Join us at the Lutheridge Camp and Conference Center in Arden, NC, February 5-7, 2027 for the Christian Men’s Conference. Learn more.

Men, what if following Jesus requires us not to do more, but to slow down enough to know God and the people he has placed around us? If that seems compelling, join us at the Lutheridge Camp & Conference Center in Arden, North Carolina, February 5-7 for our 2027 Christian Men’s Conference.

Our speaker this year is the Rev. Matt Canlis, an Anglican priest, author, and pastor best known for his work on relational theology and “living at Godspeed.” Godspeed is a movement focused on slowing down to live at the pace of being fully known by God and by one’s neighbors. The Men’s Conference is designed to address issues facing men in today’s fast-paced world and to provide insights and practical ways to navigate the stresses of everyday life. It is our prayer that the teaching and fellowship of the weekend will draw men closer to God through a greater love and understanding of his Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ, and equip them to live out their faith more fully in their homes, churches, workplaces, and communities.

Early Ministry & the Scottish Discovery

Raised in Seattle, Canlis initially pursued church leadership through traditional theological channels. He and his wife, Dr. Julie Canlis, moved to Vancouver, Canada, for seminary studies before relocating to Scotland, where Julie pursued her Ph.D. in theology at the University of St Andrews. During their 13 years in Scotland, Canlis served as a minister at Methlick Parish Church in rural Aberdeenshire. Accustomed to the fast-paced, program-driven style of North American church leadership, he experienced a profound shift while pastoring the historic parish. Trading his car for a bicycle and traveling the parish on foot, Canlis discovered that pastoral ministry was grounded in presence: walking the parish, knowing people by name, and participating in everyday community life beyond Sunday services.

The Godspeed Project

Canlis’s experiences in Scotland, along with mentorship from theologians Eugene Peterson and N. T. Wright, inspired the development of the Godspeed concept. With Danny Lund, Canlis co-created Godspeed: The Pace of Being Known, a short documentary chronicling his transition from an ambitious young pastor to one who learned to embrace the relational pace of Jesus—who “walked at three miles an hour.” He is also the author of Godspeed Pilgrim: 40 Days of Being Re-parented by the Trinity, a devotional designed to be experienced while walking through your own neighborhood, and The Godspeed Study Guide, an eight-week video and small-group study.

Current Ministry at Trinity Church

After returning to the United States, Canlis became rector of Trinity Church in Wenatchee, Washington. There, he continues to practice the principles of parish ministry, encouraging people to pay attention to the places where God has planted them, slow down, and cultivate relationships with their neighbors.

He and Julie live in Washington, where they balance local parish ministry, writing, and organizing theological retreats in Edinburgh, Scotland. The Christian Men’s Conference has been a meaningful part of the lives of many men, and we pray it will continue to be a place where men are strengthened, refreshed, and restored. Join us February 5–7, 2027, and please pray for the conference and for the men who will gather. Sign up for conference updates at christianmensconference.org.