1st Canadian Forum on Inter-Church Dialogues – 2002

This popular gathering was the forerunner to our 2004 Forum. We gathered at the University of St Michael’s College in Toronto, to hear speakers and have facilitated discussion about the work of dialogue in Canada: its adventures, its difficulties, its discoveries, its development. The day’s presentations were as follows:

“Stages in Dialogue: the Canadian Experience.” A Panel Presentation.

• “Just Beginning.” Dr. Helmut Harder, Mennonite Conference
• “Mid-Life.” Rev. Dr. Peter Galadza, Sheptytsky Institute, Ottawa
• “Beyond Dialogue.” Rev. Alyson Barnett-Cowan, Director, Faith, Worship and Ministry, Anglican Church of Canada

“Theological Method and Dialogue: Learning From the Groupe des Dombes”

• Dr. Cathy Clifford, Saint Paul University, Ottawa

“What Have We Talked About? Themes in Dialogues over the Years. ‘Church’: A Case Study. A Panel Presentation.

• Rev. Dr. John Gibaut, Saint Paul University, Ottawa
• Dr. Margaret O’Gara, St. Michael’s College, Toronto School of Theology
• Dr. George Vandervelde, Institute for Christian Studies
• Small Group Response: Eavesdropping on One Another’s Dialogues

“Interaction between dialogue and the local churches. What has worked? What hasn’t? Best successes, worst failures?” A large-group discussion, facilitated by:

• Dr. Susan Brown, King’s College, London
• Rev. Dr. Robert Kelly, Waterloo Lutheran Seminary
• Rev. Dr. Peter Wyatt, Emmanuel College, Toronto School of Theology
• Dr. Mary Marrocco, Faith and Witness Commission

“Reflection on the Day. What have I heard today? What is particularly Canadian in dialogue?”

• Listener and Responder: Rev. William Rusch, Executive Director, Board for a Faith and Order Conference in North America.

“Conversation and Conversion: A Spirituality of Dialogue”.

• A public lecture by Dr. Donna Geernaert, s.c., Ecumenical Officer for the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops and Chair of the Commission on Faith and Witness.