posted on February 1, 2012 in Community News, News
Throughout the 2011 General Assembly, one word seemed to emerge over and over again: Vision. The Record asked the nominees for moderator of the 2012 assembly to introduce themselves and reflect on their visions for the future of the church…
It’s worship and relationships that Rev. Gordon Haynes says sustained him through his years in ministry, first in congregations and then as associate secretary of Canada Ministries from 1997 until the office amalgamated with the Vine to become Canadian Ministries last year. He currently heads up a research project exploring where the church is likely to be in 10 years, and how the Life and Mission Agency can best serve that church.
Tell me a little bit about yourself. How did you come to follow a call to ministry? What has kept you going?
I was born and raised in Edmonton and went to First Church downtown. I was pretty young at the time so I don’t remember my baptism, but I was baptized at that church, and was there up until the time I went to college. Dr. E. J. White was my minister and I would say in a lot of ways that affected how I grew up at that church. My mother told me there were times when I talked about being a minister; I was very young at the time. I don’t remember that.
I graduated for high school and went to the University of Alberta, did one year of science (and probably thought about going into medicine) and found that my one arts course was more exciting than all my science courses put together. So I started saying, okay what am I going to do? I took one of those aptitude tests; they came along and said, well, you’re going to be a stage performer, a social studies teacher or a minister.
The seed had already been there, so I started to think more about becoming a minister. I talked to Dr. White and over a period came to the realization that it was something God was really calling me to. So I graduated from arts and went to Knox College [in Toronto].
I have found [ministry] incredibly fulfilling, which is not to say that there have not been rough times. Those are automatically there. But I have had friends, and people I love going back to my first church—that’s 38 years ago—and those relationships are still there. Relationships are an important part. And the worship, too.
When I left congregational ministry and came to national offices to do the work [in Canada Ministries], I found that while worship was still there and still powerful, the relationships were still very important. The only thing was my congregation, if you will, was spread right across the country. … It was marvelous. I’ve met an awful lot of incredible people, and very talented people. I always sound a little like a cheerleader because on one hand I see a church that, yes, is getting smaller all the time and losing influence in the world. But then I come along and see elders and laypeople and ministers who are incredibly involved and talented and blessed by God, and I get excited about some of the things they’re doing and that’s kept me going.
What would you say your passion is when it comes to the church and/or faith?
What sets me on fire is God’s mission in this country and in the world—and the things God’s mission does to us in terms of our relationships with each other.
My wife and I were at the dedication of the Ghanaian church in Montreal because I’d been involved from the beginning. The congregation asked me to come to a service the night before, on Saturday night, to preach and to be with them. I said that would be wonderful, and we went. The place was filled. Sometime during the service, I came to the startling realization that Linda and I were the only two white people in that whole place, in hundreds of people. And a second realization came in the same moment that it didn’t matter. I was enjoying the worship so much, and wonderful fellowship with these people, that it didn’t matter whether we were black or white or red or yellow or spoke another language. It didn’t matter! And that’s what I think is the mission of the church. God wants us to be working with people of all types, in all places, in all situations, to redeem this country and this world. And He’s given us that job, and that’s my passion for the church and for my own life.
Some moderators like to choose a particular theme or issue to focus on during their year in the position. Have you thought about something like that? If so, what, and why is this important to you?
I think there’s a lot of ministry going on in our church that’s unrecognized because it’s in small churches, or they’re rural or remote, or they’re doing ministry that really doesn’t get into the mainstream. I’ve spent 14 years of my life doing ministry and mission work in Canada. Obviously that’s going to be something I’d make a point of saying is important. So that’s where I’d be. You’d find me on a regular basis in rural and remote churches, small churches, ethnic churches of various kinds and different languages—the ones that don’t usually take part in a lot of what we do because they’re not part of the mainstream “normal” type of congregation (although I’m not sure there is a “normal”). I think those would be the ones I’d be wanting to focus on, within a larger context of mission.
