated to present the most recent reality in your faith community and where you hope to go in the future.

We encourage ministry personnel and lay members to attend as a team, connecting with members of other faith communities.  After two-plus years of COVID, many of us are looking forward to the opportunity to gather again with others, engaging in meaningful conversations about the churches we care about and support.  Whether you are in search, or merely looking to strengthen and explore your mission as a CoF, you are invited to attend.

To register, please contact us at revheatherfraser@gmail.com, with the names of each person registering, by 21 November.  There is no cost.  Lunch will be provided by the church, so it’s important we know numbers.  Any other questions can be sent to the same email.  We look forward to meeting with you and supporting you in your ministries.

Living Faith Stories Workshop 2 Poster