Honouring our Ruling Elders

Marilyn Repchuck

Marilyn Repchuck is no stranger to many ruling elders in the Presbyterian Church in Canada. In 2009, when Hamilton hosted the 135th General Assembly, Marilyn was convener of the local arrangements committee. This year, attendees at Pre-Assembly Workshops (PAW) 2011 in London discovered that Marilyn has served as a ruling elder for 33 years, since 1978. In 2012, she will be one of the workshop leaders for the Elders’ Institute’s Pre-Assembly Workshops (PAW) 2012.

Marilyn has been a Presbyterian since she was a teenager and has thoroughly appreciated her faith journey at MacNab Street Presbyterian Church in Hamilton, Ontario. Sean Fleming, clerk of session at MacNab says, “Marilyn was often called to fill in Sunday mornings in our pulpit due to our challenging, lengthy vacancies or (at the last minute) to drive the mini-van bus around to collect those who would otherwise be unable to attend the service. Marilyn always answers the “call” whenever she is asked to do so, performing many other roles in our church and in our wider community. Still, she does have time to organise a little fun; she took a tour group of MacNab members on a cruise of the Hawaiian islands a few years ago!”

Kevin Russell, deputy clerk at MacNab, has known Marilyn for nearly 30 years. He has seen her in action as church treasurer, ruling elder, clerk of session, representative elder, member of the Assembly Council, moderator of the Presbytery of Hamilton (1996–1997) and most recently moderator of the Synod of Southwestern Ontario (2010– 2011). Kevin says, “Marilyn has filled all those roles in an effective and exemplary fashion. She has set a standard of performance in each that is hard to match. I know of what I speak because it has been my honour and challenge to follow her in several of those congregational roles.”

Marilyn admits that being clerk has been her biggest challenge as a ruling elder. She equips herself for this with prayer, which she finds to be very powerful. Although a private prayer life is very important to her, she is challenged when elders come to her to learn how to lead in private prayer. She encourages elders to practice their spirituality—not just worship, also Bible study. She also stresses the importance of developing an attitude that focuses on what the Lord wants, not just what the church needs, asking, “What is the church called to be and do in these days?”

Kevin says, “In our community, Marilyn has taken an active leadership role in things as diverse as chair of Wesley Urban Ministries board of directors, secretary to the local chapter of the Canadian College of Organists and support of the Inner City Outreach Ministry as well as being an active participant in various choirs. Anything Marilyn undertakes is done cheerfully, with compassion and commitment. Perhaps the best example in all her service is her work as “hospital visitor” for MacNab. Despite spending her work life in a hospital [as a health records technician at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Hamilton], she finds time to visit and minister to our members in hospital and nursing homes. Any of those she has visited remember her many kindnesses with affectionate and appreciative regard.”

Marilyn says, “Volunteering is my life; life would be very dull if I didn’t volunteer.”