Robert Bateman has become one of the world’s greatest artists depicting the natural world. Bateman’s art reflects his commitment to ecology and preservation. He has become a spokesman for many environmental and preservation issues and has used his artwork and limited edition prints in fund-raising efforts which have provided millions of dollars for these worthy causes. Bateman received the Order of Canada, and has been the subject of three films and several video productions. Bob has dedicated his life to preserving the diversity of the natural world and says, “Variety is not just the spice of life, it is the essence of life.” Read his essays at www.batemanideas.com. (Thursday Evening  at 7 pm)

David G. Benner is an internationally known clinical psychologist, author, lecturer, and spiritual retreat leader. He has authored or edited more than 20 books and has held numerous clinical and academic appointments in Canada, the United States and abroad. He has also served as visiting lecturer at universities in Prague, South Africa , Singapore, Manila, Hong Kong, Slovak Republic, and Wales. Dr. Benner was the founding Director of the Institute for Psycho-spiritual Health (Toronto, Ontario). He currently is Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Spirituality at Psychological Studies Institute, Richmont Graduate University (Atlanta, Georgia) and Associate Fellow (Psychology and Spirituality) at The Centre for Studies in Religion and Society, University of Victoria. (Friday morning at 11 am)

Juliet Benner’s use of religious art as a resource in Christian contemplation and spiritual formation is at the core of her writing, retreat work and spiritual direction. She has worked as a teacher, a teaching leader with Bible Study Fellowship International, and a calligrapher. Her primary training in spiritual direction was at St. Joseph’s Centre for Spirituality (Hamilton). She served as a Consultant in Art and Spirituality for Tao Fong Shan Christian Centre (Hong Kong) where she has also provided spiritual direction and led retreats.

Juliet is in demand internationally as a retreat and workshop leader. In Atlanta, she lectures and offers spiritual direction and leads retreats at Psychological Studies Institute. A member of Spiritual Directors International, she is a Consulting Editor and contributor to Conversations: A Forum for Authentic Transformation. (Friday Workshop – 2 pm or 3:45 pm)

Reginald Bibby is a sociology professor at the University of Lethbridge, Order of Canada recipient and a researcher who has surveyed the beliefs and attitudes of Canadian teens and adults for over 30 years.

Trained in theology, he has written extensively about the religious and spiritual beliefs of today’s society and how churches could experience a renaissance. His research in Canada and the United States for many denominations give him a unique perspective on the similarities in social trends affecting religion and spirituality in these two countries and the differences He is the author of five books that focus on religion – Fragmented Gods (1987), Unknown Gods (1993), There’s Got to Be More! (1995), Restless Gods (2002), and Restless Churches (2004).

Three other books focus on youth, – the first two co-authored with Don Posterski – The Emerging Generation (1984), Teen Trends (1992), and, Canada’s Teen’s: Today, Yesterday, and Tomorrow (2001).

His two latest books focus on the boomer generation (The Boomer Factor: What Canada’s Most Famous Generation is Leaving Behind) and on what the emerging generation of teenagers looks like (Emerging Millennials: How Canada’s Newest Generation is Responding to Change and Choice.) (Thursday 2:30 pm plus Friday Workshop – 2 pm or 3:45 pm)

Michael Blair serves as Executive Minister of the Intercultural & Diverse Communities in Ministry Unit of The United Church of Canada. He is the former director of the Toronto Christian Resource Centre (CRC), which serves the homeless and marginalized housed in Toronto’s eastern downtown area. Previously, Michael served as a congregational minister of a number of Baptist churches in Toronto and St. Catharines, Ontario, and as a community chaplain with the Ontario Multifaith Council’s Reintegration Program, working with individuals leaving the provincial jail system. He has been speaking and preaching extensively about intercultural ministries, and offers prophetic wisdom and keen insights in becoming an intercultural church. (Guest Preacher, Sunday 11 am)

Paul Bramadat is the Director of the Centre of Studies in Religion and Society, University of Victoria. He is an active member of the Metropolis Project, an international network for comparative public policy research on migration, diversity and immigrant integration in urban centres, and of the Canadian Ethnic Studies Association, where he serves as vice-president. Other academic interests include fundamentalism and evangelicalism; secularization; and religion, literature and popular culture in North America.

He is currently working on an edited volume with Matthias Koenig titled International Migration and the Governance of Religious Diversity. In addition to his directorship, Paul holds teaching appointments in the UVic Department of History and the Religious Studies Minor Program. (Saturday Workshop – 3:45 pm)

Amy Collins and Jeff Poynter were the co-leaders of a Contemporary Sabbath worship featuring contemporary music in a variety of at First Metropolitan Church this past year. The informal worship services were aimed at those for whom “church” might be a new experience. Amy is a student at the University of Victoria’s School of Music and sang in our choir last year. She has been part of the summer staff at the Naramata Centre and has been very active in the United Church. Jeff plays piano, saxophone, guitar, a little bit of bass and accordion. He is also a Music student at UVic, studying saxophone. He has been a part of the United Church his whole life, and was a member of Fraser Presbytery, the Fraser Presbytery Youth Council, and attended General Council 2006. (Saturday Workshop –  3:45 pm)

