Join us May 1 & 2 in Saskatoon, SK and online.
Join us May 1 in Saskatoon, SK
Save the Date for May 3 in Calgary, AB
Save the Date for May 8-9 in Victoria, BC
Looking for a soft place to land, a space to be held and find rest this winter? Sign up to join Beth Anne Fisher for a brief break from the busyness. Together we will spend the first 45 minutes entering into a contemplative practice, followed by 20-30 minutes of sharing and conversation for those who would like to connect further with one another.
Beth Anne Fisher has completed a PhD in Theological Studies from Emmanuel College (Toronto School of Theology), is a candidate for ordination in the Presbyterian Church, and is training as a spiritual director. Her ministry leadership and academic work are rooted in contemplative spiritual practices and informed by the social sciences.
$45 for three sessions, No preparation needed!
Note: Please visit your “cart” in the top menu bar to complete your registration if you are not automatically forwarded to the payment screen.
Save the Date for April 29 in Brampton, ON
This event has been postponed. More information coming soon.
Jodi Spargur is a Settler of Nordic/German heritage who lives as a guest on unceded Coast Salish territory on the west coast of Canada. She leads Red Clover Initiatives, which works to heal and restore relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous neighbours across Canada. This book grew out of Jodi’s PhD studies with NAIITS, an Indigenous Learning Community exploring Indigenous theology and Christian ethics. In addition to this work, Jodi finds renewal outdoors—fishing, camping, and spending time on the land connecting with the places and people who inspire her work for right-relationship.
This event has been postponed. If you would like to know the new date, please share your email address with us below.
We are grateful to our sponsor, South West Community Church and Sahali Fellowship for supporting this event.
Looking for a soft place to land, a space to be held and find rest this winter? Sign up to join Beth Anne Fisher for a brief break from the busyness. Together we will spend the first 45 minutes entering into a contemplative practice, followed by 20-30 minutes of sharing and conversation for those who would like to connect further with one another.
Beth Anne Fisher has completed a PhD in Theological Studies from Emmanuel College (Toronto School of Theology), is a candidate for ordination in the Presbyterian Church, and is training as a spiritual director. Her ministry leadership and academic work are rooted in contemplative spiritual practices and informed by the social sciences.
$15, no preparation needed!
Note: Please visit your “cart” in the top menu bar to complete your registration if you are not automatically forwarded to the payment screen.
What does it mean to belong to one another? Not in theory, but in practice, together at the table.
This series gathers disabled and non-disabled Christians to ask what discipleship looks like when we actually learn from each other. Not parallel ministries. Not accommodation as an afterthought. Shared tables, mutual welcome, and communities shaped by every gift in the room.
Over four weeks, we'll move through theology, access, relationships, and lived experience, drawing on the work of A Deeper Communion, a multi-denominational Canadian network connecting ministry leaders, practitioners, and academics at the intersection of disability and faith.
The questions we're sitting with: Where is the Canadian church getting this right? Where does something need to change? And what does it look like when welcome isn't a program but a practice?
This Learning Centre series is a taste of something bigger. The Banquet of Belonging Conference from A Deeper Communion is gathering in person in Toronto, Calgary, Winnipeg, and Langley, and online on May 7th, 2026. Come to the Learning Centre series to go deeper into the conversation, and bring your appetite for what's ahead.
April 9 – John Van Sloten
Experiencing God Through Disability
This session will explore the theological worldview that has led John Van Sloten to write a book about how God is uniquely revealed through the life of his son Edward, who has Down syndrome.
April 16 – Dr. Ty Ragan with Rev. Dr. Cynthia Tam
Do We Truly Want Sacred Communities of Sacred Connection? The Comfortable Pew of Ableism
What if the church isn’t called to fix disabled bodies—but to transform the systems that exclude them? This powerful learning session confronts ableism in theology, worship, and community life, drawing on lived disability experience and Gospel stories that challenge comfort, control, and silence. Come wrestle with what real accessibility, dignity, and belonging demand of our sacred spaces.
Cynthia Tam joins at the end of the session to talk about her work:
Flourishing Together Around God’s Table of Love
Drawing from Luke 14, this paper argues that when a church community embodies God’s inclusive love—particularly toward people living with disabilities—it flourishes as a whole. To clarify what it means for a community to flourish, I draw on Miroslav Volf’s concept of flourishing as a life that is well led, goes well, and feels as it should, with wellness defined by love experienced by all gathered at God’s table.
April 23 – Dr. Jon Coutts & Amy White
Charismatic Communion: Deliverance from the Great Man Model of Leadership
In anticipation of Jon’s Deeper Communion talk on the Superman- and Barbie-fication of the Image of God, this Learning Centre will explore how the church has been implicated in these modern distortions of humanity, yet offers a witness against it. Leaning on the Disability Theologies of Deborah Beth Creamer and Brian Brock, this session will present the theological reboot that still needs to take hold in the evangelical church that was so possessed by the Church Growth Movement.
April 30 – Erik Freiburger
Cracks In The Mirror: Language, Disability, and Reimagining Our Humanity
What if the way we talk about disability is quietly or subconsciously shaping the way we see all of human worth and dignity? In this reflective and thought-provoking presentation, we’ll explore how language can distort, diminish, or redeem our understanding of ourselves and one another. Through story, theology, and lived experience, you’ll be invited to reimagine disability not as a problem to solve or accommodate for—but as a space where deeper meaning and belonging are revealed. Come ready to question the mirrors you have trusted for so long—and discover a more expansive vision and revelation of what it means to be fully human.
