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A Page in Progress
It is our intention to include profiles of all the ordained clergy serving within the Presbytery of Hamilton. However, as we have several new ministers in our midst we have begun with them and will then begin to add those who have been part of the Presbytery for some years. Come back often as we hope this page will be changing regularly.
Beals: The Rev. George
The Rev. George Beals came to Hamilton to be the Minister of the two-point charge of the Church of St. John and St. Andrew, and St. David’s Presbyterian Church, in late August, 2006.He is married to Sue and together they have three children – Daniel (Dan), Aaron and Sherry. George has been a Minister for thirty-one years. Previously, he served congregations in western Prince Edward Island; Madoc, Ontario (north of Belleville); and in Richmond Hill, Ontario.
George and Sue were born and raised in Toronto. They met through their involvement in the Presbytery of West Toronto PYPS. George completed all his post-secondary, academic studies in Toronto: a Bachelor of Technology (Business Management) [B. Tech.] at what was then Ryerson Polytechnical Institute (now Ryerson University); and, followed by a Master of Divinity degree (M. Div.) at Knox College. Sue is a graduate of the nursing programme at Toronto, Sick Children’s Hospital.
George served for thirty-two years as a Chaplain with the Canadian Armed Forces on the Supplementary Reserve List. For seventeen Summers he served as a Chaplain at the Atlantic Region Army Cadet Camp Argonaut, located at CFB Gagetown, New Brunswick.
Sue and George are deeply involved with the congregations to which they minister. They now enjoy their Summers camping in the provincial parks of Ontario. Sue is an avid reader while George relaxes watching television. They take as much time as they can to visit their children and grandchildren – Dan and Bonnie (Solomon) in Kingston; Aaron and Shireen (Nate and Josh) in Madoc; and, Sherry in Richmond Hill. God is good! (Posted: July/09)
Billard: The Rev. Dr. Thomas
The induction of Tom Billard as the minister at Kirkwall Presbyterian Church (November 4, 2007) was another important step in Tom’s faith journey. Tom was born in Glace Bay, Cape Breton, and his Reformed church roots go back hundreds of years to Huguenots on his father’s side and Scottish Presbyterians on his mother’s side. As an “army brat”, Tom grew up in small communities in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick and as a teenager landed in St. Lambert on the south shore of Montreal. After finishing his B.Sc. in chemistry at McGill, Tom moved on to Toronto to get a PhD in physical chemistry at the University of Toronto. His research included the study of the degradation of Egyptian antiquities and included a field trip to the temples and tombs of Luxor.
In the course of his professional career Tom felt a pull to do something different with his life. After much prayer and searching, Tom had a strong sense of being called to ordained ministry. Tom returned to the classrooms of Knox College, Toronto. During his time at Knox, Tom worked part time for Rosedale PC as their “Outreach Coordinator” and spent three summers as student minister at Knox PC, Stokes Bay, on the Bruce Peninsula. Tom also enjoyed volunteering at Evangel Hall.
Tom met his wife Laura while they were both PhD candidates at the University of Toronto. They were married a few years later and have two children, James and Katie. (Reviewed July/09)
Brice: The Rev. Dr. Larry
Larry, the son of the Post Master of Maple and his mother, a home-maker, elder and community volunteer, grew up in St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Maple. Larry attended the University of Toronto where he earned a B.A., B.Ed., Th.M. and D.Min. and the University of Edinburgh in Scotland for three years earning an Hon. B.D. Larry was ordained in 1981 into his first charge at Chalmer's Walpole and Knox, Jarvis (1981-1992). Married in 1984 to Karen Ebert (who has had a much appreciated music ministry in churches where Larry has served), started their family in 1990 with two daughters, Erika and Alena.
