Author Archives: Andy Cornell

Support For Anti-Racism Petition

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This blog represents the thoughts of the author. While they may reflect the theological position of The Renewal Fellowship, they should not be seen as an official statement.

Support is growing for the landmark petitions by Korean-speaking congregations which accuse The Presbyterian Church in Canada of racism by "demonizing" ethnic congregations.

This week, a coalition of Chinese congregations, known as the Chinese Consultation, issued a statement in support of the petitions.

"We thank the members of the Han-Ca Presbyteries for calling attention to the situation for visible minorities in The Presbyterian Church in Canada. Our experience as Chinese Christians is similar to the experience of our Korean Presbyterians congregations in Canada," the May 10 statement said.

The Chinese statement accompanies a letter asking General Assembly not to approve Remits 'B' and 'C' which propose a redefinition of marriage and the ordination of those in same-sex relationships.

The Chinese Consultation consists of six congregations – Vancouver, Montreal, Toronto, Markham, Mississauga and Celebration Chinese Presbyterian churches – whose ministers signed the statement. Rev. Hugo Lau of Mississauga Chinese is convenor of the group and says the letters will be presented to General Assembly by a commissioner from the Victoria, British Columbia, Chinese congregation.

In March, Western and Eastern Han-Ca presbyteries joined forces to adopt petitions alleging that they are being treated as "nothing more than a marginal group whose voice is deemed as one which can, and should be ignored." They accuse the "primarily Anglo-driven dominant culture" of the denomination for sidelining the beliefs of ethnic minorities, most of whom adhere to conservative theology.

"We have experienced treatment at the hands of many in the PCC which has caused us much pain and raises alarm, for we have collectively experienced many instances of slander, ridicule, racism, and even sadly demonization, which all unequivocally seems to be saying that there is no place for 'the Korean' in this denomination," the Western Han-Ca petition stated in part.

The Han-Ca presbyteries compare their treatment to that of Aboriginal peoples, whose "cultures, beliefs and practices" were subjected to assimilation into the "dominant culture." The PCC played a role in that abuse, for which it formally apologized in 1994.

"Is our denomination now really different from the denomination of our past, and should the dominant culture in our denomination not entertain the possibility that they are perhaps again following in the hegemonic sins of their ancestors?" both petitions ask.

Both the Han-Ca petitions and the Chinese statement claim to speak on behalf of other ethnic PCC congregations. They specify African, Arabic, Taiwanese, Hungarian, Spanish, Portuguese and others.

Some of those groups have already spoken out.

In April the session of Chapel Place Presbyterian Church – an Arabic-speaking congregation in Markham, Ont. – released a strongly-worded letter to the Clerks of Assembly.

"As an ethnic Arabic speaking congregation, with deep roots in the Presbyterian church in the Middle East, and history exceeding 50 years in the GTA (40 years of which as members of the PCC) we concur strongly and support the serious and genuine concerns expressed by our dear sisters and brothers in Christ within the Eastern and Western Han-Ca Presbyteries in their recent petition," the April 17 letter stated.

"We feel their petition describes our current perception of the strong trend within the PCC, and our sense of alienation within the denomination."

Rev. Miklos Szigeti, of First Hungarian Vancouver, says he and his ethnic colleagues find themselves in a similar position.

"The vast majority [of the Hungarian-language congregations in the PCC] are supportive, 100 per cent, of the petition from Han-Ca's. We are in the same shoes," he told Renewal Fellowship in an interview.

Pastors from six Hungarian-language PCC congregations meet weekly for Bible study, he says. While they have not published a statement, Szigeti says members of that group are in complete agreement with the message of the Han-Ca petition.

Rev. Sampson Afoakwah, Montreal West Presbyterian Church – an English-speaking multicultural congregation – says he can't speak for the African community, but "I will support it [the Chinese Consultation statement] and if I was to take a wild guess I'm 85 per cent sure that the other African Congregations would support it," he said in a statement.

The ethnic congregations maintain that the dominant culture has not given serious consideration to their requests for space to adhere to traditional doctrine, as expressed in the subordinate standards as currently written.

