Page 43 - Presbyterian Connection – Spring 2021
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presbyterian.ca
SPRING 2021
PULPIT VACANCIES
To see all pulpit vacancies, visit presbyterian.ca/vacancies
Calgary, Varsity Acres (full-time minister) – Alberta & the Northwest
Fredericton, St. Andrew’s (full-time minister) – Atlantic Provinces
Duncan, St. Andrew’s (full-time minister) – British Columbia
Prince George, St. Giles (full-time minister) – British Columbia
Vancouver, Kerrisdale (full-time minister) – British Columbia
Barrie, St. Andrew’s (full-time minister) – Central, Northeastern Ontario & Bermuda
Elmvale, Elmvale Presbyterian and Knox Flos (full-time minister, 2-point charge) – Central, Northeastern Ontario & Bermuda
Kitchener, St. Andrew’s (full-time minister) – Central, Northeastern Ontario & Bermuda
Lakefield, St. Andrew’s and Lakehurst, Knox (60%-time minister) – Central, Northeastern Ontario & Bermuda
Orillia, St. Andrew’s (full-time minister) – Central, Northeastern Ontario & Bermuda
Peterborough, St. Paul’s (70%-time minister) – Central, Northeastern Ontario & Bermuda
Toronto, University (part-time minister) – Central, Northeastern Ontario & Bermuda
Arnprior, St. Andrew’s (full-time minister) – Quebec & Eastern Ontario
Deep River, Deep River Community
(full-time minister) – Quebec & Eastern Ontario
Montreal, Taiwanese Robert Campbell (full-time minister) – Quebec & Eastern Ontario
Montreal, The Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul (full-time Associate Minister for Community Connections and Care) – Quebec & Eastern Ontario
Kenora, First (full-time minister) – Manitoba & Northwestern Ontario
Winnipeg, Westwood (full- time minister) – Manitoba & Northwestern Ontario
Dundas, West Flamboro (80%-time minister) – Southwestern Ontario
Durham, Durham Presbyterian
(full-time minister) – Southwestern Ontario
Fonthill, Kirk on the Hill (full-time minister) – Southwestern Ontario
Niagara Falls, Chippawa (full-time minister) – Southwestern Ontario
North Yarmouth, St. James
(part-time or student minister) – Southwestern Ontario
Point Edward, Point Edward Presbyterian (half-time minister) – Southwestern Ontario
St. Catharines, Knox (full-time minister) – Southwestern Ontario
Thorold, St. Andrew’s (full-time minister) – Southwestern Ontario
Woodstock, Knox (full-time minister) – Southwestern Ontario
Submit your questions to connection@presbyterian.ca
In view of the pandemic, we are conducting our services online. Our minister told us that because of copyright rules, we can no longer post hymns on slides on Zoom. Are the copyright laws so strict that we cannot put hymns on Zoom? Have churches been prosecuted for breach of copyright in situations like this?
It is correct that in order to use copyrighted music in online wor- ship services, an active streaming li- cense is required to digitally transmit copyrighted music from a streaming platform, such as Zoom, even if the services are not recorded or shared online afterwards. An article on Mu- sic Copyright in Online Worship Ser- vices is available on the PCC website at presbyterian.ca/music-copyright, which may be helpful to refer to.
Regarding hymns in the 1997 ver- sion of the Book of Praise, it is per- missible to post/share hymns online that are in the public domain. A list of Book of Praise hymns in the public domain are found at presbyterian.ca/ worship.
Answered by the Rev. Ian Ross- McDonald, General Secretary of the Life and Mission Agency
How are elders elected during a pandemic?
Electing elders is one of the most important functions of Presbyterian congregations. At every level of the church, from Session to General As- sembly, we call upon elders to pro- vide prayerful, wise, creative, faithful leadership. In the words of Living Faith, “The Lord continues his min- istry in and through the church... Through the church, God orders this ministry by calling some to special tasks in the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ... Through the
office of ruling elder, men and wom- en are ordained to share with the minister in the leadership, pastoral care, and oversight of the congrega- tion” (Living Faith 7.2). We thank God for qualified individuals who are will- ing to accept this servant-leadership role.
