Prince Rupert to Terrace and the
Anglican Diocese of Caledonia
was joined by the Prince Rupert
Presbytery of the United Church
to make the TEE Centre ecumeni-
cal to the training needs of all the
Northwest.”

MacKenzie, formerly rector at

Masset from 1974-79 and at

Greenville from 1979-82, was
director of the centre in Terrace
until this year, when he moved on
to become the half-time director,
devoting the other half of his time
to work with the Vancouver
School of Theology. Associate
director Rev. Peter Zimmer, rural
dean, has assumed many of Mac-
Kenzie’s duties at the centre with
the students, . .

The United Church is repre-
sented by the Rev. Gordon Pokor-
ny and has been working within
their congregations to identify
and present candidates. "It takes
several years to get the message
out and for people to react and
accept it," said the director. "But.
candidates are now coming for-
ward from the Presbytery congre-
gations."

In September 1988 the
Vancouver School of Theology
established a native ministries
program leading to a Master of
Divinity degree employing com-
munity-based learning methods

"so that persons can pursue their —

education where they live or
wor.

The candidates will complete
individually designed programs,
consisting of work through exten-
sion in their own communities,
plus courses and workshops in
residence at the TEE Centre, the
Vancouver School of Theology or
the Charles Cook Christian Theo-
logical School in Temple, Arizona.
They will combine on-the-job
training and study under a tutor
and counsellor.

The present candidates are
half way through their studies
toward a Master of Divinity
degree. It is expected that they
will complete their course in four
years.

HALF-WAY THERE

Typical of the present group —

of students going through the
TEE Centre (Theological Educa-
tion by Extension) are three stu-
dents studying under the tutelage
of. Rev. Peter Zimmer, associate
director: Lily Bell of Massett, Eric

Martin of Greenville and Vern.
Jackson from Kitkatla have differ-*

ent backgrounds but similar dedi-
cation.

‘Each is an individual with a.
‘common story of courage, stam-—
ina, dedication and faith. All are -

mature and have been working
quietly and effectively in the
church life of their communities
and have been recognized by their
congregations as worthwhile can-
didates to continue to their ulti-
mate goal as ordained ministers,
They are all: "half-way" to their

anticipated degree of Master of

Divinity, expected. to take four
years.

Their acceptance of their work
load is staggering. Each of them
matter-of-factly .accepts a work
load of study, work, family and
parish life that would daunt the
faint-hearted) but which is

accepted by them with a shrug —
_and a smile.

Lily Bell, mother of four and

grandmother of three (with one
more expected in April) would not |

agree that she is "special".

"I guess I became involved
because of the teaching of my
ancestors,” she said. "From their
example of work and prayer —
particularly my grandmother..My
father and grandfather were lay
readers.”

"What is really sad," said Lily
Bell in her deep, rich voice, "is
when you think of so many years
being wasted. So much goodness
in life that’s being wasted. This
(what we are doing) makes life so
much more meaningful."

“One of the greatest teachers

-is experience, especially in the

ministry. And experience helps
you with what you study."

Lily assumes. the duties of a
full parish minister in Massett,
with sermons, services-and minis-

tering to the congregation. In
addition, she is a half-time nurs-
ery school teacher. Added to that
are her study for her degree, plus
household and family time and
travel back and forth to study
centres in Terrace, Vancouver and
Arizona. -

"Ty: haven't. had much time

lately for my guitar or to learn

the ukulele,’ ‘she ‘grins,

“ was lucky,” said Eric, “My
mur and dad took me with them
to church every. Sunday, I learned
from them and kept learning all’
my life, F worked up through all
the levels of work in the church.

Eric was educated in Green-
ville, went to high school in

Aiyansh, Then when he was
‘working as a logger on the coast,

he studied in the evenings. Now
he works as a full-time minister
while studying. Iti isa challenge,” .
he admits.

His wife works full time as a
mother and ‘helper to everyone in
the family "How could I exist with
out her?" He says simply. -

e .
Vern’s family is younger — he
has a boy of 16 and a girl of two
years — and agrees with the
others that family support is
essential. | _
Vern says he was not 4

‘scholar. He went to Grade 8 in

Kitkatla and Prince Rupert and
then quit for awhile. After a
couple of years he went on to high
school in Killarney, followed by 10
years as a social worker in Kit- .
katla. His work as a licensed lay
reader and in the parish con-
vinced the congregation that he
should be supported for his study
towards a degree in the ministry.

_All three students agreed with
his advice to everyone: “Don't ever
stop studying."

Eric Martin smiles as his
companions say that he has 14.
children. "Yes," he says, "but they
are really on their own now. One,
Alvin, is an- architect in
Vancouver. Two are in Bible
school at Langara." oo
— Nancy Orr

Terrace Review — March 20, 1992 .63