Linnea Good is widely known in Canada and abroad for her songs expressing a contemporary, thoughtful spirituality. The latest of her numerous CDs, Swimmin’ Like a Bird, was nominated for major Canadian awards as Outstanding Children’s Album of the Year. Good’s previous eight CDs have reflected a spiritual voyage both personal and profound, one that has seen her achieve recognition at home and abroad as a hymn-writer. Five of her hymns are included in the United Church of Canada’s newest hymnal. Linnea tours much of the year in her trio, Good Company, giving concerts and workshops. Her professional travels that have taken her to Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the Middle East. (Sunday afternoon at 2:30 pm and Friday Workshop – 2 pm or 3:45 pm)

Doug Goodwin has been the Executive Secretary of BC Conference of the United Church for the past six years. As such he heads an office of 16 staff and numerous contractors while also working closely with an Executive governing body. Doug came late to administrative work, serving first for 18 years as a pastoral minister on reserves and small northern communities. Slowly be became involved on community and church boards. An impatience with things that do not work well led him to investigate how boards might work better, resulting in leading lasting change on several boards of various sizes. He has also led workshops for congregational and other boards. (Saturday Workshop – 3:45 pm)

Adele Halliday is the Program Coordinator for Intercultural Engagement & Education in the Intercultural & Diverse Communities in Ministries Unit of The United Church of Canada. Adele has taught students and developed curricula in the greater Toronto area, Kenya, and Belize. She recently completed a Master of Education in Comparative, International, and Development Education, and with a focus on anti-racist education, equity, and social justice.

She has led several workshops in the area of intercultural ministries, and offered many presentations on inter-culturalism. She has also developed educational resources and written several articles for the intercultural church. Adele is the staff resource for the Task Group on Intercultural Ministries, and co-staff to organize “Behold! One Another: An Intercultural Conference“, the United Church’s first conference on intercultural ministries. (Saturday Workshop – 3:45 pm)

Bruce Harding is a congregational song leader at Royal Heights United Church in North Delta, B.C., and a passionate advocate of exploring music from around the world in our congregations.

He was managing editor for More Voices, and he travels regularly across Canada leading singing with gatherings large and small. Bruce was the worship/music leader at “Behold! One Another: An Intercultural Conference.”

Bruce loves leading culturally diverse music and rhythms. (Saturday Evening at 7 pm)

Dave Holmes is in team ministry with his spouse Karen at McDougall United in Calgary. He graduated from the Doctor of Ministry program at Columbia Theological Seminary in Atlanta in 2008, having revelled in the chance to study with people like Stan Saunders, Barbara Brown Taylor, and Walter Brueggemann. He’s been privileged to participate in the Arnprior Assembly, and to have led two workshops at “More Franchises Than Tim Horton’s?” and is looking forward to the future of the church. As a trained spiritual director, he’s particularly intrigued by the “practicing congregation” movement – ask him! (Saturday Workshop  - 3:45 pm)

Danielle Ayana James is in ministry at the Fort Saskatchewan Pastoral Charge near Edmonton. Currently, Danielle serves as a General Council Commissioner and was co-chair of “Sounding the Bamboo”, a conference for racial/ethnic minority women and First Nations women.

Having worked with Christian cultural groups in Central, South American and European nations she brings a broad perspective to the intercultural dialogue. Danielle preached at the closing worship service for the “Behold!” conference, and loves creating intercultural worship spaces. (Guest Preacher at 9 am Service)

Chung Hyun Kyung is Professor of Ecumenical Studies at Union Theological Seminary, New York a charismatic speaker and a lay theologian of the Presbyterian Church of Korea. In 1991, international attention resulted from her now-famous speech – a feminist/Asian/ Third World interpretation of the Holy Spirit – at the World Council of Churches. She defines herself as a “salimist” (Korean Eco-feminist) from the Korean word “salim,” which means “making things alive.” Her books include Struggling to be the Sun Again: Introducing Asian Women’s Theology and Hyun Kyung and Alice’s Fabulous Love Affair with God, co-authored with American novelist, Alice Walker. Prof. Chung’s recently concluded interviews with Muslim women involved in peacemaking work in 16 different Islamic countries are the basis for her upcoming book. (Sunday evening at 7 pm and Monday morning at 9 am)

Linda Mulhall has always been interested in finding ways to develop and sustain a spiritual life. Her search led her to join a Roman Catholic community of nuns where she lived for eight years. During this time, she also completed a BA in Religious Studies. Later on, she became the General Secretary of the Student Christian Movement of Canada and was influenced by the Christian Feminism Movement in the United Church.

