Donat Picard named European denominational director

Donat Picard
named European
denominational director

By John D. Stettaford

ST. ALBANS, United Kingdom— July 17 marked the beginning of a new era for the European churches with the commissioning of a European denominational director.

At the culmination of a two-day conference, a commissioning ceremony took place to appoint Donat J. Picard for a three-year term.

Commissioning ceremony

Pastor General Joseph Tkach led the ceremony along with the national directors, current European regional director John Halford, and British district superintendents in attendance.

Mr. Picard is the national director for France, but will now also represent the European churches at Pasadena, and Pasadena to the European churches on pastoral and denominational matters.

He replaces Mr. Halford, who will continue to lend his editorial and literary skills in the promotion of the church’s international magazines (see article page 10). Mr. Picard paid tribute to Mr. Halford as having fortified a spirit of unity and teamwork among the individual European divisions (as they were originally set up, along language lines).

Each national body now has a structure that manages its own administrative and financial affairs according to national and governmental requirements and best practice along cultural lines. Pastorally and denominationally, each church area will continue to look to headquarters for leadership and doctrinal refinements. The strengths of the larger national churches can now be made available to smaller areas.

Commissioning prayer

In his commissioning prayer, Dr. Tkach paid tribute to Mr. Picard’s willingness to serve throughout his history of eldership, marked by his continuing record of dedication and commitment. He said that this day recorded a momentous transformation as a first step toward decentralization.

The formation of the council and the appointment of a European denominational director would promote service each to the other, and a ministry of reclamation and unity for all. Dr. Tkach asked God to further increase Mr. Picard’s gifts and maturity and committed him to God in support and service to the end that the WCG in Europe can effectively carry out the will of God.

Prayer for national leaders

Randal Dick, superintendent of missions, prayed for the national leaders. He asked for empowerment to be extended to each one, with the aim of making things happen. He concluded by asking for insight into areas where we cannot see, so that each national director will aid God’s people to go forward as God inspires.

Tribute was then paid to Mr. Halford for his seven years’ service. He was presented with a gift with contributions coming from the European churches. His secretary, Jacqui Eve, was given a ballpoint pen from a Parisian store, to mark her years of service, which concludes with her retirement.

EUROPEAN DIRECTOR—
Donat Picard. [Photo by Nancy Silcox]

Profile of Donat J. Picard

Born in Quebec, Donat was the second of eight children. Early in his life his father died of cancer, and he and his four sisters and three brothers were brought up by his mother.

From early life Donat wanted to teach, an ambition he fulfilled at age 23 after appropriate university training. He soon grew to dislike teaching, however, because of its associated discipline and punishment, and moved on to business.

He came into contact with the WCG in 1969 through an advertisement in Reader’s Digest. He became a member and his teaching skills were soon recognized by his pastor and put to use.

In 1973 he married Monique Leloupe, a French girl who had moved to Quebec. Two children followed, Pierre, now 28, and Jean-Philippe, 26.

Donat was ordained into the ministry in 1976, and he became a full-time minister the following year when he was asked to first assist with, and then pastor the Montreal congregation. He stayed in Montreal for 14 years.

This was followed by a seven-month sabbatical at the church’s headquarters in Pasadena, followed by two years at Ambassador University in Big Sandy, Texas, with Donat graduating in May 1993.

He was then appointed to pastor the churches in southern France, from Monaco to the Spanish border.

In 1995 Donat moved to Paris to pastor the Paris congregation, and to oversee the French churches.