Joy in the Journey
Shared Ministry in the Upper St. John River Valley
Following is a description of the process of developing a shared ministry for the Upper St. John River Valley, written by the parish clergy who facilitate the endeavour: the Rev. Deacon Fran Bedell, the Rev. Bonnie (Bonita) LeBlanc, th
e Rev. Bob LeBlanc and the Rev. Amanda Longmoore. (Photos of Ms. Bedell, Ms. LeBlanc and Mr. LeBlanc appear here. A photo of Ms. Longmoore was unavailable.)
In the beginning …
Bishop Claude Miller called a clergy team together and asked: “Is a shared ministry possible in this region? If it is, how could it happen, and what would it look like?” We thought it was possible and likened the process to weaving a cloth or making a patchwork quilt.
As we find our way, it looks like four clergy serving five parishes:
• the Rev. Deacon Fran Bedell, with a long-time ministry in Edmundston (Parish of Madawaska);
• the Rev. Amanda Longmoore, brought from the Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island to the Parish of the Tobique;
• the Rev. Bonnie LeBlanc, moved from the Parish of Kingston to the Parish of Andover;
• her husband, the Rev. Bob LeBlanc, moved from the Parish of Central Kings to Denmark, Madawaska and Grand Falls.
The bishop gave us the mandate to design a plan for shared ministry. We began that journey in May of this year. It is unique to this area. We are pioneers. We share a vision of re-connection with the diocese, with other communities within our cluster, and with wider communities.
What we look like …
In addition to four clergy in five parishes:
• we have 10 regularly used church buildings;
• we measure about 150 kilometres end-to-end, from Edmundston to Perth-Andover.
• we cope with the issues and influences of our rural/agricultural/seasonal nature.
Conversation and commitment are the foundation of community, they strengthen, change and transform. Individuals and congregations come together to build a sense of community … ours is a work in progress.
The first step of our journey toward shared ministry in this area was a two-day workshop with wardens, treasurers and the clergy. We provided a safe environment in which participants shared their concerns, joys, ideas and plans for the future. The results were amazing. The conversations and the environment freed our people to trust and move together with a common purpose. They take great comfort in the knowledge that their spiritual needs will be met in the places where they are accustomed to worshipping, and that a pastor is always available.
How shared ministry takes shape …
The success of shared ministry depends on the willingness of participants to journey together, in response to God’s leading, toward mission and ministry in this time and in this area. With that understanding, clergy and laity can move in new directions together and even find the courage to take creative risks.
In response to our first visioning day, with its emphasis on building a faith community, we instituted:
• Evening contemporary praise and worship services in two locations;
• Two coffee house evenings;
• Some shared worship services outside of the regular Sunday morning celebrations.
In response to our second visioning day, where the mind-set moved from survival to exploration mode with a new sense of commitment, we are planning:
• A hymn-sing with potluck, and various other musical events;
• A joint vestry retreat;
• To continue with shared worship services in the various communities outside of the regular Sunday morning celebrations, with an emphasis on multi-generational participation.
As the length and breadth of our woven cloth grows … as more colourful pieces are added to our patchwork quilt … we see a clearer vision for God’s work in this place. In one community, Sunday morning worship alternates between the Anglican and the United Church liturgies in the Anglican Church building. In another, Anglicans and Lutherans share child/youth programs and special community events.
In an effort to practice good stewardship, we look for opportunities to share our resources and make better use of our facilities. A French Baptist congregation regularly worships in one of our buildings.
Our shared ministry is a work in progress offered to the glory of God. We will add many strands to our cloth, many pieces to our quilt. We intend to provide periodic updates through the New Brunswick Anglican as well as on our new Shared Ministry page, available soon on the diocesan website.
It is a joy and an honor to be participants in this endeavor.
Diocesan Communications
03 November 2009
