A Brief History:

In 1833, eighteen people in the sparsely settled area around Frenchman's Bay struggled to preserve their Presbyterian faith while building a new culture in a strange land. Two years later, in 1835, the Reverend R.H Thornton held services on alternate Sundays in two log schoolhouses in the area. Erskine Presbyterian Church was established by the vision of a handful of determined Christians whose faith empowered them to overcome the obstacles of their harsh life and build not only for themselves but for the future of their new land. [Image: Sketch of the (restored) original sanctuary.]

By 1854, two churches served the people of the community on sites still used by our congregation today. In 1883, Erskine Presbyterian and Dunbarton Presbyterian amalgamated under the name Dunbarton Presbyterian. Our historic sanctuary was built in the village of Dunbarton.

In 1925, the congregation entered the United Church of Canada. In 1973, following a fire which gutted the Dunbarton sanctuary, Dunbarton and Fairport United Churches came together to rebuild (as seen in the sketch above) and form our present congregation.

[Image: Sketch of the current sanctuary.]

By 1978, our congregation made its first commitment to undertake the expansion required to become the United Church for all of South Pickering. Eight years later, on February 9, 1986, our commitment became a reality when we worshiped together for the first time in our new sanctuary (shown in the sketch at the right).

Our rural charge has become a suburban church, in the center of a rapidly developing, dynamic community. With heritage spanning over 150 years, we of Dunbarton-Fairport, most of whose roots are in other places, face a challenge akin to that of our forebears. We look to the past for inspiration and to the future with hope and enthusiasm.

Mission Statement:

Informed by a developing understanding, of God's will, exemplified in the life and teaching, of Jesus, our Congregation seeks to grow individually and collectively to recognize and respond to personal, community, national and international needs and opportunities. Our structure and activities reflect our attempts to:

Our Biblical Convictions:

Our sense of mission is rooted in these Biblical convictions.

Fellowship:

We recognize the dynamic of coming together and the presence of the Holy Spirit, which makes the congregation more than the sum of its parts. (Matthew 18: 20).

Discipleship:

We are upheld by Jesus' promise to be with us always. The strength of that promise assists us to try to live a life of discipleship. We are to go out to "all nations"; we may not limit ourselves to a small group but are told to reach out beyond ourselves in service and witness to do "all that I have commanded". The primary focus for our mission is making disciples. (Matthew 28: 19ff.)

Congregational Style:

We are all minister, as members of the body of Christ, given different gifts to fulfill the mission of the church. (I Corinthians 12: 27ff). We have a structure which is both open and flexible, dependent in many ways upon waiting for and relying upon members to ask: "Who is my neighbour?" and find ways to respond to that question. Thus various committees form and disband, as they act upon their responsibilities, refining and renewing their sense of mission. (Luke 10: 29ff).

Stewardship:

We have a responsibility to live as trustworthy and accountable stewards and servants of Christ. (I Corinthians 4: 1-2). We see the parable of the talents as important, partly because of its identification with our "Pickering Parable", an ongoing program which invites us to put our talents to work. But the parable of the talents tells us too that stewardship is not only a conserving activity, it also involves the willingness to risk what we have, to gain more for God's service. In an expanding church, we must be able to take informed risks. (Matthew 25: 15ff)

Trial:

We remember God's promises to Abraham and Sarah and the commitment they undertook to leave land, family and possessions as part of their covenant with God. As a congregation entering an expanded ministry, we must be clear about the possessions and loyalties we may have to leave behind us as well as those we are picking up. (Genesis 12: 1). We recognize the importance of Jesus' parable about new wine in old wine skins which reminds us of the vulnerability and fragility of the new member compared to older members who have the support of an established community of faith. Our congregation is aware of the potential for brokenness as it expands. We need to be able to reach out in love and accept the pain we may all feel. (Mark 2: 18-22). We understand that the Gospel promises both division and the "unity of the body". We need to recognize and work creatively within that reality. At the same time, we recognize that, as Paul said "we are joined in the love of God from which nothing can separate us." We aspire to fulfill God's will, acknowledging that separation, conflict and other difficulties exist, but that they should not deter us. (Luke 12:5 1). We must function out of love for one another. We recognize that there is a tension between functioning out of love and the imperative to be prepared to leave things and people behind. (1 John 4: 19).

Hope and Trust:

We know that in everything, God works for good. We believe in planning and solid organization, but we fundamentally trust in where we are led and God who leads us. (Romans 8: 28). We recognize that the Kingdom of God grows in ways we cannot understand. (Mark 4: 26-27).

Our Plan for Ministry

We feel that our mission statement reflects our Biblical convictions. We seek to grow in our understanding of God's will in order that we may respond in service and witness to the community and world around us. We hope that our worship and our structure will encourage all to find an expression of their personal ministry in God's service.

In our plan for ministry, we need to consider what we are doing and how we might work to better fulfill the goals inherent in our convictions.