Help shape a new church in downtown Edmonton.

The Core Group is a community forming to pray, build relationships, and prepare for the launch of a new congregation at McDougall.

If you’re exploring or ready to be involved, start here:

Want to connect with someone?

Reach out to Karsten if you’d value a pastoral conversation about whether McDougall may be the right long-term church home for you, how God may be leading you to be involved, or ways you could help build what is beginning here.

Contact Mel for practical questions about upcoming gatherings, serving teams, and getting connected as we build the McDougall core group together.

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What is the Core Group?

The core group is a relational, open-handed community preparing the ground for a new church. It’s not a fully-formed church yet—it’s people gathering, praying, sharing food, building trust, and discerning the values and culture that will shape the church.

In this season, we will build relationships and form community, pray for downtown and the future congregation, learn and discern values together, begin serving in small, practical ways, prepare for future ministry teams and leadership. A church is not a building—it’s people following Jesus. The core group is where those people first gather.

When do we meet?

We gather on select Sundays at 2:00pm at McDougall, usually every other week. For dates and details please fill out the interest form or contact Melanie.

Who is leading this?

The McDougall launch is being led by Karsten Broten, Site Pastor, who will shepherd the growing core group and lead the new congregation as it takes shape. Karsten will work closely with Jeremy Putz, Lead Pastor, who will provide vision, teaching, and leadership throughout the launch.

As we move toward a soft launch, we are also building the wider team, including staff focused on worship and kids ministry. More roles will be added over time as the congregation grows and ministry needs develop.

Our Three-Stage Launch Plan (Click to enlarge)