Check out the lineup for the conference:

The Reverend Canon Simon Bell

Simon is the Incumbent of St Margaret of Scotland and Trinity in Barrie, Ontario. He is originally from South Africa. His background is primarily in youth ministry, theological education, Social Anthropology and consultancy work. He has served the church on three continents - Africa, Europe and North America - and has served in a number of parishes as a youth and children's minister and is the author of a book on youth ministry in a multi-cultural context titled Happy in my Skin. He has served as the Advisor on multiculturalism to the Archbishops' Council of the Church of England and as a Congregational Development Consultant to the Diocese of Toronto. He has been both a team player and a team leader in a number of church plants and reboots. He has a passion for the out-doors and keeping critters. He enjoys canoeing, hiking, horse-riding and road trips. He runs a sheep farm in Tiny, Ontario, with his family.

The Right Reverend Dr. Susan Bell

Bishop Susan Bell, the 12th Bishop of Niagara and its first female leader, exemplifies mission-driven leadership. Since her consecration in 2018, she has guided the diocese in discerning and implementing Mission Action Plans (MAPs), fostering a mission-shaped Church attuned to God’s work in the world. With a deep commitment to strategic and spiritual leadership, Bishop Bell encourages diocesan parishes and missions to reimagine their identity and embrace renewal in ministry.



Bishop Bell's leadership extends beyond Niagara. As co-chair of the Anglican-Methodist International Coordinating Committee and chair of Ontario’s Commission on Theological Education, she bridges local and global contexts, advancing mission-focused collaboration. A sought-after retreat facilitator and speaker, she inspires others to live out their faith in transformative ways. Bishop Bell previously served as a diocesan canon missioner and the national team leader for Fresh Expressions Canada.

The Reverend Ingrid Brown

Ingrid Brown is the Lead Minister at Weird Church and a creature of the woods. Ingrid’s love of the earth was nurtured in the forests of and by the community on Bowen Island and solidified in the concrete jungle of NYC where she studied performing arts. These roots of love grew deeper as she explored inter-religious, interdisciplinary studies at the Vancouver School of Theology with a focus on the Judeo-Christian narrative and Indigenous studies.

The Reverend Laurel Dykstra

Laurel Dykstra is the founding priest of Salal + Cedar Watershed Discipleship Community, a church that worships outdoors and seeks to help Christians in the lower Fraser watershed grow their skills for Climate Justice. They are a long-time faith-based activist and writer, mostly at the intersection of scripture and justice. Laurel’s latest book, on interspecies loneliness, Wildlife Congregations is available from Hancock House. 

The Reverend Michael Garner

Ordained an Anglican Priest in Fall 2019, Michael is the Rector of St. Albans in the downtown of Ottawa. He has had the opportunity to participate in and lead three church plants (two with the Free Methodist Church in Canada and one with the Anglican Church of Canada). From 2006 to 2019 Michael worked as an Infectious Disease Epidemiologist at the Public Health Agency of Canada working primarily in research and control of emerging infectious diseases. Michael has a Bachelor of Science degree from Queen’s University, a Master of Science (Epidemiology) degree from the University of Ottawa, and a Master of Divinity degree from the University of Toronto. Currently he is applying his theological and public health training to address the problems of food security on the University of Ottawa campus, and the challenges of the Opioid crisis in downtown Ottawa.

Dr. Emily Hill

Dr. Emily Hill is the Diocese of Niagara’s Parish Development Missioner. Holding a PhD in English and Cultural Studies from McMaster University, she is a passionate educator and mission-driven leader dedicated to fostering meaningful growth in communities. Emily’s work focuses on nurturing vital and resilient missional faith communities through consultations, education, and resourcing. She develops and implements programs aligned with the diocese’s Mission Action Plan and collaborates with senior leadership to support parish leaders through strategic planning, visioning, and faith formation. Beyond her professional roles, Emily is an avid beekeeper, yurt builder, dog lover, and audiobook enthusiast, bringing creativity and relational energy to all she does.

