CABF CROSS CANADA CONFERENCE 2024

"Chaos and Christ": October 28-31, 2024

First Baptist Church Halifax 

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The 2024 CABF Cross Canada Conference was held on October 28 - 31, 2024 in Nova Scotia at First Baptist Church Halifax. Theme: Chaos and Christ. There was worship, speakers, discussion and, of course, rich fellowship.

Details and Registration Form are available here.

More photos available on the CABF Facebook page.

Information for attendees, including a detailed Agenda is available here.

For a copy of a poster with information on speakers, topics and schedule, please click here.  Please note Update on Speakers, below.

Update on Speakers

Due to a sudden health issue, the Rev. Canon Dr. Jody Clark has had to find a substitute speaker.

Dr. David Deane holds a BA, MA, and PhD from Trinity College, University of Dublin.  In Ireland, he taught at Trinity and was a fellow of the Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences. He left Ireland to take up a position as theologian-in-residence at Colorado State University, where he won a Teacher of the Year award in 2006.  Since 2008, he has been teaching at the Atlantic School of Theology in Halifax. He has written for the Times of London and the Irish Times, and his books include Nietzsche and Theology (London: Routledge, 2006) and the recently published Resisting the Tyranny of the Banal: On the Renewal of Catholic Moral Theology (Lexington, Fortress Academic, 2023).  He lives in Dartmouth, where he and Jennifer are proud parents to Sophia, Chora, and Áine.

In his presentation, David Deane began by offering an account of the nature of chaos in the 21st Century, showing what is in common with other periods of history and what is unique to now.  From here, he argued that many of the mechanisms that drive this chaos are explored by Paul in his letter to the Romans.  Re-reading 21st-century issues (such as social fragmentation, savage capitalism, and the technological manipulation of desire) through the lens of Romans 7, 8, and 9, David showed how Christ remains the answer to seemingly very recent problems. 

 


CABF CROSS-CANADA CONFERENCE 2023

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Our goal was quite simple. . . to gather, to learn, to encourage and to bless one another! We truly believe we checked all the boxes! Twenty-five CABF clergy and layleaders gathered for 4-days of education, encouragement, reflection, laughter, and rejoicing in God’s goodness and grace. We had four teaching/speaking sessions:

--Rev. Dr. Jo-Ann Badley led us in two sessions on “Jacob, Lover of God and Neighbour.” We walked through Genesis 25-36 and re-visited the transformation of Jacob. We reflected on the question: “How is the love of one woven into the love of the other?” We also learned anew of how Jacob’s transformation informs our journeys of teaching, preaching and learning in faith.

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--Dr. Randal Rauser (www.randalrauser.com) led us in a session called “Manifesto of a Progressive Baptist: Movements from fear to love, certainty to faith, victory to hope.” We were inspired to keep on reforming our faith and the church so that faith, hope and love might be put on display in a world where so many paradigms are creating places of ‘non-charity.’ Key verses for reflection included 1 John 4:18, 1 Corinthians 13:12 and Genesis 32:28.

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--Andrea King and Luke Dowding (from www.onebodyonefaith.org.uk). The mission-vision statement for OneBodyOneFaith is as follows: OneBodyOneFaith is a dynamic grassroots charity that enables LGBT+ Christians and advocates for change within the church, ecumenically and intentionally in partnership with likeminded organisations. For many LGBT+ Christians places of Christian worship and community remain harmful and challenging. We are committed to stopping abuse through initiatives such as the Ban Conversion Therapy coalition; embracing positive change such as the advent of marriage equality in many traditions; and the transformation of church structures: our desire is for LGBT+ Christians to thrive, not just survive. Through their stories and personal testimony, Luke and Andrea encouraged and inspired us while at the same time offering us CABF Baptists an opportunity to explore a future of partnership that will unite/connect our churches both locally and globally.

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Our conference also offered time for connecting, eating, sight-seeing and relaxation. What a joy to be among Baptists who are truly “kindred spirits.” Many of us commented on how the ethos of our conference was a place of mutual encouragement, broad theological banter and a hope for a future where big-hearted Baptists might continue to listen to and embody the Spirit’s wide, wide welcome as we follow Jesus for the good of the world! During our closing prayer, we reminded each other of one of the commitments from our CABF Covenant: “We will support and uphold one another in mutual respect and love, and remember one another in prayer.”

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Next year, we’re hoping to gather for the 2nd Annual CABF Cross-Canada-Conference.  The location is set for Halifax, N.S. and we are tentatively planning for the later half of October, 2024.

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Grateful for these exciting days of connection and encouragement in the CABF and looking forward to God’s goodness and providence as we lean into the future.

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Peace be with you!

Rev. Dr. Ryan Sato, FBC Edmonton

Rev. Dr. Rusty Edwards, FBC Halifax

Rev. Jeff White, FBC Amherst