Though the wider church may know little about the Eastern Han-Ca Presbytery, the presbytery's members are eager to connect to other congregations and share their […]

Giving just a little can help others in a significant way. These three church members thought of an idea, and with the support of their […]

Last month, readers got to know the Presbytery of Hamilton with its commitment to youth ministry, and vibrant, re-vamped worship. The challenges of being one of the church's largest presbyteries were also highlighted, with ministers noting that strong leadership, cooperation and building relationships with each other were hard-to-realize but important priorities. The presbytery's story continues in this issue.

“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.”

In a growing region that has several universities and colleges, it's no surprise that children and youth ministries are the focus for numerous churches in the Waterloo-Wellington presbytery. Sunday schools are being renewed and some congregations are offering innovative mid-week family programs.

The Presbytery of Niagara was host to the national church twice this year, bringing hundreds of volunteers together. Brock University in St. Catharines was the site of the 132nd General Assembly in June and Canada Youth 2006 in July. The presbytery has 19 charges and 23 congregations, some with a handful of adherents and others with more than 400 members. But each shares the goal of congregational renewal and re-visioning. Many churches are looking to expand their outreach. Rev. Tijs Theijsmeijer, presbytery clerk, says a future project with Arabic ministries is under consideration. “Hopefully within the next year it'll be an established ministry,” he says.

The Presbytery of Algoma and North Bay is very big — not in number of churches or ministers but in sheer physical size. The challenges […]

Paris is a peculiar presbytery. Situated in south-western Ontario, its demographics, in many ways, reflect presbyteries across the country: several larger churches working alongside a greater number of rural and small-town congregations. But in other ways, the presbytery is quite different. While its attendance and members both dropped between 2003 and 2004, its number of adherents increased. It also has several congregations whose numbers reflect a growing trend in many denominations; that of more adherents than members. Paris Presbyterian and Calvin, Delhi, are examples of this, and Innerkip actually has more in attendance each week than is listed on the constituent roll.

Four years ago not one of the six charges and seven congregations in the Presbytery of Temiskaming had a full pulpit. One of the smallest presbyteries in the church, with 301 members in 2004, was having a near-death experience.

We're excited about the future and to make room for people to come and worship and to come to Christ,” said Rev. Sabrina Caldwell, associate minister at Oakridge, London, where nearly 600 people come to worship. The Presbytery of London's largest congregation, which already has two Sunday services and a contemporary Saturday evening service, is looking to expand its doors. “The more the merrier!”

The Oakridge, London Concert Choir is on tour to Ottawa in June, led by director of music, Janet Fischer, and with concert organist, Ian Sadler. […]

Like all other presbyteries, London suffers the same challenges: as membership declines, churches close. Still, three of our churches are busting at the seams and […]

There is a propensity for forward-thinking and innovative ministers who aren't afraid to push the limits in the Presbytery of Barrie. While remaining Presbyterian, they have embraced the 21st century with contemporary worship, a renewed focus on outreach and evangelism to win people to Christ, and pared-down services that appeal to younger and/or unchurched folk.

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."

Flanking the ever-growing Yonge St. corridor, northeast of Toronto, Oak Ridges presbytery is an anomaly in the Presbyterian church. "I think we're in a growth mode," said Rev. Sam Priestley, minister at St. Andrew's, Markham. "Many communities have a large number of young families and couples moving in, and we endeavour to minister to them."

The strong rural connection enjoyed by many of the congregations in the Presbytery of Lambton-West Middlesex is evident at the two-point charge of St. Andrew's, Watford, and Knox, Thedford, where they set aside a Sunday each year to pray for their farm families and to focus on the gift and responsibility of being keepers of God's earth. "I am a strong advocate for everyone being involved," said Rev. Christine O'Reilly. "Church is not a spectator sport!"

The Presbytery of Brampton, encompassing areas west and north of Toronto, is an eclectic mix of geography, history, demographics, characteristics and congregation size. Its 30 charges (and 34 congregations) make it one of the largest presbyteries in the national church, and with only four vacancies, its ability to attract ministers seems solid. And although its congregations see a huge range of Sunday attendance from 330 at Knox, Oakville, to 24 at Limehouse, the overall picture is one of general stability. In fact, between 2003 and 2004, membership jumped from 4,949 to 5,323, while both adherents and attendance increased at similar rates.

The Presbytery of Huron-Perth is situated in an almost magical slice of Southern Ontario heaven. Tourists, summer cottagers, retirees and long-established small-town folks enjoy the perks of living in this paradise, and file through the doors of the presbytery's 24 churches (in 19 charges). Only three of those lie vacant. While some congregations attract 15 to 50 people on a Sunday, there are others, like St. Mary's that holds two services for its 230 weekly parishioners (in a town of 6,200) and Knox, Listowel, which welcomes 148 worshippers in a town of 5,400.

Multiculturalism isn't something one historically equates with the Presbyterian church. But the Presbytery of West Toronto is changing that. It boasts four congregations that cater to distinct groups — Ghanaian, Hungarian, Spanish and Portuguese. Several other congregations have significant multicultural contingents. They even have a church in Bermuda. "The Presbyterian church is currently holding services in 17 languages on a typical Sunday," said Gordon Haynes, associate secretary for Canada Ministries. "That's phenomenal. And West Toronto has picked up on that."

Comprised mostly of small churches in rural areas or small towns, the Presbytery of Grey-Bruce-Maitland's outreach projects epitomize small-town living and the closeness, cooperation and interdependency found among the residents there. "It took me a while to sort of find my way here," said Rev. Jeremy Sanderson, presbytery clerk and minister at Knox, Walkerton. "Since then, they've been the greatest bunch of people in the way they relate to each other and support one another. It's a really great place to be."