Category Archives: Blog

PresbyCan at a Quarter Century

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In a pandemic, daily devotional more vital than ever

As the world enters a second year of physical distancing and restricted travel, PresbyCan Daily Devotionals promise to become more important than ever. For many devoted readers, the online ministry is a vital daily dose of scriptural wisdom. As some readers attest (see comments below) this ministry has kept them grounded in Christ in a world which has become somewhat unhinged.

With a volunteer staff of five, PresbyCan ministers daily to more than 5,700 people around the world through email, with 900 hits every day on its website as well as 600 readers on Facebook. There are over 9,000 devotionals in their searchable archives written by over 550 authors.

Those numbers are powerful. But there’s an even greater story behind it. It’s about how God works in ways we cannot imagine, preparing a foundation, piece by piece. Because of the sovereignty and providence of God, whenever we do something, however simple, we never know where the Lord will take it, or what effects our action will have.

All that is a fitting tribute as PresbyCan celebrates 25 years in May 2021.

The following is a first-person account of the PresbyCan story from one of its founders, Rev. Robin Ross – who is also Renewal Fellowship’s webmaster – who continues to guide the ministry in his retirement.

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“The roots of PresbyCan actually began in the mid 1960s. When I was in university 55 years ago, I was facing a 120-hour job of manual statistical calculations for a geography assignment. Computers were just coming into prominence, so I decided that I would rather spend 120 hours learning how to program a computer to do the work. I asked a friend to show me how to program those massive calculations on the computer. I grew to love writing computer programs immensely. Later on in seminary, as I stood watching the whirring IBM 360s in the Engineering building, I asked myself why I wasn’t pursuing a career in programming! I rationalized that computers are predictable, but people are more important, and re-affirmed my decision to enter the ministry. Little did I know that what I thought I had given up to serve the Lord would later become a major means of serving the Lord through these devotionals.

“Back in the early 1970s, straight out of seminary, I was posted to a two-point charge on the Trans-Canada Highway in Saskatchewan. As I was considering ways to do mission in our community, one of my ideas was to put an answering machine on a telephone line and record a brief devotional message that people could call in to hear. SaskTel said that if this outreach proved to be too popular, the line-up of calls could tie up the whole telephone exchange, so they insisted on multiple lines and call-switching equipment at business-class rates. The package was more than I could pay or ask my congregations to pay, so I abandoned the idea — or so I thought.

“My next charge was in Trenton, Ontario. During my time there, area ministers were asked to come into the local radio station and record three-minute devotionals to be aired at 8:00 a.m. each weekday. During that time, I wrote and recorded about 30 devotionals. I kept the scripts. Also during that time, the first desktop computers came out, so I bought one and learned how to program it.

“By 1996, I was ministering in Mission BC, and email and the Internet were just becoming popular. Michael Farris began PCCWeb with a grant from the church’s Experimental Fund. He posted a new editorial each week, but I suggested that he needed some feature that would bring people back each day. I suggested that he program a date function so that each day’s Presbyterian Prayer Partnership prayer request would be posted automatically without being manually changed. Michael took up the challenge, but instead of putting the prayer request on the home page, he put it on its own page. It looked pretty bare by itself, and he challenged me to write some devotionals to go with it. Daily made its public debut on May 25th, 1996. I used my 30 devotional scripts to get going, soon to be joined by 70 other volunteer writers. Within a year, Michael gave me access to the site, and I wrote scripts for the PrayerLine so that people could post prayer requests.

“By April of 1998, the Daily was still attracting only about 60-80 readers a day to our website, and I realized that we could minister to a greater audience if we sent the devotionals out by email. So I wrote computer scripts that would automatically send out the devotionals by email each day. I sent out emailed notices, and within two days, well over 200 people had signed up for this free service. That required more scripts to handle the subscriptions automatically. Obviously, we had developed a good reputation. People were subscribing from around the world. So often, people would write encouraging feedback saying that the day’s devotional was exactly what they needed to hear from the Lord!

“As my programming skills improved and my computer equipment was upgraded, I gradually added more design features. A year later, our circulation had reached 883 a day. Unfortunately, the growth had seriously cut into the time that I needed to spend on my congregational ministry. Reluctantly, I tendered my resignation to the church’s Internet Task Force. Instead of accepting it, they countered that at that time, I was the only person in The Presbyterian Church In Canada who was trained to do this, and they offered me help in the form of Jane Anne Waller, who immediately looked after the subscriptions and feedback, and still does today. Garnet Schenk offered to moderate the PrayerLine and was recently replaced by George Myers. Mary Jane Hanson served for several years as the Submissions Editor. These days, I prepare devotionals for publication and record the podcasts, and James T. Hurd is the Devotional Editor, while Terry Folster administers the Facebook page.

