Canada East Presbytery and Pastoral Ordination

As a dual member of Canada East Presbytery and English Presbytery (as well as all the COAH pastors), we have the privilege of attending both presbytery meetings in the spring and fall. So, the past Monday and Tuesday, the fall Canada East Presbytery meeting was held at Yumkwang Korean Presbyterian, and next week COAH will be hosting the English Presbytery from Monday to Wednesday. 

In the fall presbytery meetings, the meeting usually concludes with an ordination service if there are candidates. This year we have four candidates ordained as ministers of word and sacrament. It was a time of celebration and congratulation, as we welcomed four pastors into the presbytery and ordained ministry. It is always encouraging to see people entering pastoral ministry, but at the presbytery meeting we were once again reminded of the shortage of pastors. The moderator of the Canada East Presbytery mentioned that in his recent visit to the Canada West Presbytery, he was told that they haven’t had an ordination service in many years, and it was good to hear that we were ordaining four this year. While four were ordained this year, we had more pastors retire and transition out of our presbytery and even ministry completely.  

This pastoral shortage is something the churches across GTA (and beyond) are feeling, and even at COAH we are experiencing the impact of this shortage as we try to fill vacant ministry positions.  

Why am I sharing this with you?  

It is a call to action, as a church, we need to raise new pastors for the next generation. We need to continually pray that God will call young people into pastoral ministry, and once called, we need to encourage, support, and equip them for pastoral ministry.  

Blessings,

Pastor Kyu