Having built a Confederation Log Home on the shores of Lake Erie at Long Point, they moved in in 1992 and together with his wife started an international Evangelistic Ministry, Reachout Ministries (1992- ). Larry began his television ministry in a week long, live crusade on national television on 100 Huntley Street in 1994 and responded to David Mainse's urging to air a program on CTS. This began in 2003, with a show called Reachout for Life, now in its seventh season, and can be seen three times each week across Canada on CTS. During these years as an evangelist, Larry never gave up his calling as a pastor, serving St. Andrew's Welland, 1996-98 and part-time at Pine Ridge Presbyterian Church in West Toronto Presbytery from 1999-2008. Larry and his family are delighted for Larry to have started part-time stated supply at St. Paul's Presbyterian Church, Burlington and are making many good friendships there. Larry and Karen and their daughters thank God faithfully for their many blessings over the years, serving Christ in His church in Canada and around the world! They look forward to seeing what God is going to do next! (Posted July/09)
Dawson: The Rev. Bob
Bob Dawson grew up on a farm, in a family of six children, and, after attending one-room country schools from grade one to grade eight, graduated from high school in Woodstock, Ontario He met his wife, Linda in 1970, and they were married in 1972. Linda grew up on a family farm near Tavistock, Ontario, and, after graduating from high school in Woodstock, received her BA from WLU in Waterloo.
During a career in retail management, Bob was very involved in his congregation, and served as an elder, clerk of session, and convenor of the Christian Education Committee at Doon Presbyterian Church in Kitchener, where the family were members for 17 years. Bob and Linda have three children; William, who lives with his wife Judith in Hamilton; Debbie, who lives in Burlington; and Brian, who lives in Lake Louise, Alberta.
Feeling a very strong call to ordained ministry, Bob returned to school in 1993, attending University of Waterloo, prior to graduating with an M.Div. from Knox College in 1997. While at Knox, he completed a course in Clinical Pastoral Education at St. Mary’s Hospital, Kitchener. During his time at Knox College, Bob worked most weekends as an on-call chaplain in a busy downtown hospital He also very much enjoyed the opportunity to complete two graduate school courses, Biblical Archeology and Talmudic Quest, taken jointly from Hebrew University in Israel and Toronto School of Theology. Bob has also found his having attended a study tour in Eastern Europe to be very helpful in his ministry.
Bob was inducted as the Minister of Brant Hills Presbyterian Church on July 6, 1997, and has thoroughly enjoyed the past eleven years as minister at Brant Hills. During that time, the congregation has moved to blended/contemporary worship, with PowerPoint streamed throughout all worship services. He is looking forward to joining members of Brant Hills on their third annual mission trip to Biloxi, Mississippi in mid-October, 2008.(Reviewed July/09)
Dickson: The Rev. Gregory R.
Gregory, the eldest of four boys in a family of Nova Scotians, was born in Moncton, New Brunswick. He grew up and went to school in London, Ontario, where at the age of eleven he was a newsboy for the London Free Press and later became a Queen's Scout. After high school he attended the Royal Military College, and served as an officer in the Royal Canadian Navy. It was during this time that he met and married his wife Melanie in 1975. Melanie, the only child of Elizabeth and Bob Whyte (a first generation Scot), is originally from Dawson Creek, BC. She was a Registered Dietitian until her stroke in 1998.
Rev. Dickson holds a baccalaureate degree in commerce (B.Comm.) and an MBA from Saint Mary’s University, Halifax and is a Certified Management Accountant (CMA). After many years of self-employment, he heard God’s call to ministry, entered Knox College, and graduated in 2007. Greg has enjoyed singing in the bass section of many choirs over the years; and is an amateur fiddler and an occasional golfer.
Gregory was inducted as the Minister of New Westminster Church on March 9, 2008, and commences his ordained ministry in Christ's Church in the city of Hamilton with a great sense of anticipation and enthusiasm.
Ervine: The Rev. Dr. W. J. Clyde
Dr. Ervine was born and brought up in a hectic and happy Presbyterian home in Northern Ireland, one of four competitive siblings. There was, he remembers, much banging of pianos, doors and egos! He was educated at the University of St. Andrew’s and the University of Cambridge, where he completed a doctorate in nineteenth century church history. After a further year of study at Presbyterian College, Montreal, Clyde was ordained in Cornwall, Ontario, and began his ordained missionary service at St. Andrew’s, Sutton. Pastorates in Niagara Falls and Toronto followed. In 2000, Clyde was called to the position of Director of Pastoral Studies at Presbyterian College, Montreal, teaching in the area of pastoral theology. His interest lay in helping students integrate their theological studies with the development of pastoral skills and character. However, the allure of congregational leadership could not for long be ignored. So, in August of 2006, Clyde responded to an invitation from Central Church, Hamilton to be its minister.
