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Summary of Stated Meeting: February 25, 2022

The Eastern Canada Presbytery convened by video-conference on Friday, February 25, 2022.

Teaching Elder Albert Kooy served as moderator over 22 teaching elders and 18 ruling elders. Additionally, 3 licentiates, 6 candidates under care, 1 applicant to be taken under care, and 7 visitors were present. 6 teaching elders were absent, 3 of them non-resident or honourably retired.

Actions of the Presbytery*

  • The Presbytery accepted a petition from Grace Valley Dundas to organize as a particular church. Ryan Swackhammer, Matt Charbonneau, Jeff Heidbuurt, and Mike Deboer were approved as ruling elder candidates for Grace Valley and deemed eligible for election by their congregation. The Presbytery approved the terms of call for Teaching Elder Paul Vanden Brink, and he agreed to accept the terms of call. It was determined that a particularization service will take place at Grace Valley Dundas on April 10, 2022 at 4:00 PM.
  • The Presbytery made a number of changes to the standing rules, as follows:
    • After each Presbytery meeting, the administrative committee will prepare a brief report of the public actions of the presbytery, to be posted on our website
    • Local churches are encouraged to deliver their partnership shares in quarterly installments to ensure that the Presbytery Fund has a sufficient cash flow throughout the year
    • A report regarding the use of non-disclosure agreements was appended to the standing rules
  • The Presbytery sustained Josiah Ling’s examination to be received as a candidate for the gospel ministry under care. Teaching elders Connan Kublik and Moses Lee and ruling elder KJ Drake were appointed as his oversight committee, and Mr. Ling was admitted as a presbytery intern in order to test his gifts for the holy ministry.
  • The following were appointed to committees of commissioners of the 49th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America (June 21-24, 2022)
    • RE Bryan Feenstra to Overtures
    • TE Kyle Hackmann to Overtures
    • TE Jeff Hynds to Mission to the World
    • TE Franky Garcia to RUF
    • TE Lyndon Jost to Covenant Theological Seminary
    • TE Michael Chhangur to Admin Committee
    • TE Luke Bert to Interchurch Relations
    • TE Bill Radford to Mission to North America
  • In executive session, the presbytery received the report of the commission appointed to investigate allegations made against teaching elder Dan MacDonald. It was moved, seconded, and carried that the Eastern Canada Presbytery postpone indefinitely a decision on the report, until such time that the third party investigation by Grace Toronto Church has been completed, and the findings have been supplied to Presbytery. It was further moved, seconded, and carried that the Admin Committee be authorized to call a special meeting to consider the findings of the third party investigation after the report of the lawyer is delivered to presbytery.
  • The next stated meeting of Presbytery was set for Friday, June 3, 2022 in Ontario.

*not all actions of the presbytery are listed here for the sake of confidentiality

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Summary of Stated Meeting: February 24, 2023

The Stated Meeting of the Presbytery of Eastern Canada was held at Grace Toronto Church.

In attendance were 20 teaching elders, 16 ruling elders, and 7 candidates.

The moderator called the meeting to order at 10:06 AM, and the Presbytery worshipped together with the moderator presiding. TE Lyndon Jost preached a sermon from 1 Kings 19:1-18.

Actions of the Presbytery*

– In the communications report, the stated clerk reported receiving notice of the following resignation: TE Ian Crooks, Harbour Light Sydney.

– The Presbytery set a special meeting for April 28, 2023, for the following examinations: Rev. John Lee, Daniel Lee, Max Park.

– TE Kyle Hackmann was appointed the chair for a temporary committee tasked with organizing a co-presbytery meeting between Eastern Canada and Western Canada, to be held in February 2024.

– The Presbytery sustained Mr. Zakary Herbert’s examination to come under care as a candidate for the gospel ministry.

– The Presbytery sustained Mr. Tarak George’s examination for ordination as Assistant Pastor at Grace Toronto Church.

