About Us
Our Congregation is a part of the United Church of Canada, a progressive denomination of the Christian faith.
Who We Are
The congregation is the community of people who gather together at Wesley. The Congregation is served by our Intentional Interim Minister, Christina Paradela, who is paid by the congregation and provides leadership, education, and worship. Wesley's other staff includes our Music Coordinator/Choir Director, Youth Coordinators, Office Administrator, and Caretaker.
While the minister and staff have special roles in the life of our congregation, the members and volunteers are responsible for “running” the church.
What We Believe
- we value the presence of God in our midst as we worship and grow together;
- we value God’s leading through the Holy Spirit, striving to discover our purpose;
- we value inclusive fellowship, open doors, hearts and open minds;
- we value you and what you bring to this fellowship;
- we value compassion expressed to one another and to the community.
Our Minister: Rev. Dr. Gordon Crossfield
Gordon was born and raised in Kingston, Ontario and attended Queen’s University and Queen’s Theological College. Gordon began preaching at age 16 while filling in for vacationing ministers north of Kingston.
After enjoying two mission fields in Saskatchewan, he was pleased to be settled in western Canada namely Hinton, Alberta after ordination by Bay of Quinte Conference. His second charge was Spruce Grove, Alberta and then for family connections for their son Aaron and daughter Cynthia, Gordon and Wendy returned to Ontario and served in Fonthill United, earned a D.Min from Concordia College at Brock University and then moved to Alderwood United in Etobicoke. The last 20 months before retiring was at Riverside-Emery in Weston as an Intentional Interim minister.
Gordon served the wider Church at both Presbytery and Conference levels mostly in the areas of Education and Students, Pastoral Relations, Oversight and as Chair of Presbytery.
One of the most enjoyable parts of ministry has been seeing people grow in their personal faith and use their spiritual gifts in their own ministry. Creative worship, drama and Bible Study have been important priorities as well. Gordon moved back to the Niagara area once more in 2007 after his first retirement and was the interim pastor at Central Welland for 7 months before becoming the minister at Elm Street United Church in St. Catharines for 14 years.
After retiring again in 2022, he has been available as pulpit supply, pastoral charge supervisor and recently on the Transition Team and Search Team here at Wesley.
He and Wendy have been married for 52 years and have 9 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.
Although the days of MGBs and convertibles are past, there is still model trains and trying to grow things in Welland clay.
Membership
We are a church with open doors, and you are welcome here. In time, we hope that you will find a home here and recognize that this is a safe place to explore what it means to know God.
If you regularly attend Wesley United Church we consider you a part of our congregation and a part of our church family. If you have come to feel that Wesley is your home, you may wish to consider “formally joining” our congregation as a full member.
Church membership is a covenant between the congregation and an individual. The individual promises to be a part of the life and work of the church and the congregation promises to support the individual in his/her quest to follow Christ.
Normally, those who wish to enter into membership in this congregation do so through, baptism, confirmation, profession or reaffirmation of faith, or by transfer from another Christian church or another United Church congregation. If you would like to know more about how you may formally join our membership, please contact one of our ministers.
For more information about the United Church of Canada, please visit www.united-church.ca