“I am an active member of Community of Christ because I have opportunities to grow my discipleship”
– Corleen McLean, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Topics:
Church motto | Continuing Revelation | Worth of All Persons | Temple School | MEADS | priesthood | sacraments | church camp | youth ministry | Spectacular/SPEC | IYF | World Conference | Beyond the Walls |
My name is Corleen McLean, and I live in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. I am an active member of the Saskatoon Congregation, while also supporting camps, retreats, and other Mission Centre and World Church events. My family has been a part of Community of Christ for generations. My great-great-grandfather, JJ Cornish, was a missionary who spread the gospel message to areas in Canada and the United States. My parents and grandparents raised me in the church, and both of my parents hold/held various priesthood offices (my dad died in 1999). This history is important to me and is a part of why I became a member of this denomination, but it is not why I am a member.
I am an active member of Community of Christ because as a denomination we proclaim Jesus Christ and promote communities of joy, hope, love and peace. I am an active member of Community of Christ because as a denomination we believe in continuing revelation — that God still speaks to us, even today. We uphold the worth of all persons, and as a denomination we continue to evolve. I am an active member of Community of Christ because as a denomination it admits that it has made mistakes and owns those mistakes while learning and growing from them.
I am an active member of Community of Christ because I have opportunities to grow my discipleship and develop leadership skills. Over the years I have taken various Temple School courses and been a part of the MEADS program. I was called to the priesthood at a young age, and I have been encouraged every step of the way to stretch and reach for my full potential in ministry, and in life generally. I have been a pastor in Saskatoon in the past and will serve again if needed. I have sung in the choir and played the flute for services, taught Sunday School and led Young Peacemakers clubs and youth groups. I have administered and shared in the sacraments, and through all of these things I’ve been blessed. I have directed camps and retreats, and I have been witness to how these events can change lives.
I am passionate about ensuring that children and youth have opportunities to discover and develop a relationship with God through camps and activities and participation in regular worship services. I have seen the positive effects a trip to Spectacular (SPEC), IYF, World Conference, camps and retreats can bring to a youth who is searching for meaning in their life. I have seen a youth light up when told they’ve done a great job reading a scripture in a worship service. My own discipleship is reinvigorated as I work at a camp or chaperone at SPEC.
I am also passionate about ensuring that the senior members of my congregation don’t feel left out or left behind, when much of the focus tends to be on the children and youth. I hope to be a bridge, sharing my knowledge of technology, welcoming the testimonies of times gone by and appreciating the wealth of knowledge and experience shared by those who have nurtured me on my journey.
During the COVID-19 Pandemic, my mom and I (we are roommates) have been blessed by the Beyond the Walls services offered online. I have even been able to participate a couple of times. These services have brought a sense of peace to us while the world is in turmoil. The feeling of community and togetherness with brothers and sisters in many nations fills me with joy.
My hope is that as a denomination we will pivot to embrace the opportunities that lie ahead, while maintaining a connection to the community that we are now and celebrating our roots. My hope is that we will be more concerned about the well-being of the people we serve than we are about the buildings. I am an active member of this church because I am a child of God, and at Community of Christ I have found an extended family where I don’t “fit in” – I belong!
I am an active member of Community of Christ because as a denomination we proclaim Jesus Christ and promote communities of joy, hope, love and peace. I am an active member of Community of Christ because as a denomination we believe in continuing revelation — that God still speaks to us, even today. We uphold the worth of all persons, and as a denomination we continue to evolve. I am an active member of Community of Christ because as a denomination it admits that it has made mistakes and owns those mistakes while learning and growing from them.
I am an active member of Community of Christ because I have opportunities to grow my discipleship and develop leadership skills. Over the years I have taken various Temple School courses and been a part of the MEADS program. I was called to the priesthood at a young age, and I have been encouraged every step of the way to stretch and reach for my full potential in ministry, and in life generally. I have been a pastor in Saskatoon in the past and will serve again if needed. I have sung in the choir and played the flute for services, taught Sunday School and led Young Peacemakers clubs and youth groups. I have administered and shared in the sacraments, and through all of these things I’ve been blessed. I have directed camps and retreats, and I have been witness to how these events can change lives.
I am passionate about ensuring that children and youth have opportunities to discover and develop a relationship with God through camps and activities and participation in regular worship services. I have seen the positive effects a trip to Spectacular (SPEC), IYF, World Conference, camps and retreats can bring to a youth who is searching for meaning in their life. I have seen a youth light up when told they’ve done a great job reading a scripture in a worship service. My own discipleship is reinvigorated as I work at a camp or chaperone at SPEC.
I am also passionate about ensuring that the senior members of my congregation don’t feel left out or left behind, when much of the focus tends to be on the children and youth. I hope to be a bridge, sharing my knowledge of technology, welcoming the testimonies of times gone by and appreciating the wealth of knowledge and experience shared by those who have nurtured me on my journey.
During the COVID-19 Pandemic, my mom and I (we are roommates) have been blessed by the Beyond the Walls services offered online. I have even been able to participate a couple of times. These services have brought a sense of peace to us while the world is in turmoil. The feeling of community and togetherness with brothers and sisters in many nations fills me with joy.
My hope is that as a denomination we will pivot to embrace the opportunities that lie ahead, while maintaining a connection to the community that we are now and celebrating our roots. My hope is that we will be more concerned about the well-being of the people we serve than we are about the buildings. I am an active member of this church because I am a child of God, and at Community of Christ I have found an extended family where I don’t “fit in” – I belong!