The bishop of the Free Methodist Church of Canada made a stop in Fort Frances last week, during a tour of Northwestern Ontario, to meet the congregation and discuss the possibility of the local church gaining full society status.
The Church of the Holy Spirit has been an affiliated member—the second level of entrance into the Free Methodist Church—for more than two years.
The congregation currently worships in the old CN station on Fourth Street West, but has bought property on Eighth Street and hopes to build a new church there soon.
“We’ll be applying for full society status in November,” said Rev. Garth Clifford, pastor of the local church. “Everything looks positive.”
Gaining full society status will give the congregation voting privileges at national conferences.
“This is an historic moment for us,” Rev. Clifford said regarding Bishop Keith Elford’s first trip to Fort Frances.
He and his wife, Donna, had some time to explore the district, as well as attend a potluck dinner and worship service in the auditorium at the Memorial Sports Centre last Thursday evening.
“We’ve had an awesome time. The people are so friendly, there’s such beautiful landscape,” Bishop Elford said. “I’d come back here in a heartbeat.”
The bishop also was to stop in Kakabeka Falls, where the Free Methodist Church is celebrating its 100th anniversary.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
