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Rev. Scott Patton set to retire after 34 years in ministry
Rev. Scott Patton reflects on retirement and the future of the United Church
By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
As the United Church of Canada prepares to celebrate its 100th anniversary this year, Rev. Scott Patton is also marking a milestone of his own: retirement after 34 years in ministry. Having served congregations from Toronto to Montreal and, most recently, in the Eastern Townships, Patton brings to a close a career shaped by persistence, progress, and deep community ties.
“It’s been a wonderful experience,” Patton said in an interview reflecting on his time in ministry. “This has been the first time I’ve ever had a pastoral care-only position—and also the first time I’ve worked as part of a team.”
Patton moved to the Townships four years ago, taking up a half-time pastoral care role based primarily at the Wales Home. “I was hoping to retire at 61,” he said, “but I found out the pension penalty would cost me 16 per cent. So, the half-time position was perfect—it helped me bridge those final years.” That opportunity came through an unexpected phone call even before he arrived in the area, when a retiring chaplain offered to pass along the role.
Soon after settling in, Patton became one of four lay worship leaders at Lennoxville United Church, along with his partner Rev. Ron Coughlin, Jamie Crooks, and Bruce Gilbert. Originally intended as a temporary solution following the departure of then-minister Linda Buchanan, the shared ministry extended to three years. “The congregation loves it,” Patton said. “But I think the church really needs a full-time minister. There’s a lot more to ministry than Sunday worship.”
Looking back over his decades of service, Patton highlighted the long-term relationships he formed in each community. “I’ve always prided myself on lingering,” he said. “Some people move on every few years—I stayed 14 years in east Toronto and 11 years in Montréal.” His impact remains tangible. One longtime congregant from Summerlea United Church in Lachine, where he served from 2010 to 2021, recently requested that Patton return to officiate her funeral. He’ll travel back to Montreal in June to do just that.
Patton’s career also coincided with transformative changes in the denomination. Ordained in 1990, his candidacy was marked by debate over his sexual orientation. “There was a lot of consternation,” he recalled. “But I made it through all that and carried on.” His journey reflects the United Church’s broader evolution—having become, in 1988, the first denomination in North America to welcome LGBTQ2S+ individuals into ordained ministry.
That legacy of inclusion is at the heart of this year’s 100th anniversary celebrations. Locally, the St. Francis area United Churches will gather June 1 at St. Paul’s United Church in Magog for a special regional service. The event will feature a mass choir, eight area ministers, and a sermon by broadcaster Royal Orr, followed by a community potluck. “We’re expecting about 150 people,” said Rev. Ron Coughlin recently to The Record. “All 12 churches in our cluster are contributing—each bringing something for the table.”
For Patton, the centennial is both a time to reflect and to look ahead. “It’s important to remember how it all started,” he said. “The philosophy of churches uniting still matters. In Australia, they have a Uniting Church—they see it as an ongoing process. I think we should, too.”
He also acknowledged that this is a moment of transition. “The United Church is very different now than even 30 years ago,” he said. “We need to look forward, not just back.” At a recent service in Lennoxville, a regional council guest spoke about embracing new directions, including more bilingual services and outward-focused ministry. “Lennoxville United has already identified that as the path it wants to take,” Patton said. “But it’s all very new.”
Now, as he steps away from official duties, Patton looks forward to a quieter rhythm. He plans to spend time with family in what he calls “Patton Corners”—a potential nickname he and locals have given the tightly-knit cluster of relatives near his home. He’ll also return to his hobby of model car building in a loft above the garage of the house his brother and nephew built.
“I’m not worried about being bored,” he said. “I’ll be walking the dog, appreciating the beauty of this area, and doing all the things I couldn’t when I was working.”
With that, Patton leaves behind a legacy of compassion, resilience, and quiet leadership—one that mirrors the very values the United Church of Canada was founded on a century ago.