As one of the church's largest and richest presbyteries, East Toronto occupies an interesting spot on the landscape. Even though it was only created in 1949 (when the Presbytery of Toronto was divided into east and west), its history includes some of the oldest churches of the denomination in Canada. Despite its fabled past, the presbytery is in the midst of change. Encompassing a downtown portion of the city as well as its northern and eastern outskirts, the demographics of East Toronto aren't quite what they once were. Originally a destination for immigrants from the United Kingdom, the bustling city has grown to include immigrants from non-European countries, changing the community's makeup as well as the people in the pews. Toronto is the most multicultural city in Canada and the presbytery's 25 congregations reflect that fact.

The Presbytery of Pickering has figured out a recipe for growth: take a strong devotion to mission, add a generous willingness to adapt to change, and sprinkle with multiculturalism. Mix well.

Four of the Presbytery of Superior's five churches are located in Thunder Bay (established in 1970 when the towns of Port Arthur and Fort William amalgamated), which was crowned a cultural capital of Canada in 2003. Rather than stifling each other's creativity, the closeness of the congregations fosters cooperation and new ideas. "We've been talking lately of pooling our mission resources," said Rev. Harold Hunt, minister at Lakeview, Thunder Bay "There's wonderful, open communication. You can say what you need to say. It's like opening a window, and letting in the fresh air."

What sets the Presbytery of Winnipeg apart from others is the high proportion of resources it devotes to aboriginal ministry. The presbytery of 12 charges supports three aboriginal outreach centres: Flora House and Anishinabe (both in Winnipeg), and Anamiewigummig located farther north in Kenora, Ont. Together, they receive almost 30 per cent of the presbytery's budget and require the most resources — both financial and human. "Our purpose is to meet the spiritual, emotional and physical needs of the people in our area," said Warren Whittaker, director of Flora House. "We try to follow Jesus' model in Luke — to bring liberty to the captive and sight to the blind."

Close enough to Toronto to commute to work, yet far enough away to enjoy a slower pace and nature's bounties, the Presbytery of Lindsay-Peterborough faces some unique challenges and interesting possibilities. Older individuals flock to the tranquil towns and rolling hills, looking for relaxation in retirement. Small, rural towns add country charm, while the presbytery's northern bounds dip into cottage country — bringing a wealth of city escapees to its shores in the summer months.

The Presbytery of Kingston is like The Little Engine that Could. Sandwiched between two presbyteries (Lindsay-Peterborough and Seaway-Glengarry) whose numbers and geography dwarf it, Kingston has watched its membership dwindle.

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.

While the HIV/AIDS pandemic is ravaging parts of the world, the folks in the Presbytery of Lanark and Renfrew are doing what they can to help. "There is a sense of closeness and caring," said Rev. Milton Fraser, St. Andrew's, Arnprior. "In terms of the relationship within the congregations and within the community, there is a genuine concern for each other."