Who We Are

Our Story

The mission of the Congregational Life Centre is to assist congregations to be more effective in their ministry. We have chosen the eagle for our symbol, because we want congregations to soar, with all the energy and passion, all the tranquility and spirituality that eagles bring to their magnificent flight. We have seen too many churches that are happy just to trudge along, slowly declining in numbers as members lapse into deepening states of lethargy. God expects a lot more from the church than mere survival. We want congregations who are willing to risk being different, who want to serve the people in their community, who want to fly with the eagles. We want to assist congregations who take Jesus' offer of new lives for old seriously.

Our work evolved out of a five-year research project to study new church development that was funded by the United Church of Canada and housed at St. Stephen’s College in Edmonton. Clair Woodbury served as Director of the project and Joyce Madsen chaired the coordinating committee that guided the project.

We are entering the second decade of working with congregations as the Congregational Life Centre. We have developed and refined a transformation process that we have used with individual congregations as well as with a cluster of five. The tranformation process is outlined in our book Wings Like Eagles. A companion Leader's Guide outlines workshops we have found to be effective in leading a congregation through this process.

Our "Transformation Tree" ties the five basic dimensions and three support areas together in a picture that symbolizes their interdependence. The roots include People, Finances, and Structure. The trunk is the Leadership, and the branches represent Context, Identity, and Spirituality. The Vision is what the tree is growing toward and is its source of energy.

It is important to stay on the cutting edge of the congregational development field. Books, articles and the Internet are three resources we use. We also have an active research program, taking the questions people in congregations ask us and looking for answers. We have investigated the dynamics when congregations are amalgamated, and have developed a series of articles on "Congregations that Dare to be Different."

Centre Staff Team

Joyce Madsen

Joyce Madsen is a member of the Congregational Life Centre staff team. She brings to this position a wealth of experience in business and in the church.

She has served in management positions in a number of computer and high-tech companies and conducted training programs across Canada. When she is not working with the Centre she prepares people to start their own business.

Joyce has chaired two new church development congregations in Edmonton and the St. Stephen's College New Church Development Coordinating Committee. She served as co-chair of the United Church's national Commission on Congregational Mission and Church Development. During the Centre's first year she chaired the founding Board and as a volunteer helped lead many of the workshops.

Those who know Joyce well treasure her enthusiasm, energy, open personality and high level of commitment to the church.

Clair Woodbury

Clair Woodbury is a member of the staff team at the Congregational Life Centre. Prior to that he was Director of a five-year research project in new church development based at St. Stephen's College, Edmonton. He served on the Doctor of Ministry Committee at St. Stephen's College for 24 years. A graduate of Royal Military College, Clair studied theology at Queen's University and received his Ph.D. in theology from Drew University in the United States.

He has served a number of pastorates and a term as President of Alberta and Northwest Conference for the United Church. In a varied career, he has worked in the black ghetto of Chicago, served as Canadian NGO Coordinator for the U.N. Vancouver Habitat Conference, and as Director of a village development project in the hills of Italy.

The Congregational Life Centre Board plays a key role in the life of the Centre. They are elected at the Annual General Meeting by members of the Congregational Life Centre. They guide the work of the Centre, and are a great source of inspiration and support for the staff.

The Centre is incorporated as a not-for-profit society in the Province of Alberta. We are a registered charity number 89538 4782 RR0001.

The Centre Board

	Debbie Hubbard Debbie has been active in youth leadership in her congregation, Trinity United Church. Weekdays, she is a health consultant.
	Linda Paddon Lida is a long-time member of the Mill Woods United Church congregation. She chaired the Building Committee when the current church was constructed. In her Monday through Friday life, she is an Administrative Assistant and Branch Systems Administrator.
	Molly Platts Molly is Treasurer for the Congregational Life Centre Board. She attends St. Andrew's Anglican and Ashmont United Church, and is Director of the McCauley Community After School Care Association.
	Leslie Whitehead Leslie lives in the Riverbend area of Edmonton. She currently works in the adult education field.
	Joyce Madsen Joyce Chairs the Congregational Life Centre Board, and brings to that role her enthusiasm for congregational transformation.
	Clair Woodbury Clair acts as Secretary for the Board.
	Shirley Kabachia Shirley is a member of St. Andrew's United Church in Spruce Grove, and has been giving gifted leadership to that congregation, as she has at Southminster-Steinhauer United Church when she lived in Edmonton.
	Ralph Westwood Ralph brings a long association with the church as well as his insights as a leader in the St. Andrew's United Church, Spruce Grove, congregation.
	Chris Standring Chris is Assistant Features Editor at the Edmonton Journal. She has been long active and has served as Board chair of St. Andrew's United Church in Edmonton. She brings a passion for the church and for communication.