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Our chaplain, Norman Robert-Boie, was recently elected president of the Nakonha:ka Regional Council, the United Church body for Quebec. In this Q&A, he reflects on compassionate leadership, challenges and opportunities for faith communities, and essential skills for future ministers. 

Since your appointment as president of the United Church Nakonha:ka Regional Council, what have been some of your primary goals or initiatives? How do you hope these will shape the region and serve its communities? 

My main tasks as president of the Nakonha:ka Regional Council (CRNRC) representation when necessary and chairing various meetings. As my appointment is still relatively new, my primary objectives are to learn the organisational and administrative functioning of the CRNRC and to understand the dynamics of the people I work with. 

The Nakonha:ka Regional Council represents a vast territory and I’m part of a large team. I am there to support the team and to provide leadership according to my competences and capacities. The communities of faith we serve need listening, presence and support. So, without interfering, I participate in a number of sub-committees to understand the issues at hand and share my own perspective when appropriate. We can get a lot of things done by being present, listening and being genuinely interested in what committees and congregations are experiencing, feeling and expressing. 

What are some of the biggest challenges facing faith communities in this region, and what opportunities do you see for growth or transformation in the coming years? 

The United Church, like many other religious bodies, is searching for ways to embrace the future, and the Nakonha:ka Regional Council faces the same challenge. We all want to find innovative ways to stay relevant and live out our faith in a more secular world. 

From a practical point of view, many faith communities are facing difficult situations. Buildings are complex and costly to maintain, congregations are dwindling and volunteers are exhausted. On the other hand, there are always new people coming into the parish to see what’s going on. Sometimes these people are looking for meaning in their lives, and sometimes they are attracted by the more inclusive, affirming and social justice-oriented positions of the United Church. There’s an opportunity that we are called to seize. 

The United Church of Canada has developed a Strategic Plan, which our region has adopted and adapted to fit its own contextual situation and set its priorities accordingly. A vision has been set: “Called by God, as disciples of Jesus, The United Church of Canada seeks to be a bold, connected, evolving church of diverse, courageous, hope-filled communities united in deep spirituality, inspiring worship, and daring justice.” 1 I am certainly inspired by this vision and the Regional Council is too. It is a compass that guides us to walk towards the future with clarity and determination 

I also see growth opportunities in being able to serve in multiple languages. The Nakonha:ka region is multilingual and honours both French and English in its day-to-day business, but is also blessed in serving communities of faith that use Mohawk, Spanish, German, Italian, Japanese (who also use Urdu in worship), Armenian, Hungarian, Korean, Malagasy … It is an invaluable wealth that we honour and cherish! 

What skills or experiences do you think are most important for future ministers? What role do you see for theological colleges like ours in preparing future leaders for ministry? How can theological institutions and local churches best support each other?  

A complex and rich set of qualities, skills and competences are needed to be a successful minister, pastor, priest or church leader. It ranges from pastoral counselling and care to financial leadership and project management abilities. One needs to be well prepared to communicate theological insights, exegetical clarity, and pastoral considerations to a very diverse audience and in many different contexts. At the same time, one needs to kind of be able to run a small business. 

Theological colleges often focus more on academic competencies and perhaps less on the practical and organisational proficiencies. The good news is that seminaries and theological institutes regularly question whether they are preparing students optimally for ministry. 

I believe in the power of communication and relationships. We would all benefit from a constant conversation between colleges and people working on the ground in different contexts. In would help colleges be aware of what is required by students when they land in a congregation or other ministry settings and for congregations not to expect superwomen and supermen that will solve all problems and operate miracles. Communication is the key. 

As an alumnus of our college, could you share a bit about your path to ministry? What aspects of your education here, along with your personal faith, have most influenced and sustained you in your journey? Are there specific experiences or lessons that continue to guide you today? 

My call to ministry has always been very clear. I was ‘pastoral’ and talked about my faith in my life in general and in my various careers before embarking on a B.Th. M.Div. at the United Church Seminary. I can confirm that it is not at all easy to return to studies after a long hiatus, but it was extremely enriching for me. Looking back, I realize how relevant my academic training was. 

I came out of the seminary with solid tools and skills to effectively communicate theological reflections, offer good quality exegesis, provide spiritual guidance and appropriate pastoral care. Fine-tuning will come with experience and practice. 

Preparing worship services and being in constant conversation about faith in a variety of contexts; delving within myself and with others thinking on how God is present in my life, in our lives, richly feeds my life of faith. The skills acquired at the seminary, at Dio and at the Montreal School of Theology are a solid foundation on which I can build for the future wherever the Spirit calls me. 

How would you like to see the United Church and theological colleges collaborate in the future? Are there specific projects or areas of focus that would benefit from closer partnerships? 

The answer is simple: working together! 

In my many of my work experiences, whether in teaching, performing arts or TV, the ability to work as a team and leave behind the ‘silo mode’ seems, at least to me, to be one of the most important things. For this to be possible, partners have to talk to each other and communicate. The work of one influences the work of the other. We are all links in a chain. 

Right now, I feel as all partners are talking to each other on a wide range of subjects. However, I still see places where communication is not flowing and opportunities are missed. Initiatives are being developed in parallel. If we talked to each other more and shared projects we were working on, we would be more efficient. 

How is the regional council working to encourage young people and emerging leaders to explore vocations within the church? What role can theological education play in this?  

The Nakonha:ka Regional Council encourages students and candidates to take part in its activities and to be integrated in its different committees, not just as observers but in having a voice, being seen and being valued. 

Still, I would like the Regional Council to be more intentionally involved in this connectedness. We tend to leave people come to us in the Church. We need to be inviting students and candidates, be authentically welcoming and start dialogues much sooner with people who feel called to any kind of ministry. Future church leaders are already in our midst.  

We would also benefit in paying more attention to the baggage of experience people bring to their theological education. In an ideal world, I would have wished for a tailor-made program, identifying and fine-tuning what I was good at and giving more attention to gaps and lacking areas of formation. But I do realize that such an approach takes human resources and financial means that are not always available. A wish! 

What advice would you offer to current students and recent graduates discerning their paths in ministry, and what message would you like to share with those who support theological education and the formation of future church leaders?

And here’s how the response could flow:

“Trust in the Holy Spirit, in your integrity, and in the process—even if the system isn’t perfect, it is working. Be yourself, but don’t hesitate to question yourself. God is calling you in your wholeness, so don’t try to become someone else.

To those who support theological education, your donations and encouragement enable the college to provide high-quality training and prepare students for the many ministries to which they will be called. The more resources the college has, the more opportunities it can offer! Without your support, the college could not maintain its mission or enhance its programs. On behalf of myself and the Nakonha:ka.

Regional Council, I thank you from the bottom of my heart and keep you all in prayer.”