EDGE
EDGE began in 2011 as a three-year project focused on developing new and renewing ministries across the United Church of Canada. In 2014, it was integrated into the periphery of the United Church of Canada's Church in Mission unit of the General Council Offices. Now, it is a living web of new and renewing ministries and leaders in the power of the Spirit, following Christ, and embracing God's mission in the world.
We work with congregations, presbyteries, conferences, regional councils, and ministries across Canada in new and renewing ministry, property, and innovation.
For more information about EDGE, visit our website.
Curiosity Cohort
Are you a curious person? Whether you're in ministry, lay ministry, church administration, or you just enjoy being present for Sunday services, a mindset of curiosity is a powerful one for communities of faith in challenging times.
Community Events
Harness the full power of online learning as you join your colleagues on Zoom to listen to new ideas, share your opinions and hear what others think, and discuss topics relevant to your work and ministry. Let's find ways to meet the challenges of the day, support each other in the work, and move forward in new ways - together!
Signpost Series
EDGE's Signposts are independent learning opportunities for communities of faith ready to take a change journey, beginning with the first step of assessing your situation and articulating your story and culminating with a review of your changed ecosystem and framework for visioning the future. Look to the 8-part Signpost Series for assistance with (bolded titles currently available): Finding Your Place on the Map, Getting Ready for the Journey, Travelling Companions, Innovation Cohort, Marketing and Communications, Building Sustainability, , Future Directions, and Emergency Toolkit. Flexible, economical, and well-supported by other EDGE offerings, Signposts are perfect for communities of faith looking for a new direction!
Leading Adaptively
Join preacher, researcher and revitalist Clara King for a 3-session Zoom exploration of new ways to lead adaptively with skills you already have. You'll learn about the six core competencies of leadership, how you can understand and change the organizational culture of your congregation, and how conflict is a leadership resource you can steward, and come away with usable practices to reinvigorate your day-to-day leadership journey.
Featured Classes
Begin your learning journey today››››››
Browse the course catalog at any time. These courses are created by our ecumenical partners. The platform integrates written content, video instruction, and individual reflection to allow you the freedom to study at your own pace, when and where you choose. These courses are intended for self-study, continuing education, and professional development.
Theory of Change (Winter 2023)
Are you planning to change, grow or add a ministry? A Theory of Change is your ministry’s story of how you believe change will unfold.
February 13th to February 26th, 2023
What impact are you having? How do you know? What difference is your ministry or program making? Learn what your mission is and understand the roles in achieving it.
A Theory of Change will provide a roadmap that outlines the steps by which you will achieve your mission. A Theory of Change can aid in aligning your stakeholders to your larger mission and help them understand their role in achieving it. We’ll illustrate your Theory of Change with a logic model to show your stakeholders the intended relationship between investments and results.
Class Structure:
February 13 to February 26, 2023
Asynchronous Content: 15-30 hours
Live (Zoom) Sessions: 10.5 hours
Theory of Change (Summer 2023)
Are you planning to change, grow or add a ministry? A Theory of Change is your ministry’s story of how you believe change will unfold.
June 12th to August 3rd
What impact are you having? How do you know? What difference is your ministry or program making? Learn what your mission is and understand the roles in achieving it.
A Theory of Change will provide a roadmap that outlines the steps by which you will achieve your mission. A Theory of Change can aid in aligning your stakeholders to your larger mission and help them understand their role in achieving it. We’ll illustrate your Theory of Change with a logic model to show your stakeholders the intended relationship between investments and results.
Class Structure:
Asynchronous Content: 15-30 hours
Live (Zoom) Sessions: 10.5 hours
Theory of Change (Fall 2023)
Are you planning to change, grow or add a ministry? A Theory of Change is your ministry’s story of how you believe change will unfold.
November 6th to November 20th, 2023
What impact are you having? How do you know? What difference is your ministry or program making? Learn what your mission is and understand the roles in achieving it.
A Theory of Change will provide a roadmap that outlines the steps by which you will achieve your mission. A Theory of Change can aid in aligning your stakeholders to your larger mission and help them understand their role in achieving it. We’ll illustrate your Theory of Change with a logic model to show your stakeholders the intended relationship between investments and results.
Class Structure:
November 6th to November 20th, 2023
Asynchronous Content: 15-30 hours
Live (Zoom) Sessions: 10.5 hours
Community Engagement Events
This bonus Signpost talks about the importance of community engagement and examines the Community Innovation Challenge and Community Round Table. Communities of faith can use these tools to find out what's happening in the neighbourhood around them, discern what its needs are, and identify who wants to help. They can then create partnerships with individuals, people and businesses interested in working collaboratively to make a positive impact in the neighbourhood. Get ready to learn how intentional community engagement can make your community of faith a powerful agent of change!
Class Structure:
Individual Study: 5 hours
Finding Your Place on the Map
This course is designed to help communities of faith facing challenges or barriers take the first steps on a change journey. Participants will learn to assess and contextualize their current situation and to build a leadership team to address issues. You'll see that a way forward is possible!
"Finding Your Place on the Map" is the first of of EDGE's "Signposts", but can be taken at any point in the series or as a stand-alone course.
Class Structure:
Individual Study: 5 hours
Getting Ready for the Journey
Now that you and your leadership team have gone through Signpost #1 - You Are Here: Help!, are you wondering about the next step in your community of faith's pathway to change? Use this Signpost to help you and your community of faith get ready to begin a journey of curiosity and learning that will steer it toward a new future.
Class Structure:
Individual Study: 5 hours
Travelling Companions
Now that you and your leadership team have gone through the first two Signposts, you are ready for the next step in your community of faith's pathway to change – Signpost #3: Travelling Companions. This Signpost's theme is Community and Partnerships.
Class Structure:
Individual Study: 5 hours
Innovation Cohort
Is your community of faith interested in innovation? Is it:
- Wanting to learn about new ideas of what church can be
- Curious about its options and possibilities for new directions
- Open to new partnerships and collaboration opportunities with other churches and community organizations.
Use this Signpost, the fourth in EDGE's Signpost Series, to explore how innovative action can take your community of faith in new directions that benefit both it and the community around it, and take another step on the pathway to change.
Class Structure:
Individual Study: 10 hours
Marketing and Communication
If your community of faith doesn't tell its story, how will people know about what you have to offer? Learn how your community of faith can:
- Clarify its offering and build confidence in its ability to deliver it
- Tell story in compelling ways
- Develop a communication plan that meets the needs of diverse stakeholders
- Gather other people's stories to help frame and develop and frame its ministry
- Create a Theory of Change to help with planning, implementing, and evaluating programs
""Marketing and Communication"" is #5 of EDGE's ""Signposts"", but can be taken at any point in the series or as a stand-alone course.
Class Structure:
Individual Study: 5 hours
Building Sustainability
"Building Sustainability" is designed to help communities of faith learn skills, through the use of readings, videos, discussion forums and reflective questions, that:
- Encourage them to think differently and critically about how they are working in relationship to their neighbourhoods.
- Address a deep yearning in communities of faith across the network to be relevant in their communities and a backbone organization in their neighbourhoods as they become increasingly vibrant.
- Support the fundamental tools that communities of faith need to start along this path.
"Building Sustainability" is #6 of EDGE's "Signposts", but can be taken at any point in the series or as a stand-alone course.
Class Structure:
Individual Study: 10 hours