Comprised mostly of small churches in rural areas or small towns, the Presbytery of Grey-Bruce-Maitland's outreach projects epitomize small-town living and the closeness, cooperation and interdependency found among the residents there. "It took me a while to sort of find my way here," said Rev. Jeremy Sanderson, presbytery clerk and minister at Knox, Walkerton. "Since then, they've been the greatest bunch of people in the way they relate to each other and support one another. It's a really great place to be."
Such support helps a lot in a presbytery as large as Grey-Bruce-Maitland. Its 27 charges (12 of which are dual or multi-point for a total of 40 congregations) are spread over a fairly large area, covering inland rural landscapes, as well as lakeshore living and summer cottage communities. The presbytery's ties to the community and to the churches within its bounds help it remain vibrant, despite challenges with dwindling numbers.
"There's been a huge turn-over in ministers in the last five years," said Sanderson, who noted that many ministers come to the presbytery for their first call, but quickly move on. "We're desperate to get more people into the presbytery. There aren't enough ministers or church-goers."
There are currently six vacancies, and membership dropped by about 4,200 between 2002 and 2003. Still, the small size doesn't hinder generosity. Knox, Stokes Bay, was created as a summer mission field about 50 years ago. The town quadruples in size during the summer months as city dwellers race to the tranquil shores of Lake Huron. However, Sanderson said the church serves a small group of dedicated parishioners who live in the area year-round. "They're the most generous people," he said, recounting their response to a local family whose home went up in flames.
The congregation raised money to help with the loss. "They're incredibly warm and supportive."
St. Andrew's, Chatsworth, a town of about 400 people, is known as the community church that stages events and runs programs. People from the community as well as church-goers come to their study groups, Alpha courses and marriage prep courses. Bill Vanderstelt, minister at St. Andrew's, said the benefits of the programs are two-fold. "We're nurturing the faith of the people here so they're comfortable inviting others out," he said.
Knox, Walkerton, has a unique situation in that there are seven denominations in a town of 4,500. This ecumenical spirit gives churches an opportunity to work together. Knox participates in the Walk of Witness, something the town's churches organize each year, where they march through the town and preach in each other's pulpits. Between 500 and 600 people attend. "We all work side by side," said Sanderson.
St. Andrew's, Owen Sound, is a bit of an anomaly in the presbytery. With more than 500 members, a morning and evening service, three full-time staff and a minister who has been associated with the church for 21 years, the church doesn't exactly reflect the others. (Other large congregations with about 200 members each include Durham, Knox, Meaford, and Knox, Tiverton). However, it continues the presbytery's tradition of reaching out to the community. When the Salvation Army could no longer run its soup kitchen, several churches, led by St. Andrew's, joined together to carry on the vital service.
Because Owen Sound (population 22,000) houses a large number of retirees, the church hired a parish nurse. Bev Wilkins gives a few hours of her time each week to tend to the physical and mental needs of St. Andrew's older congregants as well as the increasing number of homeless people who come into the church from off the street. "Living in a retirement community is a reality we deal with," said Ted Creen, senior minister at St. Andrew's and one of the presbytery's stalwarts. "Our parish nurse listens to them and gives support. It's a necessity in our community."
The presbytery is also dedicated to serving youth and families. Huron Feathers Presbyterian Centre on Sauble Beach began as a youth drop-in centre in the 1960s and now offers a coffee house, hostel, summer camp, swimming instruction, Bible studies and relaxed Sunday worship. Often run by student pastors, a board of directors oversees its operations. It is an initiative of the presbytery and the Synod of Southwestern Ontario. The pew-less interior, walls decorated with children's art, coffee and sweets served mid-service and a view of the crashing waves from the pulpit create a playful, casual, open environment. Formally a summer mission field, it has operated as a year-round place of worship for the last six years, mostly because it is the only Presbyterian church for miles. "We're quite proud of it," said Sanderson. And although its most recent student pastor is moving onto an ordained position in Toronto, the good work at Huron Feathers won't cease. "We're not giving it up," he said.
At St. Andrew's, Chatsworth, they team up with the congregation's sister church, Latona, Dornoch, as well as the local Baptist church to host S.T.A.G.E. — a community youth group committed to Seek, Trust, Acknowledge, Grow and Evangelize. Rev. Bill Vanderstelt said the program has grown significantly in the last year. St. Andrew's only attracts about 50 people on a Sunday morning, but the youth group sees about 25 kids turn out every Friday night from almost all the churches in town. Most nights include games and brain teasers, topic discussions, and every six weeks or so, some kind of outing. "It draws a lot of kids from the community who don't have a church home," said Vanderstelt. "It's a safe place for them to gather." He said they also lead occasional worship services in the various churches involved. "Even if a church only has one or two kids in the group, we try to go there. It lets them feel like they're a part of it."
Most of the congregations of Grey-Bruce-Maitland have long histories; many of them were established as mission fields to original Presbyterian settlers in the mid-1800s. Knox, Meaford, was one of the first churches in the area. Located on Georgian Bay, they currently support several mission projects such as Evangel Hall in Toronto and the Woman's Place in Owen Sound, and they have a hand bell choir that supplements regular Sunday worship. Many of the other congregations were created for loyal Presbyterians left behind after Church Union in 1925.
The presbytery is currently exploring ways to restructure the committee system and the way presbytery is conducted. "We're hoping to more quickly meet the needs of ministers and congregants to keep them healthy and whole," said Vanderstelt. "If we do that, hopefully people will stay longer."