Dave Krause

Dave Krause serves as the Diocesan Missioner for the Anglican Diocese of Toronto, bringing together his passion for creative missional community engagement and renewal of the church. With deep roots planted in the Anglican tradition after a faith journey where he was blessed to serve in a variety of denominations and expressions of church, Dave’s work focuses on empowering parishes to reimagine their mission in vibrant and transformative ways. He supports missioners and clergy in discerning God’s call, fostering innovative outreach initiatives, and cultivating sustainable ministries that reflect the diverse communities they serve. Drawing from years of experience in parish leadership and diocesan planning, Dave seeks to bridge church traditions with contemporary challenges.

He is known for his collaborative approach, working closely with clergy and laity to inspire bold, faith-filled responses to local needs. Dave’s commitment to mission extends beyond administration; he finds joy in preaching and community facilitation, offering practical tools and spiritual insights to equip churches for impactful ministry. His vision is rooted in a firm belief that the Church is called to be a living expression of God’s love and justice. When not engaged in ministry, Dave enjoys exploring his home city of Toronto, spending time together with his wife Amanda on the water or on a trail somewhere in Southern Ontario, and may often be found with a guitar in hand.

Canon Janet Marshall

Janet Marshall is the Director of Congregational Development for the Diocese of Toronto, where she leads initiatives to foster growth, vitality, and mission-focused ministry in Anglican communities. Passionate about equipping churches to embody Christ’s mission, Janet collaborates with clergy and lay leaders to strengthen their capacity for discipleship, community engagement, and innovation.

With a rich background in ministry and strategic planning, she inspires congregations to connect deeply with their faith and neighborhoods, nurturing transformative relationships. Committed to the flourishing of all, Janet brings vision, compassion, and a deep love for the church to her work.

Beth Carlson-Melena

Beth Carlson-Malena grew up as a Baptist pastor's kid in Saskatoon, and now lives with her wife Danice on unceded Coast Salish land, also known as Vancouver. Beth co-pastors an independent church called Open Way that she helped start up seven years ago. She and her wife also recently launched Pride + Joy Ceremonies, where she can expand her beloved side-gig: creating and hosting weddings and rituals to mark milestones in people's lives. Beth spends her free time bird watching, giving tours at Van Dusen gardens, organizing for climate justice and for a free Palestine, and reading/watching science fiction.

The Reverend Canon Dr. Ian Mobsby

Ian Mobsby has worked as a lay and ordained missioner with missional new monastic communities. He has been a Priest-in-Charge of two ‘mixed ecology’ parish churches and a guild church, of the missional alongside the traditional in the Church of England. Ian has lectured and supported training in contextual mission and fresh expressions of church in North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Ian has written a number of books on aspects of contemporary mission and spirituality, recently completing a research PhD part exploration of the 'Spiritual But Not Religious’ and adapting a more contemplative approach and model of mission. He currently works in Canada as the Diocesan Community Missioner in the Anglican Diocese of Niagara remaining a member of the Church of England's Advisory Council for the relations of Diocesan Bishops and Religious Communities and a Trustee of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s St Anselm Community in Lambeth Palace, London. See ianmobsby.net for more info.

Erinn Oxford

Erinn Oxford was born and raised in Toronto, a city that she loves. She has been working in Parkdale, a neighbourhood in the city’s west end since 2007. In 2012 she was invited to become the full-time Executive Director and Pastor of what was previously known as Parkdale Neighbourhood Church. Tasked with re-visioning the ministry, Erinn sought the feedback of the community and proposed a full reboot, one that would include giving up a building, spilling into the streets, creating a nomadic routine, and becoming The Dale Ministries. Erinn longs for and pursues the building of community where all people are welcome and those who experience poverty are valued. She studied at both Tyndale University College & Seminary, and Humber College and is ordained. Erinn writes about discovering beauty in unexpected places on her blog, erinnoxford.com. She is married to Dion and they have a daughter, Cate.

