Comments for Maritime PreacherMaritime Preacher http://maritimers.ca Thoughts and Musings Sun, 05 Feb 2012 13:47:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on An Open Letter to the Church by Robert Scott http://maritimers.ca/2012/02/an-open-letter-to-the-church/#comment-738 Robert Scott Sun, 05 Feb 2012 13:47:11 +0000 http://maritimers.ca/?p=1425#comment-738 The UC is going to have to sleep in the bed that they made. The bureaucracy within the "church" is so numbing it is dysfunctional. We'll all be sitting in pews of different denominations yet thanks to those who hold positions of power but lack any insight or leadership into how to use that power. The UC is going to have to sleep in the bed that they made. The bureaucracy within the “church” is so numbing it is dysfunctional. We’ll all be sitting in pews of different denominations yet thanks to those who hold positions of power but lack any insight or leadership into how to use that power.

]]> Comment on An Open Letter to the Church by Wendy Kean http://maritimers.ca/2012/02/an-open-letter-to-the-church/#comment-634 Wendy Kean Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:12:55 +0000 http://maritimers.ca/?p=1425#comment-634 I am in ministry in one end of Valley Presbytery. On 3 Pastoral Charges, there are 10 church buildings, with a total average Sunday attendance of no more than 80. I wish we in leadership had more tools with which to effect change than just words, but our polity leaves me feeling hamstrung. I am in ministry in one end of Valley Presbytery. On 3 Pastoral Charges, there are 10 church buildings, with a total average Sunday attendance of no more than 80. I wish we in leadership had more tools with which to effect change than just words, but our polity leaves me feeling hamstrung.

]]> Comment on An Open Letter to the Church by Christine Jerrett http://maritimers.ca/2012/02/an-open-letter-to-the-church/#comment-611 Christine Jerrett Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:26:24 +0000 http://maritimers.ca/?p=1425#comment-611 About fifteen years ago, two colleagues and I tried to sound a warning to our Presbytery: if we continued the way we were going, we would be closing congregations in rapid succession in about 12 years. We were told that we were being disloyal to the denomination; that we were the problem, causing low morale; that we never should have been ordained. David Ewart has been tracking statistical trends in the United Church for a number of years, earning him the title in some quarters of "Dr. Doom". http://www.davidewart.ca/2012/01/united-church-of-canada-people-trends-2010.html I am convinced that we are living in a "Jeremiah" kind of time. He issued warnings while everybody else was saying that everything was all right. Then, while everybody else was immobilized by the destruction of Jerusalem, he bought a field and entered into the 'to build and to plant' phase of his ministry. It's time 'to build and to plant' in the midst of the ruins. About fifteen years ago, two colleagues and I tried to sound a warning to our Presbytery: if we continued the way we were going, we would be closing congregations in rapid succession in about 12 years. We were told that we were being disloyal to the denomination; that we were the problem, causing low morale; that we never should have been ordained.
David Ewart has been tracking statistical trends in the United Church for a number of years, earning him the title in some quarters of “Dr. Doom”.
http://www.davidewart.ca/2012/01/united-church-of-canada-people-trends-2010.html

I am convinced that we are living in a “Jeremiah” kind of time. He issued warnings while everybody else was saying that everything was all right. Then, while everybody else was immobilized by the destruction of Jerusalem, he bought a field and entered into the ‘to build and to plant’ phase of his ministry. It’s time ‘to build and to plant’ in the midst of the ruins.

]]> Comment on An Open Letter to the Church by Herb Morrison http://maritimers.ca/2012/02/an-open-letter-to-the-church/#comment-607 Herb Morrison Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:50:36 +0000 http://maritimers.ca/?p=1425#comment-607 Several years ago when I was a Candidate, I decided, after completing two-thirds of my studies, that I wanted to shift to the DLM Program. My request to do so was flatly rejected by my E and S Committee. Despite the fact that I still feel a call to Ministry, there is no way I can do so within the United Church. You wouldn't know that the UCC. had Candidates coming out their collective ears. Here in Newfoundland the United Church continues, to a growing degree to provide peacemeal, part-time Ministerial services to outlying communities. People like myself, who coulld possibly be of assistance are ignored. I shudder to think what will happen to Churches in rural Newfoundland when the supply of retired Ministry Personnel willing to do part-time Pulpit Supply in these Pastoral Charges eventually runs out. It might already be too late for the United Church powers that be here in Newfoundland, to wake up and smell the proverbial coffee. Nick. the situation you raise is not unique to Mainland United Churches. To be perfectly candid, based on my own experience, there is a part of me that says that a situation where there will be a shortage of qualified Ministry Personnel to fill United Church pulpits will, as we say here on the Rock "look good on" those responsible. Several years ago when I was a Candidate, I decided, after completing two-thirds of my studies, that I wanted to shift to the DLM Program. My request to do so was flatly rejected by my E and S Committee. Despite the fact that I still feel a call to Ministry, there is no way I can do so within the United Church. You wouldn’t know that the UCC. had Candidates coming out their collective ears. Here in Newfoundland the United Church continues, to a growing degree to provide peacemeal, part-time Ministerial services to outlying communities. People like myself, who coulld possibly be of assistance are ignored. I shudder to think what will happen to Churches in rural Newfoundland when the supply of retired Ministry Personnel willing to do part-time Pulpit Supply in these Pastoral Charges eventually runs out. It might already be too late for the United Church powers that be here in Newfoundland, to wake up and smell the proverbial coffee. Nick. the situation you raise is not unique to Mainland United Churches. To be perfectly candid, based on my own experience, there is a part of me that says that a situation where there will be a shortage of qualified Ministry Personnel to fill United Church pulpits will, as we say here on the Rock “look good on” those responsible.

]]> Comment on An Open Letter to the Church by Kirk Neville http://maritimers.ca/2012/02/an-open-letter-to-the-church/#comment-603 Kirk Neville Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:19:17 +0000 http://maritimers.ca/?p=1425#comment-603 I fully agree with your statement. I was trying to be a Lay Minister in the United Church for the last 5 years. Once I was approved to start my studies there are no churches able to help me or allow me to help them. Luckily the Lord has provided me and my family with a good job in funeral service. I don't know how often I was told how desperate the church was for people like me and once I prepare to do something about it I get no where. Things must change now!! I fully agree with your statement. I was trying to be a Lay Minister in the United Church for the last 5 years. Once I was approved to start my studies there are no churches able to help me or allow me to help them. Luckily the Lord has provided me and my family with a good job in funeral service. I don’t know how often I was told how desperate the church was for people like me and once I prepare to do something about it I get no where. Things must change now!!

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