The United Church of Canada Toronto Conference Living Waters Presbytery 2014/2015 – i Table of Contents PERSONNEL SUPPORT AND EDUCATION COMMISSION .................................................. 1 MINUTES OF Meeting held June 3, 2014 ................................................................................. 1 VISION AND CHURCH DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION....................................................... 7 MINUTES of Meeting held June 3, 2014 ................................................................................... 7 COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS AND RIGHT RELATIONS .................................................. 10 MINUTES of Meeting held June 10, 2014 ............................................................................... 10 LIVING WATERS PRESBYTERY ............................................................................................. 13 MINUTES of Meeting held June 10, 2014 ............................................................................... 13 SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION ......................................................................... 26 MINUTES of Meeting held on Tuesday, June 10, 2014 ........................................................... 26 EXECUTIVE OF LIVING WATERS PRESBYTERY ............................................................... 29 MINUTES of a special Meeting held June 25, 2014 ................................................................ 29 CONGREGATIONAL LIFE COMMISSION ............................................................................. 33 MINUTES of Meeting held August 12, 2014 ........................................................................... 33 CONGREGATIONAL LIFE COMMISSION ............................................................................. 34 MINUTES of Meeting held August 19, 2014 ........................................................................... 34 EXECUTIVE OF LIVING WATERS PRESBYTERY ............................................................... 39 MINUTES of Special Meeting held August 21, 2014 .............................................................. 39 CONGREGATIONAL LIFE COMMISSION ............................................................................. 45 MINUTES of Meeting held August 29, 2014 ........................................................................... 45 VISION AND CHURCH DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION..................................................... 46 MINUTES of Meeting held September 3, 2014 ....................................................................... 46 COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS AND RIGHT RELATIONS .................................................. 50 MINUTES of Meeting held September 9, 2014 ....................................................................... 50 PERSONNEL SUPPORT AND EDUCATION COMMISSION ................................................ 54 MINUTES of a Meeting held September 9, 2014 ..................................................................... 54 LIVING WATERS PRESBYTERY ............................................................................................. 61 MINUTES of Meeting held September 9, 2014 ....................................................................... 61 i The United Church of Canada Toronto Conference Living Waters Presbytery 2014/2015 - ii SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION ......................................................................... 72 MINUTES of Meeting held on Tuesday, September 9, 2014 ................................................... 72 VISION AND CHURCH DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION..................................................... 75 MINUTES of Meeting held October 7, 2014 ............................................................................ 75 EXECUTIVE OF LIVING WATERS PRESBYTERY ............................................................... 78 MINUTES of Meeting held October 14, 2014, ......................................................................... 78 CONGREGATIONAL LIFE COMMISSION ............................................................................. 85 MINUTES of Meeting held November 4, 2014 ........................................................................ 85 VISION AND CHURCH DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION..................................................... 88 MINUTES of Meeting held November 4, 2014 ........................................................................ 88 COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS AND RIGHT RELATIONS .................................................. 93 MINUTES of Meeting held November 7, 2014 ........................................................................ 93 EXECUTIVE OF LIVING WATERS PRESBYTERY ............................................................... 96 MINUTES of Meeting held Monday, November 17, 2014 ...................................................... 96 COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS AND RIGHT RELATIONS .................................................. 98 MINUTES of Meeting held November 25, 2014 ...................................................................... 98 CONGREGATIONAL LIFE COMMISSION ........................................................................... 102 MINUTES of Meeting held November 25, 2014 .................................................................... 102 PERSONNEL SUPPORT AND EDUCATION COMMISSION .............................................. 105 MINUTES OF Meeting held November 25, 2014 .................................................................. 