Selkirk United Church welcomed Rev. Dr. Kimberly Heath, moderator of the United Church of Canada, from May 28 to 31 as the city hosted the Prairie to Pine Regional Council meeting, bringing delegates from across Manitoba and northwestern Ontario.
Rev. Dr. Kimberly Heath, moderator of the United Church of Canada, addresses delegates
The visit was part of the regional council’s in-person meeting cycle, which takes place every three years, and included worship services, workshops and discussions on the future of the denomination as it responds to shifting congregational dynamics and community needs.
Throughout the gathering, nearly 200 delegates reflected on the challenges and opportunities facing urban and rural congregations across the region, sharing examples of how local churches are navigating demographic shifts, changing perceptions and emerging realities in their communities.
For Heath, the visit provided an opportunity to see firsthand how regional churches are adapting to changes facing the United Church of Canada at the national level.
“There seems to be a lot of energy,” she said. “People are, I think, craving to be together.”
She noted that while many United Church congregations across the country are facing declining attendance and fewer ministry leaders, smaller congregations are finding new ways to sustain themselves and serve their communities.
“Instead of bemoaning the fact that we’re getting smaller, (we) embrace being small, because I think God does pretty awesome things with small,” Heath said.
She emphasized that one of the most significant challenges facing the denomination is maintaining large church buildings with fewer people to support them while also helping fill gaps in local social programming.
Churches are increasingly serving as community hubs by hosting food banks, support groups, arts programs and gathering spaces in areas where third spaces have declined, she said.
That role, she added, is becoming more important as communities lose what she described as the “in-between spaces” where people of different backgrounds naturally interact.
“We live at the polarized level,” Heath said, pointing to increasing social isolation among the general population. “Churches serve as a hugely valuable space of learning to get along with (others).”
At Selkirk United Church, that sense of community is reflected in the building’s daily activity, said congregation member M. Chorney, who also serves in multiple roles, including communications and regional governance within the broader United Church of Canada.
“There are people in here every day,” Chorney said. “They’re always using this space.”
Chorney said Selkirk United Church has worked in recent years to make the church more accessible and welcoming, including through a major building renovation, and a decision to become an affirming congregation.
“That’s all we wanted,” she said. “To have a space that can be really accessible.”
Selkirk United Church minister Rev. Cole Grambo said hosting the moderator and regional council meeting was a significant moment for the congregation.
“It was a huge honour to host the moderator at our regional meeting this weekend,” he said, adding that Heath delivered “a powerful message of hope.”
He highlighted that the regional council gathering brings together congregational representatives for worship, discussion and governance while recognizing new ministers and honouring those who are retiring.
Grambo said the weekend’s message emphasized hope, justice and resilience in the face of global and local challenges.
“Many things give me hope about the future of Selkirk United Church,” he said, adding that he has seen a growing number of people coming through the church’s doors in search of community and belonging.
Heath’s visit concluded with a message focused on connection, faith and community renewal — themes that clergy and congregants say reflect the evolving role of churches in a changing religious landscape.
“It’s been a delight and an honour to be here and to experience this place and this community,” she said.