This theological issue extends far beyond ethnic lines. A total of 12 overtures seeking theological-based courts, rather than geographical or cultural boundaries, are before General Assembly along with 30 overtures seeking a process for a congregation to leave the PCC with its assets. Many of those requests come from Anglo or French congregations. Commissioners to 2021 General Assembly will be asked to refer those overtures to Assembly Council and the Clerks of Assembly, who are already working on responses to earlier requests.

As for the Han-Ca petitions, the Committee on Bills and Overtures is asking commissioners to receive them and refer them to a special committee for study and response to a future Assembly.

Voices in the Wilderness

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This blog represents the thoughts of the author. While they may reflect the theological position of The Renewal Fellowship, they should not be seen as an official statement.

Strike up the band – a renewed chorus of overtures is coming to General Assembly.

There's nothing new about overtures in response to our theological differences. For several years, those in orthodoxy have called for a restatement of our traditional understandings. Or, in the face of inevitable change, they've requested more time to study the issues and the ability of congregations to leave the fold.

A few years ago, we started to see more calls for safe space and legal safeguards for those who adhere to tradition, as well as the creation of presbyteries that follow theological rather than geographical boundaries.

Look for that trend to continue in the 2021 Book of Reports.

It's all part of a growing recognition that our irreconcilable differences in theology in the PCC – which have produced two very different churches – won't be sustainable if the redefinition of marriage is finally approved at this year's Assembly.

Remits “B” and “C” are intended to allow room for traditionalists and progressives to coexist in an undivided denomination. There's the expectation that we are to respect each others' differences and simply go on living. But the reality is that everyone would need to accept each other's interpretations as valid.

God pleads with us to be in line with His will – which is unity with Him, not each other. Allowing unscriptural and ungodly views – at its most charitable, I would say “inconsistent views” – to coexist under one roof is not pleasing to our Father in heaven. (That's true not just for those in orthodoxy. Across the theological spectrum, there are those in every camp who don't want to provide room for “the other.”)

It's now approaching two years in which the remits have been in circulation, and it's become abundantly clear that they will not provide peace. That's one important factor propelling the push to separate into theological synods or sister denominations.

These voices are growing in number and volume. They expect to be heard. Like the widow in Jesus' parable, they will insist on being heard. It is for them a matter of justice as well as truth.

The stakes are deep. And with anything so fundamental, they can bring out the worst in human behaviour as witnessed by the joint petition of the Western and Eastern Han-Ca presbyteries. It's not an easy read. Some may find it hard to believe that some in the same denomination which has repented of its colonial mindset and practices in regard to First Nations people see Koreans (and other non-Anglos in orthodoxy) as barriers to progress. It's heartbreaking.

And lest anyone think that those in orthodoxy are fixated on one issue, consider an overture from Knox Presbyterian Church in Thedford, Ontario, where the faithful are crying out on behalf of those whose lives are tortured by the ravages of drug dependency. It's not only a big-city problem.

Thedford is not alone. There are many voices in the wilderness who refuse to be labelled as singe-issue evangelicals.

We're invited to consider the original voice in the literal wilderness.

Wild and woolly, existing on a diet of insects and locusts, dressed in animal skins and living off the grid – John the Baptist could have been dismissed as an unhinged, fringe, crazy man. Yet, he was wildly popular and attracted scores of curious God-seekers. He even had his own team of disciples.

Those who adhere to authentic, traditional Biblical thinking as it pertains to the divinity and all-sufficiency of Christ (sexuality included) are seen by some as fringe players, mere voices in the wilderness. Regardless, our call is to speak God's message with compassionate boldness – in the wilderness, on the mountaintop, in places of evil, in the marketplace and – yes! – in the courts of the church.

It may now be too late to submit an overture to this year's General Assembly, but it's not too late to make your voices heard in other ways.

The Future is Nothing Like the Past

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A review of “Canoeing the Mountains – Christian Leadership in Uncharted Territory” by Tod Bolsinger.

