About Us
The Good Table is a newly formed association of churches, ministries, and spiritual leaders from across Canada. We are pursuing the way of Jesus, seeking relational connections and mutual resourcing to live out an inclusive, power-sharing, common-good-seeking expression of faith for all people in Canada.
We are a beautiful mix of ministers, church leaders, theologians, academics, chaplains, youth workers, artists, peacebuilders, therapists, professionals and other stakeholders. Each brings a rich Canadian theological tradition and practice to the broader table. Together, we are seeking to embrace an ongoing, self-reflective posture of listening and learning from the good and the difficulties of our Canadian Christian histories while striving to follow Jesus in 21st-century Canada. We are longing for fellowship, connection and resource sharing. We’re hoping that others will join us in this invitation to table fellowship as we are present to one another and present to the living Christ in our midst. We want to communicate and celebrate what God is doing from coast to coast in established churches, new worshipping communities, campus ministries, youth ministries, etc.
As individuals and faith communities, we have found that Jesus has called us to trust and follow Him in this posture. Through research, communal discernment, and humble prayer, we are sensing an invitation to join together publicly and collectively on this journey of co-creation with God.
Initially, we’re gathering as a relational members' association while working on additional, optional ecclesial structures to support long-term sustainability.
Christ as the Good Table
We are using the metaphor of the Table for two reasons:
Christ as the Good Table
What unites this community of Jesus followers with diverse traditions and theologies is the insistence that Jesus is at the core. We’re a people intentionally rooted in Jesus's life, teaching, and example: a way of others-centred sacrificial love, grace, inclusion, peacemaking, personal and communal transformation, and justice for the oppressed.
Eucharist/Communion table
Christ's table was intended to be a place where diverse communities could unite and sit as equals. The Christ table pushes against every encroaching inclination to establish hierarchies and uphold discrimination. In the face of division in our country and sometimes even our churches and denominations, the Christ table invites us into a connection that embodies the alternative vision of an inclusive kindom that reaches across traditions, theologies, and boundaries.
Christ is the good table, and everyone belongs at the feast.
We are people of various theologitraditions and histories joining together in a posture of mutuality to bear witness to a vibrant, diverse, healing and beautiful image of God here in Canada. We are named and formed by the table manners of Jesus Christ, who invites, welcomes, nourishes, and sends us to love our neighbours for the sake of mercy and equity in cities and towns all across Canada.
“This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:24)
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Sort of. At this stage we act more like a relational network or loose association, but we are developing additional resources to support those churches that want greater structural support.
We are aware that many churches have been removed from their denominations for including LGBTQIA2S+ individuals in every aspect of Christian life. In some cases, this has impacted that church’s ability to conduct marriages, receive donations and even gather in their own building. Some pastors have lost their pensions as a result of being removed by their denominations. For those churches and individuals looking for the support structure of a traditional denomination, we are working towards offering those things.
-
We get it! You can be involved with us as little or as much as you like. If all you’re looking for is a group of like-minded Jesus-followers, then we may be a good fit for you. If you’re looking for more resources and training than that, we may be able to help with that too.
-
Yes, absolutely! We do not ask for any kind of exclusivity or binding commitment. At this stage, we’re just a group of people pursuing Jesus with inclusion for all.
-
We believe that God welcomes everyone to experience and enjoy every aspect of Christian fellowship, regardless of race, ethnicity, ability, gender, sexuality, age, neurology, economic standing, political ideology or worldview.
That means, among other things, that we affirm LGBTQIA2S+ (also referred to as “queer”) individuals in all aspects of church life, including marriage, leadership and more.
-
Yes! Since we believe that God welcomes everyone to experience and enjoy every aspect of Christian fellowship, regardless of gender identity or sexuality (among other things), that includes every aspect of leadership. And we believe the church is better for it, when the gifts of all people are welcome.
-
Great question! Fill out the form on our contact page and we'll get in touch with you.
Governance and Leadership
At the present time, we are led by a legal board of directors, made up of pastors and Jesus-followers whose primary qualifications are an eagerness to listen to and learn from stakeholders across Canada, and the skills to develop a movement. Our Executive Director is one of two initial conveners who stewarded the early conversations the led to The Good Table. We also have a number of Working Groups that research and discern key issues, reporting back to the Board and ED.
