Revisiting Learning on Purpose 13 Years Later
By Rev. Charmain Bailey
This summer, I had the unique experience of returning to the Centre for Christian Studies’ Learning on Purpose (LOP) course,13 years after first taking it during my discernment for ministry.
Back then, LOP was a turning point. It helped me learn not just about ministry, but about myself, how I relate to the church, to community, to learning, and to the wider world. I came in full of questions and left with a clearer sense of who I was becoming. So this year, I decided to go back, not because I needed a refresher, but because I was curious: Who am I now, compared to who I was then?
Although the course has seen a few updates over the years, much of it remained the same. And honestly, that was a gift. I was able to revisit the very tools and frameworks I had used over a decade ago and check my own internal scale. Had I changed? Grown? Stayed the same?
The answer was yes. To all the above!
I can say with gratitude (and a little bit of pride) that I’ve grown in my theology, in how I see myself in relation to the church, and in my understanding of learning and society. I was surprised and deeply encouraged by how much depth and clarity I’ve gained. And at the same time, it was fascinating to see the ways I’ve remained grounded in the same core values and perspectives that first brought me to ministry. My theology has evolved, but it hasn’t drifted: I’ve simply grown into it.
Beyond the theological and pastoral growth, I noticed something more personal. My work ethic has strengthened. My self-care practices have expanded. I’ve learned better balance. How awesome is that?
This time around, I also had the incredible opportunity to serve as chaplain for the group, which was a beautiful and humbling experience. I got to journey alongside a new group of students who were exactly where I was all those years ago: full of questions, energy, nerves, and hope. It was a privilege to hold space for them, to listen, to pray, and to witness the early stages of their transformation.
And now, I want to extend a personal invitation:
To Diaconal ministers: come back to LOP. Revisit who you are now, and how far you’ve come since you first said yes to this call. Let it be a checkpoint, a mirror, a fresh conversation with yourself.
To Ordained ministers: if you’re looking for an energy boost, a space to reconnect with who you were when you began, and who you are now, this is the con-ed course to take! It’s not just about looking back; it’s about reconnecting with your calling through community and reflection.
You’ll be learning alongside an incredibly diverse group of people- racially, culturally, and ethnically diverse; gender-diverse; neurodiverse; physically diverse; spanning a wide range of ages and backgrounds. You’ll not only share your own experiences but also be stretched and enriched by the stories of others.
This course is a space for rediscovery. For growth. For sacred conversations.
Returning to LOP was like sitting down with an old friend, not to rehash the past, but to see how far we’ve both come. It could be time to check in with who you are now, and who you’re still becoming.
Rev. Charmain Bailey is a Diaconal minister in the United Church of Canada, serving at Trinity United Church Community Centre and Mount Zion United Church in London, Ontario. She is a proud graduate of the Centre for Christian Studies, class of 2022.
