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Definition of Current Ministry Leadership:
In February 2020, at the Annual Meeting, The Mount Forest United Church Strategic Plan was approved. The Strategic Plan’s consulting process included input from Edge, a community round table, and a Congregational Vision Day, among other undertakings. The Goals and Objectives identified at that time were:
1. Governance
2. Spiritual Development
3. Sanctuary Renovation (placed on hold while other priorities were addressed
due to Covid)
4. Communication
In 2022, members were elected to the newly approved Governance Leadership Model of the Mount Forest-Woodland Pastoral Charge.
A small Leadership Team sub committee reviewed the Strategic Plan in the Summer of 2022, discussing the next steps for moving the plan forward. The following five priorities were identified for Leadership Team discussion:
• To seek financial stability
• Create a new Vision and Mission Statement
• Partnerships - continue to engage and enrich
• Sanctuary refreshed (sanctuary renovation put on hold, to be revisited at a later date)
• Community Roundtable
Going forward, the Leadership Team has begun positive discussions on Becoming a Beloved Community.
Links: Strategic Plan
Governance Plan
Worship:
We have a creative and dedicated Worship Committee that works hard to be inclusive and contemporary while upholding traditions.
At present, they are responsible for establishing a temporary schedule of lay minister(s) and guest speakers for every Sunday Service, to be shared at both charges, during this time without a hired Minister. Organizing a schedule of volunteers to do the following Worship tasks: Greeters, Ushers/Offeratory, Lay Readers, Announcements, Elevator Operators, and Altar decor i.e., tapestries, flowers, candles, special services.
Forest Church, Services held outdoors at various locations during Covid restrictions and/ or special occasions.
We offer Communion monthly, Baptism/Confirmation/ Membership Transfers (as requested), Marriage and Funeral facilitation.
Pastoral Care:
The Pastoral Care Team’s Purpose as cited in the Terms of Reference is: To provide pastoral care to the members of the congregation”.
We endeavour to maintain contact with those who are lonely, sick, dying, living alone, living in nursing or retirement homes. We provide support by in person visits (when allowed), phone calls, and mail. We follow up with those whose loved ones have died and provide comfort and support as needed. Maintaining a person’s respect and confidentiality is of utmost importance to us. We follow the Mount Forest United Church duty of care policy.
We work closely with the Minister or Supervising Minister, referring people in need to the Minister and receiving input from them as well. The congregation’s invited to let us know of needs as they arise.
Our activities include an active Casserole Ministry; casseroles are provided as needed and a Prayer Shawl Ministry as deemed appropriate for seriously ill persons.
We have assisted the Minister to provide Communion to shut ins in their homes, ( not possible during Covid shutdowns).
Prayer is our most powerful tool: we share prayer requests with the team so we can keep the person and their family in God’s tender care.
Administration:
Office Staff
- Financial Administrator (part time), in charge of Membership, Financial, and Records for both Mount Forest and Woodland.
-Administrative Assistant (part time), in charge of general clerical, phone reception, weekly bulletin, website.
Music Staff
- Organist, Choir & Praise Band Director (with a BA in Music from Laurier, 30 years experience) at Mount Forest UC
- Organist at Woodland UC
Custodial Staff
Contract Cleaning Company (2) for both Mount Forest and Woodland UC (not the Church House)
Other
Numerous tasks managed by dedicated volunteers in Committees i.e., website, video production, property maintenance (snow removal, grass cutting…)
Community Outreach & Social Justice: (In no specific order)
• Sunday Community Supper M&S
• Television (Wightman Community Channel) and Radio Ministry (one week lag time) which can also be viewed on our website and borrowed from our Resource Centre
• Vacation Bible School (one week in August), Trunk & Treat (Halloween) CE
• The Raw Carrot Enterprise - a soup making business that hires vulnerable Mount Forest community members
• Cantatas/ music concerts open to the surrounding churches and the community at large
• Skill Trading Workshops (once a year)
• Christmas Bazaar UCW
• Messy Church, Resource Centre CE
• Monthly Muffin & Coffee Hour at Woodland, Weekly Coffee Fellowship at MFUC M&F
• Refugee Family Support - Myanmar, Rwanda, and Ukraine
• Dance and theatre performances i.e., Prisoner of Tehran, by Motus’O Dance Troupe
• Indigenous guest speakers
• Acknowledgement of the Indigenous Territories upon which our two charges reside upon
• Green Team - Green Legacy Projects to protect and educate about the green spaces in our communities
• Making space available for a variety of groups i.e., AA, Scouting of Canada, Pickleball, Horticultural Society, TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly)
Faith Formation and Christian Education:
The Christian Education Committee’s purpose as in the Terms of Reference is: “to provide a meaningful Christian learning environment to meet the needs of all ages of the congregation by providing adequate resources and appropriate training”.
This is done by providing a Sunday School program every week (Sept. to June), Nursery as needed, various programs throughout the year including: Messy Church, CBS, Trunk & Treat, Childrens Sunday, White Gift Service, and Nativity presentation during Advent.
For adults, we have had Speakers in to discuss issues such as MAID (Medical Assistance in Dying), and a workshop on storytelling. Christian Education has assisted in providing Bible Study programs and participated in a series of sessions on Dying and Grief, The Necessary Journey.
We have a Facebook group to keep connections open with our youth and teens. Our children and youth are valued and we endeavour to support them, with help from the congregation and God’s guidance.
Self Care:
Ministry personnel are responsible for maintaining a healthy balance in their personal lives and often know best on how to engage in self-care.
They should set ongoing goals for maintaining a healthy balance of one’s own physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing, including, but not exclusively, rest, recreation, and professional development.
Link:
Ethical Standards & Standard of Practice for Ministry Personnel - The United Church of Canada
Position Description Template - The United Church of Canada
Continuing Education:
As education is a lifelong and ongoing process, Ministry personnel should be responsible for maintaining and improving their knowledge and skills.
Ministry personnel should pursue personal, vocational, and professional goals for continuing education with consultation with the M&P Committee.
They should strive to be current with issues in theology, ministerial practice, and community/world events.
Denomination & Communities:
The rural/urban community of Mount Forest and the rural community of Woodland, is located in the North Wellington/Southgate Region, between Guelph and Owen Sound. We are part of the Western Ontario Waterways, under the Regional Council called WOW. With a population of 4 645, plus surrounding rural areas, it is a unique community. With strong ties to our local Mennonite Community, and a diversity of cultures and faith.
We boast of a good Recreation Facility which includes a sports arena and walking track, playgrounds and a splash pad, with a new community pool in the works, lawn bowling club and curling club. We have a Public and Catholic Public School, Wellington Heights Secondary School, and churches representing seven different denominations. We have a local hospital in town, and the Claire Stewart Medical Clinic, along with Dental Care, Optometry, Mental Health Support (CMHA), senior living (Birmingham Lodge Retirement Community), Strathcona Village Homes, and Saugeen Valley Nursing Centre.
More information can be found at www.mountforest.ca or the Mount Forest Chamber of Commerce.
We believe God is calling us to find new ways of being a church, to use our spaces creatively and to share within our larger community.
The definition of our current ministry has been put together by the Transition Team, with representation from both Mount Forest and the Woodland Charge. The categories have been placed in the order of importance as discussed at team meetings.
This “Story” has been compiled by a team of 6 congregants, with the glory of this work going to God.
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