Exploring new vision and practical renewal through a workshop tour.
Across Canada, churches of every tradition are facing a changing reality: smaller congregations, fewer resources, and an urgent need for renewed imagination. In response, Rev. Dr. William H. Harrison, President of Lutheran Theological Seminary, Saskatoon, is offering a timely resource for reflection and renewal through his new book, Leadership in a Shrinking Church: Finding New Vision in Unlikely Places.
In this compelling work, Harrison explores one of the most urgent realities facing Christian communities today: the decline in church membership and institutional strength. Yet rather than treating this as a crisis to be fixed, he invites leaders to discern how God might be at work precisely within that shrinking space. What if the Church’s renewal lies not in expansion, but in faithfulness, focus, and transformation?
Rather than treating decline as a crisis, Harrison invites leaders to explore how God’s transforming work continues to unfold—often within smaller, humbler, and more faithful communities.
From lecture to workshop: engaging the real work of leadership
Following well-attended sessions in Saskatoon, Regina, and Winnipeg, Harrison’s next workshop will take place in Kelowna in December, with additional events planned in Alberta and British Columbia in 2026.
Each gathering is designed not as a lecture but as a guided workshop—a chance for clergy, lay leaders, and congregational members to engage with the book’s ideas in practical, context-specific ways. Participants are invited to reflect on their own ministries, identify their core mission, and explore how to focus on what truly matters in this season of change.
“Leadership in a shrinking church,” Harrison writes, “means learning to see God’s transformation in places we never expected—and to trust that smaller does not mean lesser.”
Shared purpose, shared vision
As president of one of the schools within the Saskatoon Theological Union, Harrison brings a deeply ecumenical perspective to the conversation. Drawing on years of experience in theology, ethics, and pastoral leadership, he offers both academic insight and practical tools for discernment.
His workshops are meant to help communities move from anxiety about growth to renewed clarity about calling—inviting all who attend to consider how their faith can remain vibrant, even in a changing landscape.
Join the conversation
If you are a member, lay leader, or pastor of a congregation seeking fresh perspective for ministry, consider joining one of President Harrison’s upcoming workshop evenings. Together, participants are discovering that decline need not mean despair, and that the gospel continues to inspire transformation in the most unlikely places.
Purchase the book:
https://www.amazon.ca/Leadership-Shrinking-Church-Finding-Unlikely/dp/1640657177