Learning Centre sessions are recorded and made available afterwards for those who sign up but cannot attend in person
There are two options to access the New Leaf Learning Centre: a monthly subscription or a one-series pass (below). For the monthly subscription, please visit here. This series is available for free. Please complete the registration to receive online access to this series.
The suggested amount is $40 ($10/week); simply choose your amount in the drop-down menu and “sign up now.”
We would like for you to join us, so if you can’t afford the registration at this time, please reach out to us, and we will make sure you are able to participate: admin@newleafnetwork.ca
Note: Please visit your “cart” in the top menu bar to complete your registration if you are not automatically forwarded to the payment screen.
(Session 3 will follow at a later date, see below)
What does it mean to follow Jesus faithfully as a Settler in Canada? What responsibilities do we carry, personally, communally, theologically, in the ongoing work of right relationship, decolonization, and justice with Indigenous neighbours?
These aren't easy questions, but they are gospel questions, and they are ones that the New Leaf community is well-suited to wrestle with together.
Join us for this three-part series with Mike Hogeterp, drawing on years of research, relationship, and his own journey of sacred unsettlement. Rooted in the story of Hearts Exchanged, a decolonization and right relationship learning journey within the Christian Reformed Churches in Canada, this series opens that story to the broader Canadian church. It invites Settler followers of Jesus into honest reflection, community storytelling, and the hard, beautiful work of walking with integrity toward justice and right relationship with Indigenous kin.
This is not just a series. It is, as Ojibwe scholar Shawn Wilson might say, a ceremony. One that bridges distances, honours truth, and serves community.
Session 1: Introducing the Question
We begin with the core question: What are the responsibilities of Settler followers of Jesus in the journey of right relationship, decolonization, and justice with Indigenous peoples?
Mike will introduce key research themes (listening and humility; responsibility, power and kenosis; decolonization as deconstruction; syncretism and mission; treaty and covenant) and share stories from his own heart learning as a Settler. This session sets the foundation and invites participants into the ongoing ceremony of this work.
This Learning Centre session will be recorded and made available afterwards for those who sign up but cannot attend in person.
Session 2: Storytelling on Settler Responsibility and Unsettlement
Drawing on the circle dialogue approach of Hearts Exchanged, this session centres the stories of participants. With the help of guiding questions, we'll create space for honest, honoured sharing about our own experiences of unsettlement, right relationship, and the journey of decolonization. A group of 7 to 12 participants is ideal for this session. Please join us for the interaction session for this session.
Session 3: Return to Community (at a later date)
After Session 2, Mike will move the stories gathered through a qualitative research process (coding, theme identification, analysis) and bring findings back to the group. In this final session, we'll review what emerged, invite feedback, and let that feedback shape the ongoing writing. This is community accountability in action.
Mike Hogeterp serves on the facilitation team of the Canadian Learning Community for Decolonization and Innovation in Theological Education with NAIITS - An Indigenous Learning Community. Mike recently finished a dissertation exploring settler-church responsibility for right relationship with Indigenous peoples, which drew on two decades of justice and reconciliation advocacy in denominational and ecumenical contexts.
There are two options to access the New Leaf Learning Centre: a monthly subscription or a one-series pass (below). For the monthly subscription, please visit here. This series is available for free. Please complete the registration to receive online access to this series.
This series is offered for free. Please complete the registration to receive online access to this series. If you would like to donate to support the work of New Leaf, please visit https://www.newleafnetwork.ca/donate
What does it mean to observe Lent in a world that feels like it's on fire? How can local churches use this season well, not as religious obligation, but as genuine formation? And what might Lent offer to ordinary Jesus followers right now, in this moment, in this country?
These are the questions we're bringing to the Learning Centre over the next two Thursdays. Together we'll explore what it means to discover, rediscover, or deepen a Lenten practice here in Canada. Joining us are Robyn Elliot and James Sholl, two Canadian pastors with beautifully different backgrounds (one Baptist, one Anglican) and very different journeys to Lent. They'll share openly, prime the conversation, and then open the floor to all of us. Where does Lent fall on your map this season? What have you left behind, and what might be waiting for you in the ancient rhythms of the church? What does it look like to walk through this season faithfully when the world feels heavy?
Each week includes open community conversation, time for honest reflection, and space for prayer together. Whether you grew up with ashes on your forehead or have never followed the Lent season at all we’d love to have you join this mini series.
Week 1, March 5: The Journey to Lent Two pastors share what brought them to Lent, and we open the floor. Where did Lent fall on your radar growing up? What shifted? Community conversation follows.
Week 2, March 12: Lent in Real Life How do we actually observe Lent when the world feels like it's on fire? How can churches and individual Jesus followers use this season well, right now, in this country? Conversation, reflection, and prayer together.
Robyn Elliot is the associate pastor at Lakeside Church in Guelph and has an MDiv from Tyndale with a dual focus in the Mission of the Church and Spiritual Direction.
Born in Barbados, the beach is in her bones, but Canada is home, where she and her husband Steve raised 3 children (and now 3 grandkids). Her theologically conservative upbringing was not a safe space to question or doubt, but walking alongside people who are wrestling with God and desiring to experience Jesus as the way is one of her favourite things to do.
There are two options to access the New Leaf Learning Centre: a monthly subscription or a one-series pass (below). For the monthly subscription, please visit here.
The suggested amount is $20 ($10/week); simply choose your amount in the drop-down menu and “sign up now.”
