Our Minister - Rev. Dr. W.J. Clyde Ervine

Dr. Ervine was born and brought up in a happy, hectic 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 ministry at St. Andrew’s, Sutton. Pastorates in Niagara Falls and Toronto followed. In 2000, Clyde was called to be Director of Pastoral Studies at Presbyterian College, Montreal, teaching pastoral theology, and helping students to integrate their theological studies with the development of pastoral skills and character. However, the allure of congregational life took Clyde back to congregational ministry in 2006 when he received a call to become Minister of Central Church, Hamilton.

Since 2006, Clyde has been busy helping to retool an historic congregation that is making its way from a Christendom context to the much less certain but exciting context of the twenty-first century. Over the years, Clyde has also been active within the life of the Presbyterian Church at large, particularly the Church Doctrine Committee. He currently serves as the Convener of the Students and Colleges Committee of the Presbytery of Hamilton. 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 2010, Clyde will teach a course on Worship at Knox College, Toronto, affording him the opportunity to keep integrating ministerial practice and theological reflection. What the weekly schedule of sermon preparation, teaching, and pastoral leadership means, however, is that his day off is mostly spent recovering!

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