“When I look back on these desires and decisions of mine, I realize that God was preparing me for this ministry long before I (or anyone else) had even dreamt of there being an Internet on which a Christian computer programmer could present devotionals to a worldwide audience! It boggles the mind even trying to think about God’s foreknowledge – from before we were born! How could we ever doubt His care and loving kindness, seeing how He prepares us for unique ministries through our unique experiences? What a wonder and privilege it is to have the opportunity to exercise the gifts and inspiration that God has prepared for us, for His glory! And that’s not all that He has prepared for us: heaven awaits – the best is yet to come! Paul wrote, ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.’ (1 Corinthians 2:9b NLT). With unrestricted vision, He sees the whole scope of life, and how to fit in what we’re doing, right now, with His great scheme of things. We see only in part; we know only in part. Resolve today to trust His wisdom, who sees and knows all.

“As I think about my career decisions, there seems to be an important principle in life that something has to die before something else can be born. Jesus said, ‘I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.’ (John 12:24 NIV) Jesus had to die before He was raised to new life. In order to serve the Lord in full-time ministry, I sacrificed my desire to do computer programming – the death of a vision. The Lord gave that back to me in an unexpected computerized ministry – the re-birth of a vision. So when the door closes, the Lord says ‘No!’ or a dream of yours goes up in smoke, remember the principle of ‘the death of a vision – the re-birth of a vision.’ In the Lord’s economy, what dies gives birth to new life somewhere else. We believe in the overcoming power of the resurrection – life conquers death. God gives back to us, in improved form, what we sacrifice to Him in obedience.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: As with any volunteer-based enterprise, the future is never certain. Devotionals require editing and revision, PHP-based websites require constant supervision. Is the Lord calling you to lend a hand? Contact Robin Ross at rross@telus.net.

‘Calming reprieve in the hubbub of earthly matters’

PresbyCan readers voice their appreciation:

“In an increasingly troubled world, PresbyCan Daily Devotional reminds us of what is truly important, the love of God and His active presence in our lives. I have started every day for the past year with PresbyCan Daily Devotional and the Bible reading selections. While the world remains troubled, PresbyCan Daily Devotional is helping  me to live ‘in the world’ and not ‘of the world.’”

“Thank you! This message is exactly what we needed to hear this morning. We are going through difficult times, and now we are reminded of God’s promise for us through this verse in your devotional.”

“I love these devotions and every morning it is the first thing I read. Because of the devotions, I see God more and more in the ordinary things of my daily life and find myself asking what is God teaching me here now in this time.”

“I find the Daily to be a calming reprieve in the hubbub of day-to-day earthly matters that cause us stress and concern. Whether I read the Daily in the morning, evening or somewhere in between, I find it calms my thinking and reminds me that God is in control, that I am one of His children, and that He loves me in spite of my sins.”

“It blesses lives in need of spiritual uplift. Yes, you might say, the Daily blesses me. But that’s not very original. For me it is also God’s Daily dose of love, encouragement and instruction. Also, it is an uplifting Daily morsel from God’s word.”

“It seems to set my mind on the right path and makes a good start for the morning. . . . I have a granddaughter 16 years old that I have forwarded some very good advice to given in the devotional. Keep up the wonderful messages.”

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.

Putting The Bite Back Into The Apple

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Sometimes it is mind-boggling to realize that just one year ago the word ‘pandemic’ evoked pleasant images of a happy evening playing a co-operative board game with family and friends. During this past 12 months many, many ordinary people have demonstrated admirable qualities of passion, perseverance and personal sacrifice as they have risen to the demands resulting from the coronavirus. Most of us can put names to these neighbours and citizens who have made the challenges of these perilous times less daunting.

Perhaps it is my stage of life, but in spite of all those fine examples of praiseworthy behaviour, I have also been chagrined by persistent evidence of prominent folk acting in ways that can only be described as piecemeal, parochial and/or paranoid.  None of those behaviours nor their underlying motivations build healthy communities.

It is the last one though that has most often captured my focus. Paranoia —pandering to fear, using anxiety as a reason for action is not only psychologically damaging to all involved, it prevents hope from taking root. Since it enervates more than motivates, it is actually self-defeating as a means of inspiration.

In the realm of faith fear has no place.  When love holds sway, fear vanishes (1 John 4:18). When trust is put in God’s Sovereign Rule, hope not fear fills the heart (Psalm 27:1). Perhaps I’m overly sensitive about this because the beginnings of my faith journey very much identify with Newton’s hymn — ‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, And grace my fears relieved’. My journey from line one to line two was lengthy. Looking back, I regret the diminished joy and stunted love experienced during that delay. So maybe like someone in recovery, I over-react.

