Pacific Mountain Region

Confronting Whiteness, with Anna Colina White
2020-10-01 18:30 - 21:00 (America/Vancouver)
Whether you are new to this journey or have been unpacking your White privilege for decades, this workshop will help you develop personal skills for confronting systemic racism.
Learn more about how we as white people can show up for each other and racialized people in our lives.
We will gain skills to support us in moving the dial on our allyship/accomplice work for justice as communities of faith.
You’ll have the chance to talk to other White folks about topics ranging from “How do I deal with my racist uncle?” to “What’s White culture?” to “Wait, I’m a Settler?!”
The course comes out of decades of anti-racism work led by people of colour, and a persistent ask for White folks to engage in our own work of confronting whiteness individually, interpersonally, and organizationally.
Click here for details.

Nourishing the Soul of the Preacher
2020-09-30 10:30 - 12:00, 2020-09-23 10:30 - 12:00
Each week we come to a text or theme and sit with it, think about it, work with it, leave it alone, struggle with it, write it, and finally dare speaking.
6 weekly online sessions: Wednesdays September 23, 30, October 7, 14, 21, 28
Click here for details.

Break the Silence: The Power of Active Witnessing
2020-09-27 13:00 - 16:00
Have you ever witnessed a racist incident but didn’t know what to say or do and felt conflicted and regretful about not responding? This workshop will help participants develop their “response-ability” or readiness to respond to such incidents.
Click here for details.

Kootenay Faith Fest 2020
2020-09-23 17:00 - 2020-09-27 12:00
Streaming to you from Knox United in Fernie BC, Kootenay Faith Fest Small & Mighty is four days of intentional laughter, learning, connection and worship with United Church folk who call a small community and a small church home.
Click here for details.

Online Town Hall Conference, with Treena and Blair
2020-09-23 13:00 - 14:30
Our next Online Townhall Conference is scheduled for Wednesday September 23, from 1 – 2:30 pm. Click here for the recording of the Zoom call.
This week we will be joined by our new General Secretary, Rev. Michael Blair. He will talk to us about his current portfolio (Church in Mission) and his move to his new role.

Thank you to everyone to came to be part of our previous Townhall Conferences.

STEWARDSHIP BUZZ! 6 Steps to Take Right Now!
2020-09-22 10:30 - 12:00
This dedicated online time together will be packed with amazing information about how to inspire your people about Stewardship. You will learn the difference between “fund raising” and “stewardship” and how to define actual stewardship from scarcity culture.
Click here for details.

Reboot Your Worship: Pandemic Edition, with Dr Marcia McFee
2020-09-20 09:00 - 09:30
Are you looking for way to invigorate and refresh the worship services that you create each week? We hear that you are! We hope you’ll access this free 6-week webinar series from worship-arts leader, Dr Marcia McFee. Called “Reboot Your Worship: Pandemic Edition”. LeaderShift is making this webinar opportunity available at no coast for every community of faith in the Pacific Mountain Regional Council. Amen!
Click here for details.

Online Town Hall Conference, with Treena and Blair
2020-09-09 13:00 - 14:30
Click here for the recording of this meeting.
Below is the Pandemic Continuity Plan from First United that you can use as a template.
Treena will be joined by President Blair Odney, and the meeting will feature Rev. Diane Strickland. Diane will be speaking with the title ‘Tired of COVID?’ and addressing the topic of COVID-19 fatigue.
We will also discuss ‘what to do if you have a COVID exposure in your building’. Rev Carmen Lansdowne of First United (Vancouver) will join us to share about First United’s experience of a staff member testing positive for COVID-19, and share information provided by Coastal Health.
Thank you to everyone to came to be part of our previous Townhall Conferences.