105 LIVING WATERS PRESBYTERY ........................................................................................... 110 MINUTES of Meeting held November 25, 2014 .................................................................... 110 SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION ....................................................................... 122 MINUTES of Meeting held on Tuesday, November 25, 2014 ............................................... 122 VISION AND CHURCH DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION................................................... 125 MINUTES of Meeting held December 2, 2014 ...................................................................... 125 EXECUTIVE OF LIVING WATERS PRESBYTERY ............................................................. 128 MINUTES of Meeting held December 9, 2014 ...................................................................... 128 CONGREGATIONAL LIFE COMMISSION ........................................................................... 137 MINUTES of Meeting held December 16, 2014 .................................................................... 137 PERSONNEL SUPPORT AND EDUCATION COMMISSION .............................................. 140 MINUTES OF Meeting held January 14, 2015 ...................................................................... 140 ii The United Church of Canada Toronto Conference Living Waters Presbytery 2014/2015 – iii COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS AND RIGHT RELATIONS ................................................ 146 MINUTES of Meeting held February 6, 2015 ........................................................................ 146 EXECUTIVE OF LIVING WATERS PRESBYTERY ............................................................. 149 MINUTES of Meeting held February 10, 2015 ...................................................................... 149 VISION AND CHURCH DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION................................................... 155 MINUTES of Meeting held February 10, 2015 ...................................................................... 155 PERSONNEL SUPPORT AND EDUCATION COMMISSION .............................................. 160 MINUTES OF Meeting held February 11, 2015 .................................................................... 160 COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS AND RIGHT RELATIONS ................................................ 166 MINUTES of Meeting held March 10, 2015 .......................................................................... 166 CONGREGATIONAL LIFE COMMISSION ........................................................................... 177 MINUTES of Meeting held March 10, 2015 .......................................................................... 177 EXECUTIVE OF LIVING WATERS PRESBYTERY ............................................................. 180 MINUTES of Meeting held March 10, 2015 .......................................................................... 180 PERSONNEL SUPPORT AND EDUCATION COMMISSION .............................................. 182 MINUTES OF Meeting held March 10, 2015 ........................................................................ 182 LIVING WATERS PRESBYTERY ........................................................................................... 186 MINUTES of Meeting held March 10, 2015 .......................................................................... 186 SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION ....................................................................... 202 MINUTES of meeting held on Tuesday, March 10, 2015 ...................................................... 202 VISION AND CHURCH DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION................................................... 206 MINUTES of Meeting held March 10, 2015 .......................................................................... 206 PERSONNEL SUPPORT AND EDUCATION COMMISSION .............................................. 212 MINUTES OF Meeting held March 19, 2015 ........................................................................ 212 VISION AND CHURCH DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION................................................... 216 MINUTES of Meeting held April 7, 2015 .............................................................................. 216 EXECUTIVE OF LIVING WATERS PRESBYTERY ............................................................. 222 MINUTES of Meeting held April 14, 2015 ............................................................................ 222 COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS AND RIGHT RELATIONS ................................................ 229 MINUTES of Meeting held April 21, 2015 ............................................................................ 229 PERSONNEL SUPPORT AND EDUCATION COMMISSION .............................................. 234 MINUTES of Meeting held April 21, 2015 ............................................................................ 234 iii The United Church of Canada Toronto Conference Living Waters Presbytery 2014/2015 - iv EXECUTIVE OF LIVING WATERS PRESBYTERY ............................................................. 240 MINUTES of Meeting held May 5, 2015 ............................................................................... 240 PERSONNEL SUPPORT AND EDUCATION COMMISSION .............................................. 246 MINUTES of Meeting held May 20, 2015 ............................................................................. 246 CONGREGATIONAL LIFE COMMISSION ........................................................................... 251 MINUTES of Meeting held May 26, 2015 ............................................................................. 