Canoeing the MountainsCanoeing the Mountains

Truth be told, I dismissed this book without reading a single page. It was a freebie, handed out at the PCC Pastor’s Conference back in 2019, which screamed “remainder bin.” And the title — way too cute. So it sat on a shelf.

But then came the reviews from trusted colleagues, one of whom organized an online book club to study and discuss it. I cracked it open.

When will I ever learn not to judge a book by its cover?

The premise is actually quite simple: today’s churches are being guided, by and large, by leaders with outdated skills. For the most part, we were trained (conditioned?) to lead institutions in Christendom. Trouble is, institutional authority is dying and the Christian church is no longer part of the establishment. What’s badly needed is a different outlook. Nothing new there.

What’s compelling is the application of the explorer analogy. Author Tod Bolsinger compares today’s church leaders to the explorer duo Lewis and Clark, who were commissioned to discover the mainland waterway that would connect the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. It was the Holy Grail of the 18 and 19 centuries. Of course, the route never existed.

They made it to the ocean, but not the way they expected. When they faced mountain ranges, they required a different set of leadership skills. Fortunately, the expedition leaders were skilled enough to be able to adapt. In the same way, church leaders today need a new outlook as we advance the Kingdom in a vastly different world. It’s a highly-recommended read for those who have not lost the vision, but are willing to completely change their approach.

The Next Big Thing

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This blog represents the thoughts of the author. While they may reflect the theological position of The Renewal Fellowship, they should not be seen as an official statement.

Anniversaries are a great opportunity to press pause and take stock. We look back and note how a watershed moment has changed our world. Sept. 11 is the big one. There’s also Nov. 22, if you’re old enough to remember.

And now we have March 11, the day in 2020 when the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 global pandemic. One year later, we have countless news stories about our successes, our failures, how life has changed and what might lay ahead.

It’s always healthy to take a pulse. The church is no different.

Last fall, I took part in a survey of 1,269 pastors and church leaders representing 108 different Christian faith traditions, conducted by WayBase, in partnership with a coalition of Canadian Christian organizations. The purpose was to see how churches and congregations were adapting to the pandemic. The data was collected just as the second wave was starting to hit.

The study, “Impact of COVID-19 on Canadian Christian Charities”, found that churches are adapting. To the secular world, that might appear surprising. Aren’t we just a collection of dying, irrelevant and self-serving institutions? Those whose lives and careers are enmeshed with the Body of Christ know better.

Here’s the quick glance at the study’s findings:

  • “The negative financial impact of COVID-19 continues to be felt strongly across all provinces in Canada.” (No surprise.)
  • “About 75 per cent of churches now offer in-person gatherings, although many still choose to participate online.” (We bounced back after the first wave.)
  • “Higher levels of in-person re-engagement is correlated with better revenue.” (Sad, but true.)
  • “There was a significant increase in the use of technology, with 80 per cent of churches now offering online services.” (An unexpected response, in my view.)
  • “As churches and ministries continue to adapt, many are turning their attention to the needs in their community.” (Amen.)

It was that final point which hit me. Could it be that the church is on the verge of a new awakening in which our eyes are turned outward? I don’t mean feeding and clothing the least of these, although that’s a beautiful thing. We have social service agencies and governments which are well funded for that; churches merely fill in the cracks.

When I see “needs of the community” I read “spiritual poverty.” Christendom, for what it was worth, is dead. True believers – defined as those who genuinely accept that Jesus Christ is the divine Son of God and are devoted to the discovery and establishment of an authentic church – are a small minority in our culture. Those who truly accept Christ are called to go into the world, to baptize and to teach everything our Lord taught us. We are the farmers who plant the seed, night and day, and watch as the Holy Spirit makes it grow. We don’t understand how it happens and we aren’t meant to understand. We are called merely to scatter.

No government agency, no secular school, and no service club is ever going to do this. But it is the primary job of the church. Far too many churches have lost sight of that and have become glorified service clubs.

Buried within the 49-page WayBase report is an amazing nugget of truth which should provide hope for the small church – which is actually most of us.