Online Town Hall Conference with Trudi Rondou, Senior Manager, WorkSafeBC
2020-08-06 13:00 - 14:30
Click Here for the presentation slides from this Townhall.
Our next Online Townhall Conference is scheduled for THURSDAY August 6th, from 1 – 2:30 pm.
We are very pleased that Trudi Rondou, in her role as Senior Manager with WorkSafeBC, is able to join our early-August Townhall meeting. Communities of Faith and Ministries are still discerning best, safest steps forward this summer and fall. Trudi will be able to answer questions and offer information that will help you, in your setting, to think through the requirements.
Please note that this Townhall is 1pm Pacific Daylight Time.
Over the next while, Pacific Mountain Regional Council Executive Minister, Treena Duncan is hosting online Townhall Conferences via Zoom, for all PMRC folk who would like to join for connection with executive leadership, prayer and conversations, with time to ask the questions you have. To join the Townhall Conference, click on the link (you can join by audio only). If it’s your first Zoom experience, the Zoom link will prompt you to download the App for accessing the meeting.
Thank you to everyone to came to be part of our previous Townhall Conferences.

Confronting Whiteness: An Anti-Racism Workshop for White Folks
2020-07-15 09:30 - 12:00, 2020-07-12 14:00 - 16:30
Whether you are new to this journey or have been unpacking your White privilege for decades, this workshop will help you develop personal skills for confronting systemic racism.
Learn more about how we as white people can show up for each other and racialized people in our lives.
We will gain skills to support us in moving the dial on our allyship/accomplice work for justice as communities of faith.
You’ll have the chance to talk to other White folks about topics ranging from “How do I deal with my racist uncle?” to “What’s White culture?” to “Wait, I’m a Settler?!”
The course comes out of decades of anti-racism work led by people of colour, and a persistent ask for White folks to engage in our own work of confronting whiteness individually, interpersonally, and organizationally.

Faith Leaders For Such a Time as This - Thursday Cohort
2020-07-09 10:00 - 11:30, 2020-07-02 10:00 - 11:30, 2020-06-25 10:00 - 11:30
4-week course, begins June 18

Townhall with Guest President Rev Blair Odney
2020-07-08 13:00 - 14:30
This week President Rev Blair Odney joins Treena Duncan at the PMRC Townhall. The mantel of President was passed from Rev Jay Olson to Blair at the Saturday June 27th in the Celebration of Ministry Service (link to view the recording of the worship service is here). Treena will moderate the Townhall and Blair will lead worship and engage in conversation about the work of the Executive in the coming year. Please join in welcoming Blair at this special Townhall, if you can!
Click here to see the recording of the Townhall.
Topic: PMRC Townhall meeting with guest President Rev. Blair Odney
Time: Wednesday July 8, 2020 1:00pm Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Thank you to everyone to came to be part of our previous Townhall Conferences.

Break the Silence: The Power of Active Witnessing
2020-07-08 09:30 - 12:30, 2020-07-02 13:00 - 16:00
Online Workshop
Have you ever witnessed a racist incident but didn’t know what to say or do and felt conflicted and regretful about not responding? This workshop will help participants develop their “response-ability” or readiness to respond to such incidents.
The first part of the session engages participants in experiential learning activities and an understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of prejudice, discrimination and oppression. The second part involves learning a wide range of verbal and behavioral responses when someone is being victimized by an offensive and disrespectful remark or inequitable treatment.
Participants will shift from passive bystanders to active witnesses and will feel more equipped and empowered to respond to racism on an individual basis. Together, we can break the silence and make an ethical commitment to collectively fight prejudice, discrimination and oppression of any form in society.

Faith Leaders For Such a Time as This - Tuesday Cohort
2020-07-07 10:00 - 11:30, 2020-06-30 10:00 - 11:30, 2020-06-23 10:00 - 11:30
4-week course, begins June 16

Online Town Hall Conference, with Treena and Jay
2020-06-24 13:00 - 14:30
Our next Online Townhall Conference is scheduled for Wednesday June 24th, from 1 – 2:30 pm, with Treena, Jay, and this week’s Townhall guest, Rev. Janet Gear.
Many folks across our regional council have experienced Janet’s work of the Theological Banquet – exploring her research-based information, articulating the ways different people express and connect with God and the teachings of Jesus (theologies). At the Townhall, Janet will focus specifically on “Missing Church – Supporting People of Faith during COVID, through the Lens of Theological Diversity”. Our time with Janet this Wednesday will be nourishing, nurturing, engaging and inspiring.
Over the next while, Pacific Mountain Regional Council Executive Minister, Treena Duncan is hosting online Townhall Conferences via Zoom, with President Rev Jay Olson, for all PMRC folk who would like to join for connection with executive leadership, prayer and conversations, with time to ask the questions you have. To join the Townhall Conference, click on the link (you can join by audio only). If it’s your first Zoom experience, the Zoom link will prompt you to download the App for accessing the meeting.
Thank you to everyone to came to be part of our previous Townhall Conferences.

