When Jon Martin was asked to assume duties at the Morrisburg – Iroquois – Riverside Heights Anglican parish, he spent some time talking the matter over with the Right Reverend John Chapman, the Bishop of Ottawa.
One observation that Martin particularly recalls from one of these discussions was the Bishop’s comment that “South Dundas is this beautiful little place, full of faithful people, who believe Christianity still matters.”
“At the end of the day, I am interested in a community of faith which serves the people and the families around it,” said Rev. Martin, during an interview on Thursday, June 17. “God’s grace and love do not have strings attached.”
Martin did not always plan to join the priesthood.
He was raised in Ingleside, and attended Rothwell-Osnabruck High School. He actually made some early connections to South Dundas through his mother, the Reverend Pat Martin, who was assistant curate in the Morrisburg-Iroquois-Riverside Heights parish for a number of years.
“I got to know the area through her churches and through youth groups. And also,” he laughed, “when R-O went up against Seaway in sports.”
He originally went to Loyalist College with the intention of studying journalism. However, he later switched to Carleton University where he majored in psychology. In a situation all too common to many young graduates, he eventually had his degree, but no job prospects.
In the summer, he had been doing work with Ottawa Crime Prevention. “We were trying to develop new relationships with area shelters, with the homeless and street people of the region,” Martin explained. Then an opening came up with the Youth Services Bureau, which is a community development and crisis counselling organization for high risk youth.
“I took the job and fell in love with the work,” Martin said.
He decided to go to St. Paul University in Ottawa and take a counselling program. But to do that program, a candidate also had to take eight credits in theology.
“I actually didn’t think I’d like theology,” Jon said. “But suddenly, while I was in the seminary, I began to find that there was a lot of space for a Christian who loved the social sciences and academic rigour in faith. I found I loved the program.”
The traumatic fall-out of the events of 9/11, and the questions and discussions he was involved in during those difficult days and weeks, influenced his life goals. He began to explore ordination as an Anglican priest.
“I was still not completely convinced that you could be ‘left wing’ and still a good Anglican Christian,” Jon recalls, “so when I began studying for the priesthood I had an agreement with the school bishop. We would start this journey together, and if there came a time they asked me to do something that I couldn’t in good conscience do, or I wanted to do something they couldn’t support, I’d walk away. No hard feelings.”
On June 19, 2006, Jon Martin was ordained by Bishop Peter Coffin at Christ Church Cathedral in Ottawa.
“Nine years later, I’m still ordained,” Martin smiled.
He was assistant curate of Christ Church Bell’s Corners for two years, then went to the Anglican Parish of North Dundas in 2008. He served there until 2015.
For him, a highlight of his time at North Dundas was seeing a “community which started out divided come together by settling their differences for the good of the bigger picture.”
The community built St. Clare’s Anglican Church.
“I was really proud of how the congregation went from an insular church community to looking outward. We needed to go out into the world to see where God was already at work and to join him in those places.”
Martin is aware that challenges come with his new call to South Dundas. “We have many churches in South Dundas providing similar ministries. What I would like to see, is to develop a vision for ministry doing consultations with people who are not church goers to also get their perspective.” He would like to explore resources in the area. “Then we can look at the identified needs, and these resources, and ask how can we best provide ministry in a way that is effective and sustainable? I like transparency in the parish, authenticity and collaboration. These are the ways to achieve a healthy community.”
Martin is currently finishing his Phd. in ministry, studying a “change from a system of the old ‘fortress’ model church to one that welcomes people as they are, and with people who allow themselves to actually be welcomed, to learn from each other.”
He is also planning his wedding.
He is newly engaged to Melanie McCormack, who is international consultant for Knightsbridge Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Planning.
“Mel is smart, bright and attractive,” Martin laughed, “and I’m not quite sure why she’s ready to marry a priest, but I’m going to get this marriage locked down before she gets away!” The marriage date is set for the fall of 2016 at St. James in Morrisburg.
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