BETHANY PONTYPOOL PASTORAL CHARGE JOINT NEEDS ASSESSMENT REPORT FEB 23, 2014
Villages of Bethany and Pontypool in the City of Kawartha Lakes 1
Welcome to Our Community Our Location Bethany and Pontypool are two small villages located in the southern portion of Manvers Township in the City of Kawartha Lakes. They are tenderly nestled on the Oak Ridge Moraine between the larger cities of Peterborough, Lindsay and the town of Bowmanville to the south. Bethany, centered on Hwy 7A, has a population of approximately 1500 people and Pontypool, located just off Hwy 35, has a population of approximately 2100 people. Both villages have excellent road access leading to the larger centres, 25 minutes away and are recognized as the gateway to the Halliburton Highlands and the Kawartha Lakes Region recreational areas. The rolling hills provides a historical canvas of farm land, predominately tobacco and potato, which at one time dotted the landscape. The farms remaining today cater to cash crops, beef, and potatoes with many succumbing to the spread of urbanization. Both Villages function as bedroom communities as many residents work in larger centres. They have excellent access to work locations, yet the villages provide an after work hours tranquility in the Oak Ridges Moraine countryside. Demographics Our communities are in the renewal phase with older established families moving out and young, growing families moving in. Our churches do not as yet reflect this renewal. We are predominately middle age, with a few young families. Educational Learning Our communities are well served by Public, Catholic and Christian Primary Schools, Public and Catholic Secondary Schools, and French Immersion Schools all within a close drive of our villages. Public Primary Schools, Grandview (Junior Kindergarten [JK] to grade 4) and Rolling Hills (grades 5 to 8) under the Trillium Lakelands District School Board are located at the intersection of Hwy 7A and Hwy 35, a few minutes outside of the villages. Secondary students are bused to Lindsay to attend I.E. Weldon Secondary School (Public) or St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School (Catholic). Post-Secondary Institutions are a short 25 min drive away in larger centres. 2
Our Educational Learning centers are listed below: Fleming College (abbreviated from Sir Sandford Fleming College) in both Lindsay and Peterborough Trent University in Peterborough Durham College and University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) in Oshawa, west towards Toronto Catholic schools are affiliated with Peterborough, Victoria, Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board Heritage Christian School in Lindsay provides a Christian education from JK to grade 8. Health Care Pontypool and Bethany are well served by a choice of health care facilities in the City of Kawartha Lakes, Peterborough, and in the Town of Bowmanville. These include: Ross Memorial Hospital, located in Lindsay, is the primary care facility for the City of Kawartha Lakes Peterborough boasts a new Regional Health Care Centre Bowmanville provides full medical care at the Lakeridge Health Centre Entertainment, Recreation and Attractions The City of Kawartha Lakes provides an opportunity for a wide variety of sports, recreational and volunteer opportunities for all types of enthusiasts: Organized sports baseball, football, soccer, hockey, rugby and lacrosse Fitness indoor, outdoor, walking, running, biking, canoeing, boating Outdoor recreation o Summer: biking, canoeing, boating, trail riding, camping, drive-in theatre, fishing, hunting, horseback riding o Winter: skiing (downhill and cross-country), snowmobiling, ice fishing, snowshoeing Tourist attractions museums, art galleries, conservation areas, nature reserves, Trent Severn Waterway Service Clubs many available Non-profit organizations Many opportunities for volunteer contributions 3
Our Pastoral Charge Bethany and Pontypool churches combine to make one Pastoral Charge (i.e. a two point charge) and we are the only remaining churches in our respective communities. The villages were previously served by both Catholic and Anglican churches, but these are now closed. Both congregations function independently creating our own identities and specialties, yet we share many activities in common supporting the church as a whole. Our fully engaged church volunteers serve on active committees in the church; Session, Stewards, Treasury, Ministry & Personnel (M&P) and Trustee s helping the church to function in both spiritual and physical need. Even with this strong base we are struggling to connect with and retain new people. We are active in the community through ongoing events. These include choir, Daily Bread Food Bank, Diners Club, Martial Arts, Yoga, Prayer Shawl Circle, Vacation Bible Camp (Venturing Into Biblical Experience [Vibe] program), Annual Pancake Supper and Ash Wednesday Service, Santa Claus Parade, Christmas Hay Wagon Caroling, and Pontypool pond skate. The JNAC members polled our church family during the JNAC process to learn and understand our church family needs. These congregational meetings plus discussions at our Official Board were extremely fruitful in determining the JNAC recommendations. Our Resources Church Buildings Bethany: Bethany church celebrates its 150 th Anniversary this year. The church has been recently modernized and meets all accessibility requirements. The sanctuary has seating for approximately 130 people and includes a choir room (or meeting room), Minister and church secretary offices, and two fully accessible handicapped washrooms. The modern church basement includes a large open space for meetings, lunches or dinners, a full kitchen, a nursery and a handicapped accessible washroom. Pontypool: Pontypool church was erected in 1918 and is the original double brick church. The sanctuary seats approximately 90 people with an office located to the back, off the main sanctuary. The eclectic basement is small and includes a kitchen area, washroom and storage space. It is a small, but cozy location for the Pontypool congregation. Pontypool United Church also owns the Pontypool Cemetery. 4
