By Spencer Sterritt

St. Paul’s congregation leaves Wesley United, on the road again

Jan 4, 2016 | 5:33 AM

The St.Paul’s  Presbyterian Church congregation is once again on the search for a new home.

Where that will be however, no one knows.

They were taken in by Wesley United Church after being forced from St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church due to structural concerns.

Their time sharing the church has come to an end however. The last joint service was held Sunday morning.

St. Paul’s reverend Ted Hicks said it was a good service with mixed emotions and strong undercurrents. “Different feelings, confused feelings in some cases.”

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That confusion stemmed from a recent vote by both congregations to determine if St. Paul’s would continue to worship at Wesley United Church in a formal relationship.

Though both congregations were getting along with each other, and both Hicks and Wesley United Church reverend Tony Thompson expressed admiration for one another, a formal decision needed to be made.

“We’re from two different denominations, so there are ruling bodies and decisions that have to be made,” Hicks said. “There are differences between the United and Presbyterian churches in terms of policy and structure, and we would have had to make adjustments of both sides to accommodate each other.

 “It’s been a bonding time for some, it’s been a dissociation for others. It’s been hurtful and confusing for others. There’ve been many different reactions to the whole two years and the most recent vote.”

Still, Hicks said if he and Thompson hadn’t brought the issue to a vote, the informal solution would have continued to work nicely. Unfortunately, he said, that’s not how the church works.

Thompson said most of the discord between the congregations stemmed from awkwardness about whether the St. Paul’s congregation were guests or participants at the church. “I think the voting process was to sort that out maybe,” he said.

Both reverends said they enjoyed their time spent with each other. “I’ve been grateful for the sharing over the last two years,” Thompson said. “I think we’ve made friends outside of the worshipping community, which is always a good thing.”

Back in the familiar place of being a congregation without a home, quick plans were made with Messiah Lutheran church for a Sunday afternoon service on Jan. 3rd.

For the rest of January, the St. Paul’s congregation will have their 10 a.m. Sunday service at the Caleb Village retirement home. Beyond January, however, is a mystery.

“For the most part January is a time for us to take a deep breath, look at our options, and look ahead to rest of summer and spring,” Hicks said.

He compared this latest move to a trial by fire. “One thing St. Paul’s needs to do is get a sense of who’s with us. Who’s St. Paul’s now? Who’s still with us?”

Hicks said even with the turmoil, the St. Paul’s congregation would continue on worshipping, and helping the community any way they could.

ssterritt@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @spencer_sterritt