Wedding Policy


Funeral Policy


Baptism Policy


Wedding Policy for Bayview United Church Either at the Church or Off-Site


2014

Bayview United Church is pleased to offer its Minister to officiate at your wedding. We are an inclusive and welcoming congregation who offer the rite of Christian marriage to all couples, regardless of sexual orientation. You do not have to be a member of the congregation or a member of the United Church of Canada to be married by our Minister.
We will do what we can to help ensure your married life together begins in the most meaningful way possible. We believe the marriage ceremony is an act of Christian worship that is centered on forming a covenant between the couple in the presence of God. Our Minister will assist you in planning a Christian marriage service that will be meaningful to you

Process to Follow:

1. Minister: Begin by contacting and meeting with our Minister (416-447-5941) to discuss the possibility of the Minister officiating at your wedding. The date, time and expectations of both Minister and the couple need to be discussed. It is expected that the couple will meet with the Minister a couple of times to talk about the couple’s relationship and the wedding ceremony.

2.  Book Church: For weddings to be held at the church, you must next telephone the church’s Administrative Assistant (416-447-5941) to determine the availability of the church.

3.  A wedding license from the Government of Ontario must be presented to the officiating Minister on or before the time of the rehearsal. The forms are available from City Halls.

4. It is possible for an outside Minister to be involved in the couple’s wedding service if they wish, but this needs to be first discussed with the BUC Minister. The BUC Minister will need to perform the legal parts of the ceremony.

5. There will be a wedding rehearsal prior to the wedding day.  The date and time of which will be decided upon by the minister and couple and subject to the availability of the church or off-site of the wedding.

6. Music: For a wedding held at the church, normally the church’s Music Director will play the organ or piano. If you wish to use your own organist or pianist, you must first obtain permission from the Music Director to use the organ or piano. Contact information for the Music Director is available from the Minister or Administrative Assistant.

The organist is available for one consultation to discuss and determine appropriate music for the wedding ceremony. It is understood that an extra fee of remuneration is required if the Music Director has to work with a soloist. Music in the correct key must be given to the Music Director at least 2 weeks in advance. Rehearsal with Music Director and soloist will need to be discussed with the Music Director. (Note: the couple is expected to look after the remuneration of the soloist).

7.  The use of cameras and/or videos is somewhat regulated as this is an act of worship.  The minister will clarify expectations with the couple and photographers.

8.  Because of the difficulty of cleaning up and the safety of people, use of confetti, rice, flower petals and bubbles is not allowed in or outside of the church facilities.  The use of flowers and bows is allowed in the sanctuary, but please first discuss this with the minister.  Use of staples or tape on the pews is not allowed.

9. Reception – Fellowship Hall and the kitchen on the lower level of the church are available for your reception following the ceremony. Tables and chairs will be set up as required. However the church does not cater functions and you must arrange the catering service. Please contact the church’s Administrator if you want more information on the use of these facilities.

10. Honorariums: to be paid in cash prior to or at the time of the rehearsal.

$400.00 for the church

$300.00 for the minister (no charge for members/adherents)

Note: If Rev. Cindy is not available, please pay the officiating minister $300.00

$175.00 for the organist  (includes one consultation). Rehearsal is an additional $50.

$150.00 for the caretaker

$600 for use of Fellowship Hall and kitchen for reception (optional)

A $300 deposit is due when the date is booked and confirmed. The balance is due 14 days prior to the wedding ceremony.

 


Funeral Policy for Members, Adherents and Non-Members at Bayview United Church


2014

Funerals Officiated by the BUC Minister at the church:

Our hope as a congregation is to be as accommodating as possible to families who are dealing with the death of a loved one. When the family seeks the church’s support and ministry during this time of need, the following procedure is designed to avoid any confusion that may arise during an already difficult time.

1. Please contact the Minister of BUC, Rev. Cindy Cooper at 416-201-1479 (cell) or 905-838-4299(home) or 416-447-5941(church) to check her availability and begin the coordination of details. Usually the Minister of BUC is asked to preside at a church member’s service, but welcomes other Minister’s participation at the request of the family.

2. Please contact the Office Manager at the church (416-447-5941) to determine the availability of the church for a funeral. This person will also help to coordinate caretaking, delivery of flowers and parking.

3. If you would like organ or piano music during the service, our Music Director is available to play. If you wish to use your own organist or pianist, you must first obtain permission of the church Music Director to use the organ and piano. Contact information is available from the Minister or the Office Manager.

4. If a funeral service is held at the church and you would like to hold the reception in Fellowship Hall on the lower level, please make arrangements with the Minister, Rev. Cindy Cooper if she is presiding over the funeral. Tables will be set up as required. All other catering services are to be arranged by the family.

Funerals at the church not using the BUC Minister:
Our hope as a congregation is to be as accommodating as possible to families who are dealing with the death of a loved one. When the family seeks the church’s support and ministry during this time of need, the following procedure is designed to avoid any confusion that may arise during an already difficult time.