“Overall, small churches have a much higher level of engagement at in-person services this fall when compared to larger churches. Similarly, rural churches are re-engaging in-person to a greater degree than their urban counterparts. Collectively, the majority of attendees are still choosing not to attend in-person worship services.” (page 49)

That’s right, rural churches are leading the way. Nothing against multi-staff congregations – we do need them! – but small congregations can respond faster as needs change. They have a hyper local culture because they are not as tuned-in with that industry of bloggers and opinion makers who point to “Big Church Trends” and are prophets of “The Next Big Thing.” Small congregations (many of which are served by part-time or multi-charge pastors) are sometimes dismissed. Sometimes, it feels like it’s all about the megachurch.

Never mind all that. We are called to bloom where we are planted. In the same way that “all news is local” (a journalistic truism) so is the church. One person, one story, one opportunity to plant the seeds of faith. Rural roads or suburban streets, it doesn’t matter.

This is something to think about as increasing numbers of urbanites cash in and retire in quieter climes, and younger first-time home buyers plant roots far from the commuter chaos.

For the first time in many generations, the local church can provide the community what’s so lacking in our wired worlds. We are invited to be prayerfully focused on our neighbourhoods and towns. Be attentive to our local cultures. Just be there. It could be a sandwich board sign on the church sidewalk, a post in the neighbourhood Facebook group – all peppered with prayer for an opportunity to witness Christ.

The Next Big Thing could be something that’s been right in front of us all along.

Our Executive Director

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Rev. Andy CornellRev. Andy Cornell

My birthplace was London, England in October 1962. I came to Canada as an infant and grew up in the other London, where I attended Western University (history) and Fanshawe College (broadcast journalism) and where I had my first full-time employment, as a reporter at CJBK/BX93 Radio. From there, I felt the call to print journalism and my first taste of small-town life in Tillsonburg, Port Hope, and Simcoe. I settled in Chatham to be with my bride, Pam, and where we raised our two sons. In 2008, I began part-time seminary studies at Knox College. In August 2011, I resigned as assistant managing editor of The Chatham Daily News to finish my studies and begin work as student pastor at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in nearby Dresden, which called me as Minister of Word and Sacrament in late 2012. I was ordained in early 2013 and have remained at St. Andrew’s, growing and learning along with my congregation.

I split my time 60/40 between my congregation and Renewal Fellowship.

A cynical person might ask why I left one dying industry to join another. (God does have a sense of humour.) However, neither journalism nor the church is dying. There will always be a demand for news and we will always need journalism to keep watch on the abuses of power. And there will always be a great, gaping need for a connection to our triune God and people willing to cut through the lies the enemy has planted. Christ is our only hope.

My 24 years in broadcast and print news helped me understand the need to cut through the rhetoric and be clear in our communication. Supervising and managing news employees – a notoriously rebellious, creative cast of characters – under deadline pressure helped me understand human nature and learn diplomacy.

I discovered Renewal Fellowship shortly after my ordination and was amazed that such an organization was not fully supported and embraced by the PCC. I am not a lifelong member of the PCC, having been raised Anglican and attending Baptist and Christian Reformed churches along the way. (In fact, I actually left the church from my late teens until my early 30s, but that’s another story.) The more I learned about the PCC’s gradual drift away from a solid biblical foundation, the more I was drawn to the company of those of like mind. Renewal’s existence made sense. At my first annual general meeting in 2016, I was among kindred souls.

With thanks to our Father God for setting the course, to Christ for our salvation and foundation and to the Holy Spirit as our guide, the words of the Apostle Paul come to mind: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:8 NIV)

Rev. Andy Cornell <amcpastor1@gmail.com>
call/text 226-229-1695

Dear Presbyters

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This blog represents the thoughts of the author. While they may reflect the theological position of The Renewal Fellowship, they should not be seen as an official statement.

Questions are like tools. Good quality instruments used with skill and care can loosen the machinery and allow a glimpse into the soul of a machine.

Or a person.

So it is with the question and answer section of the 2021 General Assembly moderator nominee profiles.

