Mary

Mary Fleming

Mary Fleming, M.Div Wycliffe 1979

Greetings classmates! The 1978-79 Wycliffe year was such a pivotal experience. You were all there for three years, and I joined you only for the final year. My previous two years were at McMaster Divinity College. Both colleges were very formative in terms of pastoral identity and biblical integrity. As a cradle Anglican, though, Wycliffe became home very quickly. You were so welcoming and included me without hesitation. So, a very belated thank-you for the comradeship and support offered to this outsider.

While some grads who were also ordinands immediately entered parish work, Bishop John Bothwell requested that I complete a second Clinical Pastoral Education quarter prior to starting my work as Curate at St. James, Dundas, ON. I researched various options in the USA and Canada and settled on the Foothills Hospital in Calgary for summer 1979. Inwardly, I went kicking and screaming. But, yes, God works through bishops! Years later, my hiring as a hospital chaplain hinged on having completed not just one, but two CPE quarters. More on that chapter, later. 

Parish work saw me through to 1998. The parish is where I belong in terms of having appreciation for working with teams of believers, discerning the Body together and how to serve God faithfully, learning Christlikeness together, and supporting one another in prayer. You can see the various parishes I served on my LinkedIn profile. Churches ranged from mid-to-high to low Anglican – God’s people were gracious in each place. 

The very last parish I served was a Church plant. Those were the happiest of ministry days, unencumbered by the trappings of ‘we’ve always done it this way’ thinking. The music, the preaching, the prayers flowed in the Holy Spirit. When the contract there was over (politics involved), I did not recover an Anglican home for twenty-two years. The consolation was found in highly meaningful years spent ecumenically in Christian and Missionary Alliance, Associated Gospel and Presbyterian churches. I cherish the friends from those congregations – beautiful Christians, iron sharpening iron.

Not long after my sojourn began, the marriage ended. Details don’t matter anymore. Needless-to-say, that is one of the most shattering experiences in life and God allowed it. The Church I attended at the time offered a program called DivorceCare. It was so helpful for myself and others. In the Church I currently lead, we offer an online version along with its companion program, Griefshare. Through both programs, those who’ve experienced loss are able to assist many hurting people. It is such a privilege. 

My three children are great and currently we all live under the same roof. The youngest, Alex, is a Parole Officer in the area, having spent four years in the Arctic gaining experience prior to her hiring. The middle one, David, is working on his second Masters, very eager to begin a biology career and write on the side. The oldest, Michael, just entered teacher training. After years in construction, he is very excited about beginning his teaching life.

Single parenting is not for the faint of heart! I have balanced several jobs at once to keep our heads above the proverbial water. God has moved to provide each and every time we needed His help. After short contracts with Samaritan’s Purse and Hamilton’s Mission Services, He providentially gave me a full-time position as Chaplain at St. Peter’s Hospital in Hamilton in April, 2004. Both the Hospital and the new Long-term Care facility provided my hours. So began more than sixteen years ministering with palliative, behavioural, complex continuing care, and restorative care patients and their families. 

St. Peter’s had special meaning because it had been an outreach project of St. Peter’s Anglican Church. The Hospital was founded in 1890 and still provides the largest palliative care program in Canada. In 2008 we amalgamated with Hamilton Health Sciences. The private hospital system was far, far superior to the large entity in every way. However, I’m grateful for the learning, the freedom to minister grace and comfort to the hurting. That second CPE quarter? Again, due to having completed that, in my final few hospital years I was able to join the College of Registered Psychotherapists (CRPO) as a RP. I officially retired from hospital work June 30, 2020. It was the right time given the introduction of Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) and all the challenges around COVID. On July 1 that same year, I began as Rector of St. Peter by the Park, ANiC, Hamilton, ON. 

Extra paid positions I have enjoyed very much were as Music Director and Organist in a Presbyterian church. I also began my own travel business when I joined TravelOnly in 2008. The travel work continues as a hobby, for now. Trips I’ve taken with friends or the children include – Israel, England, Scotland, Wales, Italy, Honduras, Bahamas, and Canada’s Arctic.

Lastly, I officially left the Anglican Church of Canada in 2019 and was immediately received by the Anglican Network in Canada (ANiC) and the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA). Bishop Charlie Masters and I have been friends since pre-ordination days. He has been instrumental in leading ANiC and is one of the most Christ-like people I have known. It was coming home for me to join with many people I had known for years, some of whom are fellow Wycliffe grads. Recalling that happiest parish time with the new church plant back in 1997-1998 – I am reunited with some of the same wonderful people in my current charge. 

I thank God for His love and faithfulness through years that have been challenging in many ways but never dull. I only look forward to what He has in store for the next chapters of life. Grateful for all of you, my fellow grads, for making this time of reunion possible. I pray God blesses each of you with joy and peace in the powerful Name of Jesus.

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