Canon Andrew Stephens-Rennie

Andrew Stephens-Rennie is a catalytic leader, passionate about sparking and leading innovative responses to the adaptive challenges facing the church today. Andrew’s experience spans church planting and congregational development, communications management, executive leadership, front-line service, fundraising, governance, innovative ministry development and transformation, spiritual care, and systems change. Before serving as Director of Missional Renewal for the Anglican Diocese of Kootenay, Andrew was Director of Ministry Innovation at Christ Church Cathedral in Vancouver, BC. 

Andrew is cofounder and contributing editor at www.empireremixed.com, host of the Homefulness Podcast, and co-editor of "A Sort of Homecoming: Essays Honoring the Academic and Community Work of Brian Walsh" with Marcia Boniferro and Amanda Jagt.

Andrea Perrett

Andrea Perrett is a multivocational church leader based out of Vancouver, BC. She splits her time between the Centre for Missional Leadership at St Andrew’s Hall and working as a dietitian at a residential mental health facility. She has a passion for seeing new expressions of witnessing communities flourish, especially which connect people to God’s created world. She can often be found teaching others embodied spiritual practices, leading wild church, encouraging others to start new churches. Andrea has led the Just as You Are, Bread Baking Circle since 2019. This online group of novice bakers gathers monthly to join together in the ritual of baking, praying, and sharing life together. Andrea and her husband Jordan are originally from the prairies but have called the West Coast home for over a decade. They live in North Vancouver where they enjoy exploring the mountains with their child and goofy black lab.

The Reverend Canon Lisa Vaughn

Canon Lisa Vaughn is a dynamic leader with a passion for cultivating vibrant, mission-focused communities. With a strong background in organizational revitalization, leadership development, and missional innovation, she currently serves as the Director of Mission and Ministry Development for the Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. Lisa is fervent in her empowerment of entrepreneurial leaders, fostering collaborative environments, and creating programs that inspire growth and transformation. She spearheads a missional leadership cohort, The Connectors, and is a key designer and lead facilitator of the MORE Mission School series. A fan of Stevie Nicks, Malcolm Gladwell and rescued cats, Lisa is eager to learn, grow and travel. She is married to Cape Bretoner and musician, Brent Chezenko. They reside outside Halifax, NS.

Drew Brown

Drew Brown is singer-songwriter, worship leader, and multi-instrumentalist whose music blends soulful melodies with profound spiritual themes. Rooted in his deep faith and commitment to his Christian walk, Drew’s artistry reflects a journey of worship, grace, and community. From a young age, Drew’s passion for music and ministry was cultivated in the church. He began leading worship as a teenager, where he discovered the transformative power of music to connect hearts to God. Over the years, he has honed his craft, creating a unique sound that fuses elements of folk, gospel, and pop with introspective and faith-filled lyrics.



Drew is widely recognized for his ability to craft songs that resonate deeply with both congregations and individual listeners, bridging the sacred and the contemporary. His skills have taken him to churches and conferences across Canada and beyond, where he inspires others to worship authentically and passionately. Beyond music, Drew is committed to building inclusive and loving faith communities.

The Reverend Jamie Howison

Jamie Howison is a priest of the Anglican Church of Canada, and in retirement is serving as an Honorary Assistant at the parish church of St Michael and All Angels in Winnipeg. For the twenty years prior to his retirement, he served as the founding pastoral leader of saint benedict's table, a community born of the early “Fresh Expressions” and emergent church movements. He is the author of God’s Mind in that Music: Theological Explorations through the Music of John Coltrane (2012) and A Kind of Solitude (2021), as well as the co-author with Steve Bell of I Will Not Be Shaken: a songwriter’s journey through the Psalms (2015). Jamie is currently doing background work on a new book on the David stories as told in 1 and 2 Samuel, and how they can be freshly engaged by the preacher and parish community.