The need to elect new elders has not diminished during the COVID-19 pandemic. Electing them, however, has become a little more difficult due to physical separation and subse- quent communication barriers. Some congregations have found they are able to communicate effectively with their members by way of a teleconfer- ence platform such as Zoom. Others rely more on telephone calls, social media, email, Canada Post and the like to keep their members informed and to receive ideas and concerns. Whichever way you reach out to your congregation, it is hoped the following steps will help Sessions select new elders. See Book of Forms 132–133 for election legislation. The Book of Forms can be read and downloaded at presbyterian.ca/gao.
1. The Session decides which election method best suits the needs of their congregation: Bal- lot of Nominees (Book of Forms 132.2.1) or Ballot of Members (Book of Forms 132.2.2). De- pending on the method chosen, the Session will contact the congregation and either call for nominations that will result in a ballot of nominees or it will cir- culate a ballot of members with the usual instructions.
2. The Session asks for ballots to be returned to [person or lo- cation] by [date]. To maintain voting confidentiality, marked ballots could be folded inside a signed and sealed envelope that clearly indicates who has voted so that the Session can know only members have voted and that no one has accidentally
voted more than once.
3. The ballots could be counted by
elders using a video conference call or by meeting at a place where safe physical distanc- ing is possible, subject to local pandemic instruction. One elder could open the ballots in the presence of at least one other elder and the results are tallied.
4. If a ballot of nominees is used, the Session will determine the candidates who have been elected based on the strength of congregational support demon- strated by the number of votes each one receives and the num- ber of additional elders required (See Book of Forms 132.7). If the ballot of members is used, the Session will determine which candidates to approach about their willingness to serve based on their suitability for the elder- ship, the number of votes each one receives and the number of additional elders required (See Book of Forms 132.8.).
5. Elected elders who are already ordained, could be permitted by the Session to participate fully in Session responsibilities, in- cluding voting at meetings, right away. Elders elected who have not yet been ordained, could be permitted by the Session to par- ticipate in the work of the Ses- sion without a vote until they can be ordained at a public service of worship.
6. When public worship can be held again, Book of Forms Ap- pendix A-11 Edict for the ordina- tion/admission of elders, could be read to the congregation to provide sufficient notice. On the announced Sunday, elders not yet ordained would be ordained, and all the newly elected elders are officially admitted to the of- fice of elder.
Answered by the Clerks of Assembly
Connection
JUST WONDERING...
PRESBYTERIAN
43
DEATH NOTICES
Read all full obituaries online at presbyterian.ca
The Rev. Dr. Helen Goggin
Oakville, Ont.
Deceased February 12, 2021
Marie Betty Nicholson
Durham, Ont.
Deceased January 27, 2021
Florence Metzger
Vancouver, B.C.
Deceased January 26, 2021
The Rev. John Burkhart
Amherstburg, Ont. Deceased January 24, 2021
Dorothyann Summers
Barrie, Ont.
Deceased January 20, 2021
Evelyn Bailey
Simcoe, Ont.
Deceased January 16, 2021
The Rev. Kenneth Knight
Hensall, Ont.
Deceased January 15, 2021
The Rev. Eric Alexander Beggs
Richmond Hill, Ont. Deceased January 11, 2021
The Rev. Norman Grant
Orillia, Ont.
Deceased January 1, 2021
Robert Baron
London, Ont.
Deceased December 25, 2020
Dorothy Wilson
Niagara Falls, Ont.
Deceased December 22, 2020
The Rev. John Fortier
Por t Howe, N.S.
Deceased December 5, 2020
The Rev. Connie Lee
Edmonton, Alta.
Deceased November 29, 2020
The Rev. Jean Armstrong
Richmond Hill, Ont.
Deceased November 28, 2020
The Rev. William G. MacDonald
Fonthill, Ont.
Deceased November 20, 2020
Jessie Margaret Horne
London, Ont.
Deceased November 18, 2020
Marjorie Douglas
Toronto, Ont.
Deceased November 7, 2020
William Steward
Langley, B.C.
Deceased October 13, 2020
Joy Margaret Ross Randall
Cobourg, Ont.
Deceased July 10, 2020
