There is a deficiency of urban ministry training opportunities within Canada. Most Canadian urban practitioners depend on American literature/training methods to serve as a framework for pastors and missional communities alike. However, Canadian urban ministry realities are distinctly unique from American Urban contexts. Canadian cities tend to be structured differently as poorer communities are mixed in with upper class residential units. Toronto especially has a unique characteristic of being the most culturally diverse city in the world with 51% of residents being born outside of Canada. This particular distinction is unique in North American urban context as US cities have intense racial tensions in urban centres manifesting in systemic issues centred around race that is not as prevalent in the Toronto urban landscape. Our Pentecostal historical roots began in the city. Downtown Toronto is particularly significant for the PAOC as the Hebden Mission, was located in the downtown Eastside of Downtown Toronto (Riverdale). This mission was the catalyst for the Canadian Pentecostal movement. Through the years, Pentecostal communities have slowly moved out of the downtown core which has unfortunately diminished the presence of Pentecostal leadership and presence in the city core.
Goals
• To offer urban ministry training that is culturally appropriate for the Canadian urban context.
• Recalibrate Canadian urban ministry frameworks to distinctly differentiate from American urban contexts.
• Celebrate urban ministry practitioners and ministries.
• Create an environment where leaders can network and collaborate together to discuss meaningful missional opportunities to reach unchurched people groups.
• Intentionally target millennial interested in urban ministry to learn from current practitioners and be inspired to be future urban leaders.
• Create an interdenominational/multi-ministry, intergenerational & incarnational urban ministry event in Downtown Toronto.
For more information please contact Ejay.
