The Toronto Conference Restructuring Project |
Project FAQ
In this section, the Steering Group wants to present the latest thinking on many of the questions that have been asked so far on this project. Some of the questions are issues we already face in the current structure. Some answers didn’t take much time to get; others took a tremendous amount of effort. Other answers are still vague, like mist which will eventually clear, though we can’t say exactly when.
Here’s a sample of the latter:
- Will the new Presbyteries have the energy and spirit to provide not only management but also leadership?
- How can we take care of ourselves and not be stretched too thin, so as not to burn people out?
- How will we prevent people from falling through the cracks?
- How will we make rational and appropriate decisions about the stewardship of our buildings/property as well as people?
- Where is Jesus in all of this?
- Will this new structure of Conference and Presbyteries increase membership/participants in our congregations?
Only time and experience will provide final answers, but these questions reach to the heart of what this restructuring is all about. We see our emerging structures as ways of freeing ourselves from where we have been, for breathing God’s new life into our Conference, our Presbyteries and, by extension, our Congregations. The questions call us to a different vision of who we are:
- As more hands pitch in, the workload will be lighter for many, even as we deal with larger distances.
- With fewer meetings to attend, more energy can be focused on our Congregations.
- Staff resources which have seemed distant will now be closer.
- Administrative work can be lifted from the shoulders of the Presbyteries.
- Hope that in all the changes we’ll focus energy on finding creative ways of being faithful followers of Jesus.
We see Presbyteries developing ways to be energetic and exciting, doing things in a new way that will encourage the participation of those who are not involved in the current functioning of Presbytery, a vision that includes accessibility, inclusiveness, diversity and listening for voices often not heard.
The Questions and Answers can be viewed by clicking on the links below.
