United Church Announcement
My name is Brian George – Fish Clan Potawatomi. I have been providing pulpit supply with the Cape Croker United Church since January 2024. On November 1 of this current year, I signed on in the full-time position as a Minister at the Cape Croker United Church. I remain a student until I complete my course of studies at the Sandy Saulteaux Spiritual Centre which is located in Beausejour, Manitoba. I experienced a Calling in the 1990’s and began theological training at the Francis Sandy Theological Centre (FSTC) located at Five Oaks near Paris, Ontario. After two and a half years of taking courses at FSTC and completing half of the five-year program I resigned for economic reasons. I needed to work full-time. Since then, the Francis Sandy Theological Centre amalgamated with the Dr. Jessie Saulteaux Resource Centre in Beausejour. Both of those theological schools became one and it is now known as the Sandy Saulteaux Spiritual Centre. The school’s mandate is to provide culturally specific theological education and preparation for both Lay and Ordered ministry that respects both Christian beliefs and traditional First Nations, Metis and Inuit spirituality and values. The Sandy Saulteaux Spiritual Centre is a ministry training centre of the United Church of Canada.
I returned as a ministry student to the Sandy Saulteaux Spiritual Centre in January of this year. I also started to give pulpit supply to the church on Sundays. Since I had completed half of the program at the Francis Sandy Theological Centre and I am now actively continuing with more courses I expect to graduate with the Diploma in Indigenous Ministry sometime later next year. Upon completion of those studies Ordination will follow. The option is there to work toward completing a Master of Divinity (MDiv.) degree through the Vancouver School of Theology.
I wanted to learn about Potawatomi so I went to Michigan and lived in Indiana somewhere around 1971-72. Through listening and learning and travelling to many communities I saw beauty and resiliency and a wonderful culture thriving among the Nations. That is us, our people. The nature of my Calling, my experience, leads me to work for you, the Anishinaabe. I tried to live a spiritual life. Sometimes, while growing, I fell. And also learned. And due to the nature of my Calling I realized I wanted to live a religious life as well as a spiritual life… within my culture. To serve.
The Cape Croker United Church will have a new telephone number sometime in December. As a Minster I can be reach at CapeCrokerUC@gmail.com. Thank you.
Brian George