We would like for you to join us, so if you can’t afford the registration at this time, please reach out to us, and we will make sure you are able to participate: admin@newleafnetwork.ca
Plurality in the Pulpit is a three-week online Learning Centre series for pastors, ministry leaders, and lay people, with or without theological training, who feel drawn to preaching in today’s post-Christian context. It’s shaped by decades of pastoral practice, team-based teaching, and lived faith, and it treats preaching not as a skill you master once, but as a craft learned slowly, over time, in community.
This series is based on the book, From Where We Stand: a handbook for preaching together by Randy Hein. Available for purchase here.
This series begins with a simple conviction: the church in Canada is healthiest when many voices help tell the story.
In a moment when preaching has too often harmed, manipulated, or alienated people, we’re invited to imagine something different. Not preaching as domination, but as hospitality. Not performance, but encounter. Not certainty for its own sake, but faithful witness. Preaching, at its best, tells an alternative story, one rooted in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus amid the many competing narratives shaping our identities and imaginations here in Canada.
Grounded in the Canadian context and attentive to realities like deconstruction, declining trust in institutions, collective grief, and cultural fatigue, Plurality in the Pulpit invites both pastors and lay preachers to rediscover preaching as shared, hopeful work.
Together we will learn to:
Understand preaching as a communal responsibility
Engage Scripture with honesty, imagination, and humility
Respond to our cultural moment without defensiveness or fear
Develop sermons that invite encounter, healing, and participation
This series assumes preaching is never perfected, only practiced, and that formation happens best when we learn together.
Who This Series Is For
Pastors exploring team preaching or shared teaching models
Lay leaders discerning a call to preach
People who love Scripture but feel unsure about preaching today
Those navigating faith in post-Christian, deconstructing, or questioning spaces
Week 1: Why Preach? Telling an Alternative Story with a Plurality of Voices
Week 2: Preaching Together - Plural Voices, Shared Authority
Week 3: Preaching Forward - Practice, Craft, and Hope
Week One: Telling an Alternative Story with a Plurality of Voices
Preaching begins with a question: Why does this still matter?
In a world saturated with competing narratives of consumerism, fear, nationalism, and individualism, preaching dares to tell an alternative story.
Increasingly, this story is told not by a single voice, but by preaching teams - pastors and lay leaders, shaped by different lives and callings - whose shared witness reflects the richness and complexity of the church itself.
Drawing on the idea that transformation comes not through domination but through story and the need for it to come through a diversity of voices, together we'll explore preaching as an act of witness: naming the world as it is under the reign of Jesus and inviting the church in Canada to re-orient its life around that story. Together, we’ll reflect on preaching as a lifelong practice, shaped not only by study but by everyday life, grief and joy, work and play, worship and community. We will explore the biblical drama as an unfolding story and consider the preacher’s role in helping the church locate itself within it.
Week 2 - Preaching Together - Plural Voices, Shared Authority
The church in Canada doesn’t need fewer preachers. It needs more voices.
Together, we’ll explore preaching as a communal practice rather than a solo performance.
Drawing on the conviction that the Spirit speaks through a diversity of people, we’ll consider how pastors, tradespeople, caregivers, students, artists, and retirees each bring essential insight to the shared work of proclamation.
We’ll look at models of team preaching and teaching, the shifting nature of authority in a post-trust context, and the role of humility and discernment when preaching is shared. The focus is on cultivating responsibility together - rooted in Scripture, grounded in community, and shaped by trust rather than position.
Week 3 - Preaching Forward - Practice, Craft, and Hope
Preaching is a lifelong practice. Not something you master. Not something you ever quite finish learning.
In this final session, we turn toward how preachers and preaching teams keep growing - with confidence, humility, and room for the Spirit. Building on the earlier weeks, we’ll explore preaching as faithful improvisation within God’s ongoing story: attentive to Scripture, responsive to real communities, and open to what unfolds.
We’ll spend time with the craft of preaching, not to professionalize it, but to make it more accessible. Together we’ll demystify practices like exegesis, hermeneutics, and homiletics, and ask how they serve encounter rather than information. These disciplines aren’t about getting it right, they’re ways of listening more carefully: to the text, to the Spirit, and to one another.
We’ll also reflect on sustainable rhythms of preparation, feedback, and shared discernment, resisting both performance pressure and rigid formulas. Preaching is framed here as shared, hopeful work, rooted in Scripture, shaped by the Canadian and local context and trusting that the Spirit is still at work among us.
Randy Hein is a Canadian, West Coast pastor. For over 30 years, he has engaged in church planting and creative missional endeavours in the City of Victoria. In 2014, he and his friends planted Hollydene Community Church, where he continues to serve. Randy is passionate about revitalizing communities around restorative justice, the local Victoria arts scene, and has a longsuffering relationship with his beloved Canucks.
James Prette, has over 45 years of ministry experience and a passion to help people understand the good news of the Christian Faith. Having ministered primarily with youth, he has worked hard to learn how to communicate the eternal truth of the Gospel in the continually changing context and language of contemporary culture. He is currently a 'pastor emeritus' at Hollydene Community Church, a spiritual director, and the author of nine books. His favourite thing is to dialogue with real people about real issues of life and faith. James lives with his wife, Liz, in Victoria, BC. They have three adult children.
There are two options to access the New Leaf Learning Centre: a monthly subscription or a one-series pass (below). For the monthly subscription, please visit here.
The suggested amount is $30 ($10/week); simply choose your amount in the drop-down menu and “sign up now.”
