Friday, May 10 – Saturday, May 11, 2024
Hamilton – Calgary – Vancouver

 

This year’s A Deeper Communion conference will explore the width and depth of ecclesial engagement with disability across the nation. Friday night will feature scholarly exploration of theology, disability, and the church. Saturday will offer a blend of practical workshops, presentations, and insights from prominent Canadian authors who embody authentic leadership in the exploration of a more inclusive and responsive church. In addition, we will have workshops of practical importance and TEDD talks featuring diverse perspectives from the disability community. It will be held in three cities: Calgary, Hamilton, and Vancouver. We hope you’ll join us!

As we welcome a new site and are connected with locations from British Columbia to Ontario, we celebrate the ways Jesus meets us across geographic expanses and in the midst of the particularity of our ordinary lives.

A Deeper Communion connects people across Canada and celebrates the specific stories and experiences of people with disabilities as located in their own communities and neighbourhoods. We ask questions such as, “Where are Christians engaging with disability?” and, “What needs to grow and/or change in the Canadian church context?”

 

Plenary Speakers

 

Rev. Heather Morgan

Rev. Heather Morgan is a physical disabled and neurodiverse writer, author and speaker who wears many hats! She is part of the pastoral team at Vox Community Church in Barrie, ON; she runs Powered by Love, a disability advocacy, coaching training, and consulting organization; and she is an emerging crip theologian, working on her PhD at Emmanuel College at the University of Toronto. Heather is also wife, mom, and nana to a crew of fabulous disabled and neurodiverse humans who make sure that her academic work is always deeply grounded in lived experience.

 

Dr. L.S. Carlos A. Thompson

Dr. L. S. Carlos, born in Cartagena, Colombia, and raised in Fargo, North Dakota, holds degrees in Church Ministry, Religious Studies, and Divinity from various institutions. He serves as Assistant Professor of Christian Ministry and Disability Theology at Western Theological Seminary (WTS), where he is also involved in community initiatives and student accessibility.

With over 15 years of pastoral experience across diverse denominations, Dr. Carlos identifies as a Charismatic-reformed Pentecostal shaped by Benedictine Spirituality, Henri Nouwen’s work, and St. Juan De La Cruz. Living with congenital Cerebral Palsy, his research focuses on Christian Communal Theology and the intersection of Jesus’ healing ministry with contemporary notions of health. Key questions in his research include defining Christian community, understanding healing, and grappling with enduring disability and chronic illness.

  • Call For Papers

    We welcome proposals on all aspects and from various perspectives on the intersection between disability, theology, and Christian ministry. Selected papers will be grouped into parallel sessions on May 10. Presenters are expected to give their paper in person in one of the three sites: Calgary, Hamilton, or Vancouver. Special accommodations can be arranged for those who face challenges pertaining to presenting in person. A draft or a detailed handout of the accepted paper is expected to be circulated a week before the conference. Please submit your proposal through our website at the link below. The deadline for proposals is March 31, 2024.

    Submit Your Proposal

  • Hamilton Schedule
    Friday, May 10, 2024 – Pre-Conference Presentations
    Time Session
    7:00 PM Introduction
    7:15 PM Paper Sessions
    8:15 PM Break
    8:30 PM Paper Sessions

    Saturday, May 11, 2024 – Conference
    Time Session
    9:00 AM Registration
    9:30 AM Welcome & Worship
    10:00 AM Practical Workshops
    11:00 AM Lunch
    12:00 PM Keynote Speakers

    Rev. Heather Morgan & Dr. Carlos Thompson

    1:15 PM Break
    1: 30 PM TEDD Talks
    2:15 PM Break
    2:30 PM Book Talk
    3:00 PM Table Discussion
    4:00 PM Worship & Closing
  • Calgary Schedule
    Friday, May 10, 2024 – Pre-Conference Presentations
    Time Session
    5:00 PM Introduction
    5:15 PM Paper Sessions
    6:15 PM Break
    7:30 PM Paper Sessions
    Saturday, May 11, 2024 – Conference
    Time Session
    9:30 AM Registration
    9:45 AM Welcome
    10:00 AM Keynote Speakers

    Rev. Heather Morgan & Dr. Carlos Thompson

    11:15 AM Break
    11:30 AM TEDD Talks
    12:15 PM Break
    12:30 PM Book Talk
    1:00 PM Lunch
    1:30 PM Practical Workshop
    2:30 PM Worship
    3:00 PM Closing
  • Vancouver Schedule
    Friday, May 10, 2024 – Pre-Conference Presentations
    Time Session
    4:00 PM Introduction
    4:15 PM Paper Sessions
    5:15 PM Break
    6:30 PM Paper Sessions
    Saturday, May 11, 2024 – Conference
    Time Session
    8:30 AM Registration
    8:45 AM Welcome
    9:00 AM Keynote Speakers

    Rev. Heather Morgan & Dr. Carlos Thompson

    10:15 AM Break
    10:30 AM TEDD Talks
    11:15 PM Break
    11:30 PM Book Talk
    12:00 PM Lunch
    12:30 PM Practical Workshop
    1:30 PM Worship
    2:00 PM Closing

 


A Deeper Communion is a network of organizations that connects Canadian ministry leaders, practitioners, and academics at the intersection of disability and theology. In 2018, A Deeper Communion began as an event in Toronto to connect and bring together students, pastors, theologians, and other Christians with and without disabilities. Since then, we have included and enhanced both the practical and more theoretical/theological aspects of the disability and faith conversation.