ARW/HF Bi-Regional Theme Speaker:

Photo Credit: The United Church of Canada

Our Guest Theme Speaker for the Bi-Regional Council Spring Meeting is:

The Right Rev. Dr. Kimberly Heath (she/her) was elected as Moderator of The United Church of Canada on August 9, 2025 in Calgary, Alberta by the 45th General Council. Born in Lusaka, Zambia, and raised in Canada, Rev. Dr. Kimberly Heath was ordained in 1999.

ARW/HF Bi-Regional Ecumenical Guest:

Lillian Daniel is a nationally recognized preacher, teacher and writer who cares deeply about clergy and congregations, who has taught preaching in many settings including Chicago Theological Seminary, University of Chicago Divinity School, and Yale Divinity School.

As a preacher, she has spoken at the National Cathedral, Duke Chapel, King’s College, London and Queen’s College, Ontario, but these days you are most likely to find her speaking at United Church of Christ churches across the state of Michigan, where she has served as the Conference Minister since 2022.

A widely read author, her latest book Defrocked: Good News from a Bad Pastor for a Better Church reflects on the pastoral life and continues themes of her other books, Tired of Apologizing for a Church I Don’t Belong To, When ‘Spiritual But Not Religious’ Is Not

Enough and This Odd and Wondrous Calling which is taught in many seminaries. Featured in the New York Times and on PBS, Lillian Daniel’s writing has been described as “biting, hilarious, pitch perfect, tender, and often stunningly beautiful.”

A graduate of Yale Divinity School, she began her ministry as an Associate Pastor at a large church in Cheshire, Connecticut. From there she became a Solo Pastor at a small urban church in New Haven, Connecticut where the choir outnumbered the congregation, but over eight years, they grew to become a vibrant, interracial, community that also became Open and Affirming. This would be the first of three churches to go through the Open and Affirming process under her pastoral leadership, which also includes extensive experience organizing for justice in politically diverse settings, having served on the boards of Arise Chicago and Interfaith Worker Justice She currently on the serves on the Board of Directors for the United Church of Christ National setting and the Community Renewal Society. In the United Church of Christ, she is a regular writer for the UCC Stillspeaking Devotionals, and was a founding member of the UCC Writer’s Group that has produced many written materials for the denomination.

Kids and Youth

Yay! You are coming to the HF & ARW Spring Meeting 

Now what? 

Soon we will be gathering at the joint ARW & HF Regional Gathering in London on June 26-28. This is an information package for our children and youth program to help you prepare and know what to expect.

Find out more here!

WORKSHOPS FOR ARW/HF SPRING MEETING Descriptions

Time: 7pm on Friday June 26th, 2026

“We’re More Than a Holding Operation!” (it’ll make sense in the presentation!) – In Person Only
Join Kyle Pugh, the Ontario Regional Councils Archivist, as he talks about The United Church of Canada Archives, its holdings, the services they offer, and how they can help you and your congregation!

From Coffee to Collaboration: Shared Ministry in Southwest London – In Person Only
Come and hear from Michelle Owens, Kerry Stover and Rob Apgar Taylor about a collaboration that is happening in London- 4 churches-3 Ministers- One Spirit!

Simple Practices for Spiritual Connection – In Person OnlyPresented by Minister Pastoral Support Laurie Stevenson. In the midst of busy lives, learning to “stop and listen” is both a challenge and a gift. This workshop offers an introduction to a range of spiritual practices that invite deeper awareness of self, others and God. Through guided experiences and gentle reflection, participants will be encouraged to notice how the Spirit speaks through body, mind and soul. Come with curiosity, and leave with practices you can carry into daily life.

Faithful Conversations for Amalgamation Discernment – In Person Only
This workshop offers a guided introduction to Exploring Amalgamation Faithfully, led by Congregational Support Minister, John Neff, a resource designed to help congregations slow down, listen deeply, and approach amalgamation as a spiritual and relational journey. Participants will explore practical tools and facilitated exercises that emphasize story‑sharing, trust, pastoral care, and discernment before outcomes. Ideal for those supporting congregations navigating uncertainty, change, and shared decision‑making.

Connecting with Rural Churches – Hybrid
Eric Skillings has a passion for Rural Ministry. Eric will share practical ways to connect with your neighbouring Rural Churches. Why bother connecting with your neighbour Churches? Where do you start? How to get connected? Connecting with your neighbour can give you both new life! Over the past three years, South Kent United Churches have connected and supported each other through changes that no one could have predicted. Synergy; one + one = three.

Budgeting on Purpose: How to make your budgeting process faithful, collaborative, and even enjoyable – Hybrid
Discover how to transform your church budget from a necessary task into a meaningful expression of your ministry and calling. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to align financial decisions with your community of faith’s purpose while building a process that is collaborative, transparent, and life-giving. Whether you dread budgeting or simply want to improve it, you’ll leave with practical tools and fresh perspective. You will leave this workshop with…

• Greater hope and clarity about your next budget cycle, grounded in your church’s “why”
• Practical ideas and tools to make your budgeting process more collaborative, flexible, and forward-looking
• Confidence in connecting finances to ministry impact—telling a compelling story with your budget

CHOOSE ONE!

Register here for the Workshop you would like to attend:

ARW/HF Bi-Regional Council Spring Workshops 2026 – Fill out form

Workbook Resources and Materials

These items are pending and will be added as they become available. Please check at least the week before the meeting for any updated material.

• Workbook (complete) [PDF /  32 pages]

• President’s Message [PDF /  1 page]

• Meeting Agenda [PDF / 2 pages]

• BRAVE/Affirming Statement [PDF / 1 page]

• Proposal 1 Opening and Procedural Motion [PDF /  2 pages]

• Proposal 2  Elections/Recruitment [PDF /  1 page]

• Proposal 3 Closing Motion [PDF / 1 page]

• ARW Celebrants  [PDF / 1 page]

• ARW Retirees  [PDF / 1 page]

• Jubilands [PDF / 3 pages]

• Community of Faith Life Cycle Changes [PDF / 1 page]

• In Memoriam [PDF / 1 page]

• 2025 Apology to 2S and LGBTQIA+ People and Communities [PDF / 2 pages]

• Affirming Ministries Plan of Action [PDF / 3 pages]

• Centre for Christian Studies Report to the Region [PDF / 2 pages]

• Atlantic School of Theology Report to the Region [PDF / 2 pages]

• Emmanuel College Report to the Region [PDF / 3 pages]

• United Church Rural Ministry Network Report to the Region  [PDF / 2 pages] UCRMN 2026 Budget

• St. Andrew’s College Report to the Region  [PDF / 1 page]