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November 10, 2009
Welcome Presbyters!
Another Presbytery meeting is coming
up! The period of preparation leading up to our opening meeting in September
was like expecting a newborn baby. That first meeting was a meaningful
celebration with overflowing energy and great anticipation for the coming
future. We had over a hundred and twenty
in attendance. Most of the things that had to be done, were done at the beginning
of the new Presbytery. And since then, we have had some very positive
suggestions for the future of our journey - how we can make the system more
efficient and how we can create our environment to be more welcoming, caring,
inclusive and safe.
The Church is called to bring a
clearer and more meaningful vision to the world. If we want to do away with
outdated thoughts, systems and technology, we need to move beyond a simple
dream that will only end up with frustration and complaints. How can we
creatively cope with changes and update ourselves as we move forward with this
vision? If we want to interact with the world’s changes and fast developing
systems, we need to be intentional in our emphasis on education. I hope in our
every aspect of planning for the future, presbyters would consider education
and training as a priority.
Another big change we are going to
test out is to transform the plenary meeting by focusing on education and
sharing stories. The theme of the November meeting is “Our City, Our
Mission: Mission Strategy in Toronto Southeast.” At the plenary session, we will hear stories from our ministerial
context, and what our collective mission is, with theological reflections. In
our small group time, we will share our individual hopes, dreams, and
experiences. This will be a time to learn and get to know each other. Through
this personal and communal experience, we will have a deeper sense of community,
of who we are as a Presbytery.
Toronto Southeast Presbytery is
gifted with many presbyters who serve at the General Council office,
educational, ecumenical and interfaith institutions, and in various places of
ministry. We value your presence, which will lead the Presbytery to be a place
of wholistic and holistic ministry. In the Plenary meeting, we will feel our
connection with the various parts of The United Church of Canada and, at the
same time, peek into the world we live in with an ecumenical and intercultural
lens. If you have dreams and wish to turn them into reality, please come
to this next Presbytery meeting and chat with the many others who are loaded up
with creative spirits!
Cheers!
Blessings,
John Lee
Chair, Toronto Southeast Presbytery, Toronto
Conference, The United Church of Canada
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