Imagine Church Differently
Welcome to the Centre for Christian Studies’ 2017 annual report. Feel free to share it widely.
If you’d like to discuss CCS’s work over the last year and its plans for the future, feel free to join us at the Annual General Meeting, Thursday, March 8th (6:00pm CST). Contact Cheryl at office@ccsonline.ca or 204-783-4490 to register and receive meeting documents (agenda, nominations table, financial statements, etc.)
There is no actual typical. That is as true for CCS students as it is for the rest of the world. CCS’s signature leadership program, Learning on Purpose, attracts a wide-range of students ~ diaconal, lay, ordained, Anglican, United. There are often students from the Sandy Saulteaux Spiritual Centre and other theological schools, various denominations and occasionally other countries and faith groups.
We recently spoke to four students who might be considered atypical, about their experience taking CCS’s signature leadership program, Learning on Purpose. Two are ordained ministers in the United Church and two are lay ministers in the Anglican Church. As an added point of interest, they are two couples. All of them live in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Min Goo Kang is the minister at Fort Garry United Church. Ha Na Park is the minister at Immanuel United Church. Stacy Stanley Young is a self-employed book-keeper and volunteer treasurer at St. Paul’s Anglican Fort Garry. Evan Young works for the city of Winnipeg and is a liturgical lay leader at St. Paul’s. Min Goo and Stacy attended the LoP in August 2016. Ha Na and Evan attended in August 2017. Continue reading “Learning on Purpose focusses purpose”
“Since graduation I have searched for con-ed that offers the depth and breadth of content as well as the educational style CCS gave me.”
Kathy Douglas has been employed and active in ministry since 2008. She is a graduate of the Centre for Christian Studies. She is a vocational mentor for a couple of the Centre’s current students. And this spring she is thinking about being a student in the social justice learning circle on Right Relations.
“I am so excited to be able to ‘tap’ into a circle again. I have longed for it,” says Kathy.
Our Learning on Purpose: Changing Leadership for a Changing World course has just finished. Fifteen participants from across Canada, from Halifax to West Vancouver, came together for two weeks of intensive learning.
And I mean intensive. Continue reading “2017 Learning on Purpose”
The 2017 Assembly of the Diakonia World Federation was held in Chicago, from June 28 to July 5 July, 2017. Many CCS staff members, alumni, and friends were in attendance. Lori Stewart offers reflections on the gathering…
On the first morning of the World Diakonia Federation gathering I was among an excited, colourful group of members, gathered on the sidewalk in anticipation of the start of a procession into the building where we would hold our meetings for the coming week.
Yolly, a deaconess from the Philippines, introduced herself and took a selfie with me—I felt like I was among friends. That initial experience carried through the whole conference. There were friends there that I hadn’t met yet, for sure, but each of the conversations I had started from a place of familiarity. We held in common not only our calling to diakonia, but also a depth of purpose as people who follow Jesus out of the church and into the community. Knowing that there are sisters and brothers all over the world who share the joys and struggles of this commitment, is heartening in the midst of my own! Continue reading “Highlights of World Diakonia”
Are you interested in the kind of learning that goes on at the Centre for Christian Studies? Do you wish you could explore specific themes and topics in spiritual care, or social justice, or Christian education and/or worship as part of a circle of learners? But you don’t want to be a deacon or diaconal minister? Or maybe you already are in ministry, but you’d like to keep learning. Maybe you’re a CCS alumni who misses the community of a learning circle.
Continuing Studies at CCS may be for you. Apply to be a Continuing Studies student, and you can register for theme learning circles with diaconal students – reading, discussing, exploring, connecting. Continue reading “Continuing Studies at the Centre for Christian Studies”
CCS grad Terrie Chedore reflects on her calling as a diaconal artist…
“What are you doing these days?” That was the question everyone was asking at World DIAKONIA 2017. What an amazing event! About 450 women and men from over 31 countries! I wasn’t sure how well I would fit in because I am one of those diaconal folk who serve on the edge of the church. That was not a problem. I met other diaconal folk who are also doing new things and describing themselves with titles like ‘spiritual animator,’ ‘arts and environment coordinator,’ and ‘healing facilitator.’ I call myself a ‘diaconal artist.’ When I explained what that meant to me, one woman suggested that I live ‘an invented life.’ Yes, perhaps that is true. Continue reading “An Invented Life”
The Centre for Christian Studies invites you to attend a Covenanting Service and Reception for Michelle Owens as she begins her role as the new Principal at The Centre for Christian Studies
Wednesday, September 13, 2017
7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Westminster United Church
745 Westminster Ave at Maryland Street, Winnipeg
Please enter by the Westminster Avenue door. Lift available.
