Download Canterbury College Course Catalog
Academic Courses:
To register, click on the images below:
November 1 - December 6, 2025
Saturdays, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm EST
*Offered through Huron UC and Canterbury conjointly
Instructor: Rev Dr Jennifer Boyes-Garbin
This course examines the practice of contemplative prayer from the Early Church through to modern times, with the intent of reflecting on, strengthening and growing our relationships with God, self, and others. Grounding our study in theological and scriptural understandings of prayer, we will explore the idea that the act of contemplation leads to greater daily embodiment of the Gospel and experiences of the Divine that we encounter in private moments of prayer. Through practicum, lecture, reflection, discussion, and readings taken from a wide sampling of authors and practitioners of contemplative prayer, we will consider how this practice encourages us to be more fully engaged as anti-racist, embodied, and self-reflective Christ followers, open to continual spiritual growth and deepening relationship with the Divine.
January 10, 24, and February 7, 2026
10:00 am - 4:30 pm EST
Artificial Intelligence is shaping human culture, relationships, and even religious imagination. In three intensive days, we will explore theological questions raised by AI: Is a chatbot my neighbour (Ammon & Reed)? Could a robot bear the image of God ( Dorobantu; Burdett)? What might incarnation, sin, and salvation mean in an algorithmic age (Herzfeld; Weissenbacher)? And how should the Church respond to both the promise and perils of AI (COMECE; CEC; Pope Francis)?
January 6 - February 10, 2026
Tuesdays, 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm EST
Instructor: Estensei Staats Pangowish
Moana Jackson, a Māori lawyer, said the age of discovery is described more accurately as the age of genocide. This course examines the doctrine as the foundation of all systemic racism and stereotypes that Indigenous people face today in the colonial state of Canada. We will examine together the doctrine of discovery, the historical legal and religious principle that justified the colonization of non-Christian lands by European powers, asserting that Christian nations had the right to claim lands inhabited by non-Christians. We will review how the doctrine has been used and repudiated by the Papal office but, how even repudiating the doctrine does not end the oppression of Indigenous people on Turtle Island commonly referred to as Canada and the United States. Join us in this journey of self-awareness, self-reflection, and deep learning about how the doctrine still lingers in our church systems and in our daily lives.
Micro-Credentials:
January 22, 2026
10:00 am - 4:00 pm EST
Our ministry is guided by the respect we have for our congregants & by their having entrusted us with their spiritual well-being. When we do not respect their separateness or use their vulnerabilities to satisfy our personal needs, we have violated boundaries & betrayed a sacred trust. Healthy boundaries are a gift. They are helpful guidelines that give shape to our relationships. In ministry situations boundaries clarify who is the congregant and who is the mentor, not in a hierarchical way, but in a manner that prevents the unhealthy merging of individuals. Boundaries create safe spaces & help to build trust over time. (From Faithtrust Institute)
February 28, 2026
12:00 pm - 4:00 pm EST
Instructor: Rev Jean-Daniel Ó Donncada
Boundaries to keep parishioners safe are essential and rightly emphasized in introductory boundary courses. This course is a supplemental course for those in placements and ministry to identify when, cope with, and move forward in instances of parishioners, colleagues, and leaders monopolizing time, misusing power, manipulating through donations or compensation, and bullying, to empower clergy to stay healthy and strengthen their ministry for and with ALL people to whom they are called to serve.
January 24, 2026
10:00 am - 4:00 pm EST
This one-day introductory course on racial justice offers a foundational understanding of key concepts and frameworks essential to recognizing and addressing racial inequity. We will explore the historical roots of systemic racism, the difference between individual bias & institutional discrimination, and the impact of privilege and power in shaping societal outcomes. The course will also introduce tools for allyship, anti-racist practices, and strategies for fostering inclusive environments. Through interactive discussions and reflective exercises, attendees will gain the awareness and language needed to begin engaging in racial justice work personally and professionally in the church and beyond.
November 13 and 20, 2025
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm EST
In this one day course we will review concepts that are key to racial justice and look at how we can apply that knowledge to serving our respective communities through our own unique gifts and dreams. The first part of the day we will review concepts such as power, intersectionality, identity/positionality, how the various levels of oppression function, and allyship. The second half of the day we will reflect on our personal gifts, skills, and dreams and how these relate to our unique calling to serve others and work towards justice. We will work in groups in order to share, brainstorm and receive feedback and discern next steps.
Feb 7 and 21, 2026
12:00 pm - 4:00 pm EST
This course critically explores the complex ways oppression manifests within religious and faith spaces. Through an intersectional lens, we will examine how power dynamics & social hierarchies shape participation, leadership, & belonging in spiritual spaces. The course will unpack various forms of oppression—including ideological, institutional, cultural, and historical.
Topics include the exclusion of women & LGBTQ+ individuals from leadership, the marginalization of disabled people in worship. We will also engage with theologies that reinforce inequality, address and challenge dominant narratives that silence diverse voices.
By the end of the course, we will gain tools to identify & disrupt oppressive structures in faith communities and envision what true diversity, inclusion, and liberation could look like in worship, leadership, and theology.
March 21, 2026
10:00 am - 4:00 pm EST
This course explores the foundational concepts of allyship that underpin meaningful support for marginalized com-munities. We’ll define allyship & distinguish it from related roles—accomplice & co-conspirator—so you can understand where you are on the spectrum of solidarity.
What You’ll Learn
- How allyship differs from accompliceship & co-conspiratorial action
- Common pitfalls in practicing allyship, including performative gestures and saviorism
- The art and ethics of apology: when, how, and why to own mistakes
- Appreciation versus appropriation: celebrating culture without exploitation
- Concrete, everyday actions that deepen your allyship
By the end of this course, you will have a clear roadmap for stepping into allyship with humility, integrity, and purpose—transforming awareness into authentic, lasting change.
Lay Reader Courses
The Essex Deanery Lay Leadership Training Classes: Lay Leadership Courses for 2025 and early 2026
These clases will be held in person at Canterbury College. Classes run from 10:00am - 2:30pm with 30 minutes for lunch.
We have partnered with Canterbury College for the courses, and they are providing us with the technology support to run the classes by zoom.
Please join us for one or all of the following classes:
Sat Sept 20, 2025 Church History
Sat Nov 15, 2025 Liturgy
Sat Jan 17, 2026 Preaching
Sat Mar 21, 2026 Preaching
Please contact Rev. Elise Chambers if you would like to attend: elisechambers@diohuron.org. If you have a class you would like offered that would be benficial for the laity or one you would like to facilitate, please contact Rev Kimberly Mayer: kimmyer@diohuron.org or Rev Elise Chambers: elisechambers@diohuron.org.