I think there’s a false dichotomy that we’ve created for mission work for administrative reasons: we talk about mission work in Canada and mission work overseas. The work we’re doing with the Koreans, the Ghanaians, the Arab churches in Canada all comes from the fact that we’ve been involved in Korea, in Ghana, in Taiwan, in India. That’s why we have those churches now in Canada.
At the 2011 General Assembly, there was a lot of talk about vision and the future of the church. What would you say is your vision for the future?
We’ve almost created some clichés about the future, but some of these clichés are clichés because it’s the truth. There will still be a Presbyterian Church. We have churches that are strong and healthy. Surprising to those that are in presbyteries, we have presbyteries that are strong and healthy. They will be there. They will be less, obviously. Institutionally less. And I guess my vision of the church is one that becomes less obsessed with the institutional aspects. It doesn’t mean we don’t have church buildings. It doesn’t mean we don’t have structures and ministry and oversight. But we become less obsessed with survival and maintenance, and become a church that experiences God. I think that’s what people are looking for: a church where they experience the grace of God, the love of God, the righteousness of God. All the words we use—they experience them, they don’t just hear them. And the churches that are doing well are the ones that have already hit upon that. They aren’t all 500 or 600 person churches, either.
There’s a church in Manitoba, for example. When I first came to the job [of associate secretary with Canada Ministries] in 1997, I visited them because they were part of a two – point charge and the other charge had closed. They told me at that time: ‘well we look around and in five years we’re gonna be gone. So we’re not going to ask for money. We’re just going to live our lives as a good Christian community here in our area for five years.’ I said, ‘okay, that’s good.’ They got some support from presbytery. And, well, 15 years later someone told me they went and visited there. What did the congregation say? ‘Well, we’ve got only five more years to go so we’re just going to keep living.’ And for me, they’re a successful church. They haven’t had a minister for…15 years? Some people would say that isn’t successful; they’ve been “vacant.” But they’ve been running a food bank in their community, and a clothing store. They have services with other churches in their town. They have regular worship. They have Bible studies. They’re living their lives in a small community, and there are only 15 of them but I think they’re successful.
So when I say we have successful churches, I’m not just looking at big churches. There are churches across Canada that people go to and feel that God is present. And my vision of the church is that we become obsessed not with survival, but with hearing God’s word in our lives. And I know that sounds like a cliché again, but I think we all say it because we know it’s true.
What do you see as the greatest challenges facing the church today?
There are the obvious ones: we have the membership issue—as an institutional church we have to recognize that—and that raises other ones: financial, closing churches (and that’s a hard thing to do, and hard for the people who are there.) So all of those challenges are there. But I often look at them as symptoms.
I think the real challenge is, I’m not sure if we believe that we as Presbyterians have anything significant to say to the world around us. We aren’t really sure. We have our faith, but others seem to be doing it so much better than us. That’s the challenge: to rediscover that we have something very precious and significant to share. The significance isn’t in us, but is in what we’re sharing.
I hear ministers talk about the difficulty of writing a sermon. And when I was in a congregation I had those times, too, but more often by the time I got to church on Sunday morning the problem was cutting out things. About what the Bible had to say about the living Word of God—not just the scriptures but the living Word—and what it had to say about where we were living at the time. How could I take all of this and bring it into one?
The problem we’ve come to is we’ve come to the other end of that. We don’t have anything to say.
posted on February 1, 2012 in Community News, News
Accessibility Standards Rise for Ontario Churches
Churches in Ontario must take another look at their customer service this year to ensure they meet provincial standards aimed at improving the ways organizations treat people with disabilities.
The “customer service” standards came into effect for non – profit organizations on Jan. 1, and are the first part of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act to be implemented. Additional standards for buildings, employment practices and other areas of concern will be crafted and phased in between 2012 and 2025.
Most churches (those that employ fewer than 20 people) are required to create a policy and train their staff and volunteers to thoughtfully and respectfully include people with disabilities. Churches and non – profit groups with more than 20 paid employees must also keep a log as they train their staff, and must provide the government with a report by Dec. 31.
