“We often get the feeling that the presbytery is dysfunctional, until we talk with colleagues in other presbyteries,” admits Rev. Bob Geddes, minister at South Gate, Hamilton and member of the Presbytery of Hamilton, the largest presbytery in the country by number of charges with 32 (tied with Montreal and Barrie). “Within this era of change, with efforts to grow, and worship wars, we spend a lot of time in reaction mode, and this is very draining on members of presbytery, clergy and elders. In recent years there have been moments when we have more commissions going on than the General Assembly. However, presbytery meetings are quite collegial, and there are many positive things going on within the presbytery.”
The presbytery has shown interest in looking to the future and responding to change by hosting the annual REAP evangelism conference. Now in its third and final year, a team of ministers and elders have helped create, organize and present this event that has grown beyond the presbytery's bounds. This year's conference is slated for May 11 and 12 and will focus on “growing deeper” by examining the idea that evangelism and discipleship are inseparable. The past two conferences have reached more than 300 participants from 50 congregations and four denominations. “It has been a time of challenge as well as a time of vibrant worship, stretching the participants to become people of mission,” said Rev. Fred Stewart, minister at the St. Paul's, Carluke and Knox, Binbrook charge, and a speaker at this year's event. The conference promises to bring participants “Relevant, Effective, Accessible and Practical information on outreach and evangelism in today's world.”
Carluke and Binbrook have taken their minister's lead when it comes to worship. Binbrook has been worshiping in a fully contemporary style for more than a year, while Carluke is following a more blended approach with various kinds of music and traditions. “They both share the goal of reaching beyond their own walls and their own preferences to reach communities that need Christ and His church,” said Stewart.
Both congregations also have a particular focus on youth. They employ three youth workers leading as many as 50 children, youth and young adults. Both congregations turn the last Sunday of the month over to the youth, asking them to lead worship and engage the whole congregation in what is relevant to them. A number of youth will even preach the sermons on youth Sundays this year.
This two-point charge isn't the only one in the presbytery committed to youth.
St. David's, Hamilton, offers a program that's entering its 20th season. Known as Inner City Outreach Ministries, it has seen a total of 1,500 children and youth enrolled in its programming over the years, averaging about 250 participants each year. A number of recreational activities are held three nights a week and attracts people from the ages of six to 24. Community dinners are also held throughout the year. Funds raised from the program ensure that more than 100 children are able to go to summer camp.
Chedoke, Hamilton, runs a weeknight program for children called Kids ROC. It has been running for just over three years and currently enrolls about 90 from kindergarten age to grade 8, plus a group of teens who are part of a leader in training program. With dinner included, the curriculum is self-designed with a focus on using “rap” rhyming to help participants learn biblical themes.
MacNab St., Hamilton, runs Café Church for young adults who are interested in exploring faith and life issues at a challenging and mature level and developing friendships with young adults within this community. Meeting twice monthly, the group discusses various issues over a steaming cup of coffee, rich hot chocolate and sweet baked goods. Previous discussions have included authorship of the Torah, spiritual personality type and the Book of Revelation. Café Church seeks to be an open, encouraging time where participants talk, debate, laugh and share topics of interest. Last year, the group planned an Ash Wednesday service and will be leading one again this year.
Knox, Dundas, which celebrated its 175th anniversary last year, also focuses on youth. A youth chorus, created a few years ago by director of music David Buckley and his family, sings at worship each week. Knox also sets aside about five services a year when all the members of the family can worship together. The Sunday school uses the workshop rotation model, and the church recently hired a student from Redeemer University College to lead a Friday night youth group. “We are gradually acquiring a reputation as a congregation welcoming of children and this has been identified by some of those who have recently joined our congregation as the reason they decided to become part of our church family,” said Rev. Don Donaghey.
The presbytery reaches youth in another way thanks to Carol Wood, a chaplain at McMaster University in Hamilton. The chaplaincy is a ministry of the presbytery, with Wood being a Christian presence among the young adults attending the school.
Youth in partnership
Other congregations offer joint youth groups, like the one organized by South Gate, Hamilton, and Chalmers, Hamilton. Discussions to share the responsibility began about eight years ago, thinking that “a coordinated effort would establish a critical mass for lively programming and attraction for the youth of each congregation,” according to Rev. Bob Geddes, minister at South Gate and also an organizer of worship events at Canada Youth 2006.
