Over the past decade, thousands of churches in Canada have closed, with many sold to the private market. In the coming years, even more churches will face decisions to redevelop, sell, or close. While some properties remain underutilized, others are awakening to new opportunities for justice and partnership within their neighborhoods.

This two-day conference aims to shift the narrative of decline around Canada’s church properties into stories of renewal, justice and flourishing neighbourhoods. Through plenary talks, storytelling, panel discussions, and working group dialogue sessions, the gathering is designed to inspire collaboration, meaningful dialouge, and exploration to new and innovative approaches to church properties.

Speakers

Rev. Dr. Willie James Jennings

Dr. Willie James Jennings is the Andrew W. Mellon Professor of Theology and Africana Studies at Yale Divinity School. A renowned theologian, he specializes in Christian thought, race theory, and decolonial studies. Dr. Jennings is the author of The Christian Imagination: Theology and the Origins of Race, a groundbreaking text in theology, and After Whiteness: An Education in Belonging, winner of multiple prestigious awards. He is also a frequent lecturer, consultant, and workshop leader, and is currently working on a two-volume project on the doctrine of creation, Reframing the World.

Jennifer Keesmaat

Jennifer Keesmaat is a renowned urban planner and former Chief City Planner for Toronto, celebrated for her visionary and collaborative approach to city-building. She is a founding partner at Markee Developments, creating sustainable, affordable housing, and CEO of The Keesmaat Group, offering consulting and public speaking on urban design. Keesmaat’s work has been widely recognized with awards, including the Canadian Institute of Planners’ President’s Award of Excellence, and she shares her insights through publications, her podcast Invisible City, and as Chief Architect of the 2020 Declaration for Resilience in Canadian Cities.

Rev. Dr. Jason Mckinney

Rev. Dr. Jason McKinney is a theological educator and Anglican priest serving a multiracial congregation in Toronto’s Parkdale neighborhood. Passionate about community well-being, he served two terms on the first elected board of the Parkdale Neighbourhood Land Trust, one of Ontario’s first urban community land trusts. He holds a PhD in Religion from the University of Toronto and has taught courses on hospitality, urbanism, and the theology of food at Trinity College’s Faculty of Divinity. Jason recently completed a research contract with Tyndale Seminary.

Adrian Jacobs

Adrian Jacobs, Ganosono (Deer Lodge), Turtle Clan, Cayuga Nation, Six Nations Haudenosaunee Confederacy, Grand River Country in Southern Ontario, Turtle Island, is an Indigenous Program Elder at Tyndale University and Senior Leader for Indigenous Justice and Reconciliation in the Christian Reformed Church in Canada. For 47 years, he has educated Indigenous and non-Indigenous people on Indigenous history, culture, and justice. A storyteller, poet, and artist, Adrian’s work reflects his passion for decolonization and reconciliation. He also serves as Elder Liaison for NAIITS and collaborates with Indigenous communities across Turtle Island and beyond.

For more information: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/reimagining-church-land-and-community-tickets-1233793863659?aff=ebdssbdestsearch&keep_tld=1