MC Canada sets up carbon levy for travel to Gathering 2022
Gathering 2022 registrants can offset greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from their travel to Edmonton by donating to a new fund established by Mennonite Church Canada.
Meet members of the Mennonite Church Alberta Gathering 2022 planning team in our invitational video, and learn what to expect at our nationwide event this summer!
We gather to
share faith stories
build the ministry and mission of the church locally, regionally, nationally and internationally
nurture faith and fellowship
strengthen a nationwide Anabaptist Mennonite identity.
Worship times are enriched by:
Join us as we join together in praising our God!
The Day for Spiritual Leaders is a day intended for pastors, lay leaders, spiritual directors, parish nurses and deacons and is hosted by Mennonite Church Canada's Community of Spiritual Leaders.
Sarah Kathleen Johnson and Anneli Loepp Thiessen will lead worship. Time will be set aside for naming laments and grief from the past two years, with each other and before God, and a space provided to turn toward praise.
Glen Guyton, executive director of Mennonite Church USA, and author of Reawakened: How your congregation can spark lasting change, will speak on reawakening to ministry.
Registration for the Day for Spiritual Leaders $75.
Contact your regional church leadership minister for more information.
Mennonite Church Canada and Mennonite Church Alberta are aware of the current wave of COVID-19 cases this spring, due to the highly transmissible Omicron variant. While we hope this wave will subside before our gathering in Edmonton, we continue to monitor and will abide by current and future public health orders in the province of Alberta. Alberta is currently (as of March 1) in Step 2 of removing its pandemic restrictions.
Current guidelines do not require vaccination. However, Mennonite Church Canada will require the use of masks at Gathering 2022.
Rev. Sunder John Boopalan, Assistant Professor of Biblical and Theological Studies at Canadian Mennonite University, is the author of the book Memory, Grief, and Agency. He is the Series Editor of the Politics of Scripture (PoliticalTheology.com) that offers commentary on Sunday texts from the Revised Common Lectionary. John is a peer reviewer for journals such as Religions, Political Theology Journal, and Wabash Center Journal on Teaching. He has lived in India, the Middle East, and the United States. Married to Ester, he is the proud parent of their daughter, Junia. John loves cooking and believes in the wonder working power of God, food and laughter.
Cheryl Bear is from Nadleh Whut’en First Nation, is a respected voice and teacher on behalf of Canada’s Indigenous peoples and has traveled to over 600 Indigenous communities raising awareness and understanding of Indigenous issues. She is a founding board member of NAIITS, an Indigenous learning community; an Associate Professor at Regent College; earned her Doctorate from The King’s University, and Master of Divinity from Regent College. Her doctoral work presents an approach to First Nations ministry from the foundations of Indigenous worldview and values. She currently serves as Director of Community Ministry at First United Church in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.
Kara Carter is lead pastor of Wellesley Mennonite Church in Wellesley, Ontario. She is a PhD candidate at Martin Luther University College, researching MCEC pastors’ lived experiences with barriers and facilitators as they lead cultural, organizational change. Kara is examining how God's people are being invited to "Go Local," to join with God in the neighbourhood to further God's mission.
Please note that this is a working schedule and subject to change.
**Children's programming is planned for ages 5 to 12 all day, Saturday, July 30.
Friday, July 29
9 a.m. - 3 p.m. - A Day for Spiritual Leaders for pastors, lay leaders, deacons, spiritual directors, etc. (Edmonton First Mennonite Church)
1 p.m. - 7.p.m. - Gathering 2022 registration (Evario Event Centre)
supper
7 - 9 p.m. - Opening worship/plenary - guest speaker John Boopalan
Saturday, July 30
breakfast
9 - 10 a.m. Worship/plenary - guest speaker Cheryl Bear
10:30 -11:45 a.m. workshops #1
lunch
1 - 3 p.m. Delegate session
3:30 - 4:45 p.m. workshops #2
supper (not provided)
7 - 9 p.m. An evening of story and song with Cheryl Bear
Sunday, July 31
breakfast
10 a.m. - noon nationwide worship service - guest speaker Doug Klassen
lunch
1 - 5 p.m. tours/outings
supper (not provided)
7 - 9 p.m. optional evening activities:
Monday, Aug. 1
breakfast
9 - 10:15 a.m. Delegate session
10:30 a.m. to noon - Closing worship/plenary - guest speaker Kara Carter
lunch
Gathering 2022 ends
Full-time $550 ($600 after May 20)
Part-time $275 ($325 after May 20)
Children's program, ages 5-12 (part-time/full-time): $50
Youth attendee, ages 13-17 (part-time/full-time): $100
Questions about registration? E-mail us.
We Declare will take place at Evario Events Centre, which is located in the Holiday Inn South Edmonton, 950 Parsons Rd SW. Gathering 2022 participants are encouraged to book their accommodations with the Holiday Inn:
Early bird registration deadline is May 15.
Participate in live worship and plenary sessions throughout the weekend and take part in a unique virtual experience with members from across our nationwide community of faith.
Gathering 2022 registrants can offset greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from their travel to Edmonton by donating to a new fund established by Mennonite Church Canada.
The carbon levy contributes to MC Canada’s creation care fund. The levy amount ($/tonne of CO2e) is set by Joint Council and is currently $50.
For information on how to calculate your contribution, click here.
Mennonite Church Canada has published a study guide in preparation for Gathering 2022 in Edmonton, Alberta, July 31 to Aug. 1.
The guide is centered around the Gathering 2022 theme, We Declare: what we have seen and heard, and explores what it means to share the good news in today’s context.
The study includes six sessions on being a missional church, when the good news becomes bad news, biblical perspectives and bearing witness in a secular age.
Each session is accompanied by Scripture readings, reflection questions and links to reading lists curated by CommonWord for further reading.