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Bermuda-Nova Scotia Regional Council Weekly Announcements – February 25, 2026

Feb 25, 2026 | BNS Announcements

NEWS AND UPDATES FROM BERMUDA-NOVA SCOTIA REGIONAL COUNCIL

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www.ucceast.ca 

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It’s Your Call – Podcast

News from the Pews Newsletter

To view upcoming events at the Atlantic School of Theology please click here.
To view Continuing Education opportunities at the Atlantic School of Theology please click here.
To view upcoming events at the the Centre for Christian Studies please click here.
Bermuda-Nova Scotia Regional Council Committee Volunteer form.

Condolences – M. Jean (Etter) MacQueen

Our condolences are extended to the family of Rev. Donald MacQueen, whose wife, M. Jean (Etter) MacQueen, passed away on February 10, 2026.  The obituary can be viewed here.

Introduction of Toward 2035 (T2035)

The introduction of the T2035 conversation and Strategic initiative occurred at each of the Regional Council Annual Meetings in 2025. Introductory webinars have been held with ministry personnel, and the same opportunity is now offered to lay leaders – governing body Chairs, Secretaries and Treasurers, M&P Chairs, and other lay people who offer leadership in their congregations.

As we begin this work, we invite all of our members and boards to view the video introduction of the Toward 2035 from our Moderator, The Right Rev. Dr. Kimberley Heath to engage in the T2035 conversation.

Our Regional Council Minsters will lead webinars in six different time slots offered between March 9 and 12. Lay leaders can register for the one that suits their schedule. Please see the form, with the times and dates here.

Please join our Regional Ministers for a presentation and discussion about T2035.

Covenanting Service

Bermuda-Nova Scotia Region Pastoral Relations Committee has approved the Appointment of Meggin Hare, retired, with the Salt Springs, Scotsburn-Lyon’s Brook Pastoral Charge, full time, from November 3, 2025 to October 31, 2028.

A Covenanting Service for Rev. Hare will take place on Sunday, March 8th, at 2 p.m. at the Scotsburn United Church. Our Guest Speaker is the Rev. Donna Tourneur. A reception will follow, and all are cordially invited to attend!

Training for transitional ministry (Interim Ministry)

Is your church experiencing change and transition? Would you like to acquire more skill in leading through transition? Would you like to be equipped and credentialled to lead others through transition? Bermuda Nova Scotia Region is offering grants in support of Interim Ministry training. Please read more here.

FSLDW Getting Started on the Affirming Process

Maybe you’ve been talking about becoming Affirming … with 1 or 2 others… or a larger group. Come join us for the steps required, contacts you can make, information you need. This webinar will be lead by FSLDW Chair of the Affirming Committee, Pix Butt.
We hope you’ll join us!
March 4 at 7:00
Please click here to register.

Co-operative Ministry Event

Shared Way, Shared Witness: A Gathering on Ministry for a Collaborative Church in Montreal, May 19–22, 2026.

This three day gathering for lay and ordained leaders in the Anglican and United Churches of Canada focuses on developing the skills, relationships, and theological imagination needed for collaborative ministry in a rapidly changing church. Together, we will explore two central questions: What is the church for, now? and What ministry do we need to sustain a vital Christian presence in communities across Canada? Through keynote presentations, workshops, and structured conversations, participants will engage emerging models of church and ministry that move beyond the colonial, Christendom patterns we have inherited.

More information is available at www.sharedway.ca. The early registration deadline is March 20.

