Discerning Next Steps Together

Dear Friends in Valhalla Parish—

Last week I shared about the conversations started between the wardens from our parish and from St. Andrew's, Trail. On Wednesday we brought an update on this conversation to parish council. In this email newsletter, we are bringing both an update and a request to participate in a broader consultation within the whole parish. 

You are invited to participate in a discernment conversation to help inform the future of ministry in our parish, and the West Kootenay region. This conversation will take place during our regular worship services (July 9 in New Denver and July 16 in Castlegar). We would very much like you to be there. 

As you may know, parishes in the West Kootenays met together in Spring and Autumn 2022 to discern the shape of parish ministry going forward. Earlier this year, parish councils in Trail and Castlegar both passed motions formally indicating a desire to better support one another in ministry.

In May 2023, the Rev. Neil Elliot retired from Trail, leaving a vacancy there. Here in Valhalla Parish, Andrew's contract comes to an end at the end of September. This timing leaves us with some significant possibilities to continue our work and discernment together. 

One of the realities for both St. David’s and St. Andrew’s is that neither community can afford a full-time priest. Each community is currently able to staff clergy at somewhere between 60%-70%, and to commit to something in this range for the next five years. 

The communities of Trail and Castlegar have some natural connections. We experimented with working together during Holy Week earlier this year. Clergy and Lay People have worshiped and served in each others’ parishes. 

The wardens of both St. Andrew’s and St. David’s know that hiring clergy at anything less than full-time is increasingly difficult throughout the country. 

With this in mind, wardens of both parishes have recently begun discussing the possibility of pooling resources to hire a clergy person or ministry team to support ministry across our two parishes. This team would work with, equip, and coordinate Licensed Lay Ministers, Deacons, Priests in the area. We are not talking about merging parishes, or closing one building or the other. We are, however, discussing ways in which we can work together to hire clergy to support ministry in both communities. 

During worship on July 9th (in New Denver) and July 16th (in Castlegar), we will discuss a proposal to pooling resources between our two parishes to hire and share a full-time clergy team.

Together, all members of our congregation will have the opportunity to share what we Like about this proposal, what Concerns we might have, and concrete Wishes that address these concerns going forward. The Bishop and Wardens will use this information going forward in considering next steps. 

If you have any questions about this process, please contact Andrew or the Wardens. We’re very much looking forward to continuing in this process of discernment together. Please keep this conversation and our parish in your prayers. 

In Christ, 

Andrew Stephens-Rennie
Valhalla Parish Missioner