THE BEGINNINGS OF THE SHARED MINISTRY

In the mid-1960′s it appeared as though the United and Anglican Churches in  Canada were going to merge into a single denomination. Discussions had been going  well, and several joint ventures had proved successful.

In early 1966, a number of Pastoral Charges of the United Church and  Parishes of the Anglican Church, decided to begin the process of  joining together at the local level, in anticipation that their parent denominations would merge.  Both denominations  locally struggled to afford full time clergy. These discussions were very fruitful and decisions were made by both local groups to merge on a trial basis beginning December 1, 1966.

Both the Most Reverend E.W. (Ted) Scott, who was then the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of the Kootenays, and the Rev. Dr. Elliot H. Birdsall, Presbytery Officer of the  Kootenay Presbytery, United Church, were very supportive and, indeed,  instrumental in forging the union locally. Even though the Anglican and United denominations did not merge, the Shared Ministry has continued usefully here in the Windermere Valley as it has elsewhere.

HOW DOES IT WORK

By agreement between the denominations, clergy for the shared ministry are  appointed alternately for denominations, the usual term is five years, and  to grant an  extension if requested. Both denominations fully recognize and license the incumbent  who serves the people of each denomination.

 WHAT ABOUT THE DENOMINATIONAL DIFFERENCES ?

At the beginning of an incumbent’s term, the other  denomination undertakes a training program to ensure any differences in meaning and function of regular duties are understood. In addition, they attend meetings for both denominations and are in touch with both the United Church Presbytery and the Anglican Diocese. There is a great sensitivity to denominational differences in the performance of day to day duties.

Worship and Doctrine
We are encouraged to worship as one body:  In planning worship, one regular service  monthly would follow the tradition of each denomination.
An Anglican Eucharist is celebrated at least once a month and a United Church Holy Communion at least quarterly.
Baptism and Confirmation are administered according to the rites and traditions of the member’s denomination.

The Incumbent, in consultation with Board, establishes a liturgical or worship committee including representation from each denomination, to assist in the planning and evaluation of worship.

Marriage
Anglican and United Church ministers will respect their own consciences and the requirements of their respective denominational authority with regard to conducting marriages.
United Church ministers in Shared Ministries are supportive of the Marriage Canon of The Anglican Church of Canada, and will use the Diocesan Marriage Commission, where appropriate, when dealing with Anglican ceremonies.

WHAT ABOUT THE STYLE OF WORSHIP?

The present practice is that we have Holy Communion services about every other week, and Morning Worship services on alternate Sundays.

We worship as a combined congregation. St Peter’s in Windermere has remained Anglican. Furthermore, we have many who worship with us who are either from other denominations (who do not have a church here)  or prefer to think of themselves as members of the Shared Ministry rather than members of either denomination.

Clearly, a spirit of cooperation and ecumenicism
is what propels and energizes
the Windermere Valley Shared Ministry