New ministry model takes shape in the Eastern Townships

Notes: "Today, St. George's [Lennoxville in the Eastern Townships of Quebec] is at the centre of an ambitious plan to reimagine what it means to be church in rural 21st-century Quebec, one that, if successful, might revitalize Anglicanism in this part of the diocese" (p. 9). Archdeacon Edward Simonton and council chair Ruth Sheeran, council chair, work together to manage ministry in the 16 parishes of St. Francis Deanery. "Simonton is one of two stipendiary clergy providing ministry to the deanery. (The second priest, the Rev. Giuseppe Gagliano arrived in January 2017.) Unlike most parts of the Canadian church, the deanery does not have any incumbent priests. Instead, ministry is handled by a team of retired priests and theologically-trained lay readers, all of whom serve multiple congregations and are collectively responsible for the church in the Eastern Townships" (p. 9). "The goal is to eventually manage the deanery like a single parish, says Sheeran" (p. 9). Marilyn Mastine is one of the deanery's seven lay readers in charge of five congregations. Archdeacon "Simonton says the church, when it is being faithful, will naturally engage all kinds of outreach. He cites the case of the deanery's church of St. Barnabas, North Hatley, which used the stipend allocated for a full-time priest to invest in a school lunch program and ministry in a nursing home".

Subjects: Anglican Church of Canada. Diocese of Quebec; Anglican Church of Canada - Parishes; Anglican Church of Canada - Clergy; Leadership - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada; Lay ministry - Anglican Church of Canada; Church renewal - Anglican Church of Canada; Simonton, Edward; Sheeran, Ruth; Gagliano, Giuseppe; Mastine, Marilyn