Bermuda-Nova Scotia Pastoral Relations News – February 2026

  • Approved the Renewal of Supply Appointment of Sheila Redden-Smith, retired, with Rivers of Grace United Church, Digby, 30 hours/week, February 1 to June 30, 2026.
  • Approved the Supply Appointment of Larry Harrison, retired, with Noel Pastoral Charge, 20 hours/week, January 1 to June 30, 2026.
  • Approved the Renewal of Supply Appointment of Mary Lynne Whyte with Port Wallis United Church, 30 hours/week, January 1 to June 30, 2026.
  • Approved the Supply Appointment of Dianne Kempt with St. Ann’s Bay Pastoral Charge, 20 hours/week, January 1 to June 30, 2026.
  • Approved the Supply Appointment of Dale Crawford with Baddeck Pastoral Charge, 20 hours/week, January 1 to May 31, 2026.
  • Approved the Supply Appointment of Heather Fraser with St. Luke’s United Church, Tantallon, 10 hours/week, May 4 to October 4, 2026 during the Sabbatical leave of Rick Gunn.
  • Approved the Appointment of Lawrence Muvunzi with the collaborative ministry of Boularderie Pastoral Charge and Sydney Mines Pastoral Charge, full time, June 1, 2025 to May 31, 2029. Dianne Kempt, Liaison.
  • Approved the Renewal of Supply Appointment of Donna Kelly, Candidate, with LaHave New Dublin Pastoral Charge, 20 hours/week, April 1 to June 30, 2026.
  • Approved the Call of Dale Skinner with Tatamagouche Pastoral Charge, full time, effective June 1, 2026. Harvey Gullon, Liaison.
  • Approved the Supply Appointment of Ruth Gamble, retired, with Cumberland Pastoral Charge, 5 hours/week, February 1 to June 30, 2026.
  • Approved the proposed Congregational Designated Ministry position at Orchard Valley United Church, New Minas.
  • Received from Sandra Cox, retired, of William Black Memorial United Church, Glen Margaret, notice that she will not seek renewal at the end of her current Appointment, effective May 31, 2026.
  • Approved the Request for Change in Pastoral Relations for the purposes of retirement of Mary Lynne Whyte of Port Wallis United Church, effective June 30, 2025.
  • Approved the Profile and position description for the Ecumenical Shared Ministry of Rivers of Grace Pastoral Charge and Trinity Anglican Church, Digby. Search for full-time ministry personnel is authorized. Janet Sollows, Liaison.
  • Approved the Supply Appointment of Brenda McKay, retired, with Newport Pastoral Charge, 20 hours/week, January 13 to April 14, 2026, and that an updated Profile and Living Faith Story be provided.
  • Next meeting: Friday, March 27, 2026. For more information contact Regional Minister David Hewitt dhewitt@united-church.ca

The Things We Tell Ourselves

The United Church has spent 100 years establishing patterns and ways of doing ministry. Many of us are still doing what the church was doing a generation or two earlier. We want to try new things but don’t know where to start. We’ve created a narrative that doesn’t always match reality. It’s time to talk about it and unpack the things we’ve been telling ourselves.

Working towards the future oriented vision of the United Church of Canada:

“Inspired, resilient, and diverse contextual communities of disciples seek to continue the story of Jesus by embodying Christ’s presence in the world. The church is present and deeply connected coast-to-coast-to-coast in rural and urban settings, and in ecumenical and global relationships. Guided by hope-filled, adaptive and effective ministry leaders, the denomination is increasingly multigenerational, multiracial, and intercultural.” (Towards 2035 Vision Statement)

This ten-week series of learning sessions and workshops from March 11 to May 26 will give participants the chance to see new opportunities, engage with new ideas, meet other lay church leaders reimagining the church of the future and start building it now.

Instructors each bring their own expertise and ability to facilitate conversation. Some sessions will have panels for questions and engagement, others will offer small group discussion and planning time. Materials will be available before and after each session to allow participants to go deeper into the subject matter if they wish.

Register via ChurchX

Growth Ideas 101: Sharing Data Details and Story Telling

Please click here to read the Growth Ideas from Sharon Ballantyne, Growth Animator, for February 25, 2026.

Share your ideas with your growth animator at 506-306-0500 or by email at sballantyne@united-church.ca.

Atlantic Candidacy Board – Seeking Elected Members – Deadline March 17, 2026

The Atlantic Candidacy Board is seeking two new elected members. The mandate for the board is:

  1. approving an individual for candidacy for ministry in the United Church;
  2. determining an individual’s readiness for accreditation for ordination, for commissioning, and for recognition as a designated lay minister; and
  3. overseeing the Candidacy Pathway process.

Please click here to see more information, including expectations and term, as well as nomination form.

Voices United looking for a home

We at Trinity United in Upper Onslow, NS, currently have a surplus of Voices United Hymnals that might be of more use to you than to us. If you are interested in obtaining these books, please contact us at trinityunitedob@gmail.com or (902) 895-4188, to arrange for pick up.

 

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