People of Justice, Peace, Love and Care

York Presbytery

Toronto Conference of The United Church of Canada

  

                  Welcome to York Presbytery webpage. Your story shapes who we are.

Greetings to anyone interested in York Presbytery

of Toronto Conference of The United Church of Canada.

And thanks to John Lee, Toronto Conference President, for providing each presbytery and indeed each charge for this on line means of leaving a foot print of who they are and opportunity for each church to have a small website to keep current events before their people. Any churches interested in putting a picture and address of their church on this site, providing a picture perhaps of their minister or other staff, listing upcoming events as well as service and other times, would be welcome to contact John and he will help you set it up. He would be glad to hear of any wishing to help him help others set up too. 

 

York Presbytery has 34 pastoral charges including 45 preaching places and 41 church schools. It extends from Markham, Brown’s Corners, Stouffville & Locust Hill on the south east, to Thornhill & Woodbridge on the south west, to Schomberg & Dunkerron on the north west to Sutton, Virginia and Georgina Island on the South East.

 

There is likely a church very close to you, if you live in or near this area, just waiting for you to drop in. There is likely a fall or spring dinner at one of these churches with homemade pies to die for, waiting for you as well.  All of these churches have regular worship to help us connect to God and to center ourselves. They provide wedding funeral and baptism services, and offer a helping ear or hand. What a wealth of spirit and hope and energy we have in all these churches.

 

York Presbytery’s mission statement is

1. We, followers of Jesus Christ, represent the Pastoral Charges and Mission Units of York Presbytery

2. We provide oversight and nurture to the Pastoral Charges and Ministerial Personnel of York presbytery supporting one another in our journey with Christ.

3. We share the good news of our faith, take responsibility for joint decision making, share information among congregations, and encourage growth in the area of the spirit, justice and the care of all Creation.

 

The Presbytery meets most months in one of the churches to conduct its business, represented by all the ministry personnel and a lay person for each 250 members of a congregation. Its committees are Administration, Christian Development, Church in Society/World Affairs, Education and Students, Pastoral Oversight, Pastoral Relations, Planning and Development, Stewardship.

 

The Presbytery reps are elected by each congregation. The Presbytery meetings are an opportunity to share supper together, to worship together, to discuss and decide issues of significance to the care of our churches and of the world around us. My reading is that most of the people who come find satisfaction is making a difference in this way in the life of the church and world.

 

John Sullivan publishes online every couple of weeks a newsletter called Presbyopia, of what’s happening in the congregations. If you wish to receive a copy online let me know.

 

David Lander

Chair, York Presbytery

david.lander@canada.com