Joe Pittenger, West Hill United
SSUC Edmonton
A Toronto congregation founded on common values rather than common creeds welcomes new faces to its remaining three Sunday services plus a Thursday book discussion, available both in person and virtually.
To be able to build community in a space where tradition doesn't dictate the conversation is freeing and life-giving.”— Joe PittengerTORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, October 7, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — West Hill United is approaching the tail end of The Art of Community, a seven-week Sunday lecture series paired with a supplementary book discussion focused on habits that strengthen and deepen communal bonds, and it is extending an open invitation to anyone interested in attending the final gatherings. The upcoming Sunday services are scheduled for October 11, 18, and 25, held on-site in Toronto as well as via livestream. The Thursday book conversation continues virtually at 3:00 p.m. ET, conducted alongside Spiritual Seekers United in Community based in Edmonton.
The program draws its framework from Charles Vogl's The Art of Community: 7 Principles for Belonging, a work that pulls from centuries of collective insight to identify the core ingredients of meaningful fellowship: belonging, boundaries, rituals, shared narratives, symbols, spaces, and avenues for deeper involvement. West Hill has treated these concepts less as abstract theory and more as practical tools members can apply within the congregation and their personal lives alike.
This series lands at a time when conventional venues for discussing life's big questions have dwindled. In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General labeled loneliness a public health crisis, and Canadian health officials have echoed similar concerns. For many, church once served as that conversational hub, yet it has become a place they cannot remain without compromising their principles.
"Years ago, when I resigned from ministry, it was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do, and one of the hardest parts was leaving the community that had literally helped raise me," said Joe Pittenger, Executive Director and Community Leader at West Hill United. "People from the church took me in as a teenager after my father passed away. It was the place I grew up in, and the place that helped me through college and beyond."
"Many of us can't say for certain that we believe certain things," Pittenger said. "So where do we go?"
West Hill's solution was to structure itself around shared values rather than uniform doctrine. Years back, the congregation confronted whether it should exclude individuals who could not affirm supernatural occurrences or accept a specific text as divinely inspired, and it chose not to.
"We reason that the way you live is more important than what you can or cannot believe," Pittenger said. "To be able to build community in a space where tradition doesn't dictate the conversation is freeing and life-giving."
Each Sunday talk is self-contained, so no prior reading is necessary and newcomers may drop in for any of the remaining sessions. Those seeking a deeper dive are welcome at the Thursday book study, whether or not they have the text. Copies can be obtained via charlesvogl.com/books, the Toronto Public Library, and other local libraries, and West Hill offers a limited number of reduced-price copies for those facing financial constraints.
Sunday services take place at 10:30 a.m. ET at 62 Orchard Park Drive, Toronto, and online at zoom.us/j/370030792. The book study convenes virtually on Thursdays at 3:00 p.m. ET at us06web.zoom.us/j/83255680690.
"Whether you've been with us every week or it's been a while, this is a good place to jump in," Pittenger said. "There's a place for you here."
About West Hill United:
West Hill United is a non-theist community within the United Church of Canada tradition, founded on shared values rather than shared beliefs. It welcomes individuals regardless of their convictions, encouraging them to pursue truth, live fully, care deeply, and create change. The group meets Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m. ET at 62 Orchard Park Drive in Toronto and online, drawing participants from across North America, Europe, and Africa. More details are available at westhill.net.
About Spiritual Seekers United in Community:
Spiritual Seekers United in Community (SSUC) is an Edmonton-based organization collaborating with West Hill United on the weekly book discussion for this series. Further information can be found at ssucedmonton.com.
Joe Pittenger
West Hill United
+1 419-779-8903
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