RF proposes a new way forward.

Faced with ongoing deficits and a declining bank balance, the Renewal Fellowship is proposing significant changes in the way it operates.

Starting March 1, the Executive Director’s call will be cut in half as the Fellowship eliminates road trips and focuses mainly on online encouragement, support and advocacy for evangelicals. A significant shift will be a formal effort to broaden our base to include friends who have departed the PCC.

The changes were approved by the Board of Directors Nov. 4-5 while meeting in retreat/online at St. Paul’s Simcoe, Ontario. The membership will be asked to homologate the board’s actions at the April 20, 2024 annual meeting, which will be held online.

The board recognized that significant changes were necessary to remain alive. Had no cuts been proposed, RF would have run out of money to operate by late 2024. The decisions were not made without significant prayer and discernment. Formal recognition that decisive action was necessary was made following the 2023 annual meeting. An immediate fundraising drive in the summer of 2023 yielded an increase in support from congregations but not enough to make up for the ongoing decline in support from our membership.

By no means should this action be seen as defeat. Rather, Renewal’s leadership is retooling for a new era in which a significant proportion of our membership and support has departed from the PCC or is planning to do so in the years to come.

Our mission, therefore, is both within and outside the PCC.

The landscape within our denomination has changed significantly since RF was founded in 1983. We are older and many of our churches are largely vacant on Sundays. Our growing edges are primarily our non-Anglo congregations. As evidenced by the 2023 Pastors’ Retreat (see Page 3) we have vibrant younger evangelical pastors and leaders. Our challenge is to renew and re-form to meet them — and all authentic believers no matter what their age or location — wherever they are called.

The bottom line is that the need remains for a grassroots organization to encourage those who remain committed to Biblical truth and the urgent need to practice the Great Commission by going into the world, teaching and baptizing in authentic witness. We’re here for a new season.

Renewal: the new RF at a glance

Coming soon

An online publication that will cater to Reformed evangelicals in Canada, particularly those remaining within the PCC and those who have departed. The to-be-named ’Zine will operate with professional journalistic standards and will include essays, news, opinion and analysis, worship and ministry resources. Our hope is that it will be a gathering place for kindred souls to learn, share and find encouragement as we exercise and defend liberty of conscience and speak Biblical truth in love.

What’s remaining

• Prayer calendar (online but printable)
• Website
• GA presence Prayer Rooms
• Knox College Living the Name bursary
• AGM (online only)
• Fall Pastors’ Retreat, subject to donations from supporting congregations

Discontinued

• Quarterly mailings of Renewal News and printed Prayer Calendar
• Renewal Café, Listening Ear Here
• Standalone blogs
• Renewal Day with speaker
• Financial support for EFC.

Staffing Impact:

• Executive Director will reduce from 40-per-cent time to 20 per cent effective March 1, 2024.
• Administrative Assistant time will reduce slightly as of Jan. 1.