TORONTO Saturday, September 27, 2008 Another Brick in the Wall
Just Another Brick In the Wall: Why We Don't Join Institutions Anymore     Will Our Church Have Children? Emergent Possibilities
Keynote Speaker Bob Sweetman Historian of Philosophy at the Institute for Christian Studies		Daddy's flown across the ocean Leaving just a memory Snapshot in the family album Daddy what else did you leave for me? Daddy, what'd'ja leave behind for me?!? All in all it was just a brick in the wall. All in all it was all just bricks in the wall. –Pink Floyd
King’s Christian Collegiate 528 Burnhamthorpe Road West, Oakville ON Click here for directions Visit www.oakvilletransit.com for transit information
Schedule | Keynotes | Conversations | Registration   Click here to download the brochure (PDF 329KB). Please feel free to print and distribute!

Schedule

Keynotes

Bob Sweetman was born of missionary parents in Tokyo, Japan. He surprised himself by becoming a professional medieval historian with a PhD from the University of Toronto (1988) and a historian of philosophy at the Institute for Christian Studies. Bob is married to Rosanne Lopers and has three children at or near university age, who keep him young even as they tire him out.

MORNING
Just Another Brick In the Wall: Why We Don't Join Institutions Anymore.

The world changes at a dizzying rate. Bob Sweetman tells a story about the role our social institutions—church, home, school, governments—played in that change. Those institutions were forged to build a better world. They were designed to help people with different visions share the same political, economic and religious landscape. Over the past generation, however, our society has lost much of its faith in these institutions, leaving them ill-suited to meet the challenges of our new era. Finally, Bob examines how these institutions might adapt to address these challenges.

AFTERNOON
Will Our Church Have Children? Emergent Possibilities

The difficulties faced by all institutions have in today's society also bedevil the church. The old issues—doctrinal purity, converting unbelievers, or beating back evil secular humanists—don't have much traction today. Many dismiss the church as too authoritarian, inauthentic, irrelevant and scandal prone. Bob Sweetman suggests that a large part of the problem is that the church is organized to fight yesterday's battles. He also suggests that the emergent church movement offers some valuable clues for what the church could look like beyond yesterday's battles and today's yawns.

Video: Bob talks about his keynote addresses.

Conversations

Panelists Dirk Booy, Aileen Van Ginkel and student respondent Sara Gerritsma will share their insights and experiences working within various institutions. Their conversation together with questions posed by the audience will help engender fresh ideas.

Dirk Booy is the Executive Vice President for World Vision Canada, a Christian relief, development and advocacy organization. Dirk lived and worked for more than 20 years in Africa. He served in various leadership and management positions and has extensive experience as an organizational consultant, trainer/facilitator in the areas of community and organizational development.

Aileen Van Ginkel directs the Centre for Ministry Empowerment at The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (EFC). She has served the EFC in various capacities since 1989, and is currently engaged in a study project focused on "communal discernment" practices in missional communities. Aileen and her husband, Ed, have three children, and live in King City, Ontario.

Sara Gerritsma is a second-year MA student at the Institute for Christian Studies, completing her thesis on faith, public policy, and the environment. During the last two years she has been shaped profoundly by her involvement with the Christian Reformed campus ministry at the University of Toronto, and continues to serve as an intern in that ministry. As a result, she spends much of her time talking with fellow graduate students about faith, academics, relationships, and the church.

Panelists Nathan Colquhoun, Reverend Canon Harold Nahabedian, and Jon Stanley will address issues emerging within the institutional church. Student respondent Jon Stanley will offer related reflections, speaking from his own perspective and those of his generation.

Nathan Colquhoun lives in Sarnia Ontario with his wife Rachel where he co-leads a church called theStory and runs his media company called Storyboard Solutions. He is part of the Free Methodist Church of Canada. Nathan participates in a network of emerging thinkers in Canada called Resonate. He also is part of Epiphaneia which runs conferences in the GTA. Nathan will explore the struggles between culture and the church.

The Rev'd Canon Harold Nahabedian came to the Church of St. Mary Magdalene over 25 years ago as the priest-in-charge and became rector in 1988. He is the Ecumenical Officer for the Diocese and has many relationships with the Armenian and Orthodox communities in Toronto.

Jon Stanley is a Ph.D. student at the ICS, a trained therapist, and the theology editor for The Other Journal--a progressive Christian online quarterly. Having been shaped by both the Evangelical and Reformational traditions, Jon is interested in stimulating dialogue between Emergent and Reformational Christians. Jon is married to Julie, and they have a three month old daughter, Caedance, who's not too sure about institutions.

Registration

Please register by Sept. 20th to ensure lunch availability. (contact us if registering later)

If you have any questions please contact Vidya Williams by email at or by telephone at 416-979-2331 ext.223.