Over the years, Clyde has been involved with various committees of the denomination. A good part of 2004 was spent co-writing a paper analyzing the life and mission of the Presbytery of Montreal over the last fifty years, entitled Faithful When We Hear Christ’s Call. He has published a number of articles both popular and theological. One of these entitled, Singles in the Church: Eunuchs in the Kingdom was recently published in a British theological journal, Churchman.
Now settled in Hamilton, Clyde is happy to be engaged in congregation building again. And though the schedule of weekly sermon preparation can be grueling, preaching and teaching remain his passion. His day off is mostly spent ‘recovering’. That sometimes involves cycling, concert-going, but most often just hanging around with friends.
Hoogsteen: The Rev. Mark
The induction of Mark Hoogsteen as the minister of Knox Burlington Presbyterian Church took place on March 30, 2008. Mark was born in St. Thomas, Ontario and grew up in Kitchener. Mark's heritage is Dutch and he was baptized in the Christian Reformed Church. In Kitchener, For many years, his family was a part of Calvin Presbyterian Church where the Rev. Bert van Mossel was the minister. It was Mr. van Mossel who first mentioned the possibility of a call to ministry. Growing up, Camp Iona and PYPS were cornerstones of Mark's Christian nurture. Mark worked for a long time as a residential counsellor in a Christian Horizons group home, one of the best experiences of his life.
After studying history and philosphy at St. Jerome's College in Waterloo, he pursued theological studies at Knox College and then McGill/Presbyterian College. During his three years at PC, Mark commuted to Montreal from Milton, Ontario and did his field education at St. David's Campbellville & Nassagaweya Presbyterian Churches.
Ordained in 1997, Mark was called to the charge of Port Carling & Torrance where he served for three years. After moving to Burlington, Mark studied at Knox College towards a doctorate of theology degree in homiletics and worship. Mark has one sister, Karen who lives in New York City. Mark is married to Kathy, an occupational therapist at the Hamilton General Hospital. They have three wonderful sons, Timothy, Samuel & Daniel. (Reviewed July/09)
Huberts: The Rev. Henry
Henry Huberts grew up on a dairy farm northwest of Kichener that also had 20,000 chickens and 400 acres of crops. He has been a professing Christian since the age of 14 and felt the call to Christian Ministry at the age of 20. He continued his education in both the United States and Canada. He completd a Bachelor of Religious Education at Reformed Bible College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, then later a Master of Divinity degree from Tyndale Seminary in North York. Following an additional Ministry year at Presbyterian College in Montreal he was ordained on June 5, 2004.
Before being inducted as Minister of St. Andrew's Church, Ancaster on April 6, 2008, Henry had been the Minister of First Presbyterian Church in Seaforth, Ontario, and also of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Clinton. The Rev, Huberts is married and he and his wife Brenda have three children, Ryan, Isaac and Josiah. He begins his ministry in Ancaster with the unswerving conviction that even though we live in a changing world that God, his love and his word are unchanging. (Reviewed July/09)
Jenvey: The Rev. Stephen
The Rev. Stephen Jenvey was ordained by the Presbytery of Hamilton on September 5, 2007, and on that same date he was inducted as Minister of West Flamboro Presbyterian Church. Steve was born and raised in Vancouver where he attended Kerrisdale Presbyterian Church. After completing a University degree in Agriculture he moved to Prince George, BC, where he worked in the BC forest service for a few years. He also has ten years experience as a Silviculture Forester for a forest products company.
Steve began his theological education at Regent College which he attended for two years in the 1990s. And now, after further study at Presbyterian College in Montreal, he has received his Master of Divinity Degree at their Spring 2007 Convocation.
