Ian MacCready. Photo - Amy MacLachlan
The national office has seen several staff come and go in the last few months. Sandy Philpot, administrative assistant in the General Assembly office for 23 years, left her post in January to help out at her husband's burgeoning computer business. Elizabeth Bartlett, who worked as a program assistant with the office's deputy clerk Don Muir for six years, assumed the position. Taking Bartlett's position is Sheila Lang, who served half time with Ministry and Church Vocations since 2003. She will continue in this post in addition to her new responsibilities.
Ian MacCready, who helped initiate the national church's website a decade ago and was its full time administrator, resigned his position to focus more on his web design business, Maestro Productions. Alex Macdonald of Presbyterian World Service & Development will act as temporary web administrator.
Reuben St. Louis. Photo - Amy MacLachlan
Reuben St. Louis has been named the new coordinator of the Canada Youth conference, succeeding Jo Morris who filled the position since the inaugural event in 2000. St. Louis is also the Youth in Mission coordinator at the national office, and is a former North American Youth Representative for the Caribbean and North America Council for Mission (CANACOM).
The Advisory Committee on Healing and Reconciliation with Aboriginal People approved criteria and a process for applying for healing and reconciliation project funding. Church members are encouraged to consider starting a project and applying for funding. The first application deadline is March 31.
Funding criteria are available at www.presbyterian.ca/healing/projects/funding.pdf.
Caroline Bishop. Photo - Vavek Glogoviecki
Samantha Edwards, art director for the Record since the June 2004 issue, has left to pursue other challenges in her career. Her loss to the magazine is eased by the arrival of Caroline Bishop, a Canadian Newsstand Award-winning art director. Bishop's energy and passion for design can be felt starting with this issue. Previous publications she has worked on include Weekly Scoop and Fashion magazine.
February's PCPak included resources on Healing and Reconciliation with Aboriginal Peoples. Prayers, hymns, facts, material for youth, and reflections on themes such as renewal of relationships, care for creation and healing were provided and are intended to be used on any Sunday between Healing and Reconciliation Sunday (May 20) and June 17, just before National Aboriginal Day (June 21). Lori Ransom, the Healing and Reconciliation Animator, is available to speak to groups and lead workshops on relations with aboriginal people. Contact Ransom at lransom@presbyterian.ca.
World Water Day is March 22, and a toolkit is available to help congregations and individuals take part. KAIROS (Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives) is helping to organize faith and community events that highlight water issues, and the PCC's Justice Ministries department also has worship and education resources available. Contact Katharine Masterton at gturner@presbyterian.ca for more information.
Canada Ministries recently announced three new funds that are available for application for Presbyterian congregations and missions. The new funds are: the Chisholm Fund, for congregations and missions in Saskatchewan and western Canada needing assistance for small capital projects or programs; the Special Project Fund, for non-congregational ministries seeking assistance with small projects; and the McBain/Barker Small Community Capital Fund, for congregations in small communities seeking assistance with small capital improvements to church buildings. Applications and conditions for each fund are available upon request. Contact Mathew Goslinski at mgoslins@presbyterian.ca for more information. – AM, PCConnect