– The Presbytery sustained Mr. Kingsley Lai’s examination for ordination as Assistant Pastor at Grace Toronto Church.

-The Presbytery approved a petition to establish Grace Gatineau Mission Church, with TE Franky Garcia providing pastoral ministry.

– The Presbytery approved a petition to establish Grace West Mission Church, with TE Jeffrey Hynds providing pastoral ministry.

– TE Lyndon Jost gave an update on developments with the Reformed House of Studies at Wycliffe College.

– The Presbytery voted on appointments to committees of commissioners at the 50th General Assembly in June 2023.

– The Presbytery sat in executive session to consider two protest letters. The letters were filed in response to an act of the Presbytery on October 21, 2022, which was to sustain a complaint against the previous decision of the Presbytery on April 22, 2022: that “TE Dan MacDonald’s actions do not rise to the level of chargeable offenses (BCO 29-1-4).” Regarding the two letters, the Presbytery passed a motion that the letter of November 17 was couched in temperate language and respectful to the court. The full text of the letter was recorded in the executive session minutes.

– The next stated meeting of Presbytery was set for Friday, June 3, 2023, at New City Hamilton.

*not all actions of the presbytery are listed here for the sake of confidentiality

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Summary of Stated Meeting: October 21-22, 2022

The Stated Meeting of the Presbytery of Eastern Canada was held at Bedford Presbyterian Church, near Halifax, Nova Scotia.

In attendance were 22 teaching elders, 17 ruling elders, and 3 candidates under care.

The stated clerk called the meeting to order and reminded the Presbytery that, on September 1, Teaching Elder Albert Kooy had resigned the office of Moderator, and that the first item of business was to elect a Moderator pro tem.

Ruling Elder Allan Bust was elected.

The Presbytery worshipped together with the stated clerk presiding. The moderator read John 21:15-19 and shared a devotion.

Actions of the Presbytery*

  • In the communications report, the stated clerk reported receiving notice of the following resignation: Ruling Elder Ryan Michel (Grace Toronto Church).
  • The Presbytery reviewed the year-to-date financial statements. A motion was passed to set the 2023 Presbytery partnership shares at $15 per member or $12 per average adult attendee, whichever more fairly represents the congregation.
  • The Presbytery sustained Mr. Stephen Ahn’s examination to be licensed to preach the gospel within the bounds of this Presbytery.
  • During the Shepherding Committee business, Teaching Elder Kevin Rogers gave an update to the Presbytery about his pursuit of a new call. A motion was passed to permit TE Rogers another two years to pursue a call and give a report to the Presbytery at its fall meeting in 2024.
  • The Presbytery voted on appointments to committees in the denomination. TE Kevin Rogers was appointed to the Nominating Committee, which will vet the candidates to be presented for election at the 50th General Assembly in June 2023. TE Mark Hare was appointed to the Review of Presbytery Records committee, which will conduct its annual review of the minutes of all 88 Presbyteries of the PCA in May 2023.
  • The Presbytery elected Teaching Elder Ian Crooks to serve the office of Moderator for a one-year term.
  • The Administrative Committee presented its report reviewing the records of all 15 churches of the Eastern Canada Presbytery. All recommendations contained in the report were approved. Church Sessions were reminded to give an answer where the Presbytery has noted exceptions of substance in their minutes. Exceptions of substance are defined as follows: “Apparent violations of the Scripture or serious irregularities from the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church in America, actions out of accord with the deliverances of the General Assembly, and matters of impropriety and important delinquencies” (Rules of Assembly Operations, 16-6).
  • During executive session, the Presbytery received an official complaint against a motion passed at its special meeting on April 22, 2022. For a summary of the actions during executive session, please refer to the Public Use Statement.
  • The next stated meeting of Presbytery was set for Friday, February 24, 2023 at a location to be determined.

*not all actions of the presbytery are listed here for the sake of confidentiality

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Summary of Stated Meeting: June 3, 2022

The Stated Meeting of the Presbytery of Eastern Canada was held at Grace Valley Church, in Dundas, Ontario.