To help Ontario churches, the Canadian Ministries office has created a resource, which includes a sample accessibility policy, available online at presbyterian.ca/resources/online/1841.
More information, and checklists and tool kits, are available through the Ministry of Community and Social Services at mcss.gov.on.ca. ¦ —CW
Financial Woes at VST
St. Andrew’s Hall remains on “solid financial footing” as its associate school takes “extraordinary” steps to rein in expenses.
The Vancouver School of Theology board of governors declared a state of financial exigency on Jan. 4—a measure employed when an institution “needs to take extraordinary action to reduce expenditures and preserve resources,” according to the guidelines of the Association of Theological Schools.
The move allows the board to lay off tenured professors if necessary, although at press time no final decisions had been made regarding the cost – cutting measures to come. In a statement, the board said it was “continuing to proactively address this issue through further staff reductions, institutional restructuring and new forms of partnerships.”
St. Andrew’s Hall, which exercises its charter through its association with VST, is governed by its own board of directors. The Presbyterian college does not share VST’s financial woes, and remains “on very solid financial footing,” according to its dean, Rev. Dr. Stephen Farris. A recent land development deal has added to the college’s coffers, and construction has begun on a new building to be used for administrative offices and worship space. The Hall supports VST with a yearly grant and shares the professors it employs.
Farris said the financial situation at VST, where he is serving as acting principal for the 2012 calendar year, is “serious but not disastrous.”
The VST board has pointed to the effects of the 2008 downturn and the loss of funding from two of its denominational supporters—the United Church, which ended its funding in 2011 and the Anglican Church which has decreased its funding—as reasons for its current challenges.
Yet the school remains vibrant, with both VST and St. Andrew’s Hall boasting the largest student cohorts they’ve ever had. The VST board said the trust funds for student bursaries “remain healthy.” ¦ —CW
Russia Bans Presbyterian’s Report on China
Russian courts have upheld a ban on a report co – written by a Presbyterian former MP, calling it extremist literature that, according to one of its expert witnesses, “can create for the readers a negative image of China.”
As a result of the ruling, David Kilgour, a former MP for Edmonton – Beaumont, and David Matas, a prominent human rights lawyer, could face criminal prosecution if they visit Russia to talk about their investigations.
A member of Westminster, Ottawa, Kilgour told the Record he considers the ban “a badge of honour.”
They have co – authored two reports and a book, Bloody Harvest, detailing alleged organ harvesting from practitioners of Falun Gong—a spiritual discipline that is illegal in China—who have been arrested by Chinese authorities. They suggest organs from these prisoners are sold as part of a lucrative market for transplants.
In October, a district court in Krasnodar, Russia, ruled their 2007 report to be “extremist material,” a decision that effectively bans the creation and distribution of their work. The ban was upheld on appeal on Dec. 22.
Extremist materials are considered to be items which excite racial, religious or national strife, create social hatred, or promote the superiority of one group—or the deficiency of another group—on the basis of religious, social, racial, national or linguistic identity.
The work in question—a Russian translation of their 2007 Report into Allegations of Organ Harvesting of Falun Gong Practitioners in China—was examined and banned alongside other Falun Gong – related works.
Matas and Kilgour’s report, the court said, contained “pronouncements which engender strife and dislike toward people who do not apply to this religious association [Falun Gong].”
A psychologist charged with examining the work suggested it “can create for the readers a negative image of China, its social and political system, … etc.”
Neither Kilgour nor Matas were present at the trials, although Matas wrote to the appeals court.
In a joint letter dated Dec. 27, 2011, Kilgour and Matas asked the Canadian government to issue a diplomatic note of protest to Russia over the ban on their writing.
“An evidence based report on human rights in China written by Canadians in Canada should not be subject to criminal proceedings in Russia,” they wrote.
“David Matas and I have visited more than 40 countries as volunteers to urge governments to pressure the party – state in Beijing to stop its pillaging of organs from Falun Gong,” Kilgour said. “It is no accident that Russia is one of the ones we have not yet reached.”