We would like for you to join us, so if you can’t afford the registration at this time, please reach out to us and we will make sure you are able to participate: admin@newleafnetwork.ca
Looking for a soft place to land, a space to be held and find rest this winter? Sign up to join Beth Anne Fisher for a brief break from the busyness. Together we will spend the first 45 minutes entering into a contemplative practice, followed by 20-30 minutes of sharing and conversation for those who would like to connect further with one another.
Beth Anne Fisher is a PhD candidate at Emmanuel College (Toronto School of Theology), a candidate for ordination in the Presbyterian Church, and is training as a spiritual director. Her ministry leadership and academic work are rooted in contemplative spiritual practices and informed by the social sciences.
$45 for three sessions, No preparation needed!
Registration is now closed.
Stay tuned for registration information for the next session.
Jodi Spargur is a Settler of Nordic/German heritage who lives as a guest on unceded Coast Salish territory on the west coast of Canada. She leads Red Clover Initiatives, which works to heal and restore relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous neighbours across Canada. This book grew out of Jodi’s PhD studies with NAIITS, an Indigenous Learning Community exploring Indigenous theology and Christian ethics. In addition to this work, Jodi finds renewal outdoors—fishing, camping, and spending time on the land connecting with the places and people who inspire her work for right-relationship.
Ticket: Free (please register to reserve your tickets)
Book Pre-order: $20
Books will be available at the event (limited supply, pre-order to reserve your copy)
BONUS WEEK
Prayer for Justice
Challenged and inspired by our Jesus and Justice book club, we’ve sensed the collective call to set aside this Thursday to pray together during our Learning Centre time.
Prayer, as Jesus teaches it, isn’t meant to stay private or abstract. It has always been meant to shape us for engagement on behalf of our marginalized neighbours. As Joash's work reminded us, at the centre of this is the Lord’s Prayer, a prayer that forms our imaginations, aligns our hearts with God’s justice, and draws us into God’s liberating work in the world.
As we pray for one another, our churches, our neighbourhoods, Canada and our world, we trust that fear and apathy are slowly transformed into empathy and love. It is our hope that this time of prayer together can become the ground from which faithful action grows, not action for its own sake, but action that reflects the heart of God.
In a world where “thoughts and prayers” are too often offered instead of presence or engagement, The Justice of Jesus reminds us that prayer was never meant to be an escape from action. It’s meant to form people who actually move toward their neighbours - with care, humility, and compassion.
Join us Thursday, February 5th, for a time of prayer, reflection and a space to hold grief, gratitude, hope and lament together as we pray together.
This January in the Learning Centre, we’re launching a new book club exploring The Justice of Jesus, a book by first-time Canadian author Joash Thomas. The book asks an honest question: What if the way many of us were taught to follow Jesus is missing something essential? What if there is more to the gospel, something deeply rooted in Scripture and profoundly lived out through care for the vulnerable, solidarity with our neighbours, and hope-filled action in our communities?
Public theologian, Joash Thomas, draws on his global ministry experience to show that justice is not a political add-on to Christian faith; it is central to the way of Jesus. Through real stories, practical steps, and accessible discipleship practices, he helps us imagine how ordinary people and local churches can become tangible signs of healing and hope.
If you’re longing for a deeper, more grounded vision of discipleship, one that shapes how we pray, serve, organize, and love here in Canada, this book club is for you. Together, we’ll explore how the justice of Jesus can take root in our own contexts and inspire meaningful change right where we live. Grab your book over the holidays and start reading!
Join us on Thursday, Jan 8, 15, 22, 29, 2026. 1:30-3:00 pm (Eastern) online.
January 8th
Part 1: Cheap justice versus the justice of Jesus
1. Why Justice seems antithetical to the Western church
2. The cost of just discipleship
3. How churches today are prioritizing Justice
January 15th - Live conversation and author hang with author, Joash Thomas
January 22nd
Part 2: Decolonizing the Western Church
4. Decolonizing our theology
5. Decolonizing our communities
6. Decolonizing our budget
January 29th
Part 3: Your local church can prioritize the Justice of Jesus
7. Prayer
8. Advocacy
9. Partnership
February 5th
Prayer for Justice
Learning Centre sessions are recorded and made available afterwards for those who sign up but cannot attend in person
Rev. Joash P. Thomas is a public theologian. Born and raised in India, Joash served as a U.S. political consultant and lobbyist before pivoting to global human rights advocacy. Now based in the Toronto area, he holds a master’s degree in Political Management from The George Washington University and holds two master’s degrees from Dallas Theological Seminary in Christian Leadership and Theology. An ordained Deacon in the Diocese of St. Anthony, Joash is also the author of The Justice of Jesus (published by Brazos Press / Baker Publishing).
There are two options to access the New Leaf Learning Centre: a monthly subscription or a one-series pass (below). For the monthly subscription, please visit here.
Join us for a bonus week where we will be praying for Justice! This bonus week is free, simply select $0 when you register.
For the whole series of recordings, the suggested amount is $40 ($10/week); choose your amount in the drop-down menu and “sign up now.”
We would like for you to join us, so if you can’t afford the registration at this time, please reach out to us, and we will make sure you are able to participate: admin@newleafnetwork.ca
In need of some solace? Looking for comfort and consolation in these overwhelming times? Come away for a time of rest at Crieff Hills retreat centre and regenerative farm.
This contemplative treat is facilitated by Beth Anne Fisher, with a combination of structured sessions, individual quiet time, and free time to rest, explore the Crieff Hills property, and connect with other retreatants. Space is limited to 12 guests.
