104th ANNUAL CONFERENCE
"Following Jesus"
page 2
Enjoy the reports on Page 1
Saturday morning
Our day began with a time of worship led by Gavin Jensen/team.
Holy Holy Holy Lord God Almighty
Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee
The Apostles Creed was recited in unison as we affirmed our Faith together.
At 9:20 am our chair Kendal Arndt called the meeting to order and gave instructions to the delegates. The credentials committee reported 81 delegates present out of a possible 101.
We received the report of the CBC review Committee. Grace Wilson and Graham Starmer summarized the report and responded to questions. They indicated that there were significant hours of reading/interviewing and that much pain/grief was still evident. The full report was available and will soon be posted online.
Wilf Brock gave an update on the status of the CBC facilities/sale of properties. CBC Strathmore sold July 1 for more then had initially been expected. An offer is now on the table for CBC Windsor with closing date of June 15/hopefully. There are also two interested parties in the CBC Ecuador Campus, but the process is slow. The expectation is that after all the properties are sold, there will be significant funds remaining.
After the coffee break the ballot was presented and vote received. Superintendent Jeff Anderson presented the revised ECCC Constitution (Draft) and it was tabled until the Annual Meeting 2009. Online and hard copies will be available well in advance of our next annual meeting.
Blaine MacLeod gave an update/report from World Relief.
Executive Director of the Department of Ordered Ministry Dave Kersten gave a brief snapshot of Ministries/Mission of the wide Covenant Church Denomination.
We broke for lunch with much anticipation of what the afternoon would hold.
Dave Johnson
If you wish to make a comment about what's happening at this years AGM you may do so here.
Saturday afternoon
I am continually impressed by the depth and breadth of work that Christ is doing through His Church, and through the ECCC. As the unique assembly of disciples gathered together, sat through Reports concerning the ongoing service in Ecuador, Congo, Kenya, and Haiti, I felt confronted, intimidated, and humbled to be again called into ministry of this scope with my Covenant brothers and sisters.
Our Hope is Good Hope because it is in Jesus Christ – the author and perfecter of our Faith, and the head of the growing and living Church. As our little group of churches go out in love to make disciples, we anticipate the Spirit to work here at home and abroad to draw many to the one who gives us Good Hope.
Gavin Jensen
Saturday Evening
Saturday evening began with a fantastic meal and an opportunity to sit and enjoy it with others. The banquet hall at the new Community center (a great new facilities for the community with a wonderfully decorated, dedicated banquet hall) was filled to capacity.
The banquet and concert were great! It allowed us to fellowship with familiar and unfamiliar faces. After being stuffed with awesome food and desert we enjoyed Steve Bell and his music. Steve was refreshing after a long day of meetings. Not only was his music really good but it was scriptural and thought provoking.
John Drebert
The concert by Steve was a combination of stories and song with a little bit of spiritual truth to tie it all together. Sometimes his stories which kept you waiting and wanting more took longer then the songs they introduced. No one minded though as they were stories of life, His, and gave most of us (who had never heard of him before the night began) a feeling like we knew him, not just his name or his songs but Him, his relationship with his dad, his family and with our Lord and a feeling like I want those same kind of relationship for my life, honest open and caring. We went home refreshed and with hope. DM
Sunday morning Worship
“Following Jesus” was the theme of this year’s AGM. Celebrating the presence of Jesus was the aim at the Sunday morning service as delegates and members of Minnedosa Covenant Church joined together one final time. We lifted our hearts and voices in songs of worship, joined in communion, acknowledged his healing presence with prayer stations and heard a personal challenge from the book of Jonah and our personal Ninevah by Neil and Sharol Josephson. We also were given a window into Neil and Sharol’s heart, their grief and their redirection concerning CBC. Members laid hands on them as they were released and sent forth with a prayer of blessing.
We have come from many places, contribute in a variety of ways – but it was evident this morning once again that the deep connection we feel is found in following Jesus. We acknowledged our brokenness, celebrated His love and are now going forth renewed and ready to demonstrate courage and love and commitment.
A banner hanging in front of the Sanctuary at Minnedosa caught my eye it says: “Glory be to God who by his mighty power at work within us (how awesome!) is able to do far more (!!!) than we would ever dare to ask or dream of.” Eph. 3:20
It’s what “the business of the church” boils down to isn’t it? The privilege to follow – to find out what that looks like from day to day – in us and through us. It’s a joy to be on this journey together.
Trudy McIntosh
An overall impression from a Newcomer
As a newcomer to the annual conference, a few things stood out brightly within an overall wonderful weekend. First, I was quite moved by the camaraderie shared among the young and the old. I watched the older generations engaging with the younger in a spirit of genuine respect, friendship and even excitement, and the younger generations expressing warmth and loyalty to the older. As the Coordinator of Discipleship Initiatives, I was very happy to see that there is a spirit of love and unity within the conference, and felt immediately that this was going to make my work easier! What a gift it is to the Evangelical Covenant Church of Canada, when the vision and energy of youth can converge with the wisdom and blessing of our elders.
Second, I was very touched by the generous hospitality and welcome that the entire conference extended to me and to the other newcomers, reaching to us in embrace as though one body. As deep calls to deep, I felt the depth of such fellowship call forth a deep response in me, and I so look forward to visiting the churches and ministries of the many people I have met.
Finally, although there's so much more that could be said, I felt that the involvement and leadership of so many converged as a group of participants rather than actors and spectators. The one thing that I never encountered throughout the weekend was indifference. It was truly an experience of the "church gathered," and following the inspiring communion time and the moving choral benediction, I was confident that we were all dispersing to the various communities and regions of Canada not as isolated individuals or churches, but as the "church scattered."
Phil Wright
Enjoy the reports on Page 1
If you wish to make a comment about what's happening at this years AGM you may do so here.