As clergy from across the Diocese of Algoma prepared to return home Thursday following Clergy Conference 2026, Archbishop Anne Germond reflected on what she described as a week marked by grace, fellowship, holy listening, and deep encouragement for ministry.
“Around noon today, the clergy from Algoma will be travelling home to go back to their various ministries and parishes to face the work that is before them,” she said. “But we’re leaving in God’s strength and with God’s grace, because this week has been filled with so much richness.”
The conference, held May 4–7 at the Water Tower Inn in Sault Ste. Marie, gathered clergy from across the diocese under the theme Rooted and Grounded in Love, drawn from Ephesians 3:17.
In her closing sermon, Archbishop Anne reflected on the symbolism of the oil of chrism used in baptism and anointing, describing how “the scent of it stays on our fingers.”
“We have been recipients of this beautiful oil of chrism, this oil of blessing and anointing to help strengthen us for the ministry to which we are all called,” she said.
Throughout the week, clergy heard keynote addresses from Bishop Susan Bell of Niagara and participated in sessions addressing some of the difficult realities facing ministry today.
On Wednesday, clergy engaged a significant educational session on Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) and palliative care led by The Rev. Rhonda Hirst and The Rev. Norm Blanchard, both of whom serve in hospital and hospice ministry settings.
Clergy also heard from James Jefferson of the Greater Sudbury Police Service, who offered a presentation addressing post-traumatic stress disorder and its impact on individuals, communities, and ministry contexts.
Earlier in the conference, Scott Hilborn, Manager of Human Resources for the Anglican Church of Canada, led conversations titled “Difficult Conversations – An approach that starts with pastoral skills.”
Archbishop Anne spoke warmly of the experience of gathering together—not only in formal sessions, but around shared meals, prayer, and conversation.
“So many people commented on just how good it was to sit together in table fellowship,” she said. “Every meal was held in community.”
She also reflected on the worship life of the conference, with each deanery taking responsibility for leading different liturgies and prayer services throughout the week.
“The worship was glorious,” she said. “Each deanery was responsible for a different worship service, and each one was led with care, attending to the prayers and scriptures and just listening.”
“I think that we’ve been in a thin place,” she added. “Our time together has been a holy time and we have been on sacred ground.”
One of the recurring themes throughout the conference was learning to trust God’s leading even amid uncertainty. Archbishop Anne recalled how Bishop Susan Bell introduced clergy to Thomas Merton’s well-known prayer beginning, “My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going…”
Later in the conference, the Deanery of Muskoka incorporated the prayer into noonday worship alongside the Beatitudes.
“So this, ‘I don’t know where I’m going,’ but God calls us to this holy work anyway,” Archbishop Anne reflected.
She concluded by expressing gratitude to conference organizers, presenters, Synod Office staff, and the staff of the Water Tower Inn for helping create what many experienced as a deeply nourishing and restorative gathering.
“There’s just been lots of inspiration this week,” she said.
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