Myles honoured upon retirement

By John A. Montgomerie

For The Spectator

NovaNewsNow.Com



Gordon Providence United Church, Bridgetown, was the setting at the morning service on Sunday, May 18 for the retirement of Rev. Marlyne Myles from a ministry of 35 years in Maritime Conference churches.

Raised in Saint John, NB and residing in Bedford, NS, she has been in the Bridgetown church since 2005.

Her particular goal has been to assist the William Black Memorial Pastoral Charge in making vital changes in its organization of finances and property. Following a national trend in Canadian churches, the church has had to accept a streamlining of its operations. In June 2005, the four churches in the charge amalgamated as one charge with four worship sites: Gordon Providence in Bridgetown, Wesley United in Tupperville, Centenary United in Upper Granville, and Lawrencetown United Church.

A far more intrinsic change emerged at a congregational meeting in February 2007 when three motions by members of the churches in Tupperville, Upper Granville, and Lawrencetown were passed to close these churches. These churches, now closed, are being prepared for sale, subject to the proper deeds being searched. Once each building is sold, a final service of decommissioning will be held in each church. All of this work is being done in conjunction with the Valley Presbytery of the United Church of Canada.

At Sunday's service, Marlyne relinquished the symbols of her ministry in an impressive ceremony of ritual. At a luncheon following the service, she was presented with a gift by Tony Orlando on behalf of a grateful congregation. She will be feted further by Maritime Conference in Sackville, NB and Cadets Canada in Ottawa, ON. The new minister selected to replace Marlyne, Rev. Janis Campbell, will begin her pastoral duties on July 1, 2008.



JOHN A. MONTGOMERIE is a member of Gordon Providence United Church in the William Black Memorial Pastoral Charge in Bridgetown.