(UPDATED) Full-Time Pastor at Orangeville CRC (Orangeville, ON)

Orangeville Christian Reformed Church 

Orangeville Christian Reformed Church was formed in 1950 by a group of Dutch immigrants. At the time, Orangeville, Ontario was a small rural community of 3,000 people where the primary occupation was farming or support to farming.

Today, Orangeville is a Town of approximately 32,000. It has become a commuter town for the GTA,
Newmarket, Barrie, Guelph, Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge and others. Most of the businesses in
Orangeville are service industry related.

Orangeville Christian Reformed Church is looking for a full-time Pastor to lead our congregation for the
next chapter of our church life. Having just celebrated 75 years of God’s faithfulness to our congregation, we are excited to see how our future will unfold with the Lord’s leading.

Orangeville Christian Reformed Church believes in one God in three persons (Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit). We believe that the Bible is the inspired and authoritative Word of God. We believe that Jesus is
both true God and true man, the long-awaited Messiah who died for the sins of humanity; and that
salvation comes through Him alone, by grace alone, through faith alone. We are rooted in the Reformed
confessions of the Heidelberg Catechism, the Belgic Confession, and the Canons of Dordt. We gather to praise God; we nurture each other in faith and love; we are committed to serving and sharing the gospel with others; and we seek to pursue God's justice and peace in all areas of life.

Orangeville Christian Reformed Church serves many of the communities in south-central Dufferin County. The majority of our members live in or near Orangeville, Waldemar, and Grand Valley. The church has approximately 105 members, but there are a number of regular attenders who are not formal members. Demographically by age, we tend to be an older congregation, but there are a number of younger families, with small children. We do not have many youth or young adults at this time. As a congregation with many retired members, and young children, we consider pastoral care and visiting by the Pastor to be a key task, second only to leading Sunday worship.

For many years, as a rural farming community, Orangeville and the surrounding area was predominantly
of British and western European ethnicity. Over the past decade, as more people have moved out of the
Greater Toronto Area, that has changed and OCRC is also starting to change. In addition, our church has
twice sponsored persecuted Christian refugees. One family has since moved out of the area, but a second family has settled into Orangeville and our church community. A third family’s refugee application is in process.

Orangeville Christian Reformed Church holds a single weekly worship service, at 10:00am on Sunday
mornings, followed by a time of fellowship and coffee. We have a number of gifted singers and musicians
who combine to lead the singing and accompaniment during our services. Some of the Elders and other
members are willing to participate by leading the Congregational prayer or other parts of the service.

Orangeville CRC is one of 22 churches that make up Classis Huron. We have a number of ministry groups that meet weekly – Cadets, GEMS, and Coffee Break. We have a catechism class that meets Sundays after church. One of our long-standing ministries is Friendship Club, a ministry specifically geared to those with intellectual disabilities. Some of the Friends routinely attend our Sunday service and are cherished members of our community. This group meets every other Friday evening from September to May.

Our Council is structured into three groups: Pastoral Elders, Administrative Elders, and Deacons. Full
Council meets a minimum of four times per year, and more frequently if needed. Each of the three
components meet monthly to deal with their specific responsibilities. The Pastor attends both Pastoral
and Administrative Elder meetings. Women in our congregation serve as both Elders and Deacons. As a
church, we are in compliance with the HSR.

Orangeville CRC worships in a church building that is 50 years old. During that time, the sanctuary has
been renovated, and a fellowship hall and main floor nursery have been added. The basement has not
been renovated. A Pastor’s office is located on the main floor, next to the Council Room, and kitty-corner to the Church Administrator’s office. The Church Administrator is a 20-hour-per-week paid position, which is currently a mix of in-person and remote work. There is also a paid custodian.
Orangeville CRC offers a competitive compensation package based on the CRC Minister Compensation
Survey for our area. We also pay the Minister’s pension and benefits. Details will be negotiated with the
successful applicant. The church does not own a parsonage. A housing allowance is included in the
Pastor’s salary.

There is a local Christian School (JK- Gr 8) located on the outskirts of Orangeville. Toronto District Christian High School is located in Woodbridge. Both OCS and TDCH offer bussing. Students from Orangeville who attend TDCH spend a little over an hour on the school bus.

Orangeville is a great place to live. It offers a great lifestyle – ski trails and hills, as well as hiking and bike
trails, are minutes away. There are conservations areas and provincial parks nearby. The town hosts a
variety of shopping, from small local businesses to big box stores. There is an excellent mixture of
restaurants, including long-established local eateries, restaurant chains, and diverse ethnic food options.

Orangeville has two arenas, with swimming pool and skating rinks, and offers excellent sports and
recreation programs for children and adults. The town has a popular local theatre, a wonderful library
with two locations, a vibrant arts community, a regular farmer’s market, and hosts a number of festivals
throughout the year.
 

We would be pleased to answer any questions that you might have regarding our church family or our local community.