After a dark night of the soul that lasted several years, she began to study Métis and First Nations spirituality with author Oriah Mountain Dreamer, learning that our spirituality is ours and does not belong to any institution. She is completing a course in the “Art of Spiritual Guidance” with a Sufi teacher, Atum O’Kane, and is a member of First†Metropolitan United Church where she leads a bi-weekly inter-spiritual meditation group. (Saturday Workshop – 3:45 pm)

Herbert O’Driscoll is one of the best known and most highly regarded preachers in the Anglican Church, a former urban Cathedral Dean in Vancouver, a former Warden of the College of Preachers, Washington National Cathedral, and celebrated author of over 30 books including A Doorway in Time and Emmanuel. (Monday morning at 11 am)

Bill Phipps is a Canadian church leader and social justice activist, and currently serves as International President, World Conference on Religion and Peace. He was Moderator of the United Church of Canada from 1997 to 2000. He has worked as poverty lawyer, community organizer, minister, hospital chaplain and adult educator.

Since 1991, he has been Minister at Scarboro United Church in Calgary, Alberta. Together with his wife, Carolyn Pogue, he has been active in the child honouring movement spearheaded by Raffi Cavoukian. He is the author of Cause for Hope: Humanity at the Crossroads. (Friday Workshop at 2 pm or 3:45 pm)

Voted “One of the 50 Most Influential Christians in America” (2006, 2007), Leonard Sweet is a historian of North American culture; a futurist who “sees things the rest of us do not see, and dreams possibilities that are beyond most of our imagining;” and a preacher and writer who communicates the gospel powerfully to a postmodem age. Currently the E. Stanley Jones Professor of Evangelism at Drew University, Madison, NJ and a Visiting Distinguished Professor at George Fox University, Portland, Oregon, Len has held leadership positions within the United Methodist Church and was chosen to speak at the World Methodist Congress in Rio de Janeiro. (Friday evening 7 pm and Saturday morning 9 am to noon)

Rod and Lois Tomlinson currently lead programs and offer training in Couplehood as a Spiritual Path, a group education program for couples developed by Harville Hendrix and his wife Helen Hunt. The method is informed by their widely respected Imago Relationship Therapy method and was developed by them at the Riverside Church of New York City. Rod is a retired Professor of Social Work Practice and certified Imago Relationship Therapist, with teaching and practice areas in family, marriage and group leadership. Lois is a retired nurse specialized in the area in the area of mental health and small group leadership. She is also a Certified Canadian Family Educator. (Friday Workshop – 2 pm or 3:45 pm)

Ann Weems: Due to illness, Ann has had to cancel.

Nancy Reeves will be Ann’s replacement. Nancy is a registered clinical psychologist, spiritual director, and author, who has specialized in the area of trauma, grief and loss with adults and children since 1978. Nancy conducts many workshops and retreats throughout Canada, the U.S., the U.K., Australia, and New Zealand.  Her latest book is Gifts of the Eucharist: Stories to Transform and Inspire ( with Bernadette Gasslein). Presentation: Match Made In Heaven.  Nancy Reeves introduces a Bible based guide to deepening your relationshp with God. Workshop: How God Heals and How We Can Help (Saturday afternoon at 2 pm and Saturday Workshop – 3:45 pm or 5 pm)

Steve Willey is the Program Coordinator for Education and Leadership Development in the Intercultural & Diverse Communities in Ministries Unit of The United Church of Canada. Steve has served as Conference Personnel Minister, mission strategist for York Presbytery, and interim minister of Centennial-Japanese United Church.

He has offered several workshops for ethnic majority churches that are seeking to become intercultural, and works with presbytery pastoral relations committees in helping seek ways of becoming intercultural churches. Steve was co-staff to organize “Behold! One Another: An Intercultural Conference.” (Friday Workshop – 2 pm or 3:45 pm)

Lois Wilson has achieved a string of firsts. Lois was elected president of the Canadian Council of Churches in 1976 and moderator of the United Church of Canada in 1980, the first woman to hold either office. In 1983 she was elected one of the 7 presidents of the World Council of Churches. Also in 1983, she became codirector of the Ecumenical Forum of Canada. She has been instrumental in awakening in the United Church an increased concern for coordinated action to eliminate poverty and promote peace throughout the world. In 1984 she became a Member of the Order of Canada, and in 1985 she received the Pearson Peace Prize and World Federalists Peace Award. The author of several books and the recipient of many honorary degrees, she has been chancellor of Lakehead University and a Canadian senator. Most recently, she has been the Ecumenist-in-Residence at Toronto School of Theology. (Friday morning at 9 am)

Rabbi Harry Brechner is originally from Long Island, N.Y. He studied education at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and finished his degree at the University of Washington, in Seattle. While in the Northwest, he taught children and was director of Camp Solomon Schechter. He went on to rabbinical studies at the University of Judaism in Los Angeles and continued at the Jewish Theological Seminary, dividing his time between the United States and Israel, where he served as a combat medic in the Israel Defense Forces. He was ordained in 1998 and was posted as an administrator of three Jewish schools in New Orleans. He has been the rabbi at Temple Emanu-El in Victoria since 2001. (Friday morning at 9 am)

Mona Sedky Goode is an Ian Stewart Fellow at the Centre for the Studies of Religion and Society and a Ph.D. candidate in History at the University of Victoria; her thesis topic involves early Islamic economic history. Mona has previously taught courses on Islamic history and civilization at Maryhurst University in Portland, Oregon. (Friday morning at 9 am)