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St. Paul’s Simcoe Overture re: Virtual Assembly

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Whereas the congregations and courts of the Presbyterian Church in Canada have been adapting to different forms of meeting since March 2020; and

Whereas these forms have challenged our longstanding principle and practice of full participation by each member in the business of the courts (Book of Forms 4.4,4.3); and

Whereas the Assembly Council has decided to address these extraordinary circumstances with a virtual General Assembly, June 6-9, 2021; and

Whereas such a format, while well-intentioned, cannot fulfil the either the spirit or the letter of the law nor our long-standing wont and usage; and

Whereas several members of the Assembly Council have noted these severe deficiencies in their dissents in the minutes of the Assembly Council (pp.1378-1382) ; and

Whereas one of those dissents note the lack of strong support for a virtual General Assembly from the Presbyteries of the denomination; and

Whereas many Presbyteries expressed strong reservations about the efficacy of a virtual General Assembly; and

Whereas in these challenging times the primary focus of our leadership should be promoting unity and respect and avoiding potential for disharmony by pursuing potentially divisive courses; and

Whereas there is doubtless a need to meet as a General Assembly and formally conduct business of a pressing and consensus nature;

Therefore the Session of St. Paul’s, Simcoe, humbly overtures the venerable, the 146th General Assembly to consider no matters that would substantively alter the doctrine, polity or ecclesiology of the Presbyterian Church in Canada or do otherwise as the General Assembly in its wisdom deems best.

Knox Thedford Overture re: Separate Synods

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WHEREAS the divisions within the Presbyterian Church in Canada have become more pronounced, and have both widened and deepened over the last decade; and

WHEREAS the matters of disagreement include many aspects of faith and life, belief and practice; and

WHEREAS by its own admission in a report received by General Assembly in 2019, there are many matters that divide the Presbyterian Church in Canada; and

WHEREAS these disagreements have become debates via social media and emails which has moved from issues to personal attacks, slander, and rejection; and

WHEREAS this is not honouring the Commandments, the Sermon on the Mount, or the teaching of the prophets and the apostles, as we bite and devour one another, engage in slander, rage, dissension and bring damage to the Body of Christ; and

WHEREAS Remits B and C (2019) which began as an effort to build bridges across the divide, have resulted in more division and questionable behaviour, indicating that the Presbyterian Church in Canada is unable and/or unwilling at this time to live out what Remits B and C (2019) call for; and

WHEREAS we are called to live in peace with one another as far as is possible; and

WHEREAS ongoing strife and division and slander have no place in the Body of Christ, distract us from our mission, and bring disrepute to the Church; and

WHEREAS Living Faith 8.2.5, while referring to marriage and family has implication and instruction for our denomination (Living Faith 8.2.6),

  • 8.2.5 When we fail each other as parents or partners, we are called to forgive each other as God forgives us, and to accept the possibilities for renewal that God offers us in grace. When a marriage is shattered beyond repair, it is sometimes better that it be dissolved than that the family continue to live in bitterness;
  • 8.2.6 The church is the family of God. Here all should be valued for themselves. We are one body in Christ: together rejoicing when things go well, supporting one another in sorrow, celebrating the goodness of God and the wonder of our redemption; and

WHEREAS continuing in bitterness will not become the gospel nor adhere to our subordinate standards, and a different path is permitted; and

THEREFORE We humbly overture the Presbyterian Church in Canada to consider establishing at least two, possibly three, different, related yet separate synods or connected denominations, so that people of faith, and in good faith, can be free to pursue the beliefs and practices they understand as faithful to scripture, doctrine, polity and Christian discipleship; where shared structures such as pensions and benefits, some mission programs and resources may continue, yet with a separation in matters of doctrine, polity and Christian discipleship which affords each and all to worship and serve with integrity and at peace with one another; or to do otherwise as the General Assembly in its wisdom deems best.