Steve and his wife Sandy have two children, Lydia and Graeme. He says that he enjoys music and plays the trombone. He also indicated that he enjoys cycling and squash. (Reviewed July/09)
Kouwenberg: The Rev. Harold
Harold Kouwenberg, inducted as minister of St. Columba Presbyterian Church, Hamilton, on February 3, 2008, brings a warm and proactive enthusiasm to his role as pastor, teacher and friend to his congregation and his community. Harold has a passion for people. an infectious joy and an energetic vision to share. It is his prayer to communicate well, to demonstrate practically, and to experience gratefully the gospel of Jesus Christ. He has happily transferred all his civic patriotism and loyalty to his new community, a task made easy by his lifelong allegiance to the Hamilton Tiger Cats. With faith, there is always hope!
Harold and Lorraine have settled on the West Mountain and enjoy entertaining family and friends at home. They are proud parents of a blended family of one son and five daughters, living from Victoria to St. John's and three wonderful grandchildren.
McAllister: The Rev. Scott
Scott was inducted as minister of Caledonia Presbyterian Church, on September 14, 2008. Born in Guelph, Scott is the eldest child of John and Holly McAllister. He spent most of his childhood in Clifford, Ontario, attending school in both Harriston and Palmerston and his home church was the Knox-Calvin Congregation in Harriston. He was heavily involved in both the choirs and the youth group in his hime congregation. He also became involved with the PYPS of Southwestern Ontario and served on the executive for four years. In 2000 Scott spent a year traveling abroad in the Up With People Worldsmart program which is aimed at leadership development and bridging cultural divides. He returned to study psychology at the University of Waterloo where he recognized God's call to ministry. Following his graduation from Waterloo he spent three years at Knox College where he earned his Master of Divinity degree. At Knox he was awarded the Chris Vais Memorial Award in recognition of his contribution to the community life of the college. He met his wife Erin at a Synod young adult retreat and they have now been married for almost three years. Together they have enjoyed serving Dorchester Presbyterian Church as the Junior Youth Ministry Co-ordinators. In his spare time Scott enjoys reading, music and sports of all kinds.
Smith: The Rev. Colleen
Colleen was born and raised in St. Catharines. With her family, she attended Scottlea Presbyterian Church, a small suburban congregation where she participated and provided leadership in the Sunday school and musical ministries. The church has always played an important role in her life. Her original calling was as a Registered Nurse, working in that field in Pennsylvania and Niagara-on-the-Lake. After studies at Ewart College, Colleen was designated to the Order of Diaconal Ministries in 1980, and spent subsequent years as a Christian Education Director in Barrie and Oakville, and Associate Minister in Milton. After completing course work at Knox College, she was ordained to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament in 2000. She then received the appointment as Associate Minister at our denomination’s largest congregation, St. Andrew’s Kitchener. She has currently been completing a one year contract as Interim Minister at Gateway Community (Presbyterian) Church in the Don Mills area. Her continuing education topics have included interim and transitional ministries, biblical perspectives, health and spirit, church development, and others. Colleen has a strong musical background, and has recently taken up knitting. She is currently interested in the ministry of knitting prayer shawls and giving them to those in need. Colleen has a passion for animals and currently shares her home in Burlington with her cat Madeleine. She was inducted as Minister of Heritage Green Church, Stoney Creek, on March 2, 2008.
Wilson: The Rev. Dr. Philip M.
Philip began his ministry in the Hamilton Presbytery by being called to the Eastmount congregation in mid 2003. Then, on April 1st, 2005, the Eastmount congregation amalgamated with the congregation of St. Enoch’s to form the new congregation of Trinity Presbyterian Church and Philip became the first minister of this new congregation.
Philip is a graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University (B.A.), Knox College, University of Toronto (MDiv) and Princeton Theological Seminary, NJ (DMin). Before coming to Hamilton, he served the congregation of St. Andrew's, Corunna, for nine years.
Philip is married to Elaine (a District Manager for the Canadian Red Cross). They have two grown children, Erin and Brian (Erin now works and lives in Toronto and Brian works and lives in Hamilton) and two cats. Philip's sports of choice are bicycling, golfing and curling. (Posted: July/09)