Villages Rural Cluster and Ministries History and Agreements

VILLAGES RURAL CLUSTER AND MINISTRIES Serving: Granton, Lucan, Woodham, Kirkton, Hensall, Centralia, Bryanston, and more. Churches: Villages United Church, Zion West United Church, Kirkton United Church, Bryanston United Church, Hensall United Church, and Centralia United Church

History: - The cluster had developed over time starting with the Lucan and Granton churches sharing Summer Services. - All the churches were struggling due to limited finances, many in the Red - Originally a Team Ministry developed between the Lucan and Granton Ministers.

History: - Bryanston came on next, then Centralia and Zion West, and then Kirkton and Woodham. - Lucan and Granton moved towards amalgamation - Woodham would close but some from Woodham move to join other churches in the cluster. - Hensall would join a number of years later.

History: -Team Ministry shifted over the years -Ministers transitioned out over time, replacing one of the ministers first with students in the Diaconal Stream to help reduce the cost of supporting two full time ministers. -By 2019, both founding ministers had left

History: - Through 2020 we lost our student minister - Since mid 2020 the Villages Rural Cluster has been supporting 6 churches, 5-6 worship services a week, and promoting programing and pastoral care across 8-10 communities - Villages often both refers to the cluster and/or the agreement-holding church

Ministry Agreements -The original contracts were set up based on the division of the cost of ministry services . Villages (Granton and Lucan) would rent out a portion their minister(s) weekly hour expectation, including a standard Sunday worship experience, faith formation, and pastoral care.

Ministry Agreements - For worship services which the minister(s) from Villages could not attend for varying reasons (illness or vacation), Villages would provide supply to fill the position. - No central governance, each church maintains its autonomy. - Ministry Support Committee - Some shared worship time in summer schedule

Church Offices and Governance - Each church has its own official board or governance structure, which are mostly uniform, minus a few minor variances. - This means that all standard church meetings and events which require the minister s attendance have to be staggered and the minister attends up to 5 of each meeting/event.

Church Offices and Governance -Due to the agreements some of the offices have less or more responsibilities than the standard church. i.e., Villages UC is the only church that has M&P support for the minister at this time. -AGMs take approximately 6 weeks to conclude between all churches.

Sunday Morning Worship -3 and 2 service groups. -Kirkton (9:00 AM); Villages (10:30 AM); and Bryanston (11:30 ish) -Zion West/Centralia (9:00 AM); Hensall (10:30 AM)

Sunday Morning Worship - Minister rotates between the service groups every third week. (Works out to be at each church twice a month.) The alternate service group s worship is lead by pulpit supply. Major Challenges - Supply Preferences - Music Leaders Preferences - Liturgy Variance - Sacraments

Pastoral Care - During its early formation, both ministers had a ministry style which leaned heavily to the pastoral side. - During the intermediate time, the diaconal students heavily looked after the pastoral care though the lead minister did support that initiative as well.

Pastoral Care -Since losing our second paid accountable staff, pastoral care has fallen to two key support structures: -Lay Pastoral Care systems (lay pastoral care visitations and outreach) -Default to Emergency Care limit for lead minister (due to time constraints)

Programming, Outreach and More - There is a balance between churches operating as individual entities and as a cluster. - Most programs are opened to the wider cluster, but not all programs are cluster hosted. - Ministry Support Committee acts as a relay station for the churches in the cluster to share, promote, and even support each other s initiatives.

Programming, Outreach and More -We also utilize ecumenical worship and shared programming with other Christian denominations, including but not limited to: Pentecostals, Anglicans, Baptists, Non-denominational, and Catholics -We open our ministry programming to other United Churches as well.

Programming, Outreach and More -Fundraising is limited to the efforts of the local Stewardship, unless there is a common charitable third party or local program the cluster is looking to raise funds for, then the fundraising as run through the Villages accounts.

Benefits - Financial Benefits (shared cost of minister and ministry programs) - Wider Pool of Gifts and Talents - Builds church-based fellowship for those in younger age demographics - Pre-arranged relationships prior to any necessity for amalgamation

Benefits -Ideal ministry for Team Ministry -Builds a better understanding of a wider UCC and Christian understanding and belief -It is a sustainable ministry and give opportunity for growth where possible

Challenges - Ministry Stretched Thin without a Team this magnitude of churches can push 75-hour weeks on occasion. Laity need to understand this means a minister(s) may not always be available. - M & P and Minister(s) need to be on look out for burn out - (Wider Pool of Gifts and Talents) but, also disagreements and personal preferences.

Challenges -Young people and families find it hard to know where to go! -Amplification of Meetings and Standard Practices and everything else -Shared space its not as much about the local historic families anymore -Congregants often feel lukewarm about the agreement

Open for questions