2025 Assembly

This Assembly was held in conjunction with the 2025 Annual General Meeting at First Baptist Church Amherst on October 3 and 4, 2025.  The Guest Speaker was Robert Seymour Wright who spoke twice. 

His Friday evening lecture was "The Shelter of Freedom."  It may be viewed on Zoom by following this link:

https://us06web.zoom.us/rec/share/lBEmxKNTredT1BMZ0XYOfzBBEe4jh_Dt9iSNMoW3hI8DNxjmGT9204le7gzR_7yZ.b3UoDaG2cPlekhDV     Passcode: %m41IPmX

His Saturday morning lecture was "The Command of Freedom."  It may be viewed on Zoom by following this link: 

https://us06web.zoom.us/rec/share/DzZ_CZQgFOyIZh761ZH-8kSfUiRpkmAfeeFff4b8cwOMXZMx9isNcJ7OY_-Up90f.i61aD5RmACPZmQEz    Passcode: J0qW+?+R

Our Guest Speaker, Robert Seymour Wright

Robert Seymour Wright is a queer, African Nova Scotian Social Worker and Sociologist whose 35 year career has spanned the fields of education, child welfare, forensic mental health, trauma, sexual violence, and cultural competence.  He recently completed terms of service as the founding Executive Director of both the Peoples’ Counselling Clinic (Nov. 2017 - March 2024) and the African Nova Scotian Justice Institute (Fall 2021 - March 2024) and currently continues at the Peoples’ Counselling Clinic as Director Emeritus, Consultant and Therapist. 

Robert’s identity and work are grounded in his integrated and activist spirituality. He was an early practitioner of what has come to be known as Equity, Diversity and Inclusion work and developed a model for understanding and practicing Cultural Competence that continues to be a useful framework.  He pioneered the introduction of Impact of Race and Culture Assessments (IRCAs):  a specialized, forensic, clinical presentence report for people of African descent.  This latter work has received national attention.  In August of 2021 the Government of Canada funded to expand the implementation of IRCAs nationally.  

As a lecturer, Robert has taught in social work, sociology, criminology, child and youth studies, education and counselling.  He taught in all four of the Africentric MEd cohorts sponsored and organized by the Council on African Canadian Education.  As part of that programme he taught at Acadia in the summer of 2017 a course he developed with the title, Trauma Informed Approaches to Mental Health: Africentric Perspectives.  In the Spring of 2023 he taught Counselling for Social Justice and Culturally Responsive Practices at Acadia.

Robert's work was recognized by his profession with the Canadian Association of Social Workers Distinguished Service Award in 2012 and on January 1, 2022 it was highlighted in the Toronto Globe and Mail’s Difference Makers feature which highlighted some of the "people working to make Canada a better place".  In June of 2022 Robert was presented with the Leighann Wichman Lifetime Achievement Award from the Nova Scotia Rainbow Action Project "in honour of a long-term commitment to activism and leadership that has significantly impacted the lives of 2SLGBTQIA+ people across Nova Scotia.” 

In August of 2024 he was awarded the King Charles III’s Coronation Medal for having made a significant contribution to Canada.

Robert is the father of two grown children and the uncle of so many.  He was orphaned in January 2023 when the last of his parent-like caregivers passed.  Robert cared for his mother and godparents and facilitated them each passing peacefully at home in their own beds from 2020 through 2023. 

2023 Assembly

This Assembly was held in conjunction with the 2023 Annual General Meeting.  The Guest Speaker was Dr. Scott Gibson of Baylor University and his topic was Christ the Common Connection. The lectures are available on YouTube here and here.

50th Anniversary Celebration (June 2022)

The program for our 50th Anniversary Celebration is available here. To view the Anniversary Service and the various presentations, go to the CABF YouTube Channel (don't forget to subscribe!).