251  iv The United Church of Canada Toronto Conference Living Waters Presbytery 2014/2015 –1 PERSONNEL SUPPORT AND EDUCATION COMMISSION MINUTES OF Meeting held June 3, 2014, 1:00 p.m. at the Presbytery office, Guthrie, ON. PRESENT: Nina Fulford (Chair), Bruce Roffey (Secretary), Thelma Arnott, Donna Bowman- Woodall, Joy Crawford, John Harries (Retirees’ Assoc.), Donna Hazlett, Carol Johnson, Elaine Lush, Rick McKinley, S. Derek Shelly, Al Taylor, Terry Thom, Wanda Winfield. Regrets: Linda Mather, Young Rhee, Leslie Sedore, Fran Watterworth, Bright Yun. Absent: Edward Daglish, Paul Dempsey, Richard Moffat, Arlene Simms, Sue Wood. Constituting the meeting: Call to Order/ Declaration of Quorum / Opening Worship Nina Fulford called the meeting to order and declared that a quorum was present. The two new members, Al Taylor and Carol Johnson, were introduced. Members of the Commission introduced themselves. John Harries read the parable of the mustard seed from Mark 4. Nina commented upon the parable and part of meditation from Eddie Askew on the parable, A Silence and a Sounding. She closed the opening worship with prayer. 1. Opening Motions: 1.1 Approval of Agenda Add item 3.3 Debbie Celsie, Inquirer from Keswick-Ravenshoe, discernment committee MOTION: that the agenda is accepted as amended. Moved by: Thelma Arnott Seconded by: Rick McKinley CARRIED 1.2 Approval of the roll of Personnel Support and Education Commission signified by signing the attendance list 1.3 Approval of Minutes of the meeting of April 9, 2014 MOTION: that the Personnel Commission of Living Waters Presbytery approve the minutes of the meeting held April 9, 2014 as circulated. Moved by: Bruce Roffey Seconded by: Terry Thom CARRIED 2. Personnel Support: 2.1 Elizabeth Peeters – report of interview. 1 The United Church of Canada Toronto Conference Living Waters Presbytery 2014/2015 - 2 Elizabeth was interviewed about her suitability to serve as pulpit supply within the United Church of Canada. It is recommended that she not be placed on the pulpit supply list at this time, and that she be allowed to continue in her ministry at Regent Park United Church until the end of August as per her agreement with the pastoral charge. MOTION: That the Personnel Support and Education Commission of Living Waters Presbytery adopt the report about Elizabeth Peeters and implement the recommendations of the report. Moved by: Derek Shelly Seconded by: Donna Bowman-Woodall CARRIED 2.2 Sandford-Zephyr – appointment of Supervisor during Sabbatical of Dianne Bennett-Jones MOTION: That the Personnel Support and Education Commission of Living Waters Presbytery appoint The Rev. Elizabeth Cunningham as the supervisor of Sandford- Zephyr pastoral charge during the time of Rev. Dianne Bennett-Jones sabbatical, July 1 to November 3, 2014, pending her acceptance Moved by: Derek Shelly Seconded by: Elaine Lush CARRIED Elaine Lush will act as a backup if Elizabeth Cunningham can’t come. 2.3 Cynthia Breadner – process to ordination Cynthia was part of the ordination process in British Columbia and has returned to Living Waters Presbytery. She will need to re-enter the process, since the process in British Columbia Conference is different than that in Toronto Conference. She is a licensed lay worship leader in this presbytery. 2.4 Jody Maltby – request to Conference Settlement & Pastoral Relations Committee for sacramental privileges MOTION: That the Personnel Support and Education Commission of Living Waters Presbytery request that the Toronto Conference Settlement and Pastoral Relations Committee grant sacramental privileges to Jody Maltby for the purposes of her youth ministry in Toronto Conference. Moved by: John Harries Seconded by: Donna Bowman-Woodall CARRIED 2 The United Church of Canada Toronto Conference Living Waters Presbytery 2014/2015 –3 2.5 Rev. Carol Galbraith of MCC – interview report MOTION: That after an interview, the Personnel Support and Education Commission of Living Waters Presbytery include the name of The Rev. Carol Galbraith to the occasional pulpit supply list without sacramental privilege. Moved by: Rick McKinley Seconded by: Derek Shelly CARRIED 2.6 Linda Butler – appointment as Presbytery rep to Thornhill transition team. Further information is needed, and so the appointment was deferred. 3. Education and Students 3.1 Internship Convenor needed MOTION: That the Personnel Support and Education Commission of Living Waters Presbytery appoint The Rev. Terry Thom as Internship Convenor. Moved by: Donna Bowman-Woodall Seconded by: Derek Shelly CARRIED There is some interest in developing internship sites in both the north and south of the Presbytery. 3.2 Inquirer: S. L. The Conference Interview Committee recommended that S.L. not be received as a candidate for ministry. An exit interview will be set up, if he would like. The Commission concurred with the Conference Interview Committee decision. 3.3 Inquirer: D.C. – Keswick-Ravenshoe D.C. has requested to be an Inquirer. MOTION: That, in response to the request of the Session of Keswick United Church, the Personnel Support and Education Commission of Living Waters Presbytery establish a discernment committee for D.C., and the presbytery members of this committee be Elaine Lush and Joy Crawford. Moved by: Donna Bowman-Woodall Seconded by: Bruce Roffey CARRIED 3.4 Meg Jordan Meg has become an Emmanuel College special student. She has some courses chosen that seem to fulfil the recommendations of this Commission. She will look for an internship for September 2015 looking toward ordination in May 2016. 3 The United Church of Canada Toronto Conference Living Waters Presbytery 2014/2015 - 4 3.5 Debbie Boukydis-Grant The report from Emmanuel College is very positive. She is looking around unofficially for an internship and is leaning towards applying through the national matching process, probably beginning September 2015. 