Rev. Dr. R. Wayne Atkinson

Personal Mission Statement:

Empowering the “whole people of God” 
both corporately and individually.

 Highlights of Qualifications

    ⋆   Strong belief that all are called to ministry.

    ⋆   Open to new ideas, concepts and styles of, worship (multi-tracking) Christian development (Rotation Model/Use of Computers) and congregational ministry, yet sensitive to needs, feelings and traditions.

    ⋆   Excellent preaching skills with a clear, professional manner. Now experimenting with visual worship.

    ⋆   Leads stimulating services with enthusiasm, providing a balance between biblical, inspirational, experiential, inter-generational, and topical preaching. Recognizes the variety of religious experiences, scriptural understandings and styles of worship and believes that we need to value difference and not seek safety in conformity.

    ⋆   Ability to develop worship and educational events that bring together personal experience, theological reflection and the practice of ministry.

    ⋆   Excellent skills in emergent pastoral care with specialized understanding and skills related to loss, bereavement and funerals.

    ⋆   Supportive team worker; committed and responsible.

    ⋆   Over 25 years experience in pastoral charge ministry with a commitment to seeing ministry as a continuing faith and growth journey.

Education

Microcomputing 2000 Certificate Program (2003) Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology, Ottawa, Ontario (Courses taken at Pembroke Campus)

D.Min. (1993)     Awarded Conjointly by the University of Toronto, Victoria University and the Toronto School of Theology, Toronto, Ontario

The Doctor of Ministry program was designed to secure a high level of competence in the practice of ministry through a creative coordination of theological reflection, professional development, social analysis and personal integration. The program combined course work, independent research, peer group collaboration, a church based ministry group, involvement by a local funeral home, as well as a project that lead to my thesis, Christian Funeral Ministry: Consciousness-Raising and Beyond.

M.Div. (1978)     Queen's Theological College, Kingston, Ontario

B.A. (1973)         University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario

Pastoral Charges Served

Since Ordination by Manitou Conference on June 5, 1976

     09/04 - present:   Westbank Pastoral Charge, Kamloops-Okanagan Presbytery, British Columbia Conference

     08/95 - 08/04:   Wesley Pastoral Charge, Renfrew Presbytery, Bay of Quinte Conference

      01/82 - 07/95:       Eastbrook Pastoral Charge, Ottawa Presbytery, M&O Conference

      08/79 - 01/82:       Eastbrook-Queenswood Pastoral Charge, Ottawa Presbytery, M&O Conference

                                    Eastbrook United Church (¾ time)

Queenswood Church (¼ time - A joint Anglican/United Community church team ministry served shared with a part-time Anglican priest)

      07/76 - 07/79:       Phelps Pastoral Charge (½ time) 
      (Carmichael, Phelps & Feronia Churches)

                             Temiscaming Pastoral Charge (½ time) (St. Paul's United Church)

North Bay Presbytery, Manitou Conference

Special Training and Involvements

Ministry of Supervision           Toronto School of Theology (05/93-11/93)

Course included theory, practice and reflection upon skills and methods of supervision as they related to developing learning covenants, providing feedback and evaluation, theological reflection, sexuality, intimacy and boundaries, individual learning styles, issues of conflict and power, social/contextual analysis, educational/theological assumptions and spirituality. Experience gained supervising a high school co-op student 15 hours/week for 5 months.

Pastoral Ministry:

Board Member of the Bereaved Families of Ontario 
                - Pembroke Affiliate (2004-2004)

Currently Board Member of the Bereaved Families of Ontario 
                - Provincial (2002-2004)

Course taken on the Meaning of Aging and Ministry with the Aging.

Board member of North East Ottawa Senior Support Services (NEOSSS), an organization that worked with Good Companions to provide services to seniors.

Introduction to CAPE (Pastoral Care) 
        – Queen's Theological College, Kingston, 1975
Plus numerous courses including Crisis - Experiential Theology and Skills for Caring, Ministry to the Hospitalized, Pastoral Care Team Training, Training for Marriage Enrichment and Health Professional Course on Chemical Dependency (Sponsored by Rideauwood Institute and accredited by the College of Family Physicians of Canada).

Congregational Development: Numerous courses in ministry areas such as Church Membership, Congregational Renewal, Management Skills for Ministry and the Church's Ministry with Children and courses on church renewal led by key persons in the church growth field. Attended the United Church’s two renewal programs, “Renovations 2000" and “Breakthrough 2001”.

Computers - Usage and Training:

Director and treasurer (2002-2004) of ValleyNet, the Renfrew County freenet. (1998-2004)
Taught course to introduce senior adults to computers and their usage (Ottawa Board of Education). Shared computer knowledge through leading two courses at Stewart House. Have used computers in worship, in Vacation Bible School and for “Life Studies” at Camp Lau Ren.

Recently completed computer course to enable me to use computers in various aspects in ministry.

Youth Involvement:

Pembroke Kiwanis Club (7 years) – Kiwanis Music Festival: 

        (5 years, 2 years as chair)  (1996-2004)

      Church Camps:    Designed and facilitated the Christian Development program at Woodland Boys Camp (Ottawa) – 2 years and at Camp Lau Ren (Renfrew Presbytery) - 4 years Junior Boys, the last three years with the use of computers.

Youth Services Canada: Committee member for a one-year Government/Community project that provided training and practical experience for youth who had left school.

      Scouts Canada: Over 20 years service as a leader, trainer   
                                        and service team member.

Youth Intervention Work: Board member (chair for 3 years) of a short term project designed to work with juvenile delinquents. (Funding – Ottawa Police, City of Ottawa, and Ottawa Board of Education.)

      1977-1979 Charter Member of the Temiscaming and District Lion’s Club 
                        - Temiscaming, Quebec

Some Involvements within the United Church of Canada

Communications person for Renfrew Presbytery

Renfrew Presbytery Representative to Bay of Quinte Conference 
                Communication Division.

Chair, Ottawa Presbytery Nominating Committee (2 years)

Montreal & Ottawa Conference Nominating Committee (2 years)

Finance Committee, M&O Conference (5 yrs - 3 as chair) 

National Finance committee (3 years) 

Ottawa Presbytery Finance Division (chair, 5 years)

Ottawa Presbytery Camping Committee (chair, 2 years)

Congregational Life & Planning, M&O Conference (2 years)

References

Rev. William Metcalf, 532 Melton St., Pembroke, Ontario K8A 2R8 (613) 735-2454

(Retired Baptist Minister currently attending Wesley United Church)

Rev. David Metzger (Retired Lutheran Minister - Member of Kiwanis Club)

489 Catherine St., Pembroke, Ontario K8A 1W2 (613) 735-2868

Winter Address: 102-1340 Harrison St. Victoria, BC V8S 3S1 (250) 589-5035

Jay McLaren, 1083 Mountainview Cres., Pembroke, Ontario K8A 8E2 (613) 732-4301

(Involved Member at Wesley, Director Camp Lau-Ren Jr. Boys)

Lloyd and/or Lois Dunn, 19 Clearview Cres., Pembroke, Ontario K8B 1A8 (613) 732-8990

(Involved Parents with 2 daughters)

Patricia Kavcic, 1313 Plumber Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario K1K 4B2 (613) 749-6261

(Licensed Lay Preacher from former charge)

Barbara Catt, 6218 Groveland Drive, Nanaimo, British Columbia V9V 1B1 (250) 756-2134

(Ross and Barbara Catt are parishioners from a former charge)