Middlesex Presbytery

About Us

 

 THE PURPOSE OF MIDDLESEX PRESBYTERY

-is to awaken its people and congregations to the message of the Scriptures, and to encourage them through support and compassionate oversight, to fulfil their Christian ministry in the world, as revealed in the words and life of Jesus.

THE NATURE OF MIDDLESEX PRESBYTERY

-Middlesex Presbytery serves the geographic area of Middlesex County. In one word, it is DIVERSE. There are 48 Pastoral Charges in Middlesex Presbytery

WHERE YOU FIT IN

All persons of the Order of Ministry and Staff Associates are members of Presbytery. Lay members represent the following constituencies: elected representatives from Pastoral Charges (one for every 250 members) and from Middlesex Presbyterial U.C.W., and ten members-at-large appointed by the Presbytery.

Pastoral Charges are encouraged to elect Alternate Lay Delegates to ensure representation at the meeting of Presbytery and its Divisions.

HOW PRESBYTERY WORKS

/ Middlesex Presbytery meets as a whole five times a year, usually the fourth Tuesday of September, November, February, April and June, with the following responsibilities:

n to receive reports from the Divisions, the Executive, and other United Church courts

n to initiate new policy and decide upon new policy recommendations from the Divisions, the Executive or

other United Church courts

n to study various aspects of Christian life and responsibility as they become relevant

n to strengthen the fellowship of its members and promote spiritual growth

THE EXECUTIVE

The executive comprises the Chair, Past Chair, Chair Elect, Secretary and Treasurer of Presbytery, the Chair and Secretary of each Division, Care & Oversight Chair, Stewardship Chair, President of Presbyterial U.C.W., and Resource Centre Chair. The Executive meets monthly from September to June, on the first Tuesday afternoon.

Its responsibilities are:

n to coordinate the work of the Divisions

n to anticipate areas where new policy decisions might be required

n to plan Presbytery meetings

to act quickly and compassionately when crises arise

THE DIVISIONS

In Middlesex Presbytery, six Divisions are appointed annually to carry out the functions of the whole court. Each Division is given full power to make decisions by two-thirds majority on all matters where policy is already established and within the area of its responsibility, and these decisions are reported to the Presbytery or its Executive. Matters of new policy.are to be dealt with by the Presbytery or its Executive.

We encourage active membership in the Division of your choice and aptitude. It is essential to the life of Presbytery.

These are the Divisions’ responsibilities and some of their sub-committees:

Communications - Resource Centre, "Link" insert, Inter-Division Communication

Finance and Administration - Archives, Finance, Property, Extension, Constitution

Ministry, Personnel and Education - Chaplaincy, Continuing Education, Education & Students, Grants & Loans, Inductions, Manse, Pastoral Relations, Pensions

Mission in Canada and the UCW - Support Ministries, Camping, Christian Development, Church in Society, Rural Life, Marriage and Family, United Church Women, Lay School of Theology

Stewardship - M & S

World Outreach - Ecumenical and Inter-faith, International Affairs, World Development and Relief, Mission Education

CARE AND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE

This Committee serves all of Presbytery in the care and oversight of Pastoral Charges, with a pattern of visitation with every Charge every three years, and on request of Executive or the Pastoral Charge. Each Division appoints members to this Committee, with the Chair reporting to Executive.

Responsibilities of members to Presbytery and its Divisions:

    • acting within the Division of your appointment, attending meetings, speaking to the issues, voting and

accepting responsibility

n bringing to Presbytery’s attention the issues and concerns of your Charge

n strengthening Presbytery’s relationships with all other courts of the church

n joining in loving fellowship with other members of the Presbytery

n encouraging in your Charge an awareness and an interest in its life and issues

Responsibilities of Presbytery members to London Conference:

n attend the annual meeting

n ensure that Middlesex Presbytery’s concerns are accurately represented within Conference

n bring the issues and concerns of Conference to Presbytery, to your Division and to your Pastoral Charge

The following areas of responsibility have been identified to assist Pastoral Charges:

n active involvement in the life and issues of the Charge

n making known to Presbytery and its appropriate Divisions the concerns of the Charge

n working within the Division of your choice and aptitude

n reporting back to the Charge on the activities and concerns of Presbytery, Conference and General Council

The United Church of Canada is a conciliar church: authority and responsibility are shared by all members.

This has at least one relevant consequence for members of Presbytery. Presbytery cannot function without informed and involved representatives from Pastoral Charges, and the Pastoral Charges cannot be fully effective without a close liaison with Presbytery.

Put another way: If you want a strong Pastoral Charge, help make Presbytery strong. If you do not act in Presbytery, your Pastoral Charge suffers. And if you do not act within your Pastoral Charge, Presbytery suffers.

UNITED CHURCH COUNCIL

Every member of Presbytery is a member of The United Church Council of Middlesex Presbytery. This is a Corporation which administers certain investments, and directs the income to church extension, including low-interest loans. (The Annual meeting is held at the April Presbytery meeting.)

 

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