2026 Report of the Vice-Moderator

We started planning for the 2026 All-Canada Convention in June of 2025. We quickly were able to determine a theme of: Open Table, Open Tent based on Isaiah 54:2 “Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.

The planning committee was formed:

Carrie Shea (Mapleton)– Vice Moderator and Chair of the All-Canada Convention
Bonnie Kolkman (Mapleton) – Treasurer
Sarah Leitch (Mapleton)– Registrar
Rev. Janet Anstead (Mapleton)– Social Committee Leader
Rev. Terry Tribe (Mapleton) and Rev. Awit Marcelino (St. Thomas) – Worship Committee Leaders
Rev. Ann Stainton (Hillcrest)
Wendelin Galatianos – (Sugarbush initially and now St. Thomas)
Rev. Jean-Daniel Ó Donncada National Pastor, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Canada
Zuzanna Smetana National Administrator, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Canada

And the dates were decided: August 20-23, 2026 at the St. Thomas Christian Church.

Since then, there has been a lot of zoom meetings, laughs and hard work. We are really excited to host the All-Canada Convention. 109 people are registered including both the full event and just attending Saturday for the Banquet.

The Saturday evening banquet is sponsored by the OACC (in lieu of Fellowship Sunday). It includes a free roast beef or vegetarian meal and live Ukelele music. We will also be celebrating Alice Porter’s 100th birthday during the banquet.

A summary of the Convention is as follows:

Thursday: Pre-conference Car Rally in Elgin County and Opening Worship: What is an open table? Preacher – Rev. Dr. Ron Dakin and At the Table – Rev. Jean-Daniel Ó Donnacada and Rev. Kimberly Heath

Friday: Bible Study, Unique Workshops, a local Walking Tour, and Evening Worship Who is in the tent with us? Preacher – Pastor Sarah Wicks-Potter and At the Table - Russ Moncrief and Sarah Leitch

Saturday: Business Meeting/AGM, Keynote Speaker Lori Ransom, Youth-Led Worship, and a celebratory Banquet featuring Ukelele music

Sunday: Final Worship Service Who is yet to be invited; who has not felt welcomed Preacher – Rev. Awit Marcelino and At the Table - Katie Wilson and Keith Wood. Includes installation of new regional board.

Our College Lecturer is Lori Ransom. She serves as a Reconciliation and Indigenous Justice Animator for the United Church of Canada.

Our workshops on Friday are Watercolour Painting with Rev. Doug Avram, Indigenous Spirituality with Elder Mary Lou Smoke, Nutrition and Brain Health with Carrie Shea Registered Dietitian, Ecumenical Workshop with Rev. Janet Anstead and Pastor Peter Noteboom and New Church Ministry Workshop with Rev. Wesley King.

Other Information includes: Vendor tables including College of Churches, Pension Fund, Canterbury College, New Church Ministry and the Disciples Extension Fund. There will be a quiet space for prayer and contemplation, drop in Craft Area, child care services will be available in the child care area and a group project – weaving a tapestry together. Our National Youth and Young Adult Pastor, Rev. Awit Marcelino has some Youth and Young Adult programming too.

Offering: Along with our workshops, worships services, business and fellowship we would also like to support our vital ministries. Each day we will be featuring certain ministries and asking registrants to consider donating to support these causes. The vital ministries we will be collecting for are:

Thursday August 20 – The Disciples of Christ in Canada

Friday August 21 - Centre for Indigenous Ministries

Saturday August 22 – Disciples of Christ Youth and Young Adults

Sunday August 23 – St. Thomas Christian Church

Our goal is to create a vibrant space where we can connect, encourage one another, and celebrate our shared faith. We look forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones.

Respectfully submitted
by Carrie Shea, Vice Moderator, August 10 2026