3.6 Jennifer Dennis There are some snags regarding the PLAR process. The person who was doing these evaluations is no longer doing it. It was suggested that she prepare a PLAR to demonstrate her required competence, but there is no official template for this. Further consultation on the process is needed. 3.7 Patricia James We are expecting a request from Northern Waters Presbytery to supervise her education. 3.8 Liaison mentor for each student? The Commission discussed the development of a system of student mentors, liaisons or contacts. A mentor would be a contact with the student helping with questions and supporting the student. There could be gatherings of mentors and students as a group. This idea still needs to be fleshed out. Donna Bowman-Woodall would train the mentors. 4. Retirees’ Association John Harries reported that seven members will be retiring from the board of the Retirees’ Association, leaving six remaining. John said that this was a natural time for them to withdraw and let new members take on leadership roles. He complimented the “retiring retirees” for their great work. MOTION: That the Personnel Support and Education Commission of Living Waters Presbytery thanks John Harries for his leadership and the valuable work he accomplished with the Board over the past seven years. Moved by: Nina Fulford Seconded by: Derek Shelly CARRIED John felt that he had been affirmed may times along the way. John talked about the appropriateness of the word “association” saying that they really didn’t function like a usual association (e.g. membership fees, etc.) and suggested that they simply be called the “Living Waters Retirees.” 5. Personnel support planning group - Ministers with significant anniversaries – move to September meeting of Presbytery - Additional volunteer needed for this group: Donna Hazlett, Thelma Arnott 6. Chaplain Reviews – report on interviews The chaplains feel that they are being used reasonably, face-to-face, by telephone and emails. The Commission still feels that it needs to publicize their presence. It was 4 The United Church of Canada Toronto Conference Living Waters Presbytery 2014/2015 –5 suggested that they join a few tables at Presbytery to have their meals; make their business cards available, and that they be introduced in the Newsletter. The report of the interviews with the Chaplains held on May 9, 2014 is attached as Appendix 1. 7. Other Business Donna Bowman-Woodall, Nina Fulford, and Wanda Winfield reported on their experiences of the Adaptive Leadership Unit in which they took part. It was six meetings. Jody Maltby would like to know if they wish to start new groups, continue with another six sessions with the same group, or do both. Nina will pass on to Terry Davies their views. A request has been made that Karen Croxall be placed in the Pulpit Supply List as a student. It was noted that Commission Minutes can only be published on the website once it is confirmed that any letters that need to be written have been written and delivered. 8. Next meetings Tuesday, September 9, 1pm Living Waters Presbytery Office Guthrie, Ontario Tuesday, November 18, 1pm Living Waters Presbytery Office Guthrie, Ontario If any pressing matters need to be dealt with before then a conference call will be arranged. 9. Closing. The meeting was adjourned on motion by Derek Shelly and closed with prayer. ___________________________________ __________________________________ Chair Secretary 5 The United Church of Canada Toronto Conference Living Waters Presbytery 2014/2015 - 6 Appendix 1 INTERVIEWS WITH LIVING WATERS PRESBYTERY CHAPLAINS (SUPPORT MINISTERS) May 9, 2014, at 1 p.m. in Living Waters Presbytery Office, Guthrie. INTERVIEWERS: Rev. Nina Fulford, Rick McKinley CHAPLAINS: Rev. Colin MacDonald and Tina Bax OPENING PRAYER: We opened with prayer, led by Nina FORMAT: Rick met with Colin; Nina met with Tina; then we met with both chaplains. SUMMARY: The recent survey on chaplaincy surprised them. The main finding from the survey was the need for more publicity for the program and for opportunities for them to share what they do with presbytery. Any new surveys should be reviewed by the chaplains before being started. Colin pointed out the importance of listening skills. Both try to greet new presbyters before plenary sessions (they do not belong to any commission). A recently discovered resource is epicfailministries. The current job description does not need to be revised. Referrals come: from those who need care from third parties (including the Personnel Minister) contact instituted by the chaplain after hearing of troubling situations. Frequency: About eight contacts were reported on the survey. However, Tina saw 4 face-to-face and contacted 7 by telephone and followed up with e-mail with a couple more. Publicity about our chaplains: We need to introduce our chaplains regularly at presbytery meetings (perhaps at the beginning of every meeting) and have them speak about their work and that it is completely confidential. Articles in the newsletter could focus on our chaplains and we should have a regular blurb with contact information. Much of their care is handled by telephone, but face-to-face support at a mid-point is preferred. They are prepared to support lay Presbyters in presbytery related situations where help is needed. Colin and Tina are happy to continue in their roles. Remuneration is satisfactory. Tina submits mileage. No telephone costs are passed on to Presbytery. We reminded them to be supports for each other. CLOSING PRAYER: Nina led a closing prayer. Report prepared by Nina Fulford and reviewed by all participants. This will be transmitted to Rev. Kathi Phillips, Chair of Living Waters Executive. 6