Margaret Henderson, administrator, teacher and preacher's kid, has spent her life serving the Presbyterian Church, and retired last month from her position as senior administrator of Ministry and Church Vocations. She had worked at national offices for 33 years.
"The extraordinary way that she has served in her position has helped to shape the entire work of the ministry office," said Rev. Daniel Cho on behalf of the Life and Mission Agency during a moment of appreciation at this year's General Assembly. "We thank God for Marg and for her work, and we pray that God will bless her as she enters the next phase of her life and ministry."
Henderson started in 1975 in the newly established Board of Ministry, and her involvement has been widespread. "In my own work there have been three areas that have given me much satisfaction," Henderson said in her farewell speech. "The circulation of Women's Perspectives (a place to explore issues that are of concern to women), the Women in Ministry Committee (which seeks to support women in leadership in the church and encourage networking), and the guidance conference (a place where candidates are challenged and encouraged in their journey to ministry)."
She has also supported the work of the Order of Diaconal Ministries and the Committee on Continuing Education.
Her church involvement began at birth, and developed throughout her youth and adulthood. She grew up in the southern Ontario towns of Hillsdale, Walkerton, and Woodstock where her father served as a Presbyterian minister. In her youth, she attended Camp Kintail and participated in the Presbyterian Young People's Society. Prior to joining national offices, she spent eight years teaching grades six and seven in west Toronto. She has long served as elder at St. Andrew's Humber Heights, Toronto, and is currently the clerk of session.
At the farewell ceremony at national offices, her brother Rev. John Henderson, described her as "a person of integrity. A person who forged strong friendships and nurtured them over long periods of time. A person who is loyal and kind. A person who was organized, meticulous and thorough. A person with a healthy sense of humour, and who introduced clowning to her nieces and nephews. A person of gentle spirit and a very generous heart. A woman who practices the art of hospitality. A woman of deep faith who puts her faith in actions in such things as prison visiting. Yet also a woman of the world who enjoys theatre and the arts. A woman of deep spirituality who is renewed and replenished in her spiritual retreats and journaling."
Henderson told the Record she will miss her colleagues at national offices and also the sense of connection with the church which came from working at the hub of the PCC's activities. But she suggested that retirement would not mean an end to her involvement.
Jeffery Crawford, who worked with Henderson for several weeks prior to her retirement, has replaced her in the Ministry and Church Vocations office. "She's indeed a wonderful teacher," said Crawford. "I know that I have very, very big shoes to fill … and it's been a privilege to work with her these past few weeks."
