Theology matters – more than you might think. In 2016, a group of university professors published a groundbreaking study which linked mainline congregation growth to traditional, conservative theology. It compared the demographic and religious characteristics of ministers and attendees of growing mainline Protestant churches in southern Ontario with those of declining churches from the same … Read more
Renewal News – Winter 2020
In This Issue: Tracking the Remit Voting — 20/20 Vision in 2020 — On the road: Alberta/Saskatchewan/New Brunswick — Renewal’s Winter 2020 Prayer Guide — Regional conversations: Montreal, Moncton, Vaughan, Kelowna, and Calgary — Profile: Zion Charlottetown — "20/20 Vision: Vigilant and Vital" - RF Renewal Day, April 25th … Read more
An overview of the LGBTQ discussion in The PCC
Rev. Andy Cornell has drawn together a history of the reports to the General Assembly, with significant quotations from many of them, showing the shift in views over the years. … Read more
소그룹 기도 가이드
사랑하는 친구 여러분, 끊임없이 변하고 있는 이 세상에서 하나님이 세우신 가치질서를 지키며 살아가려는 사람들에게는 종종 “거꾸로” 가는 사람이란 꼬리표가 붙게 됩니다. 좀 너그럽게 비판하는 사람들은 우리들을 “고리타분” 하다고 말할 것입니다. 하지만 이것은 중요한 사실을 간과하는 것입니다. 우리의 삶이 우리가 믿는 가치들을 따르지 않는 것이라면 우리들은 허공에 매달려 바람에 흔들리는 가지에 불과하다는 사실입니다. 폭풍의 계절을 지나고 … Read more
Small Group Prayer Guide
Dear friends, In an ever-changing world, those of us who adhere to established practices are sometimes branded as “backward.” More-gracious critics might just say we’re “old school.” But that’s missing the point, which is that practice must follow principle, otherwise we are just branches swaying in the wind. In this stormy season, our presbyteries are … Read more
Our Members
We are believers. We are Presbyterian. And we are men and women working and praying for the church to be renewed as a more authentic expression of what Christ wanted in his church: rooted in scriptural truth, guided and inspired by the Holy Spirit, putting Christ above all things. We are ministers and ruling elders, … Read more
Remarks to Essex-Kent Presbytery on the Remits
Moderator, in my brief time before the court, I will provide several reasons to vote against these remits. I will demonstrate that they will not bring peace to our divided denomination. They will not advance the Kingdom. And they are not in God’s will. I will approach this from three points of view: theological, practical, … Read more
Legal Opinions on the Impact of the Remits
Two advocates before the Supreme Court of Canada have written opinions that if the Remits are implemented in their current form, it will be difficult to effectively defend the position of PCC clergy, congregations, or members who refuse to participate in same-sex wedding ceremonies, with potential resulting liability to the PCC itself. Any member of a church court can forward these legal opinions to their court’s clerk ... Read more
Why we should not vote by secret ballot
By Rev. Joel Coppieters, in response to the proposal by the Presbytery of Montreal regarding voting for Remits ‘B’ and ‘C’ on October 15, 2019. There are three reasons why we should not proceed by secret ballot. First, throughout this debate there has been a persistent plea for open dialogue with a strong insistence that … Read more
Why I cannot vote in favour of these remits
Remarks prepared by Rev. Joel Coppieters to the Presbytery of Montreal, October 15, 2019 I cannot vote in favour of these remits for biblical reasons. I echo the report the PCC’s own Church Doctrine Committee presented to the 2018 General Assembly, that after years of study we have not seen sufficient biblical grounds to abandon … Read more