The Presbytery of Essex-Kent is at a crossroads. In the midst of the heartbreak that comes with closing congregations, it must forge ahead, nurturing remaining parishioners and pushing through the comfort levels of healthy congregations that can cause stagnation. Rev. Scott McAndless, presbytery clerk and minister at Knox, Leamington, understands this challenge. At 80 per cent of its capacity, the presbytery must expand to make room for newcomers. "We are as full as we can be given the present structure," said McAndless. "We like how we are though, so any discussion about changing to allow for real growth will be difficult."
While Lakeshore St. Andrew's, its largest congregation with a whopping 1,000 people at worship each Sunday, is currently going strong, one congregation closed in March, another amalgamated with a nearby congregation, and three others are teetering towards closure. Two years ago, membership dropped by 199 people, and the number of adherents plummeted by 1,215. "Many of our congregations are quite marginal and there is worry about the future in the air," said McAndless. "However, there is much potential for the future, though some of it is rather fragile."
This fragility hasn't paralyzed the presbytery. Many congregations are leaders in alternative, contemporary worship and dynamic, new ministries. Lakeshore St. Andrew's in Tecumseh, formally established in 1863, chose the road less travelled and has grown by leaps and bounds.
Rev. Chuck Congram has served as full-time minister at Lakeshore since 1973. When he arrived, the congregation was a small, rural church in transition (thanks to 10 years of instability, disruptive leadership and a rapidly growing community around them). "This congregation deserved long-term leadership; they needed that to grow," remembers Congram.
To create stability, Congram committed himself for the long haul, maximized available resources and helped the church articulate its vision. "The congregation made a decision to give priority to people who were not here, rather than the ones who were," he said. "We went from institutional survival to a mission focus, and that gave us the impetus to make a courageous decision."
This courage surfaced in 1988, when Lakeshore purchased 10 acres of land for a $4.5-million project. "It was a costly decision," admits Congram, who is retiring at year's end, "and a huge leap, but we saw dividends almost immediately."
Today, Lakeshore has 16 people on staff. Sunday school attracts between 150 and 255 children. Nearly 600 people are involved in small groups. Members commit themselves to God, community, contribution and communicating the Good News, which are the cornerstones for the congregation's existence and a key to its revival.
When a congregation doesn't have 16 staff at its fingertips, maximizing resources, as Congram noted, becomes especially important. And as the following two ministries have found, the end of one church can be the beginning of another. The youth ministry at Duart Church in Muirkirk, Ont., began when Blenheim Church near Chatham was closed. The congregation had a healthy store of money, but few people filling the pews.
The money is now funding the Kent Regional Alternate Ministry. Developed by Rev. Tom Godfrey, Duart's part-time minister, KRAM was launched in 2004. Its mission is to give the area's unchurched youth more attention. Teenagers fill leadership roles, helping to plan and shape the many youth worship events held throughout the year. "Their interest and participation helped draw their friends, siblings, parents, grandparents and even teachers," he said. As a result, many of the family members get involved in the ministry.
The congregation's biggest struggles are avoiding leader burn-out and establishing financial security among a congregation of very young and/or new church-goers. "The growth has been so fast that the system is struggling to keep up with the success," said Godfrey. KRAM currently receives financial support from the presbytery and Canada Ministries. "If we can develop a sustainable financial support system, I have great hope for the future."
Finding such support is also a priority at University Community Church, located near the University of Windsor. Yet another phoenix that rose from the ashes, the ministry was established when Knox, Windsor, amalgamated with St. Andrew's, Windsor, in 2001. The building was maintained and the remaining funds were used to develop what is affectionately known as UCC.
Every Sunday evening, students meet at the old Knox church for worship and a pizza dinner. The mission is to "bridge the gap between people and God," which Rev. Mary Templer explained as "actively welcoming both Christians and people of other faiths, or people of no formal religion." Music, prayers and topics discussed are geared to students, and questions are encouraged during the sermon. UCC also offers a lunch group for international students. "The purpose of this is to learn more about Christianity, to practice speaking English, and to learn more about Canadian culture," said Templer.
UCC's endowment from Knox, Windsor, will keep the ministry going for about six years, but because it has no residential base, there is little stability for the ministry to grow upon. Yearly offerings are rising, but they cover less than half of UCC's costs.
"We have a unique opportunity to reach students, and we have a congregation in which 80 per cent of the people are between the ages of 18 and 30, which is quite unusual in Presbyterian churches," said Templer, who remains optimistic. "Every Sunday we have unchurched people attending." She said the leadership team is brainstorming to find new ways of generating income.
While KRAM and UCC target teens and university students, First, Chatham, is reaching families. Rev. Mike Maroney was inducted at First in 2004. His laidback, family-oriented ministry is helping to "create a church that speaks to people in the 21st century."
First involves children and youth in the service, in music ministry and welcomes them at the communion table. Family Sundays are held once a month, and a youth-led worship concert last April raised more than $1,000 for tsunami relief.
"Our aim is to be relevant about Jesus," notes the church's website. "The message of salvation never changes, but the way we communicate it has to resonate with the society we live in."
To do this, Maroney assumes newcomers have no background in Christianity. The service is informal, the language is simple, the sermons relate to everyday life, robes are shed in favour of common clothes and worship is a blend of the traditional and contemporary. "Many people have no clue about our church culture," said Maroney. "And sometimes more importance is placed on the culture than the message. You have to use a language that is understandable because the message is so important.
"It was a sacrifice for the elders," Maroney said of the changes that have transpired in the last few years. "They had to let go of the comforts they had for so long because they don't speak to people today. God has done amazing things here. And it's possible anywhere. It really is."
Even in congregations where the road taken is slightly more worn, relationships are being nurtured and new directions are being explored. Knox, Leamington, along with Anglican and Mennonite churches, is sponsoring a refugee family from Colombia. The family should be arriving in the next few months, and Rev. Scott McAndless said the congregation "is really excited."
The congregation is also in the process of revamping its leadership. The church will eventually be using term eldership — a system recognizing that elders are ordained for life, but which limits the amount of time they can actively serve on session.
Both Leamington and Paulin Memorial, Windsor, are nurturing existing members through food. Leamington's Tables for Eight involves groups of eight people taking turns meeting at each other's homes for food and fellowship. At Paulin Memorial, the weekly congregational night attracts two to 92 people. While cooks put the finishing touches on the food, songs are sung, and when the meal is done, adults head off to various study groups while the children play. "Everybody appreciates the fellowship and developing friendships," said Rev. Wendy Paterson. "People who live alone are especially glad to have company for at least one meal a week."
New ministers at two St. James churches are providing hope for the future. St. James, Thamesville, recently called a minister from Hungary. Thamesville has been part of multiple-point charges during many years of its existence, but today, it stands on its own. St. James, Chatham, experienced one of its greatest joys with the recent induction of a new minister. Chatham has a strong music program and pastoral visitation team, is putting together a worship band and has started a teen youth group to expand its ministry.
Even in the midst of the grief that comes with closing congregations, the Presbytery of Essex-Kent is looking for opportunity. "We're trying to decide what to do with the assets [from congregations that close]," said McAndless. "There is potential for growth. It's exciting, and that excitement is connected to the sorrow."
