I think the UCCan has many multi-point pastoral charges - so I think you will get some responses northstar.  Good questions. 

I think that there is a difference between the multi-point charge of past years (and still continuing today) and the new way of sharing a minister.

I'm thinking of the geography and patterns of settlement in this province.   We have a few cities, but also many villages perhaps fifty or so klms apart - and each village is often surrounded by rural routes and small settlements.  At one time each village would have its church and manse, and each settlement would have its little white clapboard church - a multi-point charge.  The minister would do a service in the village, and perhaps visit two other churches a Sunday, getting around four, five or six churches once or twice a month - a multi-point charge.  

Gradually, over the last thirty years or so, the small settlements have become de-populated as people move into the larger villages, or the cities.  The smaller churches in each pastoral charge are closing.  

At the same time, attendance at the village churches is dropping - givings falling off, and expenses (especially salaries) are increasing.    And we find some churches are looking for half time ministers.    Sometimes with two villages fifty klms apart looking for half time clergy, they will hire one minister between them.  The two churches do not join or become two points on a single charge.  They remain independent - each has a separate agreement with the minister.   

I think that is what is happening in several places in this province.  How it will work out is hard to predict.

Hi northstar,

I have been the minister in a total of three shared pastoral relationships.

Two were 1/2 and 1/2 and the third was 1/4, 1/4 and 1/2

A bit rought to start and once the kinks got worked out it went pretty well.

Yup

Good points no different from working a single point full-time.

Bad points range from a plethora of meetings and administrivia to congregations that do not respect each other and play tug of war with the clergy as the rope.

Grace and peace to you.

John

My friend was called 1/2 time each by 2 separate United Church congregation in the same corner of the city.   ie One minister 2 churches  2 Boards etc. She preached at both on Sundays as services were at different times.

It wasn't long until one congregation decided to close and transfer their assests to the other congregation. The churches are Buchan and Beverly in Edmonton. It certianly gave one church the resources they needed for awhile to meet their bills and think about mission.

Now several years later  fiances are a concern again.

Tabitha, did the one minister(2 congregations) continue in the 1 pastoral charge or did they do a needs assessment and called or appointed someone new. I hope this question makes sense.

CH-the one minister stayed and stayed at the same FTE she was with the 2 congregations. I don't think a Jnac is required to change FTE's but I could be mistaken..

A closing celebration of the one church  happened and then a prade to the continuing church.

The folks from the old church were encouraged to come to the continuing one. Indeed the next baptism was a baby whose family had  historically been connected to the church that shut.

Here in this presbytery-somewhere in BC-We just had a minister who worked at 2 churches. One church just ended his appointment-without talking to the other church.

Makes it tricky when the churches do not communicate well.

Rather than being multi charge, churches should just accept freewill offerings.

is this attemped humour or misunderstanding of the word 'charge' jae?

If one of your friends on here had posted the same thing as I did carolla, you wouldn't have used the term "attempted."

this is not true jae - are you trying to be humourous or misunderstanding the term?  I never can tell with your posts, hence my question ... I still don't know from your answer. 

anymore you can tell us of your congregations expexplorations Northstar?

In the old days "circuit preachers" were very common, at least in rural areas.

True Jon - my own church has its roots in the circuit rider tradition - one of whom was EggertonRyerson - attributed often as a founder of the public education system in Ontario. 

I just wanted to thank the people who answered my questions seriously.  I got the information i needed and will turn it in to m church tomorrow.