Healthy Church Task Force

Our Mandate

The Healthy Church Task Force (HCTF) of Classis Alberta North (CAN) meets monthly to fulfill its mandate, which is:
to foster congregational health within the churches of classis by means of the following:
(click on the words of any numbered item below to be taken to a page with more detail - if avialable)

Cultivating pastor-church relationships
Dispatching appropriate resources for congregations, councils and pastors
Strengthening, supporting and challenging pastors, their spouses and families
Encouraging the active participation of congregations, councils and pastors in restorative justice efforts within their communities
Creating and maintaining a roster of local skilled and trained and qualified mediators, restorative practice facilitators, church consultants, professional counselors and specialized transitional ministers.
Exercising intentional cooperation and appropriate reporting of its work to the Classical Interim Committee (CIC) and Pastor-Church Resources (PCR).

OUR Membership

Task Force Members and their roles (as of July 2020):
Joanne Munro,
  mediator, restorative justice facilitator,
Anita Veldhuisen Slomp,
  mediator, restorative justice facilitator,
Peter VanderBeek,
  Specialized Transitional Minister, regional pastor,
Janet Vlieg-Paquette, secretary,
Gary Bomhof,
chair, church counsellor, regional pastor, retired pastor
Henry Kranenburg, pastor, regional pastor
Cecil VanNiejenhuis, retired PCR consultant & retired pastor
John Pasma, Church Visiting Coordinator, retired pastor

Current News related to our work (click on the heading to be taken to a page with updates)

OUR work

The HCTF is responsible for:
- Regional Pastoring,
- Mentor connections,
- Church Visiting,
- Church Clustering,
- The Annual Ministry Retreat,
- Support for those in ordained ministry and their families
- and more.

Below is further and more specific detail on some of those areas.

The work of Regional Pastors...
Described as a denominational position
In Classis Alberta North

The HCTF is the body through which Mentee/Mentor connections are made...
The role of Mentors (click on title to link to an article describing the work and workings of mentor-mentee relationships)

Church Visiting and Church Cluster Groups are organized through the HCTF
Church Visiting - what it has been and is becoming
Frequently Asked Questions
Church Visiting Reimagined some background
Church Clusters

Image from Pastor-Spouse retreat 2016 - closing worship

The Ministry Renewal Retreat.
General Info
Plans for the next one
Pictures from previous Retreats

note: below this point the page is still under construction. There is good info there, but it is not organized yet.

A Cluster Church Visit Circle in progress

More detail on other activities by which we fulfill our Mandate:

Annual Retreat
Education
Facilitation of themed circle conversations
Mediation
Linking people to appropriate counselling if needed
Church Visiting coordination and training
Re-imagining Church Visiting

History

The History of the Healthy Church Task Force (click on the title to be taken to a history page)

Ministry Renewal Retreat Info, Past & Present

We are proceeding as if we will have a Ministry Renewal Retreat in 2021. Dates and detail specifics to come. Pencil Apr 23-25 in on your calendar. Here is a link to more information about the Annual Retreat

Below are some pictures from previous retreats