Leafing through the fall 2023 edition of Presbyterian Connection, the denomination’s quarterly newsletter, I find plenty of stories about social justice and activism: racism, aboriginal rights, climate, poverty, hunger, sexuality and affordable housing. There’s content on church business: use of property, social media, travel tales, congregational renewal and stewardship. There’s the usual multi-page spread of … Read more
Author Archives: Andy Cornell
A new front emerges
Opposition to Physician Assisted Suicide/MAID. Like a typical town hall meeting, Renewal Cafés provide a glimpse into the mind of Christ within the evangelical wings of The Presbyterian Church in Canada. We send an invitation, accept RSVPs and open the door. The conversation then takes a life of its own. The invitation to the July … Read more
Retreat needs financial support
The Queen of Apostles Renewal Centre in Mississauga will again be the setting for our PCC Pastor’s Retreat from Nov. 6-8. Teaching will be led by Rev. Dr. Richard Topping of Vancouver School of Theology with a worship team led by Rev. James Yang and friends. The good news is that all the pieces were … Read more
Christianity and Liberalism
Classic 1923 text by J. Gresham Machen comes to life again. In this diverse world of ours, we live side-by-side with colleagues, friends, neighbours and even family members who hold sometimes radically different political views, lifestyles and opinions about life. The Presbyterian Church in Canada has never been wholly unified. Progressives and traditionalists have been … Read more
Physician Assisted Suicide
The following is a summary of the work of the Committee on Church Doctrine regarding Physician Assisted Suicide and the responses of General Assembly since 2017 Report from the Committee on Church Doctrine 2017 Introduction Canada’s changing attitudes towards Physician Assisted Suicide (PAS; See “Definitions – A word about words” below for explanation of terminology) … Read more
Resources to Understand Physician Assisted Suicide
During the July Renewal Café, it was suggested that the issue of Physician Assisted Suicide/Death (also known as Medical Assistance in Dying) might be the emerging issue for evangelical Presbyterians. The tone of our Café conversation backed it up. The church appears to be deeply divided. On the one hand, otherwise faithful congregants and elders … Read more
General Assembly 2023
General Assembly 2023 may not have included fireworks and momentous decisions, but it was still an eye opening experience. I was there to convene the Renewal Fellowship Prayer Room and act as an observer. July’s Renewal Café will be devoted to a debriefing of GA. Details and invitation below. Here’s my take on GA. DEFINITION … Read more
Report on the Special Committee on Racism
One overlooked General Assembly key moment this year was the final report of the Special Committee Re: Listening, Confession and Associations, which was commissioned in 2021 in response to formal petitions by the Han-Ca (Korean speaking) presbyteries which alleged racism in the PCC. It was a rich report, prompting lively discussion which extended for more … Read more
Pastor Retreat to Return
Buoyed by the success of last November’s retreat, an organizing team has been meeting regularly since February to plan the next one. Dear pastor, are you so caught up in your day-to-day busy-ness you don’t have time to dream? I don’t mean wishful thinking. I’m talking about being still long enough to allow the Spirit … Read more
A Pastoral Presence
RF brings encouragement to GA commissioners. Renewal’s board of directors made a strategic decision this year to concentrate the Executive Director’s (ED) travel budget on our presence at General Assembly. It’s about getting the best bang for the buck – where we can reach the greatest number of people in the PCC. GA is a … Read more