WHEREAS the remits under the Barrier Act of 2019 seek to change the doctrine and practices of The Presbyterian Church in Canada in foundational ways, and WHEREAS through no fault of its own, and in order to respect public health regulations and intentions due to COVID-19 issues, the Presbyterian Church in Canada was unable to … Read more
Grace West Hill Overture re: Gracious Dismissal
To the Venerable the General Assembly: WHEREAS the Book of Forms has constituted the guide by which the business of the General Assembly has been conducted within the Presbyterian Church in Canada since its inception; and WHEREAS it has not been our practice, and should not be our practice, to intentionally delay items of business … Read more
St. Andrew’s Moncton Overture re: Restructuring Along Theological Lines
WHEREAS The Presbyterian Church in Canada has debated human sexuality for several decades, and WHEREAS the debate is a distraction to our mission, undermining our effectiveness, and WHEREAS the issues pertaining to human sexuality are symptomatic of deeper theological issues, and WHEREAS the theological divide is evidenced in the report from the 2019 General Assembly’s … Read more
St. Andrew’s Moncton Overture re: a Limited 2021 Online General Assembly
WHEREAS the Barrier Act of 2019 seeks to change the doctrine and practices of The Presbyterian Church in Canada in foundational ways, and WHEREAS The Presbyterian Church in Canada prides itself in doing things ‘decently and in good order,’ and WHEREAS, through no fault of its own, The Presbyterian Church in Canada has been unable … Read more
St. Andrew’s Moncton Overture re: 2019 Barrier Act Be Set Aside
WHEREAS issues surrounding human sexuality have been contentious for decades within The Presbyterian Church in Canada, and WHEREAS our ordination vows stipulate that we will not take divisive courses of action, and WHEREAS the actions of the General Assembly of 2019, in sending changes of doctrine and practice through the Barrier Act of the church … Read more
Grace West Hill Overture re: Two Semi-Autonomous National Synods
To the Venerable the General Assembly: WHEREAS the concepts of mutual accountability, empathetic collegiality, and partnership in ministry are at the heart of Presbyterianism, and these concepts demand integrity – integrity that is lacking unless the elders participating in a presbytery undertake ministry with a common understanding of the gospel for ordination, teaching, gospel witness, … Read more
Renewal News – Spring 2021
In This Issue: "Navigating thru the storm" – Renewal Day and AGM April 17 by Zoom — "Putting the Bite back in the Apple" by Ian Shaw — Renewal Cafe – Renewal Lives Online — "A Dangerous Precedent" – A joint statement from PSALT and RF — "The future is nothing like the past" by Andy Cornell — "Acting on a precedent" – 1998 Lachine rent-back offer might now go 'the other way' by Robin Ross … Read more
Putting The Bite Back Into The Apple
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 … Read more
Small Group Prayer Guide
Spring 2021 Dear friends, It’s been more than 12 months since our world went into various stages of turmoil in response to a microscopic virus. Physically, we are on the defensive. But we are much more than flesh and blood. Spiritually, we are called to be on the offensive. There is much to pray for. … Read more
The Future is Nothing Like the Past
A review of "Canoeing the Mountains - Christian Leadership in Uncharted Territory" by Tod Bolsinger. Canoeing 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. … Read more