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FALL 2022
Connection
COMMITTEES
PRESBYTERIAN
35
 The Benevolence Committee
 The Benevolence Committee of The Presbyterian Church in Can- ada oversees the administration of benevolent and bursary funds that have been entrusted to the church. In addition, the Commit- tee acts as the appointers of the Fund for Ministerial Assistance.
Benevolences
Income from various benevolent funds supports an average of 15 persons who received a monthly stipend in 2021. In addition to these gifts, and, at the request of the Pension and Benefits Board, benevolent funds fortify 10 retir- ees with a pension supplement. There are also times when a servant of the church experi- ences a one-time financial need; for instance, the costs associ- ated with such matters as mental health support. Money from these funds was also designated to as- sist those who seek counselling as a result of experiences of rac- ism and harm done to them in the church related to sexuality and gender.
Bursaries
There are 31 bursary funds with
a total capital of $2,969,358. Ap- proximately $80,000 of income from these funds was awarded to 25 candidates for the ministry of Word and Sacraments in The Presbyterian Church in Canada. In addition to the regular student bursaries, $22,500 was dis- bursed to three doctoral candi- dates from the Cameron Doctoral Bursary Fund.
Bremner Fund
The Benevolence Committee also distributes income from the Bremner Memorial Fund, estab- lished in 2009 through the gener- osity of Ronald and Muriel Bremn- er, in memory of Ron’s parents, J. Murray and Catharine Bremner,
who were long-time Presbyteri- ans. Each year, this fund supports different projects of priority in the church, such as the search for unmarked graves at the sites of former Residential Schools, min- istries with Indigenous peoples and relief work in Ukraine.
The Fund for Ministerial Assistance
The Committee also oversees the administration of the Fund for Ministerial Assistance, which was established by an anony- mous gift in 1951. Following the death of the donor, the fund was renamed the Honourable Norman M. Paterson Fund for Ministe- rial Assistance. Senator Paterson
MUSIC
and his wife, Eleanor, maintained a lifelong interest in the ministers of the church and their families. They hoped that their gesture might encourage others to re- spond with generosity. The deci- sions of the appointers are gov- erned by the terms of the original indenture that stated gifts were to be made available to eligible mar- ried ministers or ministers with fi- nancial responsibility for children. To be eligible for benefits from the fund, the income of the family— not just of the minister—must be less than $10,000 above mini- mum stipend (including applica- ble increments). All eligible min- isters receive a foundational gift of $800 each year and, likewise,
all eligible children receive foun- dational gifts of $800 each year. The number of recipients fluctu- ates during the year; however, in the period between Oct. 1, 2021, and Dec. 31, 2021, 18 ministers received gifts with additional gifts distributed for the support of 32 children. In addition, eight min- isters on long-term disability re- ceived Christmas gifts.
Congregations and individuals make gifts to these funds each year. Letters of deep gratitude are received from recipients express- ing how much it has meant to them, not only to receive much- needed financial suppor t, but also to know that the church cares for their needs.
 More than 240 people serve on 34 committees, sub-committees and working groups, which are supported by gifts to Presbyterians Sharing.
 Celebrating 50 Years of the Ontario Presbyterian Chorus
(2004), Newfoundland (2006) and Switzerland (2009).
Here are a few of the many highlights from some of our ex- tended tours:
We performed for the Duke and Duchess of Argyll, Grace and Ian Campbell, in Inveraray, Scotland. The Duke gave us a personal tour of the castle, which was interest- ing as he told stories about al- most every painting on the wall, as well as his life.
In Ireland in 2012, Her Majes- ty’s Deputy Lieutenant, in honour of Her Majesty’s Jubilee, was pre- sent when we sang at West Pres- byterian Church in Ballymena.
While on these tours, we have met with mayors of some of the towns we visited.
In 1991, we sang in Kilkenny Castle to raise funds toward the building of a Presbyterian church. In 2012, we sang in Kilkenny Presbyterian Church—there were still 12 of us in the OPC who had been present back in 1991 during the fundraiser.
Continued on page 36
 By Katherine Allen, Secretary, Ontario Presbyterian Chorus
As a member of the Ontario Presbyterian Chorus (OPC) for 32 years, my thoughts opened up many wonderful memories of how we have spread God’s message through our music, and the lasting friendships that were formed. We have experienced great adventures, and each per- son who has been a part of the chorus will have their own story to tell.
On the sunny Saturday after- noon of June 4, 2022, members of the OPC met in person for the first time in two years—a long
overdue occasion, due to the pandemic. The excitement of seeing one another spilled over as we gathered at the Markham Bible Chapel to celebrate 50 years of spreading God’s Word through song. But it was also a bittersweet meeting, because we had come to a very difficult deci- sion earlier in the year—the OPC would disband, effective this day. While conversation was shared over refreshments, we reminisced and sang... It was wonderful to be able to sing as a group again. Alastair McCallum, Director, re- counted the history of the choir and told a few anecdotes from our travels across Canada and
overseas to Ireland, Scotland and Switzerland.
To give a brief history: In 1972, the Presbyterian Men’s Chorus was formed under the leadership of Cyril Redford and Roy Hamil- ton. In 1984, the women wanted to sing as well, so the Covenanter Singers was formed. In 1989, under the initiative of the late Ian Woods of Toronto and the late Catherine Walker of Stayner, the Ontario Presbyterian Chorus was formed. In 1991, Alastair McCal- lum became the music director and has been instrumental in cre- ating a wide repertoire of gospel music ever since.
Since that time, the chorus
Alastair McCallum, who was the mu- sic director for the chorus.
has performed a regular concert schedule in churches and sen- iors’ homes, including anniver- sary services, from September to May each year, throughout South- ern Ontario and farther afield to Ireland (1991 & 2012), Scot- land (1994), Maritime Provinces (1997 & 2015), Northern Ontario (2001 & 2018), Western Canada



























































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