2026 MCBC LEAD Conference and Annual Meeting
Theme: Hope & Healing in a Broken World
Location: Peace Church on 52nd, 659 52nd Ave E, VANCOUVER BRITISH COLUMBIA V5X 1G8
LEAD Conference:
Date: Feb 27th from 3:00-8:30 pm (Check in at 2:30), Evening Session @ 7:00 pm
Cost: TBA (between $10-20), Evening Session only attendance will be by donation - registration still required.
Registration:
Coming soon!
Info:
We invite all ministry leaders to join us for this year’s LEAD Conference. To better support those serving in volunteer leadership roles, we have adjusted the schedule to run in the afternoon and evening.
While we encourage participants to attend the full conference, we are also offering the Evening Session only (final keynote and community worship) on a donation basis. Registration is still required.
Dinner will not be provided this year. Instead, we invite you to connect with others—perhaps meeting someone new or gathering a small group—and enjoy a meal at one of the many excellent local restaurants nearby. Let’s support our local community with our presence and generosity. Dessert and coffee will be waiting for you when you return for the evening session.
AGM Conference:
Date: Feb 28th from 9:00-3:30pm (Check in at 8:30)
Cost: For MCBC Church Delegates and guests - Cost split between MCBC Churches according to membership numbers.
For Individuals or Organization Representatives - TBA (between $25-40)
Registration: Coming Soon!
Info:
We invite you to join MCBC for our Annual Meeting. Following the 2025 format, business sessions will take place in the morning, followed by a shared lunch. The afternoon will feature workshops, a teaching session, and concluding remarks.
The Annual Meeting is open to all who wish to attend and is especially intended for delegates from MCBC congregations, along with their guests, guest speakers, and partner organizations. Voting privileges are reserved for those formally registered as delegates by their church.
Guest Speaker Bio: Joni Sancken’s approach to preaching is interdisciplinary and theological. Sancken (PhD, Toronto School of Theology, Emmanuel College) holds the Butler Chair of Homiletics and Biblical Interpretation at Vancouver School of Theology. She was formerly Professor of Homiletics at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, OH where she served for a decade and Assistant Professor of Preaching and Practical Theology at Eastern Mennonite Seminary in Harrisonburg, VA. She is the author of several books including, Stumbling Over the Cross: Preaching the Cross and Resurrection Today (Cascade, 2016), Words that Heal: Preaching Hope to Wounded Souls (Abingdon, 2019), All Our Griefs to Bear: Responding with Resilience After Collective Trauma (Herald Press, 2022,) and Getting to God: Preaching Good News in a Troubled World (co-authored) (Cascade, 2023.)
Sancken is passionate about supporting and encouraging pastors and church leaders. She grew up in a Mennonite congregation near Champaign-Urbana, IL and is an ordained pastor in Mennonite Church USA. She is energized by ecumenical and religious diversity having studied, served, and worshipped in Presbyterian Church USA, United Church of Canada, and United Methodist settings, and has completed training in the interfaith practice of scriptural reasoning. She is committed to non-violence and conflict resolution. She has completed two levels of training in Strategies for Trauma and Resilience (STAR) at the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding at Eastern Mennonite University.
Sancken lives in Vancouver, BC with her Presbyterian pastor spouse, Steve Schumm, children Maggie and Teddy, and dogs Bella and Pax. In her free time, she enjoys reading, watching low-stakes reality TV, and exploring the natural beauty around Vancouver.
Annual Meeting Workshop Descriptions
Workshops will run from 1-1:45 on Feb 28th. Room location will be based on sign-ups during registration and announced before Lunch on the 28th. Please indicate on your registration which workshop you are most interested in attending.
Workshop: Connecting your Church with the World
Join Jeanette Hanson, Director of International Witness for Mennonite Church Canada, for a conversation about global connections in congregational life. This workshop explores how churches can engage in mutually transformative relationships, deepening faith and broadening perspective as we discover what God is doing in the world.
Workshop: A Closer Look at the 2026 MCBC Budget
Join MCBC Finance Chair Brad Heinrichs for a transparent look at the MCBC budget and financial strategy. This session will unpack why reserves are sometimes used, how financial decisions align with mission and values, and what faithful stewardship looks like in a changing church landscape.
Workshop: Succession & Stewardship: Healthy Governance for Today and Tomorrow
Join Wanda Froese, Director at Menno Hall, for a practical session on board governance and succession planning. Drawing on her experience leading a growing community-focused organization, this workshop will explore structures, transitions, and practices that support sustainable leadership and faithful stewardship in nonprofit and church contexts.
Workshop: Q&A with Joni Sancken
Join Dr. Joni Sancken for an interactive Q&A on preaching and leadership in a wounded world. Drawing on theology, trauma awareness, and pastoral experience, this session offers thoughtful insight, practical wisdom, and encouragement for pastors and church leaders navigating complex ministry contexts today.
Workshop: Stewardship for Hope: Giving That Builds Community
Join Scott Campbell (More Than a Roof Foundation) and Kevin Barkowsky for a practical look at stewardship and fundraising rooted in generosity. Explore how giving fuels safe, affordable housing and supports real-life opportunities for transformation, and learn thoughtful approaches to raising and caring for resources in your church context.
Workshop: Next Generations with Josh Willms
Join MCBC Youth Director Josh Willms for a conversation about youth ministry in today’s church. This workshop invites reflection on nurturing faith with young people, sharing stories from the field, and imagining faithful, sustainable ways to invest in the next generation within small-church contexts.