A congregation without a minister is sometimes just what the doctor ordered. For St. Andrew's, Flin Flon (in northern Manitoba and an eight-hour drive from Brandon), this was just the case. Four years with an empty pulpit motivated them to address the general lack of support for rural and remote ministries. They soon realized their situation was not unique among rural congregations (six of the 14 charges in the presbytery are without a minister), and were convinced rural and remote ministries have a low profile in the life of the national church.
The church asked itself similar questions in the 1980s, sparked by a discussion paper from the Board of World Mission on rural ministry. The report affirmed that rural and remote congregations are vital to the church as a whole, and asked how they can be made "more effective, more prophetic, more satisfying and more productive." It also said the church does "not have a clear sense of mission with regard to rural and remote areas…we focus a great deal of our time, energy and money on areas of high population growth, while rural or remote congregations with legitimate ministries fall by the wayside or close."
In response to these words, an idea was raised at a congregational meeting at St. Andrew's in 1999. The congregation (with presbytery's support) embraced the report's reminder that "leadership for rural ministry must come from rural people." A proposal for the Flin Flon Centre for Excellence in Rural and Remote Ministries was born the following year. The attention given to this project by the Presbytery of Brandon (located primarily in southwestern Manitoba), stems from the fact that only three ministers serve urban congregations — all of whom have also served in smaller settings.
The institute provides a place for research and study on rural and remote ministries, training and resources for lay people and elders, and specific training for clergy newly called to rural congregations. A fourth purpose, establishing courses, creating resources and developing workshops through distance education and on-site training, is supported by the Elder's Institute at St. Andrew's Hall, Vancouver.
The three-year pilot project wrapped up in January. Rev. Ina Golaiy, minister at St. Andrew's, is now assessing the results. She said student reaction has been positive, and the interest from other presbyteries and St. Andrew's Hall is encouraging. "Things are happening in recognition of the need for awareness, and as far as I'm concerned, that's awesome!"
As the congregation at St. Andrew's discovered, the challenges in Flin Flon are repeated across Canada's prairies. Their stories call to mind days of old, when early settlers to western provinces struggled to tame a wild and unforgiving landscape. Despite difficulties, the church continues.
Fittingly so, the presbytery's history has a decidedly rural feel, marked by quaint stories, proud traditions and toiling through troubled times. The presbytery was established in 1884, due to the expansion of the national church in western Canada. It is home to two national heritage sites — Knox Church, Neepawa, and Bellafield Church. The first Presbyterian missionaries arrived in Neepawa (meaning abundance, or place of plenty, in Cree) in 1877. Built in 1891, Knox is a rare example of Romanesque Revival architecture in Manitoba, and is famous for its acoustics. Neepawa itself is known as the hometown of celebrated Canadian writer, Margaret Laurence, author of The Stone Angel, among others.
About an hour's drive from Brandon, Bellafield Church was built in 1890. The original stone church was rebuilt with wood in 1906. As the first settlers to the area spoke only Gaelic, the original building came to be called the "Gaelic Church", and services were conducted in that language until 1935.
To honour its roots, a special service is held every summer. "Kirkin' O' The Tartan" commemorates the Battle of Culloden in 1745, when Gaelic and Scottish symbols were banned, including the kilt, the tartan and the bagpipes. Determined to carry on their traditions, Highlands clansmen held secret church services incorporating these elements. Today, in addition to the prayers, hymns, and benediction of the original service, there is a reading in Gaelic, a calling of the clans and a blessing of the tartans, and a lament on the bagpipes.
Although the presbytery is often challenged by a lack of ministers at its service, the lives of some of its ministers provide an interesting backdrop to the prairie landscape. Rev. Lloyd Henderson arrived in Portage la Prairie in 1943 and led First Presbyterian until his retirement in 1981. He was named minister emeritus for his long dedication. Involved in community groups and charitable organizations, he served as mayor for 22 years, and ran for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada (against Lester B. Pearson and Pierre Trudeau).
Knox Zion, Carberry, relied on lay ministers for four years. In Jan. 2004, the post was filled when Rev. Heinrich Grosskopf arrived in cold and blustery Winnipeg with his family — all the way from sunny South Africa.
With five female ministers, and three male, the presbytery seems to have a penchant for attracting women to its frontiers. The current head count pales in comparison to 10 years ago, when Rev. Dale Woods came to First Church, Brandon. At that time, he was the only male minister in the presbytery.
Melita Church opened in 1892. Two years earlier, the town consisted of a store, a post office, blacksmith shop, livery stable, a doctor, a school and three houses. The congregation voted to remain Presbyterian in 1925, after which the church enjoyed its largest numbers. The congregation celebrated its 100th anniversary in June 1992 — a significant milestone considering the church began as a mission back in 1883, where sermons were preached in a canvas-covered room with dirt floors.
The attraction of rural churches lies with its people. "I find in rural and remote charges, you are a minister to the whole community," said Golaiy. "You have your congregation, but everyone gets to know you and seeks you out for spiritual direction. You become a community minister, and you can be very connected with the people."
