What can the faithful do when the church is spiritually adrift? When the authority of Scripture is being challenged over sexuality and ordination — what better opportunity to remind ourselves to be anchored in Christ and look for a safe harbour.

For inspiration, we turned to our new friends at Cruxifusion, a network of ministers who are centred on Christ. They’re self-described as an “evangelical, traditional, orthodox, conservative” witnesses. They arose from the roots of the former United Church Renewal Fellowship, Community of Concern, National Alliance of Covenanting Congregations, and Church Alive. Those four groups formed at various times and each had a slightly different focus, whether spiritual, political, or theological. When the United Church decided to ordain those in LGB communities in 1988, many members of those renewal groups departed the denomination. Those who remained in the UC wrestled with their purpose. In time, they struggled with membership and energy. Despite the theological drift in the UCC, young orthodox ministers were still entering the denomination. With seed money and spiritual support from the old renewal groups, Cruxifusion was born in 2010. They’ve been a safe harbour for like kinds and a witness for Christ.

Renewal’s Board gathered by Zoom with some members of the Cruxifusion Board of Directors and supporters last September to hear their stories. Among them was Rev. Dr. Greg Brawn. We invited him to share his hope and witness at our annual Renewal Day on April 17, 2021, by Zoom for a day of worship, prayer, group discussion, and inspiration.

Rev. Dr. Greg Brawn

Rev. Dr. Greg Brawn, is a voice for orthodoxy within The United Church of Canada, a minister with a passion for Christ, and pastor of a vibrant Christ-centred congregation, Byron United Church in London, Ontario, since 2007. He was ordained in 1998 and has ministered in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. In 2019, Greg completed his Doctor of Ministry in Preaching degree from McCormick Theological Seminary. He is passionate about working with others to build communities of holy joy, faith, and love. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Cruxifusion. Greg brought words of hope and encouragement to those who are discerning their place in The Presbyterian Church in Canada.

“I’ve been invited to talk to you about what it’s like to be an evangelical in a liberal denomination. … Twenty years ago I thought there was no hope, no future for our denomination; in fact, I thought it wouldn’t exist, or it would break up. That hasn’t happened.

“I’m not going to give you a solution. I can’t do that. … It’s a complex situation.

“There is a godly future for you and the PCC.”

“The United Church turned liberal in the 1950s and continued until about 10 years ago. That was the climax. The pendulum had come to swing back to Christology and Trinitarianism and to some extent, biblical authority. … Keep the faith. The Lord will bring you through this.”

“Avoid the temptation to ‘burn it all down’, wash your hands, walk away, and shake the dust off.”

“A strategy here is not to focus on the denomination. … We don’t use the United Church hymn book, we don’t buy the UCC Sunday School resources or Bible study curriculum.” At the same time, “do participate in your courts, but not as a disrupter. Pay presbytery assessments and do the paper work. … Be the local church of Jesus Christ.”

“Even within our congregation there are people who take the Bible literally and there are people who are quite liberal. … When we invite new members, we give them space.”

“Your calling — our calling — is to proclaim the Gospel to every creature in word and in deed and show how attractive a life lived in union with Jesus Christ is.”

“My future and salvation are not dependent on the United Church of Canada and your future and your salvation are not dependent on the Presbyterian Church in Canada. Amen!”