Alberta’s Christian Leadership Summit puts church-state separation at risk, critics say

A two-day gathering described as “a direct dialogue between Christian leadership and Alberta’s government” is set to take place in Red Deer next month, bringing together senior politicians and pastors. The summit is prompting concern from dozens of faith leaders across the province.

The Alberta Christian Leadership Summit, set for May 4 and 5, gives top billing to speakers Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and former federal opposition leader Preston Manning. It is organized by Michael Clark, founder and executive director of the Christian Impact Network, who describes himself as “Canada’s Political Missionary.”

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Clark also works as director of advocacy at Liberty Coalition Canada, an organization that provides Canadians “with a Christian conservative worldview of culture, law, and politics.” The coalition recruits Christian political candidates to promote laws that align with what they call “biblical principles.”

But the framing of the conference has raised concerns among some faith leaders. More than 50 religious leaders from across Alberta released a public statement Monday questioning its scope. The signatories include clergy and lay leaders from 10 Christian denominations (among them, Rev. John Pentland, a member of Broadview’s board of directors), as well as Jewish, Unitarian Universalist and Baha’i voices.

“When any government aligns itself with one religious identity, it diminishes the independence of every other faith community — regardless of tradition or theology,” the letter states. “Alberta is home to people of many backgrounds, many faiths, and ways of living a good life. That diversity is not a problem to be managed.”

Pam Rocker is one of the letter’s signatories. She is the director of Affirming Connections, an organization that advocates for queer inclusivity in faith communities. “What concerns us about this event is not that conservative Christians are gathering — people of faith belong in public conversation,” she says. “What concerns us is that this event is organized by people whose stated goal is to shape Canadian law according to their specific religious beliefs. That is a different thing entirely.”

Rev. David Holmes, another signee and a United Church minister in Lacombe, Alta., told Broadview the format and cost, ranging from $199 for general admission to $500 for a VIP pass, raises concerns. “The event carries a cost so high it seems more like a fundraiser,” he said. The site notes that all proceeds support the Christian Impact Network. “Further, the event seems limited to particular Christians. I did not receive an invitation, for instance, though several of my colleagues did.”

Holmes suggested that for a summit like this to be more inclusive, they should invite all faith groups and leaders to participate, make the event affordable and allow all faith leaders to help shape the agenda.

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Rev. Jordan Haynie Ware, a signee and an Anglican priest in Edmonton, offered another idea for the summit. “I humbly suggest that any future summits that describe themselves as being oriented around listening to Albertans invite elected officials to listen. On the summit’s website, they appear listed as speakers.”

Broadview reached out to summit organizer Clark but did not receive a response at the time of publication.

Danielle Smith’s press secretary, Sam Blackett, declined to respond to Broadview’s specific questions, but sent a statement, which read: “Government officials, including the Premier, regularly attend and participate with a wide range of cultural, community, and faith-based events and celebrations such as Hannukah [sic], Eid al-Fitr, and Diwali. The Premier plans on attending the Alberta Christian Leadership Summit. The event is organized and funded by third-party organizers, not the provincial government.”

Association with the nationalist right

The summit has also prompted scrutiny for its list of speakers, which includes individuals associated with Canada’s growing Christian nationalist movement. For example, Conservative MP Andrew Lawton (Elgin—St. Thomas—London South) and former Conservative MP Damien Kurek of Alberta have publicly opposed 2SLGBTQIA+ rights.

The event’s website invites pastors and ministry leaders, alongside business leaders and elected officials, to “Help shape the policies affecting our families, churches, and communities.”

In response to the event’s mandate, Ware said, “Any time politicians privilege a particular faith tradition, I have concerns about nationalism. Christianity is a global faith, one that can’t be merged with any particular national or political identity.”

Holmes reflected on the summit’s potential leanings toward Christian nationalism, “Cozying up to power has rarely served the Gospel well. In fact, that was one of the devil’s temptations in the desert, which Jesus refused. I am not at all against churches and religious people becoming involved in politics or public policy; seeking privileged access to power seems a very different thing.”

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Ashely Crouch is an intern at Broadview.