Dal Schindell’s death on August 6, 2019 in Vancouver leaves us saddened at the passing of a unique Canadian evangelical who made a significant contribution to the establishment of The Renewal Fellowship within the Presbyterian Church in Canada. Dal had a vision for a publication of the organization which had been founded in May 1983. … Read more
Renewal Fellowship’s Response to the 2019 Remits
Dear Renewal Friend, In its 5th sederunt, the 145th General Assembly of The Presbyterian Church in Canada (PCC) approved Pathway "B" as presented by the Special Committee of Former Moderators*. In the 10th sederunt, remits to enable this change in doctrine and practice were approved for consideration under the Barrier Act (see below for the … Read more
My dwelling place shall be …
Like many of you, I am tired. I’m tired of the negativity, the toxic spin on the Gospel, the lack of Holy Spirit submission in so-called Christian ministry, the butting of heads. I yearn to rediscover what it is to be the church. It’s been so long. So I’m not going to dwell on the conclusion in the “Report of the Special Committee Regarding Implications of Option B” at 2019 General Assembly” which began: ... Read more
Tales from Assembly: Understanding the Other
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. We call it “the issue” – code for the tortuous wrestling with our official response to same-sex attraction. Long after the secular world and most other mainline … Read more
Renewal News – Summer 2019
In This Issue: GA 2019: a way forward? – Andy Cornell
The trouble with norms – Ian Shaw
Stage set for Barrier battle
RF board to respond to remits
Renewal for the next generation – Lauren and Jillian McWhinnie
RF's Knox College bursary revived
Authentic Biblical thinking – Ian Shaw
Powerful, Spirit-led prayer – Andy Cornell
Effective Gospel witness – John Park ... Read more
A Letter to Evangelicals
The decision of the 145th General Assembly to adopt option "B" in the Report of the Special Committee of Former Moderators and the subsequent Remits on Human Sexuality and Marriage have caused a range of responses among members of the Renewal Fellowship and throughout our denomination. As a result of a meeting at Vaughan Community … Read more
Tales from Assembly: Why I Dissented
“Pragmatism or principle” was the duelling dynamic for commissioners as we wrestled with how we would rank the four pathways proposed by the Special Committee of Former Moderators. For many who hold onto classical theology, only two pathways – ‘A’ (tradition) and ‘C’ (three streams) – were seriously considered. ‘B’ (inclusion) and ‘D’ (accommodation) were non starters. … Read More
General Assembly 2019
WOW! We didn't see that coming. 145th General Assembly lived up its advanced billing. It was intense, deeply emotional, and contentious. In the end, commissioners choose Pathway B – Inclusion – that disappointed and dismayed us. However, the remits (printed below), to be sent down to presbyteries for approval, propose a much less exclusionary avenue. … Read more
A Commissioner Scans the Pathways
What will best serve the Kingdom – politics or principle? That is one of several questions I have as I consider the four pathways laid out by the Special Committee of Former Moderators, whose long-awaited report was released May 21 (posted here). The committee’s report is in response to General Assembly 2018’s direction to “propose … Read more
Authentic Biblical Thinking
There are many ways to tackle this subject. However, for the brief time we have, I want to explore the theme examining how Jesus approached the Scriptures of His day. First though, some thoughts about the implied verb: thinking. We often define the word as a matter of logic or a left-brained approach – researching … Read more