PCC Restructuring Call to Action

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Dear friends of Renewal Fellowship:

Recent years in our denomination have been turbulent. Some fear that our denomination may not, in its entirety, find its way back to authentic Biblical thinking, powerful Spirit-led prayer, and effective Gospel witness. Several of our members have been working on a way forward that was proposed by the Special Committee of Former Moderators at General Assembly in 2019 – a way that would enable The PCC to move past issues of theology and once again focus on ministry. The attached documents contain an urgent call to action and three associated documents.

We are forwarding these documents to you to facilitate communication and fellowship amongst our Renewal Fellowship members.

The main document is PCC Restructuring Call to Action. It contains links to three supplementary documents: Overture Template, How to Write an Overture, and The Need For Restructuring.

Included are also links to the three overtures that are posted on the Renewal Fellowship website from St. Andrew's Moncton, Presbytery of Eastern Han-Ca, and Grace West Hill.

The Executive of the Renewal Fellowship Board.

A Dangerous Precedent

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A Joint Statement from PSALT and the Renewal Fellowship.

Since the denomination’s beginning, there have been unofficial groups gathering within The Presbyterian Church in Canada. They have been structured to pursue particular goals of Christian ministry. Some have been of an ad hoc nature, with both leadership and focus changing regularly. Others have been organized in more detail. PSALT and The Renewal Fellowship within The Presbyterian Church in Canada are two of these unofficial groups. Both have their roots in the self-described evangelical, conservative stream of the PCC.

These two groups occasionally find it prudent to act cooperatively and to speak as one. Information found in the October minutes of the Assembly Council has prompted us to circulate this joint comment. This comment offers concerns about process and offers no opinion on the topic at hand.

Leaders in PSALT and the Renewal Fellowship have served in many positions of responsibility in the various courts of the church. We know that sometimes it appears politics more than theology is directing process, but we have long trusted both our Book of Forms and our traditions [wont and usage] to offset this appearance and to assure that not only does justice get done, but also that it appears to be done.

The October minutes indicate that the Assembly Council has taken a far different and a deeply concerning detour from this understanding. The matter of Gracious Dismissal [see its history below] has been before the church since 2015. While its journey has been lengthy, the General Assembly gave it to the Assembly Council to prepare a report. As per custom the Council named members (task force/sub-committee) to do the initial work of designing a response. They did.

In the long-standing practice of the church, the Assembly Council would now consider the report of their task force and from it prepare an answer for the General Assembly. They have voted to not follow this practice and without seeking the permission of the General Assembly not to perform their duties as given to them.

We believe this a dangerous precedent. In turbulent times, we certainly do not need rogue behaviour if we are to promote unity and respect among ourselves and into our community. We find the recorded dissents in the October minutes compelling in their passion and reason and commend them to the whole church. The Task Force Report was included in one of the dissents and can be found here. We are well aware that these are perilous times in our society, but especially within the church. We need to be able to trust those given authority to act responsibly and with integrity.

We are speaking neither for nor against the task force report as prepared – that is a decision for the General Assembly. We are concerned about the divisive spirit evident in a very few seeking to undermine our conciliar system. If we are to move forward as a denomination in mutual respect, we must have the integrity to honour the process that we’ve agreed upon in the Book of Forms, our Subordinate Standards and our traditions.

We encourage Presbyteries and Sessions to examine the October minutes of the Assembly Council and to voice their serious concerns with this deviation from our traditions and well-developed practices.

Courts interested in the General Assembly history of the overtures related to Gracious Dismissal can find it in the following Acts and Proceedings:
2015 (pp. 17, 249, 610,11);
2016 (pp.16,23,25,37,38,246ff, 281-83, 500-03,505-06, 509-11);
2017 (pp. 14,23,30,39-42,45,234-35,275-77,586-601, 604);
2018 (pp. 36, 250-55)

Gracious Dismissal Final Report

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In recent months, we’ve heard a lot about the need for clarity as we share statistics and information pertaining to the COVID-19 virus. There is a similar need for openness in the church. This week, Assembly Council published the minutes of its October 27, 2020, meeting in which the report of its Gracious Dismissal Committee was on the agenda. A majority on the council voted not to receive it “until at least after the General Assembly has dealt with Remits B and C.” Notwithstanding this decision, the report in its entirety was included in the minutes as part of a written dissent. We believe this report is of deep interest to the church. Therefore, without taking sides, we present the report of the Committee.

