Genesis Cooperative Up-date

                

Congregational Update

            It is hard to believe but Rev. Phyllis has been a part of our Genesis Cooperative for six months already!!!   It seemed like only yesterday that we were looking forward to her arriving on June 1^st.  The summer is behind us and we are now in a regular rotation of Rev. Phyllis and our LLWLs.  On October 16^th at Cassburn United Church, Presbytery held a Covenanting Service which was well attended by our congregations and Presbytery members.

            Rev. Phyllis has expressed her appreciation for allowing her the opportunity during her first 3 months to conduct one service per Sunday which allowed her to visit after the service with each of the congregations.

            Since she started Rev. Phyllis has been involved in a number of community events, the Vankleek Hill Fair Ecumenical Service and the IPM Church Service.  She has attended and helped with events such as the brunch at the VKH Fair and the Riceville-Pendleton Fall Supper.   Recently she has attended UCW meetings as well as Congregational Executive meetings.  She has also been busy with Cemetery Memorial Services, funeral services and a couple of weddings. 

            The GENESIS Cooperative Community identified Pastoral Care as an important aspect to our Cooperative and Rev. Phyllis has made close to 20 pastoral home and hospital visits as well as a couple of seniors residence visits.  She plans to work with volunteers from the congregations to form a Pastoral Care team committee.

            The Ministry & Personnel Committee representatives are now meeting with Rev. Phyllis and Stephanie to address any issues or concerns they may have.

            Your Genesis Cooperative Council representatives are your line of communication on any concerns or items that you may want addressed, including but not limited to anything from minister related to Sunday Services.  Council Representatives bring all concerns or suggestions to our meetings and address them as a Council.

            As we approach the end of the calendar year, the Council continues to work diligently on your behalf, facing the many challenges and addressing concerns in order to continue to work harmoniously as the community we are meant to be.

On behalf of the Council members, thank-you for your continued support.

Bryan Anderson, Faye Allen, Helen Lalonde. Ian Elliott, Ian MacLeod, Isabel Clark

John Clemens, Marion Christie, Tammy Oswick-Kearney & Val Dawson

 

Introducing the Ministry & Personnel Committee:

Dorothy McRae-Golden, Chairperson, John Allen, Thomas McPherson, Catherine Clemens.

 

Responsibilities of the M & P Committee:

[This committee considers all matters as strictly confidential]

• Ensures that our minister has a support team and outlet for expressing concerns

• Ensures that all paid GENESIS staff receive performance & job evaluations

• Makes recommendations to the GENESIS Council

 

Now that Rev. Phyllis has been with us for almost 6 months, it is important to remember that the GENESIS Council job requirements are specific to our project.

 

Responsibilities of the Minister:

• Preparation and leading worship in the GENESIS Cooperative Community

• Christian Education: providing leadership, education and guidance to LLWL’s, lay and others to assist with and/or to allow them to lead Bible Study, discussion groups, youth groups, Sunday School and other community groups as needed.

• Administration: meetings, office work & attendance at GENESIS Council meetings.

• Presbytery & Ecumenical Work

• Flex time: preparation and performing of baptisms, weddings, and funerals; consultation with pastoral care committee, visitation at hospitals and/or senior residences as needed; moral support to other groups.

 

If you are interested in participating, learning and/or leading a pastoral care committee, assisting with hospital visits or at senior residences, helping with youth groups, Sunday School or other areas of our community, be sure to communicate with your GENESIS Council representatives or with Rev. Phyllis.

 

Your GENESIS Council representatives are available to hear your concerns, ideas, compliments, etc., and look forward to hearing from you.

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*** A New Minister for Riceville-Pendleton

After just over six months the Genesis Cooperative Council is proud to announce that its representatives from each of the five congregations have secured the services of a new minister. Through the submitting of resumes and the interview process, we have unanimously agreed that Rev. Phyllis Dietrich will lead our cooperative forward for the next three years. Through the notification process that is required, Rev. Phyllis will begin her placement on June 1st. Rev. Phyllis brings many years of ministry experience and a very diverse career. The Cooperative Council is working to set a Sunday Service schedule beginning in June to allow each of the congregations an opportunity to meet with Rev. Phyllis and have time to relax and visit. The following is a short bio of Rev. Phyllis.

General Bachelor of Arts; Honours Communication Studies; University of Windsor (1977)

Master of Divinity; Queen’s Theological College, Queens University (1984)

Currently living in Cobourg and serving the Castleton Grafton United Church Pastoral Charge since 2005.

Qualifications Summary:

- ordained minister with the United Church of Canada (1984)

- university level teaching experience

- foreign language teaching experience

- office administrative skills

- excellent communications and public speaking skills

- strong leadership skills

The following excerpts are from Rev. Phyllis Dietrich’s resume as presented to the Genesis Council:

I bring a spirit of thankfulness and gratitude to my ministry with young and the “young at heart”. I enjoy working with the traditions of the church, and yet, I love the challenges of a new project that encourages us to “stretch our boundaries”.

I believe that being open minded, nonjudgmental and up-to-date on worldly and local issues and events is important. When we, as clergy, are not up-to-date our work becomes stale; clergy that stay well informed certainly are relevant in the community they serve.

Personal Statement of Faith:

Working in various sizes of pastoral charges, I understand the needs of most congregations, that is, their need for physical growth and spiritual growth. I know I can offer a congregation experience in both these areas.

I have had opportunities in my life that I have offered to other congregations. I have experience in helping congregations understand “doing mission”; I have university teaching experience, being able to help congregations understand issues beyond the local church; having lived overseas, I know what it is like to be a new Canadian. I have used this experience to help grow a congregation in Don Mills; a skill that I feel is very transferable. Because of my vast involvement with the communities in which I have lived, in areas of social welfare/justice, I have brought the church to places where people now have a more positive feel toward the church and their own personal faith.

I believe we are all called to ministry. Someone else’s ministry is just as worthy as mine. I do truly believe in the ministry of Jesus Christ, as outlined in 1 Corinthians 12. I do believe that I have been called to the ministry of word, sacrament and pastoral care. These are gifts I have been given, and yet, I have many other gifts that can help others come to an understanding and a clearer faith in Jesus Christ. I believe, for all, that I do not have to earn that right . . . . Jesus Christ died for me, and for all humanity, so that none of us have to “earn” God’s favour. Jesus Christ did it for us. And now, I have the privilege to use the gifts I have (whether that is what others have recognized in me at ordination, or the gifts I have acquired through exposure, or experience)

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