Despite our best efforts, Advent and the Christmas season can often feel overwhelming, busy and rushed. We want to offer you a gift in this season - the gift of a slowed-down place (at least for an hour or so).
Carve out time for prayer, stillness and silence on Thursday, December 4th and December 11th. Join this Advent Learning Centre space where, together, we'll enter into a time of prayer, silence, and other spiritual practices to make room for what is to come. God’s gaze is always waiting for us, especially in this time of Advent, so we want to slow down and pay attention to the Spirit in our midst. Come be refreshed - come and "be" this Advent season.
Learning Centre sessions are recorded and made available afterwards for those who sign up but cannot attend in person
Elle Pyke is the Director of Programs & Innovation for the New Leaf Network. Elle has served on the board of a number of organizations such as Women Powering Technology Global, TEDxWaterlooWomen and The Christian Entrepreneurial Leaders Organization. She is currently pursuing her MA in Theology and Culture from the Institute for Religion, Peace and Justice at St Stephen's University. She loves spending time with friends and family, the great outdoors and all things New Leaf.
Beth Anne Fisher is a PhD candidate in Theology at Emmanuel College, part of the Toronto School of Theology, and has a Masters of Divinity from Wycliffe College in the same consortium. They belong to the Christian tradition and also have extensive experience working in interfaith contexts.
Their education and career have led them to explore how faith leaders can build integrated theological and spiritual practices that help them lead with integrity and hope, building communities of spiritual healing rather than harm.
There are two options to access the New Leaf Learning Centre: a monthly subscription or a one-series pass (below). For the monthly subscription, please visit here.
The suggested amount is $20 ($10/week); simply choose your amount in the drop-down menu and “sign up now.”
We would like for you to join us, so if you can’t afford the registration at this time, please choose the $0 option. If you are able to bless New Leaf this Christmas season to support the work we do, please choose the $50 option.
Join us for a chance to read Mend: An Invitation from Jesus to Return to Land-Based Repair together with others from across Canada. We will hear from author, Jodi Spargur and dig into the book together.
About Mend:
Are you searching for a meaningful way to respond to the challenges of colonization? Mend: An Invitation from Jesus to Return to Land-Based Repair offers a hands-on pathway for Christians in Canada and beyond to pursue a path of repairing right relations. Centred around the story of Zacchaeus from the Gospel of Luke (Luke 19:1–27), this book serves as a guide, recovering repair as central to discipleship and the restoration of communities to health. Let Mend invite you into a journey of hope, transformation and even joy—discover practical steps to embrace repair and experience the life-changing impact of following Jesus to repair the damage of the colonial project.
November 6, 2025 - Reading Introduction, Prologue & chapters 1 together.
November 13, 2025 - Reading chapters 2 - 4 together.
November 20, 2025 - Reading chapters 5-7 & conclusion together.
November 27, 2025 - Hear from Jodi Spargur about the book and what prompted her to write.
For information on where to pick up a copy of the book, visit newleafnetwork.ca/mend
Learning Centre sessions are recorded and made available afterwards for those who sign up but cannot attend in person
Jodi Spargur is a Settler of Nordic/German heritage who lives as a guest on unceded Coast Salish territory on the west coast of Canada. She leads Red Clover Initiatives, which works to heal and restore relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous neighbours across Canada. This book grew out of Jodi’s PhD studies with NAIITS, an Indigenous Learning Community exploring Indigenous theology and Christian ethics. In addition to this work, Jodi finds renewal outdoors—fishing, camping, and spending time on the land connecting with the places and people who inspire her work for right-relationship.
There are two options to access the New Leaf Learning Centre: a monthly subscription or a one-series pass (below). For the monthly subscription, please visit here.
The suggested amount is $40 ($10/week); simply choose your amount in the drop-down menu and “sign up now.”
We would like for you to join us, so if you can’t afford the registration at this time, please reach out to us and we will make sure you are able to participate: admin@newleafnetwork.ca
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm with light refreshments
6:45 Traditional Welcome
Jodi Spargur is a Settler of Nordic/German heritage who lives as a guest on unceded Coast Salish territory on the west coast of Canada. She leads Red Clover Initiatives, which works to heal and restore relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous neighbours across Canada. This book grew out of Jodi’s PhD studies with NAIITS, an Indigenous Learning Community exploring Indigenous theology and Christian ethics. In addition to this work, Jodi finds renewal outdoors—fishing, camping, and spending time on the land connecting with the places and people who inspire her work for right-relationship.
Ticket: $15
Ticket & Book bundle: $30
Book at the event: $20 (limited supply, pre-order to reserve your copy)
Online Registration is now closed. Purchase your ticket at the door.
Presented in partnership with CareImpact
What does it look like for Canadian churches to move beyond the sidelines and step into faithful presence in the everyday life of their neighbourhoods with wisdom and care? Too often, churches either retreat from community engagement, outsourcing “good neighbouring” to nonprofits and government or rush in with well-meaning passion that, without discernment, can cause harm.
Neighbour Up! is a four-week Learning Centre series inspired by CareImpact’s newly released small group discipleship resource launching across Canada this October. It is designed for community-minded pastors and leaders who long to see their congregations and communities rooted more deeply in place. This isn’t about adding more programs to an already full church calendar or trying to “fix” neighbourhoods. It’s about activating the whole church to recover the lost art of neighbouring as a way of following Jesus. Take this 4-week journey with us, where together we will explore how the pain points churches often face can be transformed into pathways of discipleship, deeper community, faithful presence, and renewed witness in Canada.
