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Category: Flourishing Forward

Click the links below for research on these featured topics. Use our quick search tool to explore other subjects

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Hope For the Future: The 2021 Canadian Census

I am an editor for the journal Post Christendom Studies. In the most recent issue we asked a number of scholars to reflect on the 2021 Canadian census with a view to understanding the implications of religious trends in Canada on the church today. The 2021 Canadian census confirmed trends in religious habits that are now cemented into the Canadian identity. It offered a picture of the reality that Canadians are increasingly less inclined toward participating in structured religious activities and are less inclined to belief in God. While there may not have been any great surprises in the latest census data it depicts some sobering realities for anyone engaged in church leadership. The diverse group of scholars, from Canada and elsewhere, came up with a number of thoughts that have implications for ministry in Canada and North America today. Here is a sampling of them.

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The Stories Congregations Tell: Flourishing Forward Webinar 

This is a recording of a webinar related to our book, The Stories Congregations Tell: Flourishing in the Face of Transition and Change. This webinar includes two of the authors, Arch Wong and Joel Thiessen, and three practitioners including Sarah Han, Linda Nicholls, and Father James Mallon. This webinar was originally hosted on April 1st, 2025.

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Three Practices to Unlock Hidden Potential in Preaching 

This video, hosted by Rev. Dr. Sara Han, explores how preaching can ignite a transformational spark by helping listeners actualize their eternal identity in Christ. Drawing from coaching principles like unlocking potential, looking forward, and co-active journeying, this talk equips leaders to disciple others into deeper spiritual growth and lasting transformation. 

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Gender Light Bulb Moments in Ministry: Canadian Women Pastors’ Experiences of Gender Inequality

This is a recording of the fourth webinar in our four-part Flourishing Forward webinar series. Hosted by Dr. Katie Steeves, this webinar contains recent findings from qualitative interviews of Canadian women pastors on the topic of how gender interacts with their call and leadership. If you view this webinar recording, you will learn how women religious leaders experience certain comments, actions, and interactions as “gender light bulb moments” – instances where they become aware they are being treated differently because of their gender.

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Lessons from Christian witness in Vancouver

Dr. Ross Lockhart shares highlights from his recent research project studying 14 Christian communities in Vancouver, British Columbia where the major of the city’s population now identifies as having “no religion.”  Lockhart provides a summary of his findings with suggestions on areas for pastoral leaders to focus on in order to connect with their secular neighbour.

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Not Dead Yet: Is the Decline of the Canadian Church a Myth?

There is increasing handwringing about the decline of the Canadian Church, but an analysis of our reconciled Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA) dataset suggests the story is less bleak and more complex. This blog charts a decade of pre-Covid changes in net churches and charitable giving in eleven major Christian traditions. We find stories of decline, stability, and growth; and discover evidence that losses in congregations may not lead to equivalent losses in denominational engagement.

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Churches Discipling Children: What Is and Is Not Working

This is a recording from the third of four webinars in our Flourishing Forward webinar series. This webinar contains information about an in-depth research project looking at the faith transmission and spiritual formation of children. In this webinar, Arch shares findings on how and why one congregation approaches faith transmission and spiritual formation with its children in the ways they do, what appears to be working or not and why, plus implications for congregational leaders.

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Faith and the Future: Navigating the Church’s Reluctance Toward Emerging Technologies

As disruptive technology continues to shape the world, the Christian church faces critical decisions in engaging with advancements like Artificial Intelligence and digitalization. A recent study by Futuring Hub at Acadia Divinity College reveals surprising hesitations among Canadian church leaders toward four key technology trends, including hybrid worship and AI. These initial findings invite Christian leaders to thoughtfully discern technology’s role in ministry, recognizing both the potential for good and the ethical implications.

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New Congregations in Canada

This video, hosted by Dr. James Watson, offers an overview of the creativity of God in calling new congregations into being within Canada. Models, expressions of worship, and cultural implications for our multicultural society are described. Implications for all churches within Canada are explored from a pastoral and missional perspective.

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The Flourishing Congregations Institute researches the Canadian Church, interpreting and sharing data with church leaders across the country.

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