In 1988 the Anglican Church of Canada held a women’s conference at Huron College, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario.
Women from all parts of the Anglican Communion in Canada were invited to attend, or to send representatives from the various diocese. These were asked to attend by the Bishop of their particular diocese.
The women from the Calgary Diocese were Patricia Curtis, Norma Farquarson, Margaret Hunziker, Maureen Firmstone and Corinne Wikjord from Medicine Hat. There may have been others who also attended, these are the ones identified.
The theme of the conference was “Images of Spirituality”, and it was designed to explore issues of spirituality for women in the Anglican Church.
Several days of discussion from the women attending, all of whom had differing viewpoints, it seemed, resulted in a commitment by each diocese to implement an action plan that would be appropriate for their particular diocese. This action plan was drawn from the recommendations of the conference.
On their return from the conference, the women of the Calgary Diocese resolved to develop a women’s conference each year, which was to be called “Images of Spirituality”.
In 1997, the planning committee completed considerable work to re-develop Images as an ecumenical gathering for women. The mission statement was revised, the planning committee sought ecumenical involvement, and women from all denominations were invited to the 1998 gathering.
Today, Images of Spirituality is an ecumenical gathering organized by Anglican, Baptist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic and United Church women for women of any Christian tradition.
The theme song for Images is She Flies On, an expression of the Holy Spirit as a feminine image of God.
Images of Spirituality
Themes and Speakers list
Year |
Theme |
Presenter |
Worship Leader |
1989 |
Exploring the Feminine Side of Spirituality |
Rev. Kathleen Zang, Rev. Sally Boyles |
|
1991 |
Growing Together |
Vi Smith |
|
1992 |
Transitions |
Pat Curtis |
|
1993 |
Called and Gifted |
Rev. Kathleen Zang (Anglican) |
|
1994 |
Fullness of Life |
Sister Rita Stang & Sandra Forsythe |
|
1995 |
Sisters on a Journey |
Eileen Sutcliffe (workshop by Sister Ita Connery) |
|
1996 |
Blessings and Celebrations |
Susan Dumoulin |
|
1997 |
In the Beginning: Praising our Creator |
Rev. Lynn McNaughton (Anglican) |
|
1998 |
Textures of Desire |
The Rev. Canon Gertrude Lebans (Anglican) and Ms. Ann Turner (Anglican) (Toronto) |
|
1999 |
Milestones: Where we have been and where we are going |
Rev. Sally Boyles & Rev. Kathleen Zang (Anglican) |
Rev. Julia Craig |
2000 |
Playing with God: Discovering the Metaphor of Life |
Susan Graham-Walker (Anglican Diocese of Toronto) |
Rev. Julianna Wehrfritz-Hanson (Lutheran) |
2001 |
A gathering for women “That we all may be one”: Celebrating Faith Journeys |
Facilitator: Pat Curtis (Anglican) |
Various (Anglican): Music Facilitator: |
2002 |
Creativity and Our Story |
Carolyn Pogue-Phipps (United) |
Rev. Judy Chapman (United) |
2003 |
Christian Women Today: To what are we called? |
Sarah Donnelly (RC) |
Rev. Jean Morris (Presbyterian) |
2004 |
We are in God’s Hands; We are God’s Hands |
Pat Curtis (Anglican) |
Barb Andrews (Anglican) |
2005 |
Call to Wholeness |
Rev. Jean Morris (Presbyterian) |
Rev. Jan Craig (United) |
2006 |
A Call to Prayer: Cultivating your Sacred Garden |
Sister Rose-Anne Engel (RC) |
Rev. Cathy Fulton (Anglican) |
2007 |
Rainbow Joy |
Rev. Helen Smith (Presbyterian) |
Rev. Marty Tuer (Lutheran) |
2008 |
Be Still |
Sarah Donnelly (RC/Anglican) |
Rev. Jean Morris (Presbyterian) |
2009 |
She Flies On |
Rev. Dr. Lynne McNaughton (Anglican) |
Rev. Julianna Wehrfritz-Hanson |
2010 |
And it was good… |
Carolyn Pogue |
Rev. Marty Tuer |
2011 |
Formation of the Human Heart: Walking with God |
Dr. Marilyn Elliott |
Rev. Pilar Gateman (Anglican) |
