Monday, May 6th, 2024, 3:30pm to 5:00pm at St. George’s Anglican Church
Michael Blair is the General Secretary of the United Church of Canada, a role he has held since November 2020. Born in Jamaica, Michael is a dynamic speaker and leader who has held leadership roles across the church. In his time as General Secretary, he has led the church through a strategic planning process that has resulted in an emphasis on Deep Spirituality, Bold Discipleship, and Daring Justice. As the United Church looks to its 100th anniversary in 2025 amid a changing Canada and a changing world, the United Church Studies Program at Montreal Dio is delighted to welcome Michael for an open forum on where the church stands now and where God is calling it in the future. Michael will begin with overview remarks and then engage in open discussion and questions with participants. This session is meant for all those who are interested in the witness of followers of Jesus in the world, whether they belong to the United Church or not.
All are also warmly welcome to join us at 7pm that evening for Montreal Dio’s annual Convocation at which we will celebrate the accomplishments of several United Church of Canada students and hear a Convocation address from Michael Blair.
More About the Presenter
The Rev. Michael Blair serves the General Council of the United Church of Canada as the General Secretary, a role he began, November 1, 2020. He is the first person of African descent to serve in this role in the United Church.
In his time at the General Council Office, he has served in a number of capacities including as Executive Minister for Ethnic Ministry; and Executive Minister, Church in Mission. Before joining the General Council staff, Michael served as the Executive Director of the Toronto Christian Resource Center (CRC) in Regent Park, Toronto. Michael previously served as a congregational minister of a number of Baptist churches in Toronto and St. Catherine’s, Ontario; a staff member with Intervarsity Christian Fellowship at the University of Toronto, and as a community chaplain with the Ontario Multifaith Council’s Reintegration Program.
Michael serves as member and moderator of the Commission on World Mission and Evangelism (CWME). In 2021, Michael delivered the Gandier Lecture at Emmanuel College, on the theme of Becoming the Beloved Community. He also recently contributed the Afterword to For the Sake of the Common Good, a collection of essays in honour of Lois Wilson, one of his mentors.
Born in Jamaica, Michael is a graduate of Ontario Bible College (Tyndale), University of Waterloo and Wycliffe College, Toronto School of Theology, University of Toronto. He is the father of two adult sons.
Michael enjoys photography in his spare time.
Event Details
When: May 6th, 2024, 3:30pm to 5:00pm
Where: St. George’s Anglican Church, 1001 av. des Canadiens-de-Montreal, Montréal, QC
Metro: Bonaventure.
Fee: This is a free event, but we ask that you sign up in advance. You can do so by clicking here.