Presbyterian Connection, Spring 2020

Connection
PRESBYTERIAN
The Presbyterian Church in Canada • presbyterian.ca ISSUE 13, SPRING 2020
Bringing Shared Ministry to Life
Members of the Pinawa Christian Fellowship.
By the Rev. Robert J. Murray, the Pinawa Christian Fellowship in Pinawa, Man.
In October 1963, a unique congre- gation was born in the small town of Pinawa, Manitoba. The Pinawa Christian Fellowship (PCF) is an ecu- menical shared ministry recognized by the Anglican Church of Canada, Mennonite Church Manitoba, the United Church of Canada and The Presbyterian Church in Canada. We are not four congregations worship- ping together, but one congregation with four affiliations. We are also a congregation without a building or property; we rent space for all our needs. You can find out more about the details of our history, and even dig into the nitty-gritty of how we or- ganize our life together, on our web- site at pinawa.church. I have served this community of faith for over 23 years now, and here are a few of the things I have learned about ecumeni-
cal ministry along the way.
When I began ministry with this
community, I wondered if an ecu- menical shared ministry would mean giving up anything distinctive and provocative in order to meet in the middle. Would we become just a grey mush of undefined spirituality? Like any congregation, we have peo- ple whose primary identity is with the local congregation and who wouldn’t care to wear a denominational label. But in its 57 years, this congrega- tion has had five people ordained to ministry in four denominations. One member entered ministry in the United Church. A married couple were both ordained as deacons, and then priests, in the Anglican Church. Two young women, raised in the con- gregation, have gone on to ministry; one with a Mennonite church and one with the Presbyterian. Lay members of our congregation have served as Moderator and as Chair of the pres- byteries in two denominations, and
on regional and national committees of four denominations. We have or- dained Presbyterian ruling elders and Anglican lay-readers. This is not a community without convictions or experience of the wider church. I find that I have become a better, more defined, Reformed and Presbyterian Christian because I interact daily with people who have their own deeply cherished traditions and convictions, and who are curious about my faith.
I’ve learned that denominational bureaucracies are voracious! We fill out four sets of statistical re- turns and do our best to honour our commitments to our denomina- tions, Diocese, synods, presbyter- ies, regions and conferences. We contribute financially to the regional and national structures of four de- nominations and to the associated mission and service organizations. I have served on presbytery standing committees in two denominations, visited neighbouring congregations
in crisis, served as interim modera- tor, moderated presbytery and syn- od, led workshops, and consulted with Bishops and task groups. Then there are the “extras”: the requests to serve with Spiritual Health Advi- sory Councils, Provincial Interfaith Council, as well as the boards of re- lated charities and religious institu- tions. The invitations are never end- ing, particularly when you straddle denominations, and it’s seductive. Small town ministry is mainly the business of learning to love people whose difficult ways you know only too well—people who know your own difficult ways just as intimately. I’ve been enriched by the experi- ences offered by the denominations, and I have learned that saying yes to too many requests from outside the congregation often means missing out on those challenging oppor tuni- ties for building deeper relationships closer to home.
Ultimately, I’ve learned that shared
ministry comes to life because there is so much common ground among Christians, whatever our labels. When our congregation gathers, we’re not simply members of dif- ferent denominations, we’re consci- entious objectors and veterans of armed service, gay and straight peo- ple, Indigenous and non-Indigenous Peoples, social conservatives and liberals—all united by our desire to witness and worship together in the community where we live. There is a wonderful, gracious spirit that, most often, abides here and allows us to say, if this isn’t “my thing,” I can qui- etly celebrate or endure it until “my thing” comes along.
Those of us who choose to wor- ship and serve together do so be- cause we feel a call to love our neighbour, whoever they may be, not just the people who share our con- victions. We are convinced that we are a better witness when we wor- ship and serve together.
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My Life as an Ecumaniac
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Telephone and Email Scams
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