Jenny Burr
Special to Spur Ottawa

When we belong, we feel cared for, accepted, and respected. Belonging is a universal desire, but sadly many people feel isolated and marginalized, even from the Church.

“We are working with people who may not feel comfortable in the pew because they are not middle-class, white, evangelical Christians,” says Hope Versluis, Executive Director of Jericho Road.

Versluis is on the planning committee for the Belong 2020: Strangers No More Conference, which aims to aid churches in welcoming people within their community who have experienced marginalization.

“We’re hoping that pastors, church leaders, and the person in the pew would understand that, for the people on the edges, they are not opposed to churches, they just don’t feel comfortable because the churches haven’t been welcoming. We want the conference to be practical. You can’t do everything, but what can you do? Perhaps, give a welcoming smile?”

Held April 3 and 4 [see editor’s note above] at Greenbelt Baptist Church, Belong 2020 follows two years after the sold-out inaugural conference.

Special guests who have experienced marginalization were strategically placed at each table during Belong 2020, to foster conversation. Photo courtesy of Belong 2020.

“We asked for feedback after Belong 2018,” shares Jasmine Duckworth, a Community Development Manager for Christian Horizons. “We heard two main themes: more theology (the why) and more practical tips (the how). Based on that, we expanded the conference to include a Friday-evening session with a concert and keynote speaker Jeff Lockyer. We will also hear from Kevin Rogers, on the Saturday morning, so our day is grounded in theology before we move into workshops.”

Lockyer’s Niagara church, Southridge Community Church, has sites serving migrant farm workers, as well as homeless and low income people. Rogers pastors New Song Church, in Windsor, and is experienced in urban ministry. Rogers pastors New Song Church, in Windsor, and is experienced in urban ministry.

The workshops will focus on practical steps and help introduce participants to organizations already working to build belonging in Ottawa.

“We are including a workshop highlighting specific things that church congregations are already doing,” explains Duckworth.

Two pastors connect at the 2018 Belong conference. Photo courtesy of Belong 2020.

Pastor Michael Versluis, from Parkway Church, was a panelist at the Belong 2018 conference. He says, “As a pastor, I felt encouraged that there are other churches that want to address the issues surrounding belonging. It made me more hopeful. It also motivated me to become part of the planning committee for this conference.”

In the two years since the 2018 conference Michael has noticed some progress.

“The success of the recent Posture Shift conferences, hosted by One Way Ministries, showed that there is an ongoing desire for churches to be more welcoming of marginalized groups.”

He notes that pastors face challenges leading their church to being places of belonging. “The addition of the Friday-night component is designed to speak directly to these issues. Our speaker is a pastor who has been leading the charge at his church and he has gained some wisdom and battle scars in leading his church through this change.”

For Belong 2020, Duckworth hopes there are more conversations about those on the fringes, “but, even more, I hope people take action as they are inspired and challenged by the stories they hear.”