Kudos to whoever developed this skillful line of questioning, which starts with the comfortable “What are your earliest memories of the church?” followed by invitations to share their favourite Scriptures, books, thinkers, and writers.
And then it gets to the meat:

  • What is your image and vision of the church at its best?
  • What would you say are the most important features of faithful discipleship?
  • What would you say is the core calling of the church in Canada today?
  • What area of public life do you believe the PCC should be more involved in?

Pause here and take stock of the vital relevance of these questions – and the importance of the answers. We are poking at the essence of our spiritual beings. How do those answers stack up against what we hold to be the authentic core of the church?

As a presbyter with a single vote, I’m asking two questions: “Who is the best person for a time such as this?” and “Whose ecclesiology, worldview, and theology best represent what I firmly believe God is calling His church to be?”

Given a choice, the latter bears the greater weight. I am seeking the person who truly understands what the truly Christ-centred church is, who adheres to the authority of Scripture, who isn’t likely to omit troubling commands or reinterpret them to say what their itching ears want to hear. And do they have willingness and ability to speak the truth in love?

I am guided by the vision of The Renewal Fellowship, which is “To lead each other and the PCC to authentic Biblical thinking, powerful, Spirit-led prayer and effective Gospel witness.”

Why is this important?

Of immediate importance is the moderator’s ability to guide a very difficult General Assembly (the challenges of doing it virtually being only one hurdle). Without prejudice or personal preference, a good moderator enables the Assembly to consider its business with fairness and decorum. Given the sheer number of commissioners and the potential diversity of various voices, that is always a major challenge. And then there’s the 51 weeks which follow. Aside from sitting on every agency, board, and committee of Assembly for a year, there’s a demanding schedule of travel, visiting courts and congregations from coast to coast. The moderator is the de facto face of the denomination.

At a time when the church is considering profound changes to its doctrine, which may take us into apostasy, we are called to select a moderator who is able to uphold the traditional, time-tested authority of Scripture.

So what did I read in their answers? Much.

Do I know who I’m voting for? Yes.

I’m not going to reveal that choice. My intent is to encourage you to be still for a moment (or however long it takes) to know exactly what God has placed on your heart of hearts. If you were to be asked those four key questions, what would you say? Then, compare your answers to those of the nominees.

Ballots are being distributed this month to members of presbytery and will be counted April 1.

Stillness to Prevent Illness

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This blog represents the thoughts of the author. While they may reflect the theological position of The Renewal Fellowship, they should not be seen as an official statement.

“Where is God in all this?”

If there’s a defining theological question for these times, that’s it. In any time of crisis, we search for meaning. Do a search of sermon titles preached in the wake of 9-11 and odds are that is what you will find.

In 1938, Rev. Martyn Lloyd-Jones was called to the pulpit at Westminster Chapel. A stone’s throw from Buckingham Palace, the congregation was and remains an evangelical, Holy Spirit-led, prophetic beacon for Britain. Notwithstanding the vague promise of “peace in our time”, war was coming. Germany had just annexed Austria and declared sovereignty over Czechoslovakia. The Holocaust had begun.

In the face of emerging terror, Lloyd-Jones’s messages were solid and Biblically authentic. No hand-holding, feel-good syrup. He called for revival. He pointed to the Gospel as our one and only hope.

It was a call to spiritual battle.

In a series of messages – now packaged as “Why Does God Allow War?” – he challenged his congregants to discover the true nature of God. He addressed the human temptation to seek an immediate and positive outcome to prayer. He pointed to our sinful nature. Listeners were invited to examine the profound implications of Christ’s death and resurrection. He touched on redemption and sacrifice.

Where is God in all of this? He addressed that question head on with an exploration of Biblical truth. God is not to blame for war. Humankind, fallen and mired in sin, is simply not fit for peace.

Fast forward to 2021, and we are no further ahead in our human misery. We may yearn for a fresh start and a speedy end to the pandemic turmoil, but the reality is that the end is nowhere in sight. Herd immunity won’t happen until autumn at best. 2021 is shaping up to be the same, if not worse than 2020.

And then there’s what’s happening in the U.S. While the last four years may have been unsettling, I dismissed it as comic relief. Yet as the unrest turns to violence, I am reminded that we are separated by an undefended border.

