A day of insightful discussions and networking with fellow church researchers on trends in the Canadian church. Don't miss this opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals passionate about church research, data-informed decision making and opportunities for mission. Whether you're a seasoned researcher, denominational leader or just starting out, this event is perfect for anyone interested in exploring the latest trends and findings in Canadian church research. 

The third edition of the Global Forum against Racism and Discrimination – Race to the top: putting racial equity and justice at the forefront of development agendas – will be held in São Paulo, Brazil, from 29 November to 1 December 2023.

This edition will focus on the importance of placing race at the center of developing and implementing strategies for socioeconomic development. Government officials, including ministers, policymakers, practitioners, academics and members of civil society and artistic communities, will be invited to discuss effective strategies to address systemic racism.

A continuing education event for clergy. The Lester Randall Preaching Fellowship consists of a mix of workshops, lectures, private and public preaching events, networking and fellowship, led by keynote speakers and other well-known clergy and professors of preaching from across North America.

Curious about how picture books can enrich your ministry? Join Hanna Brown Schock, curriculum writer and creator of Picture Book Theology, as she shares with us how she encourages families, teachers, and others in ministry to use secular and sacred picture books to explore meaningful ideas in scripture and in life.

Join leading thinkers, clergy and others to creatively engage with issues facing the Church in Canada.

The Annual Carr Lecture in Fall 2023 features Rev. Dr. Ross Lockhart, Dean of St. Andrew's Hall and Professor of Mission Studies at Vancouver School of Theology. Dr. Lockhart will offer a lecture titled Super, Natural Vancouver – Christian witness and mission in a secular age.

The Church Can't Ignore Mental Health Any Longer

Everyone from your community members, teams, and leaders has either struggled with their mental health or has been a support to others.

Your church has the opportunity to transform your community and connect with people who are desperate to find a safe place to heal and belong.

Join the Church Mental Health Summit so you can be strengthened as a leader, equipped to support others, and able to build a culture of care at your church.

As we emerge from our homes and return to our places of worship, we’ve discovered a world that has fundamentally shifted. While some transitioned from the pew to the couch to engage and nurture their spiritual lives, others disappeared altogether. Longstanding trends of declining church membership accelerated during the pandemic and have found exhausted church staff working harder than ever to connect with their congregations. Habits changed, theology was challenged, and connections were severed, pointing to an unavoidable truth: The church we know is at a critical crossroads.

Join Joni Sancken online to explore collective trauma through lament, storytelling, and blessing as means for individuals and communities to grow in resilience.

Joni Sancken is Professor of Homiletics at United Theological Seminary, Dayton, Ohio. Joni will be joining VST in January, 2023 as the new Bulter Chair of Homiletics & Hermeneutics.

This online study explore what the bible and theology say about our work. We will learn about work in relation to creation, salvation, and God’s coming Kingdom. We will consider how this can transform our careers and workweeks. The following topics will also be explored:

• Faith in relation to modern work
  Work in the Bible and Theology

• How work can be transformed in light of God’s presence in the world

• How careers can contribute to the common good and anticipate the Kingdom of God

• How Sundays should empower the workweek

In this workshop your team will learn:
Antiracism language & the framework in building an antiracism lens
Rooting your awareness in understanding Canada’s colonial history
The impacts of Unconscious Bias , Systemic Racism & White supremacy
The first step in developing an antiracist workplace for your team

Is the faith community adequately prepared to support each other during these difficult times? Do churches and faith leaders have a plan to help those on the brink of suicide?

This conference will:

-share stories of hope and recovery

-give authentic answers of why people die of suicide

-educate you on the signs

-give insight on how to help those considering taking their own lives

Come join us at our International event at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel in our first-ever conference on how to end poverty.

Humans have a spiritual side however, many institutions

frequently deny this side of them. We shall tackle humanity

holistically at this conference by acknowledging the existence

and the significance of spirituality in reversing poverty in people's

lives.