June Benefits Newsletter

I was able to use my continuing education funds for travel and programming to attend the Engage Difference – Deepening Understand of Intercultural Ministry. This one was held from April 15 to 19, 2024 at the Sandy-Saulteaux Spiritual Center near Beausejour, Manitoba.

It was an engaging week with a diverse group of colleagues, many of whom were Indigenous folx in Indigenous ministry contexts. They led us in worship and talking circles and incorporated some of their sacred ceremonies.

I was amazed how well the talking circles worked at getting us to open up to one another in intimate and caring ways, which aided in our learning.

There was a lot of education and engagement packed into that short week. We started by examining our own culture and contexts and how that influences how we see the world. We finished by engaging in a compassionate communication process, which taught us how to engage with differing opinions in a healthy way.

We came away with many tools for engaging cultures in our own individual communities and contexts. It was a rewarding and enriching experience, and I would highly recommend it as a great use of continuing education time and funds.

Rev. Steve Hoffard
Trinity Lutheran – Tavistock

The profound week began with worship, getting to know one another, and setting the standard and safe place where we would go to share bravely and learn to trust those gathered to carry our stories without bias.

It was only a week, and yet, we were opened to identifying unconscious biases and the rootedness, seen and unseen, of culture. It was enriching to decipher between cross-cultural and intercultural experiences, which paved a way for me to be conscious of the ways in which I see culture and the current society around me.

The inventory on White Privilege, introduced in her book by Peggy McIntosh, was astounding in explaining the way I have been trained to rethink how I see the society around me.

Each day ended with time for us to reflect on the day so we may heal, not always from the harm from outside, but from the harm from within. Knowing that we gathered together on Holy Ground reminded me of the sacredness of the space and of the experience.

Throughout the week we explored power, privilege, empowerment, domination, confidence and competence, liberation, oppression and healing. We unpacked the concepts through various activities which remain with me.

I give thanks to Jonathan Schmidt and Carmen Ramirez, for their wisdom and facilitation in a safe and brave manner making way for each participant to echo the same. This opportunity from the Canadian Council of Churches, endorsed and encouraged by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, is a testament and strength to our ministry with each other to see the Christ beyond the most prevalent image.

Pastor Prema Samuel
Assistant to the Bishop, ABT Synod, Edmonton, AB

In July of 2023, I had the privilege of attending the Engage Difference training week hosted by the Forum for Intercultural Leadership and Learning (Canadian Council of Churches) in Edmonton, Alberta. It was some of the best professional developing training I have taken to date in my adult life.

We began and ended each day with worship around our prayer altar — an altar that we all shared in creating together. Our work was bathed in prayer, relationship, and connection. This sacred space became our grounding as we engaged difficult conversations around:

• systemic racism in religious groups and spaces
• the barriers queer, nonbinary, and transgender people continue to face in sacred and cultural communities
• the presence of ableism
• and so many more systemic injustices our congregations need to contend with as people of God.

We began practicing conflict management and deeper listening skills, learned how to use various techniques in beginning these hard conversations. and even had the chance to take field trips in the Edmonton community. We had the chance to visit some local Indigenous art spaces and monuments and had the gift of a tour of Gurdwara Millwoods.

It was a week full of intensity and intention, hard conversations and healing words, all wrapped in sacred love. I would highly encourage all rostered and lay leaders to jump at the chance to participate in an Engage Difference event. It is training so necessary for ministry and community shaping in our world, and for our own personal transformation.

Pastor Erin Thomas
Trinity Lutheran Church, Edmonton

Rev. Prema Samuel, Rev. Erin Thomas, Dr. Faith Nostbakken, and Rev. Lindsey Jorgensen-Skakum

In the Summer of 2023, I was blessed to be able to attend the Forum for Intercultural Leadership and Learning Engage Difference DUIM program in Edmonton Alberta. It was an amazing chance to grow both in my understanding of diversity and inclusion but also explore culture, conflict, theology, and their integration within our communities.

Throughout the week, we learned with and from one another as we shared about our backgrounds, privileges, cultures, and gifts. It was also a time of confession, lament, inspiration, and hope as we collectively yearned to bring forth the teachings and lessons we were carrying in our hearts. One quote I have come to hold dear from these times of conversation is:

“The world in which you were born is just one reality. Other cultures are not failed attempts at being you. They are unique manifestations of the human spirit” –Wade Davis

As a capstone moment for our course, we had the wonderful opportunity to join our siblings of faith at the Sikh Gurdwara Millwoods to learn about their devotion and call to service — all while enjoying amazing hospitality and care through food and conversation. We also had the gift to hear from an interfaith panel of leaders on their place within the Canadian context, and explored the ways we might share the rich teachings of this week within our communities when we returned home.

I am thankful for the gift of so many colleagues to share this course with — especially Synod of Alberta and the Territories Assistant to the Bishop, Rev. Bernice Prema Samuel, and ELCIC Assistant to the Bishop for equity, diversity, and inclusion, Carmen Ramirez, who was an amazing facilitator for this course.

Learn more about intercultural leadership and ministry learning: Forum for Intercultural Leadership

Pastor Lindsey Jorgensen-Skakum
ABT Synod