An elder friend signed off on a routine email this week, saying, “Hope all is wonderful in your world.” Rather than a facile “thanks”, I was drawn, at that moment, to state exactly what was on my mind.

I wrote, “Spiritually, I am struggling to stay on track (mentally) with the Father’s will despite the COVID and Congress chaos. Such a diversion. Sigh.”

I don’t normally pour out my heart when it’s unsolicited. Knee-jerk, 30-second reactions can be highly revealing. So, I took stock.

I realize that I have become mentally consumed with keeping track of the chaos around us. The first thing that I check after glancing at the clock every morning is the news feed. Six months ago, it would have been the weather. I am spending less time in prayer.

In mid-sentence, as I was writing this, an emergency alert came across my phone, warning residents to stay at home in this first of 28 days of renewed lockdown. I silenced it. But the voice continued in my head.

Where is God in all this? Martyn Lloyd-Jones was correct in 1938 and his witness is just as vital today: God is unchanging. The problem is us.

God is there. We need to give our heads a shake and open our eyes. Allowing God to have His way in our lives, in the church, and in this world is our highest calling – and duty.

We need to be wide awake and aware of what is going on in our world. But how do we do that in a healthy manner? The answer, as it always has been, is to fix our eyes upon Jesus as the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. He provided soothing words and his yoke was easy. And yet He had tough commands.

In times of crisis, there is a temptation for the church to serve up a tray of treacly hope and nothing more, lest we burden peoples’ minds. But that’s not giving honour to the Lord, who promised that His burden would be light, but also challenged us to pick up our crosses.

A soft and warm reminder of God’s love is always good, but it can never be the only thing. I know that may sound uncaring, even blind. It does not mean that we are to ignore the reality; Christ’s illustrations pointed to the things of everyday life. Conflict is part of that. The world in which we live is always the backdrop, and we cannot ignore it.

The essential truth which we proclaim is unchanging. The Gospel truth proclaimed from a pulpit in 2021 should be no different than that preached during the Second World War, the Great Depression, or even the Black Death.

By all means, serve up Psalm 121 and its comforting words. But follow it with Matthew 10:38, Isaiah 45:15, 1 Timothy 2:8, and Matthew 5:43-44.

And may I suggest Psalm 46? Consider the opening and closing words:

“God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come … The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress.” (Psalm 46:1-2a,11 New Living Translation)

Those are mere bookends which support a rich serving of wisdom. Verse 10 is the key:

Be still.

The command – or is it more of an invitation? – is not necessarily to remain fixed like a mannequin. “Stop fighting” is what some English translations say. Stop fighting each other. Stop fighting with ourselves. Stop fighting God.

It’s a mental stillness – which might prevent illness. Still our minds long enough to allow God to enter. Stillness is the exact opposite of what many of are doing in the face of uncertainty. In our rush to make sense of things, many of us are consumed with news and social media. Consumed means devoured.

What we need – whether in good times or bad – is good, authentic teaching. Such truth isn’t always sweet to the taste. In fact, it’s often not what our itching ears want to hear. Tough medicine, perhaps. Good food, always.

United We Stand

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Presbyterians who adhere to traditional standards are working together on two new fronts.

“Praying, listening, trusting” was formed in June 2020 for the purpose of praying for six months in order to discern God’s direction for those in orthodoxy. “PCC-Covenant” came together in the fall in recognition of a need to work with one another and the wider denomination “with integrity, humility, trust, grace and hope.”

Both movements have the active support of the Renewal Fellowship (RF) board of directors as well as Presbyterians Standing for Apostolic Love and Truth (PSALT) along with many others who are not connected to either group.

“Praying, listening, trusting” has held twice-monthly prayer meetings with a total of 25 people taking part at various times. PCC-Covenant attracted a combined 140 registrants for its two initial gatherings on Nov. 14 and 16.

Neither movement sees itself as an actual group or organization. In fact, “Praying, listening, trusting” isn’t even a formal name; rather, it’s a title one of the organizers came up with when creating a Facebook page in order to communicate and share their Zoom link.