Teaching Elder Albert Kooy served as moderator over 19 teaching elders and 11 ruling elders. Additionally, 3 licentiates, 3 candidates under care, 3 applicants to be taken under care, and 3 visitors were present.

Actions of the Presbytery*

  • In the communications report, the stated clerk reported receiving notice of the following resignations: Ruling Elder Hang Kit Wong (Grace Toronto Church), Ruling Elder KJ Drake (New City Church, Hamilton).
  • The Presbytery sustained Kingsley Lai’s examination to be licensed to preach the gospel within the bounds of this Presbytery.
  • The Presbytery sustained David Ryu’s examination to be received as a candidate for the gospel ministry under care. Teaching elders Kyle Hackmann, Albert Kooy, and Kiernan Stringer were appointed as his oversight committee.
  • The Presbytery sustained Graham Hynds’ examination to be received as a candidate for the gospel ministry under care. Teaching elders Kiernan Stringer and Joe Choi were appointed as his oversight committee, and Mr. Hynds was admitted as a presbytery intern, serving at Grace Toronto Church, in order to test his gifts for the holy ministry.
  • The Presbytery sustained Keith Williams’ examination to be received as a candidate for the gospel ministry under care. The Grace Valley Church Session was appointed as his oversight committee, and Mr. Williams was admitted as a presbytery intern, serving at Grace Valley Church (Dundas), in order to test his gifts for the holy ministry.
  • The Chair of the Shepherding Committee gave an update on the ongoing committee work with the Grace Toronto Church session and Teaching Elder Lyndon Jost. The committee will meet in-person with both parties in June.
  • The Presbytery approved terms of call for Teaching Elder James Wood to serve as Assistant Professor of Ministry at Redeemer University.
  • The Presbytery approved terms of call for Teaching Elder Stephen Beck to serve as pastor of CityLife Church in St. Paul, Minnesota (Siouxlands Presbytery). The Presbytery further passed a motion to transfer the membership of TE Stephen Beck from the Presbytery of Eastern Canada to the Siouxlands Presbytery, pending their approval.
  • Teaching Elder Kyle Hackmann gave an update on progress to create a Reformed House of Studies within Wycliffe College, University of Toronto.
  • The Chair of the World Missions Committee submitted his resignation and moved to disband the World Missions Committee. The Presbytery passed an amended motion “to disband the World Missions Committee until such time that a new chair and committee members be appointed.”
  • In executive session, the Presbytery received a dissent, submitted to the stated clerk on May 2, 2022, the preamble of which reads as follows: “As declared during the April 22, 2022 meeting of the Eastern Canada Presbytery, on the basis of BCO 45-2, we wish to declare publicly our differing opinion from the majority in our presbytery’s decision to rule that “based on the allegations investigated, and the findings of the commission, that TE Dan MacDonald’s actions do not rise to the level of chargeable offences.” A motion was carried that the dissent is couched in temperate language and respectful to the court. A second motion was carried that the full text of the dissent be entered in the executive session minutes of the Presbytery.
  • The next stated meeting of Presbytery was set for Friday, October 21, 2022 at Bedford Presbyterian Church.

*not all actions of the presbytery are listed here for the sake of confidentiality

walrus76

Summary of Stated Meeting: October 20-21, 2017

For the first time in its history, Eastern Canada Presbytery convened on Friday, October 20 in Moncton, New Brunswick, hosted by Redeemer Community Church (Pastor Kevin Rogers).

Ruling Elder Allan Buist served as moderator over 15 teaching elders and 7 ruling elders. Additionally, 1 licentiate, 2 candidates under care, 1 applicant to be taken care, 1 applicant for transfer of candidacy, 1 applicant for ordination, and 6 visitors were present. 12 teaching elders were absent, 7 of them non-resident or honorably retired.

