The Moravian Church in Newfoundland and Labrador

P.O. Box 125
Makkovik, Labrador NF
A0PIJ0 Canada

Office phone: 709-923-2382
FAX: 709-923-2383

Origins

The Moravian mission in Greenland (1733) awakened a great interest in reaching other peoples of the north. In 1752 the Moravians initiated the establishment of a permanent mission in Labrador. The first congregation was Nain (1771), followed by several others along the coast (Hopedale, Hebron, Zoar, Okak, and Makkovik) and two inland congregations (Northwest River and Happy Valley/Goose Bay). Today, only Nain, Hopedale and Makkovik remain on the coast, along with Happy Valley/Goose Bay, where the lay minister, Sabina Hunter, serves. Ruth Flowers, the chair of the provincial board lives in Goose Bay and Caroline Andersen, the provincial treasurer lives in Makkovik.

Current Scope Of Ministry

The majority of the indigenous people of Labrador are Inuit. A smaller native group, the Innu, came from the Labrador interior to fish the coastal waters during the summer. A third group is the descendants of European settlers who intermarried with the Inuit. They are commonly known as settlers. One final group are those who come to Labrador for employment, primarily from Newfoundland.

The total population of Northern Coastal Labrador is approximately 2,500 individuals, living in five coastal villages. Of these, over 2,000 claim a Moravian heritage. Other churches in Labrador are the Roman Catholic, Anglican, United Church of Canada, Salvation Army, and Pentecostal. Happy Valley/Goose Bay is the largest community.

Leadership

Mrs. Ruth Flowers leads the provincial board of the Moravian Church in Newfoundland and Labrador. Provincial Board members are from each of the four active congregations: Mary Ford (Makkovik); Bob Lyall (Happy Valley); Gordon Obed (Nain); and Martha Winters-Abel (Hopedale). The Church is governed by a provincial conference that meets biannually. Chapel Servants provide local congregational leadership.

The Rev. Brigitte Schloss is pastor of the Moravian fellowship in St. John's, Newfoundland and ministers to Labrador natives who visit or live in St. John's.

Role of the Board of World Mission

The Board of World Mission has been in affiliation with the Moravian Church in Newfoundland and Labrador since 1980 and is currently working closely with the Labrador Church to facilitate the development and training of native leadership for ministry. The Rev. Samuel Eric Propsom, an ordained Moravian pastor from the United States, serves as Leadership Developer and is charged with the goal of "... developing godly, effective and self-reproducing native leadership for the congregations of the Moravian Church in Newfoundland and Labrador." This approach offers quality theological education on location, leading eventually to the appointment of lay and ordained pastors in the congregations.

In addition to this personnel support, the Board of World Mission provides financial support for the administration and programs of the Moravian Church in Newfoundland and Labrador.