Final Report to Assembly Council from Gracious Dismissal Committee

March 22, 2020

To Assembly Council:

Background

Over the past 5 years Overtures have been made to General Assembly requesting, in general, that The Presbyterian Church in Canada permit congregations to leave the denomination with their property if the denomination approves either a redefinition of marriage to include same sex couples or the ordination of those leaders who are in a same sex marriage. The phrase “Gracious Dismissal” was used to describe the process articulated in and the prayer of the Overtures (further discussion about the term “Gracious Dismissal” is set out below). An ancillary issue is whether congregations that owned their property prior to 1925 are treated differently than other congregations.

In response to the Overtures, in 2016 the Clerks of Assembly presented to General Assembly a subsequently adopted response that concluded that there was not a process to permit Gracious Dismissal due to both the polity of the denomination and the statutory restrictions set out in the Act to Incorporate The Trustee Board of The Presbyterian Church in Canada (1939) (“Trustee Board Act”). The polity of The Presbyterian Church in Canada does not allow for a congregation to leave the denomination: the congregation by definition must dissolve if it does not remain. If the congregation dissolves, its assets and liabilities vest in the Trustee Board … Read more

Renewal News – Winter 2021

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Download the entire issue in PDF format, or read and comment on the individual articles:

Profile: First Presbyterian Church, Trail BC

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By Dr. Dan Boateng – First PC Trail Elder

Historical – In the beginning, God sent one Rev. Robertson in 1896 to start the Presbyterian ministry here in Trail BC. And the Lord God continued to send faithful servants to keep up the ministry through the years of the first century of the life of the congregation. In 1925, the continuing Presbyterians were the minority, losing by one vote (as the story is told) in the local vote for Church Union.

Exactly a century after the first Robertson, the Lord God sent this time two Robertsons (1996) to begin the second century of Presbyterian ministry in Trail BC. And the two Reverends, Gavin and Meridyth Robertson, continue as the ministers to this day.

Vision and Mission – The vision and mission statements have evolved over the last 30 years as elders on Session changed. But a few elements have remained constant:

  • to remain authentic – true to the word of God and for His glory;
  • to be a community of compassion – always aspiring and striving to be known for being compassionate and loving;
  • to make an impact for Christ locally, nationally and internationally;
  • to adopt the concept of an enduring ministry – to remain a thriving congregation until the Lord’s return.

Session’s strategic goal in recent years is captured in the missional statement: “Come and See, Stay and Learn, Go and Serve”. Session at its annual Retreat and Strategic Planning defines objectives and actions towards living this out as a congregation, to the glory of God.

First PC TrailWe are the Church – TOGETHER!
firstpctrail.ca
facebook.com/firsttrail

Who we are now – We remain a small congregation, but one intent on growing both spiritually and numerically. Though our largest demographic remains that of seniors, we are blessed more and more with younger couples and families with young children.

The present congregation consists of a few with a lifelong Presbyterian background and the majority who are from other traditions who have made First Church their home, not because we are a Presbyterian church but because we are a conservative congregation with traditional beliefs.

What we do – Our blended Sunday worship service is at the heart of our church family. We sing a variety of music from contemporary to traditional hymns. Our ministers and occasional guest preachers work hard on delivering edifying and strongly Bible based sermons.

Our annual family-focused activities such as our Church picnic, family camp, and Christmas Eve Services, are well received and attended.