Actions of the Presbytery*

  • The Presbytery celebrated the organization of New City Church, Newmarket, the installation of Teaching Elder Albert Kooy as its pastor, and the ordination & installation of its first ruling elders.
  • The Presbytery also celebrated the installation of Teaching Elder Christo Heiberg as assistant pastor of Providence Community Church, St. Catharines.
  • The Presbytery made a number of changes to the standing rules, as follows:
    • The Candidates and Credentials, Ontario subcommittee was renamed “Candidates and Credentials, Ontario and Quebec” to reflect the new boundary changes.
    • The two subcommittees of MNA were merged to form one centralized MNA Committee.
    • Because we have moved from two to three stated meetings a year, the session records are now to be submitted to the third stated meeting of presbytery.
    • The Shepherding Committee was formed.
  • Teaching Elder Stephen Welch was confirmed as removed from the rolls of Eastern Canada Presbytery, having transferred to Hanover Presbytery, a different church body.
  • The Presbytery sustained Mr. Luke Bert’s ordination exam; he was ordained on the spot and received as a member of Presbytery. He was authorized to labor out-of-bounds in Quebec as a professor of Old Testament at SEMBEQ seminary and a teaching elder at Église Évangélique Baptiste de Shawinigan-Sud.
  • The Presbytery sustained Mr. Paul Dunk’s licensure exam and licensed him to preach the gospel.
  • The Presbytery sustained Mr. Raymond Wong’s candidacy exam and took him under its care, appointing Dan MacDonald and Lyndon Jost as his oversight committee.
  • Licentiate and candidate Chris Pignatiello was placed under the care of Albert Chung, as Mr. Pignatiello has begun a church planting internship at Trinity Grace Church (non-PCA) in Toronto.
  • The Presbytery approved an inter-presbytery agreement with New York State Presbytery (PCA) to permit Teaching Elder John Garnet (Jean) Zoellner to remain a member of NYS Presbytery while ministering within Eastern Canada Presbytery’s geographical boundaries.
  • The Presbytery renewed TE Paul Vanden Brink’s appointment as evangelist for Grace Valley Mission for another year.
  • The Presbytery unanimously approved the 45th GA’s proposed amendment to BCO 25-3 to increase the quorum for congregational meetings in which the church is considering withdrawing from the PCA.
  • A significant number of changes were made to the committees and officers. Most notably,
    • TE Ben Jolliffe was appointed as moderator.
    • The MNA subcommittees merged to form one centralized committee.
    • TE Ben Jolliffe was tasked with chairing the new Shepherding Committee and removed from the Ministerial Committee pending his consent.
    • World Missions, Ministerial, and obviously the Shepherding Committee saw the most number of changes to its appointments.
  • The next meeting of Presbytery was set for Friday, February 23, 2018 at 10 AM at Grace Toronto Church.

 

*not all actions of the presbytery are listed here for the sake of confidentiality

walrus76

New City Newmarket’s Organizing Service

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It is a delight to celebrate with New City Church, Newmarket, as they move from mission status to organized, self-governing church status this morning!

Today, they will

  • ordain and install their first two ruling elders
  • formally install Rev. Albert Kooy as their pastor
  • officially be inducted as a particular church of the PCA

Please pray for the presbytery commission as they oversee the service and for Albert Kooy and the New City Newmarket church family as they celebrate the work of God in their community. Pray that Christ will continue to use this church powerfully to advance the Kingdom through the gospel in Newmarket and beyond!

walrus76

Summary of Stated Meeting: Feb 24-25, 2017

Eastern Canada Presbytery convened on Friday, February 24 at New City Church, Hamilton, Ontario.

Ruling Elder Allan Buist served as moderator over 15 teaching elders and 4 ruling elders. 5 visitors, 3 candidates under care, 1 licentiate, and 1 applicant to be taken under care were also present.

