I (Richard Manley-Tannis aka me) began blogging with the United Church of Canada (UCCan) during the Emerging Spirit Programme in 2008. Though I approach the world through a Christian lens, I celebrate that all human truths fail to fully appreciate a universe & reality that cannot confine the Holy. In A Deacon’s Musing, I meander & ruminates, reflect & challenge. Hopefully some of it makes sense & I invite you to ask questions, push me to clarify & listen with intention!
I have journeyed journeyed with alternatives to the Canadian adjudicative judicial system & continues to endeavour to merge my practical conflict resolution & organisational development experience with appropriate theological & academic explorations. As well, I really appreciates the nuances of organisational & systems analysis. In such pursuits, I utilise such tools as Appreciative Inquiry & the Enneagram. In 2014, I began my PhD with The Taos Institute & Tilburg University. In this next journey of learning, which ended in 2020 with my graduation in the Netherlands, the completed project was an academic exploration of shifting the UCCan’s narrative from one of deficit and fear to one of abundance, mission and hope. The project ends with a practical application (i.e. workshops) to assist congregations live out the findings of the dissertation.
Since 2018, I have had honour to fill the role as Principal of St. Andrew’s College in Saskatoon, SK, Canada. In this capacity I am excited to be part of a team that is engaged in nurturing and preparing leadership in the church through the explicit lens of justice!
Now I am wide-eyed-open to where Creator is next inviting me …
Lent|Authority & Power
Really you watch that show? You actually voted for that person? I didn’t even bother showing up, what difference would it make?
Lent|Burden Light
A Lenten Collection Lent: We walk into the gathering danger & doubt surrounding Jesus as he made choices that led to the Cross. This is a time of preparation & reflection. Where
Lent|The Fast
Spiritual Practices and Disciplines have been, relatively recently, reintroduced to many Protestants. There are many reasons that are nuanced throughout Christian history why this is and the explanations are shaded grey throughout the human story. It’s fair to say the Reformation's turning away from these Catholic practices has softened enough that there seems to be some space to recognise, perhaps, that some of what was left behind can be helpful as men and women endeavour to be Christ’s Disciples.
Cure or Heal?
Accessibility Symbols On February 25/12, UCiM will be sharing space with Barrier-Free MB, in order to offer faith communities in Winnipeg some time to reflect on pending/developing legislation in Manitoba. This legislation mirrors
Ms. Rep
In about a week, my team-mate – Shelly – and I will have the honour to sit with youth & young adults from Selkirk Presbytery. During that time, we will reflect on, discuss, wrestle
Hate
There I am on my morning 10k run. Boomer at my side – enduring my slow, plodding bipedal gate – surrounded by the beauty of hoar frost embracing any and every surface upon which
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