Nor are they narrowly focused on the proposals before General Assembly to redefine marriage and formally accept ministers and elders who are in same-sex marriages.

While Remits ‘B’ and ‘C’ may be a catalyst behind unity, there is general agreement that The Presbyterian Church in Canada (PCC) is moving away from such foundational truths as Biblical authority, the uniqueness of Christ as Lord and Redeemer, the work of the Holy Spirit, the sovereignty of God and the need to adhere to those things as disciples of Christ that are outlined in our subordinate standards and ordination vows.

Those in orthodoxy find themselves in four main camps:

  • Remain in the PCC, also known as “stay and pray”
  • Depart from the PCC, individually or in groups,
  • Work towards the creation of separate theological courts in the PCC to allow revisionists and those in orthodoxy to establish their own theology and practice while sharing pension and benefits,
  • Discerning which path to take.

The two new movements respect those different directions yet seek unity of spirit within orthodoxy.

Praying, listening, trusting: The idea came from Rev. Jonathan Hong, of Toronto Korean Presbyterian Church, in a discussion with Rev. Jon Wyminga, of Cariboo Presbyterian Church in British Columbia.

“Jonathan and I talked about the situation concerning human sexuality in our denomination and how we will proceed,” Wyminga recalled in May 2020. “As we reflected, we recognized that the COVID-19 situation has given us a whole extra year to reflect and prepare before any final decisions are made.  While a year of more delays creates some problems, we recognized that this could be a great gift from the Lord. Instead of spending all of that year engaged in debate and planning about what to do Jonathan and I discussed the idea of dividing the next year into two six month periods. The first six months would be exclusively dedicated to praying for God’s direction. The next six months would then be a time of prayerfully planning and implementing that direction.”

No personal plans or agendas would be discussed or shared.

They launched the first gathering by Zoom Meeting on June 18 with nine people participating. Gatherings take place every other week and are led by Rev. Jon Wyminga and Rev. Shannon Bell of Cariboo. Prayer was centred around a group study of Gordon T. Smith’s book The Voice of Jesus, led by Rev. Dr. Christine O’Reilly of Knox Thedford, Ontario. Approximately two dozen people had taken part by late November.

The book study has provided a “a good foundation as we engage in discernment in the coming months,” said Jon. “We’ve drawn several people from across the country. I think we’ve had some very meaningful times of prayer and we’re developing a growing sense of trust and openness within the group. I believe it has become a place where some people feel like they fit who don’t feel that way in other groups. I think these last things are particularly important since, in other settings, I am concerned of rifts and distrust developing among those who may agree against the remits but disagree in the specifics of their response.”

Much time has been spent in “repentant prayer,” says O’Reilly. “Repentant prayer for the ways we have wounded one another, regardless of theological stance; a deep desire for humility; a trust that God is at work. We have prayed for those who believe differently, that they would be blessed. We have prayed for one another to be encouraged and listen for the voice of Jesus. We have been drawn together by this desire to pray and listen and trust God. We have been humbled and found a spirit of grace to move forward as we discern what the Spirit may be saying to us and leading us to do. There is no anger, gossip, backbiting or a sense of complaint or enmity with anyone. There is a sense that we all need to move forward in freedom and to be able to be at peace; to bless one another with grace, no matter what ‘side’ or ‘direction’ people are committed to.”

The group moves into its second six-month phase in January. The plan is to continue praying for all parties, for the PCC and for one another as GA 2021 draws near.

“We do not know what GA 2021 will bring. COVID-19 is going to bring profound change to the PCC regardless of remits, and so the PCC cannot and will not ‘stay the same’, ” O’Reilly says.

PCC Covenant
PCC Covenant

PCC-Covenant came together in September under the leadership of Rev. Doug Cameron, a retired PCC minister.

“We are deeply concerned that Evangelicals, Conservatives, Orthodox, Traditional (ECOT) members of the PCC need to work and worship together regardless of what they may decide to do in the aftermath of the next GA,” he said in a September 2020 statement.