Refreshments will be served
Service of Installation at 8:00 pm.
RSVP to Cheryl Thiessen by Sept 5
204-783-4490 or office@ccsonline.ca
If you are not able to attend, you are invited to offer your welcome and greetings by phone, e-mail, or mail.
The Centre for Christian Studies invites you to a celebration of Maylanne Maybee and her time as Principal.
Wednesday, September 6, 2017
5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
St. Luke’s Anglican Church
130 Nassau St. N., Winnipeg
(corner of Nassau and Stradbrook)
Entrance at rear of church. Lift and wheelchair parking available.
Refreshments will be served.
Presentations at 6:30 pm.
RSVP to Cheryl Thiessen by August 30
204-783-4490 or office@ccsonline.ca
In recognition of Maylanne’s commitment to Anglican diaconal studies, you are invited to make a gift in her honour to the Marion Niven Bursary Fund through the Centre for Christian Studies. This fund was established to support Anglican students at the Centre for Christian Studies.
You are invited to create an 8.5 X 11 page with greetings, memories, stories, or pictures to be part of a book to be presented to Maylanne. Bring it with you, e-mail it to info@ccsonline.ca, or send it to the Centre for Christian Studies, 60 Maryland St, Winnipeg, MB R3G 1K7
When we launched the project for evaluation and redesign of the Centre for Christian Studies program, we wanted to use the particular expertise of new Program Staff and to respond to the emerging needs of students, churches, and society. As things have evolved over the years since the current program was introduced, there has been less and less call on it by Anglicans.
There are a number of reasons for this: Continue reading “CCS Program Redesign – the Anglican Angle”
from 5:30-7:30 pm, at St. Luke’s Anglican Church (130 Nassau St N).
An opportunity to say farewell and express our appreciation to retiring principal Maylanne Maybee. More details will be forthcoming.
from 7-9 pm, at Westminster United Church (745 Westminster Ave).
A welcoming event for new principal Michelle Owens. Again, watch the CCS website in August for more details.
As principal Maylanne Maybee prepares for retirement this summer, many people are wondering about what happens next for her. Here are the basics: Continue reading “Wishing Maylanne Well”
CCS alumni Allison Halstead, recently retired from ministry in Miami, Manitoba, reflects on trusting the signs – as she walked into retirement …and along the Hadrian’s Wall path in Northern England.
Leading up to retirement, well-wishers often asked about my plans. I had no plans. There was, however, a rock in my day-timer. Continue reading “Walking the Wall Trail”
After a year and half of reviewing and redesigning, the Centre for Christian Studies is excited to be unveiling the new shape of our educational program!
We are grateful to the nearly forty volunteers who helped discern a path, especially the members of the Program Review Coordinating team. We are also grateful to the Anglican Foundation, who provided funding for the program review and redesign process. Continue reading “The New Program Is Here, The New Program Is Here!”
Last Sunday the staff of the Centre for Christian Studies hosted a refreshment time for the Winnipeg Quaker meeting following their worship service. For the past number of years the Quakers have been renting space at at Woodsworth House for their meetings, but their ranks have now grown to the point where they need to relocate. They’ll be moving down the street to a housing co-op that has a large gathering space. CCS has appreciated having the Quaker community in our building, and were glad to have the opportunity to wish them well in their move.
CCS’s other tenant, Nathanial Kaplan, who rented an office in Woodsworth House for his Reiki practice, has also moved out. Best of luck, Nathanial.
If you or someone you know is looking to rent space – either office space or meeting space – feel free to contact the CCS office.