Along with the quarterly e-mailout of the Renewal News and Prayer Calendar, sent the last week of September, we included a survey, asking respondents to share their responses to the adoption of remits ‘B’ and ‘C.’ We received 21 responses: Ministers - 12; Elders - 5; Members - 3; Adherents - 1. Responses arrived from Vancouver Island to Newfoundland and included … Read more
How Now Do We Talk?
The 2021 federal election marked a new low for civil discourse in postmodern times. Leaders being confronted by protesters from other parties is par for the course but hurling eggs and handfuls of gravel at them was something new. We should not be surprised. It was the logical next step from the online anger which … Read more
Seeking Grace Under Fire
As I sat to write this, we were exactly halfway through the federal election campaign and the ‘V’ word had captured media attention. No, not ‘V’ for vote, but ‘V’ for violence - a party leader cancelled an event due to concerns for safety. The violence was a more vociferous threat than virulent action … Read more
Reflections of a Random Nobody
I am neither a minister nor an elder. I don’t have a Ph.D or the title of YAR. I am a Canadian who came to accept Christ as an adult; I became a Presbyterian intentionally. God literally led me to the Presbyterian Church, of which I am still a member. I was not researching Presbyterian … Read more
Becoming ‘Tide People’
Back in 2016, I spent three months on sabbatical in Edinburgh. One of the highpoints for us was the week we spent on the island of Lindisfarne, about an hour south by train from Edinburgh. What makes Lindisfarne unique is the fact that when the tide goes out, you can drive across to the island, … Read more
Heritage as a Sacred Trust
Of the many surprises in the recent General Assembly, and the strange twists that the debates took, none was more surprising than an unexpected recommendation, dependent on the passing of the remits, that we apologize to the United Church of Lachine for past wrongs. The recommendation suggested that a great wrong had been done to … Read more
Download the entire Issue of Renewal News in PDF format.
In the current issue of Renewal News:
- How Now Do We Talk? – by Andy Cornell
- Seeking Grace Under Fire – Ian Shaw
- Reflections of a Random Nobody – by Allison Chung
- Becoming "Tide People" – by Kevin Livingston
- Living the Name Prizes for Evangelism – Candice Bahadoor and Mirim Kim
- Heritage as a Sacred Trust – by A. Donald MacLeod
- Living Hope – A Day of Encouragement – Saturday, November 13
- Board Profile – Lisa Baker
Fresh Focus for a New Season
I read a frightening statistic recently. "Only 29 per cent of Christians believe that reaching unreached people around the world is 'very urgent.' " It's a quote from the Barna Group, the American research firm which specializes in faith and culture. I don't believe that it's far from the truth. (It could be even worse in Canada.) It holds up against recent research. In 2017, Barna asked churchgoers … Read more
Special Committee Pastoral Letter
The 2021 General Assembly appointed a special committee to listen to concerns identified by petitions from the Presbyteries of Eastern Han-Ca and Western Han-Ca. The petitions state "we have experienced treatment at the hands of many in The Presbyterian Church in Canada which has caused us much pain and raises alarm, for we have collectively … Read more
Departure Gate, Destination Unknown
Precisely 60 seconds after the adoption of Remit ‘C’ by General Assembly, which allowed the call, election and ordination of those in same-sex partnerships, a motion was made to investigate the establishment of a separate theological synod for those who adhere to traditional standards. The timing spoke volumes. … Read more