Welcome Rev. Jason Meyers!

Jason F. Meyers joins the Met family as Minister of Congregational Care on June 2, 2019!

 Here's a little more about our new minister:

Jason Meyers hails originally from Saskatchewan where he completed his first degree in Commerce - Marketing. His move to Toronto brought a change in vocation and he began his journey to ordination in 2012. Jason did his field education here at Metropolitan and his internship at Jubilee United in Scarborough. He was awarded the Sanford Gold Medal upon graduation. He and his partner - Bri-anne Swan - have two young boys Isaiah and Simon.

And from Jason himself:

If each of us were to write the stories of our lives, we would likely focus first on the "big moments" - our triumphs, the great adventures and the key accomplishments.  I have some of these.  The time I walked 900 km on the Camino de Santiago; 15 years as a communications consultant to the charity and not-for-profit sector; my wedding to Bri-anne and the birth of our boys Isaiah and Simon; my graduation from Emmanuel College and ordination in the United Church would certainly make the "big moment" list. 

But, of course, our stories are not comprised of us alone.  So, perhaps, we would add the motley cast of characters that have guided and shaped us over the years.  I would certainly include my Dad, the politically engaged and philosophically minded Saskatchewan potato farmer that taught me to always seek deeper meaning to things.  Rev. Doug Norris from Rosedale United Church, who unleashed in me a vocation to ministry through his poetic spirituality and integrity of living would need to be included as well.  And of course, my prophetic wife, whose dedication to justice, community and love inspires me every day.  That's shaping up to be a decent story. 

But as I now make the turn towards ministry at Metropolitan United Church (which I am absolutely thrilled about!), there's one other moment I want to include in my story.  I did my Context in Ministry student placement at Met in 2015/16, and the first thing John Joseph asked me to do when I arrived was to peel apples.  Just peel apples.  But I was not alone in this endeavour; there was a whole community preparing the pies that would be sold at the fall fair.  There was laughter and purpose and a sense of togetherness.  We shared our stories.  It was a spirit-filled moment that has shaped my understanding of ministry as much as any of the so-called "big moments." 

Whatever story we write together in this time of transition at Met, I sincerely hope it will include the peeling of apples … or potatoes … but only if they are from Saskatchewan.

Pictured just after Jason's ordination, at the inaugural meeting of Shining Waters Regional Council: (L to R) Dorcas Beaton (Outreach co-chair), Vera Taylor (Chair of the Official Board), Rev. Jason Meyers, Linn Holness (Worship chair), Jeff Ince (Regional Council representative) and Rev. Nancy Hardy (Outreach commitee member).