Westminster is led by a team of elders who are prayerfully elected by the congregation.
Our elder team includes the pastor (who is the "teaching elder") and nine other members (who are called "ruling elders").
The word "Presbyterian" means "of elders." This isn't a reference to one's age, but to a position of recognized leadership and authority in a congregation. It is a reference to how we govern ourselves as a group of believers.
Each elder oversees an area of the congregation's life and work.
- Worship (Pastor Ruttan)
- Congregational Life, Clerk of Session (Carolyn Trott)
- Presbytery Representative (Cathy Clark)
- Growing our Faith – Adult (Colin Leonard)
- Prayer and Care (Mary Colvin)
- Growing our Faith – Youth (Steve Sainsbury)
- Church Operations (Aaron Harris)
- Finance, Administration & Human Resources (Tom Walsh)
- Mission and Outreach (Jim Bewick)
- Online Engagement (Guy Gagnon)
The election of elders happens every two years. This is called “term service.” Each elder normally serves a term of six years with a third of the elders rotating out of active service every two years as new elders are welcomed. Every two years the oversight areas are adjusted as needed.
This format of governance is in accordance with the polity of The Presbyterian Church in Canada and approved by the Presbytery of Barrie.