Join us as we learn practical, relational ways to grow in spiritual formation and connect more authentically with the communities God has called us to love.
October 9: Relational Fitness
Healthy communities start with healthy relationships. We’ll uncover what drives us and what holds us back from building strong, trust-filled connections. Together we’ll explore how strengthening our “relational muscles” in the Church leads to more authentic and resilient communities.
October 16: Holy Disruption
Comfort, packed schedules, and old patterns can keep Christians from following Jesus. We’ll explore how to help churches welcome disruption as an invitation to loosen our grip on our agendas in order to make room for what really matters.
October 23: Rethinking Poverty
Poverty touches all of us in different ways. In this session, we’ll uncover the mindsets and cycles that shape how the Church sees poverty, and explore why addressing them is key to creating space for empathy, dignity, and mutuality with our neighbours.
October 30: Radical Presence
Trauma is all around us, often hidden in plain sight. We’ll explore how to make trauma care accessible for everyday believers who might otherwise shrink back or cause unintended harm in their church or community. Together, we’ll discuss valuable ways to create felt safety in the Church and in the community.
Learning Centre sessions are recorded and made available afterwards for those who sign up but cannot attend in person
Wendi Park, MA is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of CareImpact, an entrepreneurial charity equipping the Canadian Church to love God and their neighbours well. With a background in urban church planting, community development, correctional justice, newcomer settlement, and peace mediation, Wendi brings deep experience at the intersection of theology and practice. Born and raised in Canadian evangelical church culture and then shaped by her lived experiences on Turtle Island, Bolivia, Palestine, and Israel, Wendi draws from an eclectic “cloud of witnesses” who have mentored her to reimagine the Church in Canada as one that is rooted in community. Wendi is married to Co-founder Dr. Harold Park and is a mom and grandma to a large, unconventional, multi-ethnic family brought together by birth, adoption, and kinship.
There are two options to access the New Leaf Learning Centre: a monthly subscription or a one-series pass (below). For the monthly subscription, please visit here.
The suggested amount is $40 ($10/week); simply choose your amount in the drop-down menu and “sign up now.”
We would like for you to join us, so if you can’t afford the registration at this time, please reach out to us and we will make sure you are able to participate: admin@newleafnetwork.ca
co-presented by New Leaf Network & St. Stephen’s University
Join us on Tuesday, October 7 at Lakeside Church (Guelph, ON) for an evening of chai, samosas, and conversation with Canadian Christian authors, Rev. Joash P. Thomas (The Justice of Jesus) and Dr. Bradley Jersak. This conversation will be hosted by Pastor Robyn Elliott (Lakeside Church) in partnership with The New Leaf Network and St. Stephen's University.
Come for the chai and samosas. Stay for a conversation on Justice and Decolonization. And then hang back for a book signing where you can get your copies of The Justice of Jesus autographed by Joash.
To help cover the costs associated with the event and to bless the work of The New Leaf Network, this is a ticketed event with two tiers of tickets: $10 for entry (includes chai & samosas) or $25 for entry + a free, signed copy of Joash’s book, which you can receive and have signed at the book signing.
Space and books are limited, so buy your tickets today!
Ticket: $10 (includes chai & samosas)
Ticket & signed Book bundle: $25 ((includes chai, samosas & book)
Join us on Saturday, October 4, at Wellspring Worship Centre (North York, ON) for an evening of chai, samosas, and conversation with two first-time Christian authors, Rev. Joash P. Thomas (The Justice of Jesus) and Brian Recker (Hell Bent) both share from their newly launched books and discuss liberative theologies with veteran Canadian author, Sheila Gregoire. This conversation will be hosted by Pastor James Sholl, presented in partnership with The New Leaf Network.
Come for the chai and samosas. Stay for a conversation on Justice, Decolonization & Hell with the authors. And then hang back for a book signing where you can get your copies of The Justice of Jesus and Hell Bent autographed.
To help cover the costs associated with the event and to bless the work of The New Leaf Network, this is a ticketed event with two tiers of tickets:
$10 for entry (includes chai & samosas)
$25 for entry + a free, signed copy of Joash’s book, which you can receive and have signed at the book signing.
Brian will also have copies of his book on site for sale for anyone wanting to get a signed copy during the book signing.
Space and books are limited, so buy your tickets today!
Ticket: $10 (includes chai & samosas)
Ticket & signed Book bundle: $25 ((includes chai, samosas & book)
In need of some solace? Looking for comfort and consolation in these overwhelming times? Come away for a time of rest at Crieff Hills retreat centre and regenerative farm.
This contemplative treat is facilitated by Beth Anne Fisher, with a combination of structured sessions, individual quiet time, and free time to rest, explore the Crieff Hills property, and connect with other retreatants. Space is limited to 12 guests.
Come celebrate the launch of Mend with food, music, and an opportunity to hear from both the artist who designed the stunning book cover and get a teaser about the book.
7:00 pm Doors open
7:15 Welcome and storytelling
Jodi Spargur is a Settler of Nordic/German heritage who lives as a guest on unceded Coast Salish territory on the west coast of Canada. She leads Red Clover Initiatives, which works to heal and restore relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous neighbours across Canada. This book grew out of Jodi’s PhD studies with NAIITS, an Indigenous Learning Community exploring Indigenous theology and Christian ethics. In addition to this work, Jodi finds renewal outdoors—fishing, camping, and spending time on the land connecting with the places and people who inspire her work for right-relationship.
