Rév. Stéphane Vermette asks: What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus today? What does a disciple look like in our time?
Many of us have a mental representation of Jesus’s disciples that was largely shaped by the stained-glass windows of our beautiful churches, the paintings of great artists displayed in museums, or famous films like the one of Franco Zeffirelli.
We know that these representations are not always historically exact. Jesus was not a tall, blond man with blue eyes. Those who left behind everything to follow the Christ did not have pale skin and hair styled according to the latest fashions. And yet, this westernized vision of Jesus and his disciples is still profoundly anchored in us and continues to influence our perception of these men and women.
A United Church Centennial Project
As part of its Centennial celebrations, The United Church of Canada conceived of creating a photograph that re-imagines Leonardo da Vinci’s famous The Last Supper to present a contemporary face of our church.
Like any project, choices were made: Jesus is not represented in the photograph to give all the importance to the disciples. The goal was not to create a group that corresponds to quotas or statistical data, but rather to provide a taste of the church’s diversity today.
An Unexpected Offer to Become a Disciple
As a United Church staff member, I kept an eye on this project’s development from a certain distance. But a call last January from a project leader changed things. They were asking me to be one of the disciples in the photograph, and to participate in a related visibility campaign.
Quite honestly, my initial reaction was to refuse this offer. It wasn’t a matter of humility or fear of being part of a potentially controversial adventure. My reasons were closer to those commonly used in this type of situation: “I don’t have time. You should take someone more interesting. I have nothing special to bring to this project. Why me and not someone who would know how to better handle these ideas and provide more appropriate answers? I mean, are you really sure you want to work with someone like me?”
After a time of discernment and a few conversations, I finally accepted the invitation through a sense of duty. I wanted to give back to the church that had given me so much through the years.
A Retreat for the Disciples
In February 2025, the “12 disciples,” photographers, and a few facilitators got together at Loon Lake, British Columbia, for a two-day retreat. What at first looked like a simple photography and video recording session in nature became a moment of deep spirituality.
In a very short period, a group of strangers succeeded in creating a safe space. Together, we explored Jesus’s concept of radical welcome. We worked at identifying those who are present around the table at our churches and those who are excluded. We celebrated the sacrament of communion. We shared important moments from our lives.
During conversations both scheduled and spontaneous, I joyfully discovered fascinating life journeys, poignant stories, surprising theological approaches, and inspiring calls to mission behind each person selected to represent the diversity of our church.
This short retreat rekindled an inner flame that had been forgotten for much too long. Despite the vagaries along my path, I could hopefully envision a life of bold discipleship.
Disciples Today
This entire experience gave me the opportunity to reconsider my understanding of what disciples are. We often like to remember that Jesus called ordinary people to follow him. These individuals had no theological degrees, specialized training, or important titles in society.
These men and women were essentially like the people that I encounter as I walk my dog, do groceries at the local market, or take my car to the garage to get it fixed.
There is usually nothing remarkable about these people at first sight. They smile, give us a hand, or do small things that most often go unnoticed. They don’t explain why they are doing the things they do in the name of the resurrected Christ. These people simply interact with others because they want to create a better world and make a difference in our society. They want to practise their faith in daily life.
An Unconditional Welcome
For a church to affirm that everyone has a place without conditions or fine print at the bottom of a page is not a given in our current climate of division and polarization.
Demonstrating inclusivity and welcome is a radical gesture. Inviting people who are totally different from us is an act of bravery. Declaring that all people without exception are important and sacred is a courageous statement. Desiring to create a community where diversity is not a catastrophe, but a blessing, is a significant step towards building the Realm of God.
Everyone With a Place at the Table
What at first looked like a trivial project became an event that deeply transformed me in a way I’ve rarely experienced before. This meeting of disciples with atypical journeys and sometimes out of the ordinary convictions gave me renewed faith in a church that dares to follow God’s inspiration to remain pertinent in the 21st century.
Whatever our origins, appearance, gender identity, sexual orientation, or the quantity of melatonin in our skin, we are truly one and all invited to take our place at Christ’s table. Belonging to a church that dares to proclaim this message that is both ancient and relevant today is a source of pride and hope for the future.
I hope you will take a few moments to study this photograph intently. I hope you will try to identify the persons that look like you and those who appear to be completely different. I hope that you will be surprised at yourself dreaming of a different church, peopled with diverse disciples, seated around a larger and more inclusive table. I hope your imagination and faith will be stimulated as a result.
—Rév. Stéphane Vermette is The United Church of Canada's French Outreach Coordinator. He is one of the 12 disciples who gathered for "A Place at the Table" in celebration of The United Church of Canada’s 100th anniversary.
Learn more about le pasteur Stéphane Vermette and the other United Church disciples featured in this iconic re-interpretation of Da Vinci's "The Last Supper."
This article was originally published on MonCredo.org.
The views contained within these blogs are personal and do not necessarily reflect those of The United Church of Canada.