Contributions Bethany and Pontypool Churches both have dedicated donors, either through offering plate donations on Sunday mornings or through the Pre Authorized Remittance (PAR) direct debit system. Bethany United Church has approximately 35 contributing households and Pontypool has approximately 21 contributing households. The Pastoral Charge was very generous with donations to Mission and Service (M&S) for 2012 contributed over $10,000.00 to the M&S Fund. Fundraising Both churches have a strong history of fundraising to support our community work. We host many annual fundraising activities including March Madness/Spaghetti Dinner and Talent Show, Mother s Day Dinner, Strawberry Supper, Pontypool Baseball Dinner, Pontypool Ball Diamond Concession Stand sales, and Yard and Plant Sales. Additional non-annual events include Corn Roasts, Choirs, and World Tour nights. Human Resources The Pastoral Charge has several paid employees: For Bethany and Pontypool Pastoral Charge: Minister salary Secretary - salary Treasurer (honorarium) Bethany and Pontypool Churches have several paid employees: Choir Director / Pianist for each church weekly Caretaker for each church - hourly Treasurer for each church (honorarium) Vision and Needs About two years ago our Pastoral Charge started to waiver and we can now only afford 50% to 60% paid ministry time dependent on salary category. Our congregation is keen to entice people into our sanctuaries and our new minister will help to support this through revitalization. This will move our church in the forward direction drawing new enthused parishioners to our doors. 5
Worship Services Bethany and Pontypool churches hold Sunday services. Bethany Church Sunday service at 9:15 am Pontypool Church Sunday service at 11:00 am Annually, the churches switch service times commencing the first Sunday of September. In the summer only one joint service is held each Sunday, alternating between the two churches. Our church service includes: Announcements Hymns and Choir anthem chosen by minister and choir directors. We are a musical church and thrive on the sound of music in our church halls Children s time Biblical readings, relevant to the sermon Sermon (based on relevant biblical teachings) Our Order of Service is prepared by the minister and provided to the secretary. The order of service can be laptop driven as we are fully computerized with projection capabilities on a large screen at both churches. Special Services We have many special services planned by the minister and session throughout the year. These include communion, baptism, confirmations and membership. We also participate in services to complement Christian world events. Good Friday service incorporates a 3 hour walk with our wooden cross between Bethany and Pontypool churches, alternating each year from one church to the other. The ending church hosts our Good Friday service. Easter Sunday is celebrated at both churches. Pontypool includes a Sunrise Service early Easter morning followed by a potluck breakfast. Christmas Eve services are held in both Pontypool and Bethany churches. Anniversary Service - each church hosts its own service each year and both churches attend. Responsibilities of the Minister 6
Directs worship and pastoral care with additional support from dedicated congregational volunteers Community visits as requested Parishioner and community counseling as needed Work with the organist/pianist to introduce a variety of music Attend Quarterly Official Board meetings and other church meetings as required Communicate with the community regarding ongoing church activities Provide oversight for our church website, one of the key methods we use to communicate with our church families Education Promote Christian education through bible studies and prayer groups Promote youth learning through Sunday school programs for youth and teens Administration and Communication Maintain accurate church records of weddings, funerals, baptisms, etc. Contribute to yearly church reports Ongoing church correspondence Attend Presbytery and Annual Conference meetings, time dependent Promote the church in the community Our New Ministers Skills Bethany and Pontypool Pastoral Charge are requesting a part time minister for word, sacrament and pastoral care. The successful candidate will: Have excellent communication skills and be part of an energetic and enthusiastic team. Work well with people of all ages both within the congregation and the wider community. Have a strong pastoral care background to provide counseling, visitation, healing and rebuilding Be an enabler of our congregation empowering church members for their ministry Assist with streamlining administration of the pastoral charge Have the ability to balance job demands and priorities within the part time position Qualifications 7
Order of Ministry or designated Lay Ministry Personnel approved by the United Church of Canada Terms of Employment Annual salary (50 to 60%) in accordance with years of experience and as outlined by the United Church of Canada Our pastoral charge does not own a manse, hence a housing allowance will be provided. Travel allowance as specified by the United Church of Canada United Church benefits, CPP and EI as required Book allowance and continuing education as per United Church guidelines Moving expense fund based on recognized limits Total package of the listed payments to a maximum of $50,000.00 / year Our Mission Statement Our faith is the thread that draws our lives together. It is the core of our living. Therefore our mission is to create a supportive church family as we grow together in faith. We are committed to caring for our local community and the world. Let s rejuvenate Bethany and Pontypool United Churches! 8
Joint Need Assessment Committee (JNAC) Report Bethany and Pontypool Pastoral Charge - Feb 23 th, 2014 Our Recommendations: The JNAC Committee of Bethany and Pontypool Pastoral Charge recommend the following. That the: Kawartha Highlands Presbytery approve our JNAC report Kawartha Highlands Presbytery declare a part time (50 to 60%) vacancy for our Pastoral Charge Vacancy be filled by a formal call or by appointment JNAC Committee be disbanded Presbytery establish a Joint Search Committee which will fill the vacancy 9