Meet Father Sharon, Anglican Church minister, Legion padre
Although the Anglican Church has been ordaining women for the past 50 years, Reverend Sharon Johnstone, a Pastoral Associate serving congregations in Collingwood, Creemore and Wasaga Beach says no one has ever figured out what to call them. When asked how she prefers to be addressed, she flashes a smile and answers, “Sharon”. A testament to her well developed sense of humour, and a nod to the fact she was ordained on Fathers’ Day, her email is FatherSharon@gmail.com.
Johnstone has served all over Ontario, principally in small, rural communities but says that this area has become home. When she arrived in Collingwood seven years ago she found the congregation that she had always believed existed somewhere. Johnstone was immediately struck by the very high degree of involvement in outreach. Historically, she says, churches were the hub of communities. With congregations aging and church attendance on the decline it has become more challenging to form relationships in the community and demonstrate that the church is not “a bunch of stuffed shirts” but rather a very supportive community. She points to the St Luke’s Community Food Bank in Creemore, under the stewardship of Reverend Lorna May as a prime example of that community of care.
In addition to her work with the Diocese, Johnstone was recently appointed Padre of the Creemore Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion. She says the Legion is made up of people who understand service and the need to give back to their community and looks forward to making many new connections in the coming months.
