Shillington Kerfoot Family Tree

Hosted by Ned and Sonia Shillington

Both the Kerfoots and the Shillingtons were Methodists in Ireland. It is clear that their religion defined their lives. In several census records they were more precise; they listed their religion as Wesleyan Methodists. Although religion has faded in importance in our more secular society, the majority of Canadians in this family tree continue to list their religion as United Church, the successor to the Methodist Chruch. One member of the sixth generation has made religion his life's work. Terry Shillington (Family number 295) is a United Chruch Minister. We are indebted to Rev. Shillington for recording this insightful and informed commentary on the chruch and its changing role in our lives.

Terry Shillington in his own words:

From an early age I felt called to the ministry - in the United Church of Canada. Now close to retirement, I look back and see the interesting adventures I have had in ministry. Moving directly from high school to University I was a pastoral minister in rural Sask at the tender age of 25. On this life journey I was fortunate to spend 2 years in Germany, one on a scholarship, and the second serving in the German Protestant Church.

Although a 'farm boy', and thoroughly a person of the land, I have found that I am more fulfilled in urban ministry. I find my gifts of organization, recruitment and leadership work best in larger more liberal and creative city congregations with a wealth of programs and
lay leadership. I like to develop lay leaders and move people from the edge of the congregation into the center, and into leadership.

A Look at a Changing Church
Now ordained 35 years, I have witnessed the church change a great deal.

1. I have seen the church move from being the center of a still religious culture (in 1967) to the edge of a far more secular culture.
2. Back in 1967 we were just discovering that many people were staying away from church because they did not find it touched and inspired them. Now we are much more thoughtful and intentional about reaching out to a secular culture, and speaking its language. We understand now that many things we do must have an outreach base to it.
3. We have been part of a revolution in music and worship styles. Raised in a rural, pretty conservative (and frankly boring) small church worship, I soon began to experiment with creative, more interesting worship models. Now our congregation has 2 worship styles each Sunday:
   1. traditional organ and choir based worship, which still appeals to older members.
   2. we offer a contemporary service with informality, warmth, guitars and drums for music and simple direct worship leadership.
4. As the generations change, we find we have far more consumers in worship (mid and younger aged people who ask, what you can do for them) and fewer staunchly committed, ever present worshipers (who are there because this is THEIR church.
5. As the United Church moves into this new millennium, it becomes clear many United Church congregations are dying. They have not adjusted quickly enough to a generation of boomers and busters who ask for quite different ministry than their elders.   And perhaps many of these United Churches have not lived their faith with enough passion and depth. Churches of all kinds and sorts generally are facing a furious onslaught of secular values and competition for people's times and interests. Still, our own congregation is holding its own and growing slightly, as we offer worship that is clearly comfortable and native to this culture
   -- informal, celebrative, high energy and hopefully relevant.

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