Category: News

Second Fridays at CCS

Noon-hour learning at the Centre fro Christian Studies.  Bring your lunch. September 14 Theology of Accompaniment and Solidarity Dianne Baker and Louise Simbanduwe October 12 Theology of Justice and Liberation …

CCS Friends at General Council

These CCS Grads / Friends will be at the CCS display from time to time throughout the week – please visit and say ‘hello’ to: Christina Paradella • Ken DeLisle …

Sandy-Saulteaux Spiritual Centre appoints new Keeper of the Circle

Congratulations and best-wishes to the new Keeper of the Circle at the Sandy-Saulteaux Spiritual Centre. Announcement from SSSC: The Board of the Sandy-Saulteaux Spiritual Centre is pleased to announce the …

Goodbye, Sadly, From Marc

Marc Desrosiers writes: With very mixed emotions and further to Maylanne’s message above, I will be leaving CCS effective August 3rd (from the office), and from active staff service to …

Summer at CCS

Much of the CCS staff were on holidays during the month of July.  Ted, Ann, and Scott were off all month, with Liz taking a few weeks here and there.  …

Experience General Council

Some of our United Church friends might want to keep tabs on the General Council, meeting this August in Ottawa.  The church has provided a bunch of ways to experience …

Raising the Roof

CCS is thrilled to have been awarded a grant in the amount of $15,000 by The Winnipeg Foundation to re-shingle the roof of our home. “This will add years of …

Companion Nominations Invited

CCS is inviting nominations for its annual “Companion of the Centre.”  Through this award, CCS honors, at the Annual Service of Celebration, one or more persons: graduates who through their …

Congratulations Ken DeLisle, president of MNWO Conference

Companion of the Centre, former editor of Tapestry and chair of the Communications Committee, and friend of CCS, Ken DeLisle was recently elected president of Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario Conference …

120th Anniversary Schedule updates

There have been a few updates to the schedule for the CCS 120th Anniversary celebration in October.  On the opening night there will be a public lecture on “Transformative Hope …

Five Oaks – Happy 60th

CCS isn’t the only theological centre with an anniverary this year.  Five Oaks Centre is celebrating its 60th!  And to mark the occasion they’ve published o book of memories, “Seasons …

LDM New Westminster

LDM New Westminster

Again, I was privileged to facilitate the Leadership Development Module from June 4-16. This time I was co-leading with recent CCS graduate, Kimiko Karpoff. Ten very engaged students expressed deep appreciation for this powerful learning experience. At each LDM, I am struck by the rich mix of the CCS approach to education.
We invest a lot of time building community and developing a sense of trust. We are “big” on teaming, respecting differences, and honouring diversity. Self-awareness grows in this relational setting where many experience a sense of safety to share themselves at a deep level.
We offer experiential learning with lots of creativity and “hands on” learning. The model incorporates a participatory action and contemplative reflection, prayerfulness and playfulness.
We tend to start with an affirmative stance; each participant is seen as a worthwhile and valuable child of God. Students are not empty vessels waiting to be filled, but adults with gifts and talents, experiences and backgrounds that form and shape who they are. That being said we also devote much time to evaluation; every time we turn around an opportunity to share feedback is extended.
The hallmark of your pedagogy is transformative integration. People are changed in the process of learning about themselves, working with others and the journey of faith. We strive to hold together heart and head, theory and practice, mind and spirit, the personal and the political, being and doing.
Ted Dodd

June LDM Wraps Up

The two-week June 2012 Leadership Development Module in New Westminster, BC ended yesterday.  All reports indicate that it was a spirit-filled time of reflection and growth (and hard work and …

Don’t forget the Anniversary

Registrations are still coming in for CCS’s 120th Anniversary celebration this fall.  And if you have any memorabilia from CCS or its United Church and Anglican forerunners, let Marc know.

Congratulations to CCS Commissionands

Congratulation to all the CCS grads who have been commissioned to diaconal ministry in the United Church this last month: Alice Hanson, Vicki McPhee, Tracy Robertson, and Debbie Springer in …