 2019 AGM and Assembly

Wolfville Baptist Church hosted our 2019 Annual General Meeting and Conference on October 4-5. Our Guest Speaker was Dr. David Odom, Executive Director, Leadership Education and Associate Dean, Leadership initiatives at Duke Divinity School. Dr. Odom spoke about 21st century congregations, why they are important and how they differ from 20th century ones.

During the AGM the membership approved the Strategic Plan - Proposed Framework. Lee Nicholas-Pattillo and David Allen were elected to another two year term as President and Treasurer respectively, Rev. Marlene Knowles was elected Vice President and Sheila Stanley was elected Secretary.

A highlight of the meeting was a presentation to the Rev. Dr. Roger H. Prentice who has been chosen as only the second Life Member of the Canadian Association for Baptist Freedoms. Having been one of the founders of its predecessor, the Atlantic Baptist Fellowship, and having served almost continuously since in a variety of offices, Dr. Prentice was a popular choice for this honour!

 Past Assembly Topics

• This isn’t the way it’s supposed to be! - The Rev. Dr. Dorothy Hunse, Assistant Professor for Pastoral Care at Acadia Divinity College, offered two lectures on the theme: Exploring the needs and challenges faced when one’s partner or parents begin to require care, and We don’t have to go it alone. Exploring the possibilities for offering care to caregivers within our congregations.
• The Uncomfortable Journey Towards Reconciliation - The Rev. Dr. Jamie Scott, former General Council Officer for Residential Schools for The United Church of Canada (2017). Click here for a reading list.
• Medical Assistance in Dying - Dr. David Abriel, Rev. Pam Estey, Janet Allen, Sandra Barss (2016)
• Faith Formation - All Ages, All the Time - David and Jenny Csinos (2015)
• Realizing Heaven on Earth: Four Words in the Service of God - Dr. Scott Kindred-Barnes, Minister, First Baptist Church Ottawa (2014)
• Chaplaincy: Serving God and Country - LCol (the Rev’d) Barbara L. Putnam (2013)
• Religious Liberty and the Local Church - Rev. Dr. J. Brent Walker, Executive Director, Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, Washington, DC (2012)
• Being Baptist in a Changing World - Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Haggary, First Baptist Church, Washington, DC (2011)
• Fruitful Partnerships – Relationships with the Cuban Fraternity, the Alliance of Baptists, and the Baptist Peace Fellowship (2010)
• The Baptist Movement – The Black Experience - Dr. Peter Paris (2009)
• World Crisis and the Church – Rev. Dr, Joao Matwawana
• Living with respect and Hope in God's Creation - Eric Tusz-King (2008)
• Modern Youth and the Church
• Baptist Theological Education in Canada
• Baptist Practice Regarding Baptism
• Retelling the Story: An Artist's Vision – Regina Coupar
• Religion and Politics: How can/should the church Influence Government Policy? - Rev. Dr. Mark Parent (2003)
• Bio-ethical Issues and the Christian Faith
• Lessons from Southern Baptist Convention Experience
• Educating Clergy and Laity, Theologically
• Jesus, Canon and Community: Option in Contemporary Christology
• Building Congregations and Communities of Peace
• Overcoming the Racial Divide – Rev. Elias Mutale
• Baptist Contributions to Christian Unity
• Living Fully into the Adventure of God's Reconciling Activity – Dr. Ken Sehested, executive director of the Baptist Peace Fellowship
• The Church and the Disabled: A Time to Listen
• Ministry in a Multi-Faith World – John O'Donnell
• Evangelism and Discipleship for the Third Millennium
• The Broken Family and the Healing of the Church
• Educating Clergy and Laity, Theologically
• The Role of Jesus in Christianity
• Building Congregations and Communities of Peace
• The Use and Abuse of the Bible
• The Theory and Practice of Worship
• The Challenge of Feminism for Faith and Worship
• A Woman Minister Looks at Mark 16:1-8
• The Question of Missions
• Music and Hymnody
• The Church: Theological Foundation and Practical Experience – Rev. Dr. Tim Ashley
• Baptists and Freedom – then and now
• Freedom: The Key to the Baptist Genius