Smaller Group Activities have included a variety of programs including Alpha, Timothy Keller and other studies from RightNowMedia. Our Ladies and Men’s ministries offer retreats and study breakfasts. One of our Bible Study/Prayer Groups is a marathon group meeting weekly all-year round.

The COVID pandemic, with its restrictions, helped reveal an opportunity for online ministry: livestreaming on Facebook and the use of Zoom for Bible Studies and meetings has been a real blessing.

Mission and Outreach – For several years the congregation has allocated over 10 per cent of its annual budget to missions. The Missions Committee has led the congregation to support projects and initiatives: local, presbytery, national & international (including additional PWS&D support). We have our own quasi missionaries – a couple from the congregation who spend half the year in Africa (Ghana) involved in Church and mission work. Out of the Missions committee came our annual Community Christmas Dinner which has been serving 100-150 people each Christmas season. Christmas 2020 the dinner will continue by takeout only.

Our ministers are also very involved in the community. Rev. Meridyth is the padre for the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 11. She is also called upon to offer prayers in the community for various events from the Inauguration of council members to the Citizen of the Year.

Rev. Gavin has served as a Chaplain in the Primary Reserves for the last 22 years, and currently serves as Chaplain to the 39 Canadian Brigade Group Headquarters.

Support Renewal

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Almost 100 per cent of our revenue is from donations. Prayer is always the most important contribution you can make. And if the Lord is leading you to support us financially, there are a number of ways:

  • Interac e-Transfers are our preferred method for one-time donations, as they are quick and there are no deductions, as with Canada Helps or PAR. Through your financial institution, send to renewalfellowshippcc@gmail.com. Renewal Fellowship is registered for auto-deposit, so no password should be required. Donors should include their email and postal addresses in the “Message” section so that tax receipts can be provided.
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  • Make a one-time or occasional donation by Interac e-transfer, by credit card through Canada Helps, or by mailing a cheque to the Renewal Fellowship office at 3819 Bloor Street West, Etobicoke, Ontario M9B 1K7. While we appreciate donations by any method, most of our donors contribute using PAR or cheques, in order to minimize our processing costs.
  • Become a member or renew your membership using Interac e-transfer, or using a credit card through Canada Helps. Donate $10 per household, entering “Membership” or “Membership Renewal” and the names of the members and their email and postal addresses in the “Send a message to this charity” section.
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Renewal News – Fall 2020

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Download the entire issue in PDF format, or read and comment on the individual articles:

In This Issue:

Renewal News – Summer 2020

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Everyone did as they saw fit

Powerful Testimony at 2020 Annual Renewal Day

NOTE: Guest speaker Rev. Dr. Jonathan Hong was invited to speak into the theological state of The Presbyterian Church in Canada during our annual Renewal Day on April 25. Renewal News contains excerpts from his presentation. A link to Jonathan's full text, along with the panelists' response and videos of both events, can be found on the 2020 Renewal Day and AGM page.

In This Issue:

We need to create new wineskins
Opinion: it's time for the church to issue its own marriage licences
By Rev. James Statham

This writer is old enough to remember the burning of draft cards to protest the Vietnam war and bras being burned to somehow advance a feminist agenda. Similarly, as both a protest and affirmation, he would have no difficulty shredding his government issued marriage licence. If PCC clergy, who hold to the Biblical view of marriage, took this not so radical step we could then begin the now necessary imperative of reclaiming marriage as the purview of the church. It is possible.

How have I found myself in league with the radicals of old? Our provincial governments have disgorged such a plethora of definitions of marriage it is no longer recognizable. When the defining template is simply co-habiting beyond a weekend fling, involving anyone of either gender, or now ungendered persons, marriage as God ordained it and as practiced for millennia has been shuffled into meaningless irrelevancy. What once could be identified as marriage is now so open ended, it is obliged to eventually include all manner of relationships. For example, the polygamies in Bountiful, BC are referred to as marriages even though no government licences were issued. The spiral began decades ago when common law relationships were given legal equivalency by the CRA for the spousal tax deduction … Read more