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Connection
PRESBYTERIANS SHARING
Sharing Hope
The Rev. Dr. Paul McLean, pictured with members of the Tayal team, works with translation teams to translate the Bible into Indigenous languages.
presbyterian.ca
SUMMER 2021
PRESBYTERIAN
11
     Friends of Prison Ministry, Malawi
Proclaiming the love of Jesus Christ
 Your gifts put faith into action in Canada and around the world.
Donate through your congregation or online at presbyterian.ca/donate
   YES, I WANT TO SUPPORT Presbyterians Sharing
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 presbyterian.ca
      By Karen Plater, Associate Secretary, Stewardship & Planned Giving
Presbyterians Sharing is about the mission and ministry we do together as a denomination. Congregations collaborate on a wide range of min- istryinitiativesthroughprayer,funds and advocacy. We determine what to do together by considering recom- mendations that committees bring to General Assembly for discernment. Additionally, the General Assembly re- ceives a budget, which we call Pres- byterians Sharing, to help facilitate many of the decisions that are made. Committee members and denomina- tion staff work alongside congrega- tions, presbyteries and church mem- bers to bring the decisions to life.
We trust that the Holy Spirit in- spires the church’s discernment and its decision-making. Delegates to General Assembly pray, listen, question and discuss issues that have circulated through congrega- tions, presbyteries and national committees during the year. Recom- mendations are sometimes revised through amendments before they are voted on. Many recommendations are adopted with strong agreement, some are defeated, while others re- quire votes to be counted. Individu- als might not agree with decisions, or understand why they were made, but we believe that God is moving the church to action.
The past two years have been
challenging times as congrega- tions have grappled with questions, fears and hopes as the church has considered the proposals (remits) accepted at the 2019 General As- sembly regarding issues of sexu- ality and marriage and ordination. Some have questioned Assembly Council’s decision to use reserved funds (separate from the Presbyte- rians Sharing annual budget) to hire a staff person to help congregations welcome and include people identify- ing as LGBTQI2+. That action was made in response to many decisions made at past General Assemblies, unrelated to the current remits. Dur- ing this process, some have decided to withdraw financial support until the issues are resolved, while others have continued to support Presby- terians Sharing, regardless of their feelings and thoughts about specific decisions the church has made.
Through all of this, Presbyterian ministries and congregations have remained steadfast in participating in God’s mission to their communi- ties, our country and the world. And, through all of this, we have continued to share hope through gifts to Pres- byterians Sharing.
Mission staff working from Canada and grants sent across borders are helping international partners contin- ue their ministries. Congregations and ministries have adapted and grown outreach programs in Canada. The first online General Assembly took
place, connecting us again in wor- ship, prayer and decision-making.
We shared hope with an elderly woman in Taiwan, who was finally able to read the Bible in her own lan- guage. We shared hope with an ex- hausted single parent in Montreal who attendedaworkshoponself-care.We shared hope when a hot meal was prepared and served to a young man taking refuge from the bitter cold in Saskatoon. We shared hope when a family in rural Romania received so- cial and educational suppor t.
We don’t know what the future holds, but we know that even in changing and challenging times God’s love never wavers. And we know that sharing hope makes a difference.
Montreal West Presbyterian Church initi- ated a food drive and prepared food bas- kets for people in need of basic necessities as a result of COVID-19.
 




































































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