Halton Presbytery is one of six (6) presbyteries which comprise Hamilton Conference. Halton Presbytery includes congregations in the Burlington -- Oakville -- Mississauga corridor as well as several in the Waterdown, Carlisle, Freelton, Milton, Hornby communities. Altogether, there are thirty-six(36) pastoral charges serving some 12,500 active members.
Within the United Church, a presbytery is the equivalent of the "office of bishop" of an episcopal denomination -- with all associated tasks and responsibilities. Membership of a presbytery comprises all Ministry Staff, elected Lay Delegates from pastoral charges, up to ten(10) Members-at-Large who are appointed to carry-out specific responsibilities, and appropriate representatives of a number of church organizations.
Halton Presbytery manages its duties and responsibilities through the various Presbytery committees, the Presbytery Executive, and the full Court of Presbytery. In general, business is conducted as follows:
Committees develop and recommend proposals and actions; review specific requests from pastoral charges; interview & recommend candidates for ordination, commissioning, or confirmation in various ministry positions; review & recommend the Call or Appointment of ministry personnel to pastoral charges; deal with financial and property matters associated with Presbytery; provide program support and resources to congregations; provide oversight & support to pastoral charges in the life, mission, and administration of their congregations.
While the full Court of Presbytery has overall decision-making responsibility, many routine and administrative business decisions are delegated to the Presbytery Executive. Presbytery Executive is comprised of: the Presbytery Chair (Halton Presbytery's Presiding Officer), Chair-Elect, Past-Chair, Presbytery Secretary, Presbytery Treasurer, the Chairs of Presbytery standing committees, and several additional Presbytery appointees & representatives.
Primary thrust of the full Court of Presbytery is the determination of all major decisions impacting Halton Presbytery (eg: appointments, financial policy guidelines & budgets, mission & outreach, pastoral charge development/re-development, etc.) -- together with the review of national church issues as requested by the General Council Office.
In a nutshell, Halton Presbytery is responsible for leadership and oversight of all aspects of the life, mission, and administration of United Church pastoral charges within its boundaries. This is a magnificent challenge -- and we invite you, a member of Halton Presbytery, to be actively involved in it.
Every member of Presbytery is urged to become actively involved in Presbytery in two principal ways:
While most of the major decisions are finalized at Presbytery meetings, the development of policies, guidelines, and recommendations for action; the oversight of pastoral charges and ministry personnel; the interviewing of candidates; the fostering and sharing of resources & detailed information; the assisting of pastoral charges through difficult decisions; for example, is all done through the activities of the various Presbytery committees.
Regular Presbytery Meetings are scheduled for the "fourth (4th)" Tuesday of September, October, November, January, February, April, & June. They all begin at 7:00pm. A "pot-luck" supper is scheduled ahead of the April meeting at 6:00pm; and a dinner to recognize retiring & retired Ministry Personnel is scheduled ahead of the June meeting at 6:00pm.
Lay Delegates to Presbytery are elected each year by their congregations to participate fully in the activities and duties of the wider, regional Church defined by Presbytery. Their activities and responsibilities are somewhat like members of parliament in that they are elected by their constituency to participate in government to the best of their ability and wisdom -- and to work on committees in the development of plans, practices, and policy. Like MPs, there are sometimes additional tasks. However, there is one huge difference; Presbytery does not have a "party system". And yes, the pay just isn't the same either.
It is important to emphasize that you have been elected a Lay Delegate to Presbytery to participate as a full member of Presbytery in the carrying-out of Presbytery's business and responsibilities. Your input counts. You are expected to use your own best judgement and wisdom in all Presbytery deliberations -- not just reflect thoughts and wishes of groups and individuals in your congregation. It is inappropriate for a congregational board or group to indicate or suggest what you should say or how you should vote. Obviously, if you find yourself routinely at odds with the majority of your congregation, you should discuss this with the congregational board (or its executive).
Lay Delegates also have a shared responsibility with others from their Congregation (eg: Order of Ministry and Staff Associates) to share with the Congregational Board and other appropriate Congregational organizations Presbytery-related information of significance and interest to them. This is a way of maintaining their interest and involvement in the wider Church.
Rod Saunders // 2002-09-04