Page 43 - Presbyterian Connection, Spring 2020

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SPRING 2020
Connection
PRESBYTERIAN
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I have a question about the Ballot for Moderator of the General As- sembly. Who decides who gets to be nominated?
Answered by the Rev. Don Muir, General Assembly Office
Each year, usually in July, the Prin- cipal Clerk of the General Assembly sends a letter to the 45 presbyter- ies of our church, inviting them to submit nominations for Moderator of the upcoming General Assembly. Each presbytery may make up to two nominations and submit them to the General Assembly Office on or before November 30. A shor t biographical sketch for each nomi- nee is also requested. Ministers and members of the Order of Diaconal Ministries on the constituent roll of a presbytery, and elders who are serving on a Session of one of our congregations, are eligible to be nominated. Only those individuals who are nominated by at least two presbyteries, and agree to let their names stand, are placed on the bal- lot. Ballots are sent to presbyteries in December. Those on the constitu- ent roll of each presbytery may vote and the ballots must be returned to the General Assembly Office by the last day of March. The returned
ballots are confidentially tallied by the Committee to Advise with the Moderator and the official nominee is announced early in April. At the opening of the General Assembly, the nominee’s name is placed be- fore the Assembly for election as Moderator.
How old do you have to be to be- come an elder?
Answered by the Rev. Don Muir, General Assembly Office
There is no age restriction. Until 1991, the Book of Forms stated, “An elder must be a member of the congregation in full commun- ion, and twenty-one years of age at least.” Today, the equivalent section reads, “An elder must be a profess- ing member of the congregation and must be an example to the believ- ers in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity” (1 Timothy 4:12). The full text of 1 Timothy 4:12 includes an interesting word of encourage- ment to Timothy regarding his age. The Apostle Paul wrote, “Let no one despise your youth, but set the be- lievers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” (NRSV). The church clearly deter- mined that being an example to the believers was of greater impor tance for an elder than years on the planet.
These beautiful stained-glass window images from First Presbyterian Church in Collingwood, Ont., were submitted in response to the call for images of stained-glass windows from congregations. To submit photos from your congregation, visit presbyterian.ca/stained-glass
DEATH NOTICES
Read all full obituaries online at presbyterian.ca
PULPIT VACANCIES
To see all pulpit vacancies, visit presbyterian.ca/vacancies
The Rev. Ralph Edward MacKenzie
Campbellton, N.B.
Deceased November 28, 2019
The Rev. Dr. Frank Breisch
Calgary, Alta.
Deceased December 14, 2019
The Rev. Neville W. B. Phills
Winnipeg, Man.
Deceased December 27, 2019
Agnes Margaret Gollan
Toronto, Ont.
Deceased January 13, 2020
The Rev. Dr. Samuel Livingstone
Oxford Mills, Ont.
Deceased January 29, 2020
Dr. Margaret Jean Taylor
Guelph, Ont.
Deceased February 4, 2020
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Charlottetown, Zion (full-time Associate Minister for Community Life) – Atlantic Provinces
Sooke, B.C. (full-time minister) – British Columbia
Vancouver, Kerrisdale (full-time minister) – British Columbia
Barrie, St. Andrew’s (full-time minister) – Central Northeastern Ontario and Bermuda
Markham, Markham Chinese
(full-time Children & Youth Pastor) – Central, Northeastern Ontario and Bermuda
Milton, Knox (full-time minister)
– Central, Northeastern Ontario and Bermuda
Toronto, Mimico (3/4-time minister) – Central, Northeastern Ontario and Bermuda
Arnprior, St. Andrew’s (full-time minister) – Quebec and Eastern Ontario
Perth, Knox (full-time minister) – Quebec and Eastern Ontario
Montreal, Taiwanese Robert Campbell (full-time minister) – Quebec and Eastern Ontario
Ottawa, St. Giles (full-time minister) – Quebec and Eastern Ontario
Owen Sound, St. Andrew’s (full-time minister) – Southwestern Ontario
Point Edward, Ont. (half-time minister) – Southwestern Ontario
St. Catharines, Knox (full-time minister) – Southwestern Ontario
Tecumseh, Lakeshore St. Andrew’s
(full-time minister) – Southwestern Ontario
Woodstock, Knox – (full-time minister) – Southwestern Ontario