Barring a new candidate being presented at General Assembly in June (in St. Catharines, Ont.), the 2006 moderator will not be a minister, marking a first for the church (a diaconal minister held the office in 1996). Rev. Stephen Kendall, principal clerk, said the situation has created a buzz. "It's exciting to have a lay person as moderator," he said. "There is a lot of interest in the church for lay persons' issues." Kendall couldn't say if other names had been put forward that didn't make it onto the ballot, although this information will be released once the new moderator is chosen. If a name did not appear on the ballot, it is for one of two reasons: the nomination came from only one presbytery instead of the required two, or the individual declined to let his or her name stand. The nominees for 2006 are:
Leslie Young
Elder, Westmount Church, Edmonton, Alta., where he is a 40-year member. He is a former moderator, Edmonton-Lakeland Presbytery, and has served on national committees including Live the Vision campaign, the 1996 think-tank Designing a New Mission for the Future of the PCC, and was on the advisory council to the Elder's Institute, St. Andrew's Hall.
He is also a former 18-year member of the Alberta Legislative Assembly, and currently chairs Alberta Blue Cross; is a member of the board of Capital Health Authority and was former executive director of the Edmonton Space and Science Centre. This is the second consecutive year he has been nominated for moderator.
Young told the Record that "there is a challenge to ask people to slow down and think about the real meaning of life" amidst the busyness of today's society and the barrage of messages people receive each day. "The church must be the church," he said. "It obviously has a role as teacher, to affirm our faith and to help us interact with the Bible. It also has a responsibility of pastoral care to its own flock and to reach out in mission and extend that care to others.
Young believes strongly in mission and in fully engaging the laity in the church's work. "The church is Christ together with his people, and both clergy and laity need to focus their efforts together." Young is married, with two daughters and four grandchildren.
Wilma Welsh
Elder, Knox, Guelph, Ont. Now retired, she has served the PCC for more than 42 years. At Knox, she taught church school, provided leadership for national youth events and camping ministries, and was one of the church's first female elders. She was a missionary to Taiwan between 1969 and 1975; and, is currently the mission coordinator at Knox, treasurer for the Women's Missionary Society and president of Waterloo-Wellington Presbyterial.
She served the Board of Congregation Life as senior administrator until 1992, then became the administrator of International Ministries for the Life and Mission Agency.
Welsh's first nomination came 10 years ago—the first year lay people could appear on the ballot. "This is a rite of passage," she said. "The time is right to see a lay person in this position." She said the fact this year's nominees are laity is a nod not only to her work, but to all the support staff who devote their time to the church.
Her experience with mission work — through International Ministries, Presbyterian World Service & Development and Presbyterians Sharing — will influence her focus if she is chosen as moderator. "My interest is in international ministries," she said. "I've had the privilege of visiting many of our partner churches overseas and to get to know them. It's been a real blessing."
Welsh is particularly aware of the contribution retirees make to the church. She said recognizing and supporting this work—and even remembering that retirees can contribute at all—is a challenge facing the church today. She is also a strong supporter of the WMS and would like to see their role highlighted. "I believe they have kept mission alive in the church. These women are constantly making congregations aware of the mission of the church overseas and at home."
"I'm sort of overwhelmed by all of this," she continued. "When you're retired, you don't think of them thinking of you. But I think retirees still have a lot of energy and lots of love to contribute." – AM