But I don’t think so. I survey the landscape in our culture and in our denomination and it is easy to find reasons to fear.  Our society seems to be increasingly divided with fault lines multiplying and widening — generational, regional, political, philosophical, racial and on and on. The PCC’s theological differences appear to be hardening with negative impacts on our congregations’ vitality, our conciliar cohesion and our capacity to want let alone to seek unity. Divisions rarely enhance life.  Thus, you hear undertones of fear in many conversations about the future.

I sometimes hear it in my own voice and sense it in my own heart. Don’t misunderstand me, these divisions are cause for serious concern and do summon us to action. But not motivated by fear. Rather we engage the darkness knowing that the Light of the World has come and the darkness can never overcome Him. We confront forces of disunity, knowing that in the Creator all things are held together.  We take on complexity and confusion knowing that the Spirit is constantly teaching and renewing our minds, enabling us to discern truth from error. We face the possible loss of much that is precious to us, knowing the promise ‘that what eye has not seen, nor ear heard’ will come into fruition.

Fear, deep-rooted in the human heart, comes from disobedience (Gen. 3:8-10).  Obedience in response to divine grace is the antidote. It is also the gift of God that will bridge the divisions and heal the hurts of those divisions. May such love-inspired faithfulness be the hallmark of our lives in these perilous days.

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.

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.

An Ideological Barrier

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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.

For the record, I welcome everyone into my congregation, no matter what you’ve done or who you’ve done it with. You are welcome to join with other less-than-perfect people as we confess, pray and worship together.

Yes, everyone.

I welcome everyone because all people are created in the image of God. All people are sinners and require redemption. All sin is equal. With the exception of blaspheming the Holy Spirit, all sin can be forgiven.

I adhere to orthodoxy. Though I once believed differently, I now accept the clear teaching of Scripture that God designed sexuality to be shared only between two people of the opposite gender.

I and a few others of like mind were warmly welcomed at Knox Waterloo a few years ago by people who knew exactly what we believed. Knox Waterloo affirms a different stance on marriage and promotes a different LGBTQi agenda. While I did not agree with what was preached and did not join in with the responsive liturgy or sing the songs of inclusion, we sat respectfully near the back during worship. I took it in and learned something.

Understanding others is essential if we are to love them. Even if we do not agree and never will.

Recently, PCC denominational staff announced a workshop entitled “Rainbow Pathways: exploring LGBTQi2 welcome and inclusion.” It will be led by two individuals: a pastor and social worker who identify as a “Queer Trans Masculine person of faith” and a “femme lesbian.” Here’s an opportunity to hear first-hand how others think, I thought.

Then I read the fine print. It’s aimed at those who not only want to make their congregations “welcoming” but also “inclusive.” In other words, you need to believe same-sex marital unions are in God’s will. And because it’s a small participatory group capped at 20, there’s no way I could simply blend in and observe.

So I wrote to the organizer.

“I considered asking whether I could sit in on Rainbow Pathways, but upon reflection I don’t think that would be appropriate because I’m not sure to what extent I could participate. In good conscience, I have to stay true to how God is speaking to me. Of course, if you are willing to have me sit in as a mostly silent observer, I can do that.”

Anticipating the response, I added this:

“As an alternative, what if you were to offer a workshop for those who adhere to traditional views of sexuality who want to understand the LGBTQ orientation and lifestyle? There are many of us in orthodoxy who do welcome everyone, no matter what, and want to be accepting without agreeing or supporting. The more we hear stories first-hand, the better we can love.”

The response from a Life and Mission Agency staffer came a few days later. Observer status wasn’t going to work.

“I hear your concern about not being sure how much you could participate in good conscience and not every resource is useful in every context in a denomination like the PCC. The nature of this course does rely on active participation in class discussions so it would not be beneficial for anyone registering as a mostly-silent observer,” the organizer wrote.

Fair enough. But it was tacit acknowledgement that those who don’t adhere to revisionist theology were not welcome.

I felt excluded.

The Rainbow workshop is offered in the spirit of healing, flowing from the moderator’s 2018 letter of repentance of homophobia, says the LMA. However, our essential doctrine on sexuality has not officially changed. Rainbow Pathways is offered in a way that suggests otherwise because it carries an ideological barrier.

I would understand if it were developed by a special-interest group. But the organizers are paid by the denomination’s congregations through their Presbyterians Sharing dollars. They are expected to serve everyone. Point 2 in the LMA’s Guiding Statements proclaims that “The Life and Mission Agency will continue to strive to be of service to all congregations.”

To be fair, the organizer did appear to be open to my suggestion for workshop that wasn’t exclusive.

“This course is only one resource and I’m working on compiling others that will be available on the PCC’s website, including an assortment that I think will be in line with your suggestion of highlighting stories from LGBTQI+ people and their experiences,” the organizer added.

In that light, I hope and pray that the “other resources” being developed are not only open to all but are of the same interactive nature. A static resource – such as a booklet or web page or even something spoken and recorded – would not be same thing.

I will extend some grace and wait and see.