Transforming Pastoral Care Amidst COVID-19 - Wednesday Cohort
2020-06-24 10:00 - 11:30, 2020-06-17 10:00 - 11:30
8-week course, begins May 6

Transforming Pastoral Care Amidst COVID-19 - Monday Cohort
2020-06-22 13:30 - 15:00, 2020-06-15 13:30 - 15:00
8-week course, begins May 4

Faith Leaders For Such a Time as This - Thursday Cohort
2020-06-18 10:00 - 11:30
While this time is disorienting, challenging and requires rapid adaptation for all church leaders, it doesn’t stop the essential practice of faith: to pay attention to the life and faith of our community, to the challenges and opportunities of these circumstances, and to the wisdom of our tradition.
What is being unveiled for us in these times? For good, or for ill, what are we beginning to catch glimpses of about ourselves, and about God?
Led by Rev Janet Gear and Rev Brian Thorpe, gather with colleagues for 4 weeks to explore the spiritual questions that arise during a crisis, the theologies that are guiding us, and how we respond to the needs of our communities right now.
Thursdays June 18, 25, July 2, 9 2020

Online Town Hall Conference, with Treena and Jay
2020-06-17 13:00 - 14:30
This week Indigenous Minister Murray Pruden joins us, as the PMRC Townhall guest. Murray will be speaking to Indigenous Heritage Month, with insight, resources and conversation. As you know from previous newsletters, Murray is moving to our denomination’s national church office this July. We are thrilled for Murray and the wider church who will come to experience his leadership in Indigenous Ministries, and we will really miss him here in our Regional Council. Please join this special townhall, if you can!
Please note that this Townhall is 1pm Pacific Daylight Time.
Over the next while, Pacific Mountain Regional Council Executive Minister, Treena Duncan is hosting online Townhall Conferences via Zoom, with President Rev Jay Olson, for all PMRC folk who would like to join for connection with executive leadership, prayer and conversations, with time to ask the questions you have. To join the Townhall Conference, click on the link (you can join by audio only). If it’s your first Zoom experience, the Zoom link will prompt you to download the App for accessing the meeting.
Thank you to everyone to came to be part of our previous Townhall Conferences.

Faith Leaders For Such a Time as This - Tuesday Cohort
2020-06-16 10:00 - 11:30
While this time is disorienting, challenging and requires rapid adaptation for all church leaders, it doesn’t stop the essential practice of faith: to pay attention to the life and faith of our community, to the challenges and opportunities of these circumstances, and to the wisdom of our tradition.
What is being unveiled for us in these times? For good, or for ill, what are we beginning to catch glimpses of about ourselves, and about God?
Led by Rev Janet Gear and Rev Brian Thorpe, gather with colleagues for 4 weeks to explore the spiritual questions that arise during a crisis, the theologies that are guiding us, and how we respond to the needs of our communities right now.
Tuesdays June 16, 23, 30, July 7 2020

Online Town Hall Conference, with Treena and Jay
2020-06-10 13:00 - 14:30
Our next Online Townhall Conference is scheduled for Wednesday June 10th, from 1 – 2:30 pm. Treena and Jay will be joined by BC’s Minster of Health, the Honourable Adrian Dix (MLA link here).
Treena and other leaders from United Churches in our Regional Council have joined Dr Bonnie Henry and Minister of Health Adrian Dix in two faith leader consultations – responding to COVID-19 and the impacts on communities of faith. We’re grateful that Adrian Dix is able to join us.
Over the next while, Pacific Mountain Regional Council Executive Minister, Treena Duncan is hosting online Townhall Conferences via Zoom, with President Rev Jay Olson, for all PMRC folk who would like to join for connection with executive leadership, prayer and conversations, with time to ask the questions you have.
Thank you to everyone to came to be part of our previous Townhall Conferences.