1. Please contact the Minister of BUC, Rev. Cindy Cooper at 416-201-1479 (cell) or 905-838-4299(home) or 416-447-5941(church) to check her availability and begin the coordination of details. Usually the Minister of BUC is asked to preside at a church member’s service, but welcomes other Minister’s participation at the request of the family.

2. Please contact the Office Manager at the church (416-447-5941) to determine the availability of the church for a funeral. This person will also help to coordinate caretaking, delivery of flowers and parking.

3. If you would like organ or piano music during the service, our Music Director is available to play. If you wish to use your own organist or pianist, you must first obtain permission of the church Music Director to use the organ and piano. Contact information is available from the Minister or the Office Manager.

4. If a funeral service is held at the church and you would like to hold the reception in Fellowship Hall on the lower level, please make arrangements with the Minister, Rev. Cindy Cooper if she is presiding over the funeral. Tables will be set up as required. All other catering services are to be arranged by the family.

Funerals at the Church not using the BUC Minister
For occasions, when a family request the use of the church for a funeral and do not want to use the BUC Minister, they must contact the Office Manager at 416-447-5941 to arrange.

Honorariums:

Minister: $300.00

Organist: $175.00

Church: $400.00

Reception: Use of Fellowship Hall and kitchen $200.00

Caretaking: $150.00

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Funerals which take place at a Funeral Home:

If you would like the Minister from BUC to officiate at the funeral for your loved one, please contact Rev. Cindy at the following phone numbers 905-838-4299(home) or 416-201-1479(cell) or 416-447-5941(church).

Honorarium for Minister: $300.00

Honorarium for BUC Organist/Pianist: $175.00.

 

 


Baptism Policy for Bayview United Church


Updated November 2017

Bayview United Church welcomes the opportunity to baptize individuals. Baptism is one of the two holy sacraments observed by the United Church of Canada. Baptism can be with infants or children with the parents making the vows on the child’s behalf. Teens and adults can also be baptized through profession of faith. In each case, baptism involves the exchange of covenantal promises between God and the person being baptized as well as the congregation where the baptism takes place. We hope this baptismal policy will ensure a meaningful experience for all those involved in the baptismal service.

Who can be Baptized?

A teenager 14+ or an adult candidate who has completed the confirmation or affirmation of faith course and who has been approved by the Church Council can be baptized through profession of faith.
An infant or child may be baptized in accordance to the United Church Manual which stipulates that at least one of the parents must be a baptized and confirmed member in good standing of the United Church of Canada.

In the case of infant or child baptism where the parents are not members of the United Church but at least one parent has been baptized, the Worship Team or Church Council may give their permission as long as a Congregational Sponsor is arranged.

Note: A Congregational Sponsor is a member in good standing of Bayview United Church. The Sponsor agrees to support the family through the baptismal service, will encourage the family to come to church when possible, and keep in periodic contact with the family. There will be a vow for this person to respond to during the baptismal service.

Dates of Baptisms:

Baptism services are offered in the fall and spring of each year on dates scheduled by the Worship Team. However, we do realize these dates may not be convenient for everyone, so we are willing to accommodate requests as we are able.

Note: Baptisms are a sacrament within the United Church of Canada and therefore take place during a regular worship service on Sunday. However in the case of a life threatening emergency where a person’s life is at risk, the minister will come and perform the baptism. Every effort will be made to have one representative of the church in attendance if possible.

Location of Baptism:

Baptism is a sacrament and an act of worship that involves the gathered congregation. The Baptism will normally occur within a Sunday worship service. In an emergency situation as described above, the baptism will be held wherever the individual is located. For example the person may be in a hospital or at home.

Preparation:

For infant or child baptism, the parent(s) will meet with the minister to discuss baptism, the vows and the service. For teen or adult baptism the candidate for baptism will need to attend preparatory Confirmation or Affirmation of Faith classes with the minister for a period of several weeks.

Baptismal Approval:

The name of the candidate for baptism will be presented to the Worship Team or the Council for approval prior to the date of baptism.

Baptismal Elder:

The Baptism Elder is a member of the Worship Team. They will take part in the baptismal service by reading scripture and other readings. The elder will present the baptism candidate and the parents if applicable to the congregation during the worship service. The elder will present the candidate with a lighted candle. At the conclusion of the service the Elder will present the baptismal certificate to the candidate or parents.

God-parents:

Parents are welcome to choose 1 or 2 individuals to be the God-parents for the children being baptized. These individuals are usually chosen because of their spiritual maturity and because of their willingness to provide spiritual nurturing to the child being baptized. They are not the legal guardians of the child unless stipulated wills of the parent(s). There will be a vow for the God-parents to respond to in the service and they are welcome to accompany the parents to the baptismal font during the act of baptism.

Photography and Video-taping:

Baptism is a sacrament and an act of worship so we ask that pictures be taken following the service. The minister is happy to re-enact the baptism after the service so that pictures can be taken. However the minister would not object if one or two pictures were taken during the walk-about in the service.