He and others of like mind reached out to RF and PSALT with a proposal to hold virtual town hall meetings “to encourage [those in orthodoxy] to walk in a manner worthy of Christ” and discern what those paths might look like. With the support of both groups, the first town hall was focused on encouraging participants “to walk worthy of the Lord, and to begin dealing with any unresolved bitterness, anger, unforgiveness in our hearts so that we don’t carry it into whatever new work God may lead us into post-GA 2021.”

The centrepiece of PCC-Covenant is a statement which calls on those in orthodoxy to “hold ourselves accountable to the highest standards in our speech, in what we post, and in how we act.” The covenant urges us to exhibit “Christlikeness in our behaviour and in our communication.”

The Covenant recognizes that there is a lot of underlying tension in the PCC, which has often erupted in conflict. The covenant recognizes this and calls upon everyone to “walk and talk in a manner that honours Christ and is in keeping with the scriptures. . .” (Go to PCC-Covenant.ca to view the Covenant. The website includes an opportunity to sign off in support.)

O’Reilly, who is one of the signatories of the Covenant, said “there is a strong emphasis on the need for all parties to have a commitment to forgiveness sought and received, and move forward with humility and healthy spirituality, not anger or bitterness.”

“A huge underlying theme . . . is our need to seek forgiveness for the sins we have committed: our anger, disrespect of others, the ways evangelicals have at times baited their opponents and not behaved well; how we have too often loudly said what we oppose, and not offered hope as to what we are for,” she added.

The next town hall meetings are Jan. 21 and 23. The agenda will include breakout rooms for the four camps.

A Remembrance and a ‘Reminder’

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Don MacLeod publishes personal memoir

Requiem (noun) — 1) A Mass for the repose of the souls of the dead. 2) A musical composition setting parts of a requiem Mass, or of a similar character. 3) An act or token of remembrance. [Source: Oxford English Dictionary.]

It’s the third definition which fits Rev. Don MacLeod’s latest published writing. An almost-legendary figure in the PCC, MacLeod had an extraordinary career which touched no fewer than eight decades (if one includes his first sermon at the age of 10 — all the way to the 2020.) A Presbyterian Requiem is billed as a “memoir” of six appointments, but it could also be described a “blow-by-blow account.” That’s not to sensationalize or dramatize. Rather it’s to point out that in ministry, there is never a dull moment. MacLeod bears witness: “Yes, there are scars, but only in service of the One who was scarred for me on Calvary,” he notes in the introduction. Of course, there are many joys in ministry too, otherwise we would not remain standing: “Years of ministry have surrounded me with a host of friends who have greatly enriched my life,” he states. That sentence describes the substance of the memoir: a rich and vivid description of the faithful souls which have surrounded one minister as he and his family traversed Presbyterian terrain on both sides of the Canada/United States border.

A Presbyterian Requiem
A Presbyterian Requiem

This is a really good read. I am tempted to describe it as a page turner. What draws you in are the insights into ministry at every level. Each chapter brings something new. It’s a must-read for anyone interested in a dose of PCC history from an evangelical perspective. It’s a rich collection of names, places, dates and experiences. Any pastor would be encouraged after reading this work for the simple reason that it’s always good to be reminded that we are not alone.

Back to the title. Requiem indicates a loss. MacLeod admits that his narrative is more than just “a personal description of what I have observed and participated in. It is a requiem for all that has been lost in the passage of time, as well as a reminder of what made us once a great church.” These are not the tears of someone who yearns for bygone days as mere nostalgia.   No, they are a lament shared by those in every generation who search for a more authentic expression of Christ’s body. On that note, it’s worth mentioning that MacLeod was the founding chairman of The Renewal Fellowship and remains a vibrant supporter.

MacLeod offers an encouraging conclusion. I won’t offer any spoilers, but if you need a dash of hope, it awaits.

Looking for a gift for a PCC pastor in your life? It’s available for purchase on Amazon in hardcover, paperback and Kindle editions.

Other publications by A. Donald MacLeod: George Murray of the U.P. (1996), W. Stanford Reid (2004), C. Stacey Woods (2007), A Kirk Disrupted (2013), China Mishkid (2018).