Each year the CBWC family of churches gathers together all those who have been set aside by their churches for ordination.  ORDINATION IS A LOCAL CHURCH RESPONSIBILITY, HOWEVER regional church clusters and denominational groups participate in the educating, providing of resources, framing and discernment process.

This year's gathering of "ordinands" (those who are candidates for ministry) also include those whose ordination is being recognized from other churches.  Those churches can include but are not limited to Baptist World Alliance denominations, Salvation Army, Alliance, Evangelical Free and some forms of Mennonite.

The time together has at its core an opportunity for those present to share and get feedback on their ordination paper prepared for presentation at this year's ordination examining council.  That council will be held at the British Columbia Assembly/CBWC Gathering (June 30- July 4) in Vancouver. 

The second part of the mini semester is providing resources through various speakers.  This year's speakers included:

            Paddy Ducklow                Pastoral Care and Boundaries

            Jonathan Wilson               Theological Reflection: Discussion of Contemporary Theological Issues

            Axel Schoeber                 The Meaning of Ordination

            John Prociuk                   Clergy Care

            Jeremy Bell                     Introduction to the Denomination

Brian Stelck chairs, mentors and cares for those in the process for which we are all extremely thankful.

The mini semester participants this year are:

Aaron Nhlazane, Roseau River Baptist Church, Roseau River, Manitoba

Allan Tam, Grace Community Baptist Church, Vancouver, B.C.

Clark Taylor, First Baptist Church, Penticton, B.C.

Dan Rutherford, Gateway Baptist Church, Victoria, B.C.

Darrell Johnson, First Baptist Church, Vancouver, B.C.

David Nacho, Grandview Calvary Baptist Church, Vancouver, B.C., in conjunction with CBM

Doug McLellan, White Rock Baptist Church, White Rock, B.C.

Jeremy Keay, First Baptist Church, Edmonton, Alberta

Jim Walton, Burnaby North Baptist Church, Burnaby, B.C.

Joy Banks, Grandview Calvary Baptist Church, Vancouver, B.C.

Mark Rajan, Grace Community Baptist Church, Vancouver, B.C.

Mary Widmer, Southwest Community Baptist Church, Kamloops, B.C.

Peter Elias, First Baptist Church, Thompson, Manitoba

Shaun Jessop, Gateway Baptist Church, Victoria, B.C.

Tim Coleman, First Baptist Church, Kitimat, B.C.

Travis Stewart, Peninsula Mission, Sidney. B. C.

Wally Pohlmann, Peace Community Church, Taylor, B.C.

Warmly

In Christ,

Jeremy

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Three brief, but very important things this week.

First, an apology (which was not asked for, but is very important to offer) to the very gifted folk at Children and Families' ministry.  I published in my newsletter last week our internal reports from the ministry.  I did not check with them and did not ask them to go over their work.  I am very sorry; it would drive me stark raving mad if someone did that to me.  I'll let CFAM's excellent material come through them in the future and am sorry for any concern it may have caused.

Secondly, the incredible devastation that has occurred in Haiti has been felt all over the world and particularly amongst the Haitian community in Canada. My brother-in-law, Uriel Pierre, married to my sister Jennifer, is from Haiti and has an uncle, aunt and cousins who are safe.  Carmen MacMillan is coordinating aspects of the CBM response; Gord King in Sharing Way has obtained matching funds from CEDA.  The contact numbers from CBM are:

               online: https://www.cbmin.org/cbm/donate    

               by mail send cheques to:
            Canadian Baptist Ministries, 7185 Millcreek Drive, Mississauga, ON L5N 5R4

               Or by phone: (905) 821-3533

Lastly, I have been carrying around CBM's magazine MOSAIC from Summer 2009, meaning to write about it, encouraging us all to receive it or read it online at http://www.cbmin.org/cbm/mosaic

Jennifer Lau is the Managing Editor and creative genius around CBM communications.  The Editor is Laurena Zondo and Associate Editor is Giselle Culver.  The graphics and "production values" are outstanding; see page 11 and the flower in the pop can; the "CBM Year in Review" is essential reading; and there are articles on children, living out integral mission and on high school activism.  Encouraging, clever, and compelling work.  To order: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Blessings,

Warmly

In Christ,

Jeremy

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