By Ali Smith

In the empty sanctuary of St. Matthew Wesley United Church in North Sydney, Nova Scotia, Lori Beth Sheffield-Bowles remembers first experiencing the peace of God. 

"I started out on the path to ministry there as a little girl, shy, could barely see over the pulpit, and now I go back there with the pulpit a little too short and not so much that shy girl anymore," she remarks. "Now I am a woman with a voice and a vision."

A path that began with the toddling steps of a three-year-old brought Lori Beth to Sackville, New Brunswick on May 29, 2011 to be ordained. 

Studying at St. Thomas University in Fredericton and then in Halifax at the Atlantic School of Theology, one of Lori Beth's biggest learnings has been that church can exist outside of a designated building.  While on internship in Alliston, Ontario, she saw the Spirit at work even among the ball hockey league she ran in the church parking lot.

Sheffield-Bowles believes that if we want to survive as a church, we need to change the way we think and envision church.

Being more than 25 years younger than the average United Church minister, Sheffield-Bowles sees a long and healthy ministry ahead of her.  She does, however, think that when she retires, church will be happening in different ways.

She will bring her quiet, yet powerful, energy to Tabusintac Pastoral Charge in Miramichi Presbytery, with her husband James. Reflecting on her ministry gifts: "I come from Cape Breton and have learned to fight for and stand behind what I believe in.  In this case, I believe in God and that we are not alone."

By Ali Smith 

When Randy Nason was named chair-elect of Woolastook Presbytery in 2009, he knew that changes had to be made to the way the court gathered.  A number of Presbyters were considering resigning, expressing a desire for more meaningful conversation; as well they wanted to be more informed about decisions being made. 

"They were disenchanted with how Presbytery worked," Nason explains.  

This prompted an investigation into new ways of meeting. According to Nason, "The goal became to make Presbytery meetings more informative, more Spirit-filled and also to give Presbyters an opportunity to know each other better." 

It was suggested to meet in commission tables like the General Council of the United Church of Canada.  The court would be divided into three groups as opposed to continuing to do the work as one body.  Each group would have representatives from all seven committees, allowing more voices to be heard. All groups would report back to Presbytery as a whole. The committees met as usual.

In June 2010, the decision was made to explore this new structure and Woolastook Presbytery has been meeting this way ever since. 

"We haven't implemented it.," cautions Nason, "we are experimenting with it.  It will emerge.  It will never look the same."  The commissions have not yet been given the power to make decisions but they have engaged in many important discussions.  "The success of this new approach is totally based on trust, sensitivity, and having information," he says.

While there have been a few opponents, the feedback from Presbyters has been largely positive.  It seems to have allowed people to learn more about their personal faith as well as the goverance and role of the United Church.  While it is a work in progress, Nason says, "The people who were ready to leave Presbytery are some of our biggest supporters now.  I think we have something that is truly unique."