Ticket: $25
Ticket & Book bundle: $40
Book at the event: $20 (limited supply, pre-order to reserve your copy)
Registration is now full. There might be a bit of space if you join us at 7 pm and pay at the door.
Presented in partnership with Shalem Mental Health Network
Are you unsure how to talk about mental health in your Church and Ministry? When anxiety, depression, or emotional struggles affect your church or team, do you feel prepared to respond with care and confidence? What role does mental wellbeing play in helping your faith community truly flourish?
In this Learning Centre series we will discuss the “What?”, “Why?”, and "How?” of understanding and cultivating mental wellbeing in Church and Ministry. We will explore together some practical, proven strategies for supporting mental wellbeing, not just reactively but proactively, to invest in a flourishing community. By the end of this four-part series, you’ll gain a clearer vision of what flourishing mental wellbeing looks like in Church and in Ministry—and walk away with practical tools to help you cultivate it with confidence and care.
September 11, 2025 - What is "Mental Wellbeing" and how do we see it impacting our Church and Ministries here in Canada? with Tom Jantzi, MA, RP, Director of Counselling Assistance Plan and Clergy Care at Shalem Mental Health Network
September 18, 2025 - An exploration of practical strategies and mental health tools for supporting mental wellbeing in Church and Ministry with Tom Jantzi, MA, RP, Director of Counselling Assistance Plan and Clergy Care at Shalem Mental Health Network
September 25, 2025 - Supporting Mental and Relational Wellbeing Through Circle Processes with Anne Martin, PhD, Director of Restorative Practices at Shalem Mental Health Network
Mental and relational wellbeing are deeply connected and relational well-being comes with practice. This session will explore an approach to develop relational well-being through explicit and intentional circle processes. Participants will learn the “why” of circles and the basics of how to facilitate circles. Participants will also consider ways to introduce circle processes to their communities.
October 2, 2025 - Effective Decision-Making: Supporting Mental Wellbeing and Community Building Through Fair Process with Anne Martin, PhD, Director of Restorative Practices at Shalem Mental Health Network
Poor decision-making frequently leads to conflict in faith communities. This session will introduce the concept of Fair Process, i.e., that Individuals are most likely to trust and co-operate freely with systems whether they themselves win or lose by those systems when fair process is observed. (Kim & Mauborgne, 1997, 2003) Participants will consider the impact of the lack of Fair Process and ways Fair Process builds community. Participants will also consider ways they can introduce Fair Process to their communities.
Learning Centre sessions are recorded and made available afterwards for those who sign up but cannot attend in person
Tom Jantzi is the Director of the Congregational Assistance Plan (CAP) and Clergy Care programs at Shalem Mental Health Network. As a practicing Registered Psychotherapist with previous experience in pastoral ministry and management with a national Employee Assistance Program (EAP) he brings a unique perspective to the direction of these Shalem programs. Through his work experiences, Tom has witnessed the value and impact that accessible, confidential, and professional mental health supports can have on workplaces and communities of all sizes.
Tom holds a Bachelor of Arts in Church Ministries from Pacific Life Bible College and a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University. When he is not working, Tom loves hiking and tracking wildlife with his wife, and their quirky rescue dog, Zoey. He also enjoys backpacking, playing soccer, and holding out hope for the Maple Leafs!
Anne Martin is the Director of Restorative Practices at Shalem Mental Health Network and holds a M.A. in Religion and Culture and a Ph.D. in Religious Studies. She is trained in Restorative Practices and a founding member of the FaithCARE steering team, an ecumenical organization supported by Shalem that offers a restorative response to conflict and a process to become restorative congregations.
Anne’s work experience includes volunteer coordinator with the Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture, lecturer in Religious Studies and Women’s Studies, and program coordinator in the areas of small group ministry and spiritual formation for the United Church of Canada. Anne is a skilled small group facilitator and workshop leader. She is the author of Rooted in the Divine: Nurturing Our Faith Through Small Group Ministry, Toronto, United Church, 2004 and Exploring Faith Questions: Journeys of Faith and Spirituality, Toronto, United Church, 2004. Anne has two terrific children. She loves to travel, write, and learn about just about anything.
There are two options to access the New Leaf Learning Centre: a monthly subscription or a one-series pass (below). For the monthly subscription, please visit here.
The suggested amount is $40 ($10/week); simply choose your amount in the drop-down menu and “sign up now.”
We would like for you to join us, so if you can’t afford the registration at this time, please reach out to us and we will make sure you are able to participate: admin@newleafnetwork.ca
The Learning Centre is preparing to take its summer break. We want to reflect on the year that was. The things that challenged us, the things that brought us joy and hope, and how these sacred conversations helped us better follow Jesus. We will offer some prayers and blessings for the Learning Centre community and send us all into the Summer in a good way! Everyone is welcome, free registration.
Elle Pyke is the Director of Programs & Innovation for the New Leaf Network. Elle has served on the board of a number of organizations such as Women Powering Technology Global, TEDxWaterlooWomen and The Christian Entrepreneurial Leaders Organization. She is currently pursuing her MA in Theology and Culture from the Institute for Religion, Peace and Justice at St Stephen's University. She loves spending time with friends and family, the great outdoors and all things New Leaf.
