The Presbytery of Montreal has approved the sale of two properties and the amalgamation of several congregations in order to improve the financial health of its churches and expand membership. The changes stem from recommendations of a strategic planning committee who released its report last summer.
As suggested in the 94-page report convened by Rev. Clyde Ervine, Ephraim Scott Memorial and Chambit Presbyterian will share quarters. Chambit has been directed to sell its current, cramped building in Point St. Charles and use half of the proceeds to buy the Ephraim Scott property in the West-End Snowdon district. The remainder of funds from Chambit's sale is to be used for purchasing a manse. The congregations of Chambit and Ephraim Scott will share access to the building for worship and meetings.
First Church in Verdun, which sold its building for $650,000 last year (the congregation currently rents space in a United church), has donated $450,000 to a newly formed Congregational Renewal Fund that will help struggling churches to develop their ministries and repair buildings. The fund will also help Ile Perrot and Westminster churches guarantee the stipend of full-time ministers.
As reported in the Oct. 2004 Record, the Presbyterian congregations on Montreal Island have dwindled alarmingly over the past four decades. With membership getting ever smaller and the value of church property increasing ever higher, the four-member strategic planning committee was formed in 2003 to look at how the church should respond.
Over the past year, the presbytery has examined the recommendations at their regular meetings and approved or tweaked several of the motions. It was recommended, for example, that the congregations of Hungarian and Livingstone churches be amalgamated on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2005. However, at the June 21 meeting of the presbytery, the motion was amended to state that the churches will instead "establish a programming committee made up of elders from both congregations who can communicate with each other to coordinate activities." Hungarian and Livingstone are now a two-point pastoral charge.
Over the past 40 years, the West End-N.D.G. membership of Knox Crescent Kensington and First Presbyterian has dropped from 1,400 to 200. The strategic planning report indicated the church was "in crisis" and with assets of $1.5 million, suggested that the congregation take two years to move toward some "significant changes."
Last November, the presbytery strongly encouraged KCKF to change its name. "We believe this is the time for a new beginning at Knox Crescent Kensington and First, in which the weight of the past is not so prominent. Since we want to signal newness in the congregation's ministry," reads the motion adopted by the presbytery, "we believe this should be symbolized in a new congregational name." The presbytery has also committed to visiting KCKF no later than Sept. 2006 in order to assess the health of the congregation.
Similarly, the presbytery approved a name change for St-Luc and Maisonneuve St. Cuthberts congregations to église Presbyterienne de Maisonneuve (Maisonneuve Presbyterian Church) to reflect the increased ministry in both French and English.
Much of the June 21 meeting focused on efforts to develop francophone congregations. A new standing committee was formed for this purpose (drawing funds from the Congregational Renewal Fund) and a motion was passed that will ensure every congregation in the presbytery incorporate the bilingual reality of Montreal into public worship. The presbytery will also establish a halftime mission appointment to serve in francophone mission. – Amy Cameron
