Our Deacons, Deb Chapman and Shane Watson, recently returned from the 2024 national conference of Deacons, a joint event of the Anglican Church of Canada and the ELCIC (Evangelical Lutheran Church In Canada). The following report was provided by the Rev’d Shane Watson.
The theme of the conference was Beacons of Hope in a Messy World (someone, I think the Primate, commented that “Deacons” of Hope would be appropriate).
Over the course of the four days we were there we enjoyed our keynote speaker, Christian Harvey who presented a couple of energetic sessions on the theory and practice behind the six principles of Kingian Nonviolence as an approach to addressing change and conflict.
The Rev’d Shane Watson and the Rev’d Deb Chapman
We also had the opportunity to hear several other speakers: our Primate, Archbishop Linda Nicholls, who spoke about the importance of team approaches to ministry — deacons being a key part of such team approaches along with other orders of clergy and laity; Chris Harper, National Indigenous Anglican Archbishop; and a local indigenous story teller.
The Rev’d Deb Chapman
Of course, while we were there we enjoyed a banquet of wild salmon from the area and wine from a nearby indigenous winery!
Deacons Conference attendees on the lawn of the Sorrento Centre
The beautiful Sorrento Centre (Image from their web site)