Actions of the Presbytery*

  • A Presbytery Delegate Travel Fund was set up in order to assist delegates from churches who require financial aid to travel to presbytery meetings. The Standing Rules were amended accordingly (5.c.iii.).
  • The Presbytery took under its care a new candidate, Mr. Joe (Kar Ho) Choi and appointed TE Dan MacDonald and TE Lyndon Jost as an oversight committee.
  • Candidate Clovis Oliveira’s name was removed from the roll, as he has accepted a call in Brazil.
  • The Presbytery approved an overture to be presented to the 45th General Assembly to restore the original boundaries of Eastern Canada Presbytery.
  • TEs Albert Kooy, Ben Jolliffe, and Kevin Rogers were reappointed as evangelists for their respective mission churches for another twelve months.
  • TE Gene Haas stepped down from the ministerial committee. TEs Ben Jolliffe (new chair), Bill Radford, and Dan MacDonald were appointed as new members of the committee.
  • Commissioners for the 45th General Assembly were appointed as follows: TE Lyndon Jost to RUM, TE Kyle Hackmann to Overtures (by special approval), TE Bill Radford to MNA (in the absence of a ruling elder), and TE Ben Jolliffe to MTW.
  • The next Stated Meeting of Presbytery was scheduled for Friday, June 23, 2017, 10 AM at New City Church, Newmarket, Ontario.

 

*not all actions of the presbytery are listed here for the sake of confidentiality

walrus76

Summary of Stated Meeting: June 23-24, 2017

Eastern Canada Presbytery convened on Friday, June 23 at New City Church, Newmarket, Ontario.

Ruling Elder Allan Buist served as moderator over 12 teaching elders and 3 ruling elders. 4 visitors, 3 candidates under care, 1 licentiate, 1 applicant to be taken under care, 1 applicant for ordination, 1 applicant for reception from another denomination, and 2 ruling elder nominees to be examined were also present.

Actions of the Presbytery*

  • The Presbytery received all 6 recommendations of the commission tasked with creating a public use statement explaining the situation between a former minister and Grace Toronto Church.
  • The Presbytery adopted all 7 recommendations of the commission that investigated the abrupt dissolution of pastoral relations between a minister and Westminster Bible Presbyterian Church.
  • The Presbytery examined and approved Mr. Philip VanAndel and Mr. Dan Vanderkooi, ruling elder (RE) nominees for New City, Newmarket, as candidates eligible for election by their congregation.
  • It was reported that the 45th General Assembly (June 12-16, 2017) approved Eastern Canada Presbytery’s overture to restore its original boundaries.
  • The Presbytery approved TE Stephen Welch’s transfer to Hanover Presbytery pending his reception at their meeting in September 2017.
  • Mr. Hobbe Smit of New City Church, Hamilton, was taken under care of the Presbytery. TE Connan Kublik, TE Moses Lee, RE John Belder, and RE Varun Rana were appointed as his oversight committee.
  • Rev. Christo Heiberg, a minister in good standing in the URCNA, was examined and received as a minister in the PCA and a member of Eastern Canada Presbytery, pending confirmation of his dismissal from the URCNA.
  • A commission consisting of the Ontario elders, convener TE James Quadrizius, was appointed to install Christo Heiberg as assistant pastor at Providence Community Church in St. Catharines.
  • Mr. Josh Darsaut of New City, Newmarket, was licensed by the Presbytery to preach the Gospel within its bounds.
  • The Presbytery did not sustain the examination of the candidate for ordination.
  • The Presbytery approved the motion that TE Michael Butterfield remain on its roll as being without a call until its next summer meeting.
  • The Presbytery approved the petition from New City Church, Newmarket, to organize as a particular church.
  • The Presbytery approved the call from New City Newmarket to TE Albert Kooy to be its pastor.
  • The Presbytery formed a commission to organize the congregation at New City Newmarket on September 24, 2017, convener TE Brian So, pending the congregation’s regular election of its ruling elder nominees.
  • The next Stated Meeting of Presbytery was scheduled for Friday, October 20, 2017 in Moncton, New Brunswick, hosted by Redeemer Community Church.

*not all actions of the presbytery are listed here for the sake of confidentiality