Jared Siebert serves in many capacities in the Canadian Church. He founded an organization of missional church leaders called the New Leaf Network and is one of Canada’s leading inter-denominational church planter trainers. But church planting isn’t the only kind of experience he has garnered. In his ministry roles Jared has had the opportunity to work with churches of all kinds from all over Canada. He has acted as a consultant in churches large and small, urban and rural, and new and long established. He has written a discipleship curriculum, a handbook on church planter training, and a Church Health workbook called the LifePlan. As a sought after speaker and consultant Jared is uniquely able to draw insight and inspiration from a variety of sources and bring that to the table as he helps churches move toward unity and the mission of God.
Amy Bratton is the Director of Operations & Publishing for the New Leaf Network and the project manager for the Canadian Multivocational Ministry Project. She lives in Saskatoon, SK with her husband, Tim, and their two sons, Oswald and Ira. She is a lay leader at Riversdale Neighbours church and an Adjunct Professor with Rocky Mountain College in the area of Spiritual Formation. She writes and speaks about the history of Christian spirituality, with a focus on the early Methodist understanding of Christian maturity known as “perfect love.” Read more from her in her book Witnesses of Perfect Love: Narratives of Christian Perfection in Early Methodism.
Amy Bratton is the Director of Operations & Publishing for the New Leaf Network and the editor of the annual Advent Reader. She lives in Saskatoon, SK, with her husband, Tim, and their two sons. She is a lay leader at Riversdale Neighbours church and an Adjunct Professor with Rocky Mountain College in the area of Spiritual Formation. She writes and speaks about the history of Christian spirituality, with a focus on the early Methodist understanding of Christian maturity known as “perfect love.” Read more from her in her book Witnesses of Perfect Love: Narratives of Christian Perfection in Early Methodism.
There are two options to access the New Leaf Learning Centre: a monthly subscription or a one-series pass (below). This session is available for free or a suggested donation of $10. For the monthly subscription, please visit here.
This session is free, or we welcome your financial support with a suggested amount of $10., Simply click “sign up now” and select $0 or $10.
In need of some solace? Looking for comfort and consolation in these overwhelming times? Come away for a time of rest at Crieff Hills retreat centre and regenerative farm.
This contemplative treat is facilitated by Beth Anne Fisher, with a combination of structured sessions, individual quiet time, and free time to rest, explore the Crieff Hills property, and connect with other retreatants. Space is limited to 12 guests.
Join us as we share some “notes from the road” from our Blessed are the Undone travelogue. We'll share reflections from the road, connect with author Angela Reitsma Bick and explore what comes next as we continue to imagine communities of reconstruction. Whether you went for the soup, the conferences and stories, or the spirit of evening gatherings in churches across the West, you're part of this growing conversation, and we want to stay connected!
Elle Pyke is the Director of Programs & Innovation for the New Leaf Network. Elle has served on the board of a number of organizations such as Women Powering Technology Global, TEDxWaterlooWomen and The Christian Entrepreneurial Leaders Organization. She is currently pursuing her MA in Theology and Culture from the Institute for Religion, Peace and Justice at St Stephen's University. She loves spending time with friends and family, the great outdoors and all things New Leaf.
Jared Siebert serves in many capacities in the Canadian Church. He founded an organization of missional church leaders called the New Leaf Network and is one of Canada’s leading inter-denominational church planter trainers. But church planting isn’t the only kind of experience he has garnered. In his ministry roles Jared has had the opportunity to work with churches of all kinds from all over Canada. He has acted as a consultant in churches large and small, urban and rural, and new and long established. He has written a discipleship curriculum, a handbook on church planter training, and a Church Health workbook called the LifePlan. As a sought after speaker and consultant Jared is uniquely able to draw insight and inspiration from a variety of sources and bring that to the table as he helps churches move toward unity and the mission of God.
Amy Bratton is the Director of Operations & Publishing for the New Leaf Network and the project manager for the Canadian Multivocational Ministry Project. She lives in Saskatoon, SK with her husband, Tim, and their two sons, Oswald and Ira. She is a lay leader at Riversdale Neighbours church and an Adjunct Professor with Rocky Mountain College in the area of Spiritual Formation. She writes and speaks about the history of Christian spirituality, with a focus on the early Methodist understanding of Christian maturity known as “perfect love.” Read more from her in her book Witnesses of Perfect Love: Narratives of Christian Perfection in Early Methodism.
There are two options to access the New Leaf Learning Centre: a monthly subscription or a one-series pass (below). For the monthly subscription, please visit here.
The suggested amount is $10/week, simply click “sign up now.”
We would like for you to join us, so if you can’t afford the registration at this time, please reach out to us and we will make sure you are able to participate: admin@newleafnetwork.ca
Blessed are the Undone is a new book about the Canadian church. Join us for a day of conversation about faith reconstruction and the way forward for Canada today.
Blessed are the Undone is a new book about the Canadian church. Join us for a day of conversation about faith reconstruction and the way forward for Canada today.
Blessed are the Undone is a new book about the Canadian church. Join us for a day of conversation about faith reconstruction and the way forward for Canada today.
Blessed are the Undone is a new book about the Canadian church. Join us for a day of conversation about faith reconstruction and the way forward for Canada today.
Blessed are the Undone is a new book about the Canadian church. Join us for a day of conversation about faith reconstruction and the way forward for Canada today.
Join us for a bowl of soup and some good conversation.
Ticket: $15
Ticket & Book bundle: $35
Book at the event: $25
Note: to add both the event and the book to your cart, click the book first, then return to this window to register.
Ticket: $15
Ticket & Book bundle: $35
Book at the event: $25
Note: to add both the event and the book to your cart, click the book first, then return to this window to register.