The youth named themselves the C.A.U.T.I.O.N.S. Youth Group, or Christians All United Together In One Noble Saviour. Each church contributes to funding part-time leadership and expenses. Weekly meetings alternate between the two churches, with activities ranging from Bible study and discussion, to games and movies, to seasonal celebrations and field trips. The group has also developed a talent for drama, music and worship leadership which is put to use at various services throughout the year.
Geddes said several factors have contributed to the program's success. Solid leadership and strong support from both congregations, along with a balance of members from each have not only ensured a lively, dedicated youth group, but have also led to active participation and leadership by the youth within the wider church structure. Last summer, members of the group undertook leadership roles at two synod camps and at the Summer Experience program of the Synod of Southwestern Ontario (a traveling VBS and leader training program), and had seven registrants at Canada Youth 2006.
Creating and nurturing such relationships isn't always easy in a large presbytery. “It has its challenges,” said Rev. Cathy Stewart-Kroeker of St. Cuthbert's, Hamilton. “Like figuring out how to work in effective and sensitive ways in such a big group.”
“Building relationships between the congregations is very important,” said Geddes, who has been South Gate's minister for about 16 years. “We can learn and support one another as most congregations have a special focus or program that seems to be effective, and we can help one another identify those corporate gifts.”
The challenge of intimate interaction in such a large presbytery is particularly noticeable to Stewart-Kroeker, who before her 16 years at St. Cuthbert's was a part of the Presbytery of Newfoundland – one of the church's smallest. She thinks such a large body would benefit from commissioning people for leadership responsibilities – particularly during presbytery meetings.
“Otherwise, it's just a bunch of committees. It's not like a session of a church, which gives leadership. We need leadership. There are a lot of decisions to be made, and a lot of discernment needed. It doesn't just happen.”
Geddes pointed out that the presbytery's moderator, Rev. Dr. Ian McPhee, is guiding the presbytery through a process of making meetings work more effectively and efficiently, “while guiding both the presbytery and congregations in a direction which moves us from a maintenance mode to a mission mode.”
Despite some challenges, “there are also good things happening in various congregations with mission work,” said Stewart-Kroeker. “Even without a formal leadership structure, there are people taking it on individually.”
Hallelujah and helping others
At Brant Hills, Burlington, the thousands of cars using Brant Street each day are treated to creative messages displayed outside the church. “It can best be described as vibrant, enthusiastic and growing,” said Rev. Bob Dawson of his north-west Burlington congregation, where the community is becoming younger and more ethnically diverse. The services are blended-contemporary, with Praise Expression, a 10-member praise team, alternating with the 15-member choir, and Power Point is used to project hymns, scripture readings and pictures onto a screen throughout the service.
An active youth group has raised several thousand dollars for annual mission projects, including $1,500 towards new water wells in Malawi in 2005. Other members of the congregation have made two trips to Biloxi, Mississippi, to assist victims of Hurricane Katrina.
No one at Knox, Waterdown, knew that a community breakfast that began in 1993 as a fundraiser for a church addition and hosted by the church's men, would eventually serve 65,000 breakfasts by 2007. About 140 people file in every Saturday morning for a home-cooked meal, with a Christmas morning breakfast being particularly popular. Guests give donations, with all proceeds going to ministries in the Waterdown community.
Last November, Knox began what Rev. George Robertson hopes will become a regular part of its worship and ministry life. Hillary Hulzinga, Knox' praise team leader, and lead vocalist for The Witnesses (a youth praise band that led worship each day at Canada Youth 2006) coordinated the first youth worship gathering at Knox. More than 200 young people and adults were led in worship by the youthful group.
Central, Hamilton, (est. 1841), has had four of its past ministers elected as Moderator of the General Assembly beginning in 1909. It is well known for its music ministry, receiving an invitation in 2001 to sing at St. Paul's Cathedral in London, and to act as Choir in Residence at Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford. The choir is eagerly awaiting a return to London in 2008.
But music isn't the only thing of note at Central. The congregation hosts the Hamilton Out of the Cold program on Wednesday and Thursday nights from November to March. Guests not only receive a hot meal, but a place to sleep during the frigid winter nights. Central also supports CFGB, PWS&D, has a growing Sunday school, runs a health ministries program, holds Spring luncheons, bazaars and rummage sales, and continues a 70-year association with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. The congregation also recently raised more than $2 million to finance a restoration of the historical Central building. Work will be completed in the coming year.
This is part one of the Presbytery of Hamilton's profile. Part two will appear next month.
