BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE ON DR. W. J. CLYDE ERVINE

Dr. Ervine was raised in a happy, hectic Presbyterian home in Northern Ireland as one of four competitive siblings, amidst 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 year of pastoral training at Presbyterian College, Montreal, Clyde was ordained in Cornwall, Ontario, and began ordained ministry at St. Andrew’s, Sutton. Pastorates in Niagara Falls and Toronto followed. In 2000, Clyde was appointed Director of Pastoral Studies at Presbyterian College, Montreal, teaching pastoral theology and supervising field education. However, the allure of congregational life took him back to congregational ministry in 2006 when he received a call to become Minister of Central Church, Hamilton.

Since then, Clyde has been busy helping to retool an historic congregation making its way from a Christendom context to a much less certain but exciting post-Christian context. Over the years, he has remained active within the life of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, currently teaching a worship course at Knox College, Toronto, and serving on the denomination’s Church Doctrine Committee. He also convenes the Students and Colleges Committee of the Hamilton Presbytery. He has published a number of articles both popular and theological. One entitled Singles in the Church: Eunuchs in the Kingdom, was published in the British theological journal, Churchman. In 2012, Clyde plans to use a two-month mini-sabbatical to write a book on church leadership.

Committed in principle and in practice to the priority of the congregation in God’s kingdom strategy, Clyde focuses on congregational preaching, teaching and leadership. His time off allows for concert-going and plays, but is otherwise spent recovering!

A REVIEW OF THE STATE AND SHAPE OF MINISTRY AT CENTRAL FALL 2006 TO WINTER 2009.