Falun Gong is a spiritual discipline that became popular in China in the early 1990s, but the government banned it in 1999 fearing it could threaten communist ideals and lead to social unrest. ¦ —CW
Mod Nominee Campaigns for Position
On Dec. 1st, Rev. John Borthwick of St. Andrew’s, Guelph, Ont., caused a stir by launching a Facebook page with the title “Borthwick 4 Moderator”. A few days later he began a blog of the same title. Critics of the move say it is inappropriate for a nominee to campaign for a role that is considered an honour, not a position of power. Borthwick’s reply is that he wishes the election of a moderator to be an educated decision.
“The moderator process should be an opportunity for the church to dialogue about its reality, its dreams and its potential options for the future together,” says Borthwick. “Social media is a perfect venue for that conversation. I think all candidates should be invited to participate in something like this.”
The other nominees on the ballot for Moderator of the 138th General Assembly are Rev. Peter Bush, Rev. Gordon Haynes, Rev. Dr. Andrew Johnston, and Rev. Dr. John Vissers. They have each declined an invitation to set up similar blogs. ¦ —EW
posted on February 1, 2012 in Community News, News
Throughout the 2011 General Assembly, one word seemed to emerge over and over again: Vision. The Record asked the nominees for moderator of the 2012 assembly to introduce themselves and reflect on their visions for the future of the church…
Vissers’s name is well known to many in the Presbyterian Church. He is principal of the Presbyterian College and adjunct professor of Christian Theology at McGill University in Montreal, director of the Montreal School of Theology, a member of the committee on church doctrine and the author of three books. He has served on several committees, and has been a visiting scholar at Princeton Theological Seminary and a visiting lecturer at the South Asia Institute of Advanced Christian Studies in Bangalore, India.
Tell me a little bit about yourself. How did you come to follow a call to ministry? What has kept you going?
I was raised in the church and came to a personal living faith in Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord as a teenager. Youth ministry and church camping played an important role in my faith formation and in my call to ministry. What has kept me going is a desire to know God, nourished by the ordinary means of grace—scripture, prayer, and the Lord’s Supper. Family and friendship have also been really important. For example, twice each year I attend a 48 – hour retreat with six friends who meet together at a cottage in the Muskokas to pray, talk, laugh, eat, drink, read scripture, and share the Lord’s Supper. We’re all in positions of Christian leadership and it’s been an oasis of spiritual renewal.
What would you say your passion is when it comes to the church and/or faith?
I’m told that Presbyterians are not known for their passion, but if you ask my students that question I hope they would say that I try to communicate a passion for the truth and transforming power of the gospel. Thinking about God, God’s work in the world, God’s concern for the suffering and the marginalized and those without faith and hope—this is worth getting up for every morning.
Some moderators like to choose a particular theme or issue to focus on during their year in the position. Have you thought about something like that? If so, what, and why is this important to you?
I’m not sure a moderator needs to have a particular theme or issue to focus on during a moderatorial year. Certainly many have made a wonderful contribution by doing so. But I would just continue to emphasize the things that have been important in my ministry as a pastor and teacher through the years: biblical preaching, spiritual renewal, missional leadership, Reformed theology, and the importance of theological education.
At the 2011 General Assembly, there was a lot of talk about vision and the future of the church. What would you say is your vision for the future?
I think that a lot of the talk about the vision and future of the church is driven by anxiety around our institutional survival. Rather than thinking about a vision for the institutional church, I think it’s better to think about the mission of God in our world. As followers of Jesus, we believe that the church belongs to the triune God, not us. One theologian puts it this way: The church of God does not have a mission; the God of mission has a church. It is our privilege to participate in what Christ is doing in the world. So for me, that’s what ministry, mission, and vision for the future are about. What does it mean to bear faithful and effective witness to Christ, in word and deed, in our time? What is God calling the church to be and to do in our context? What is our particular role in God’s mission in Canada?
What do you see as the greatest challenges facing the church today?
There are no doubt lots of challenges facing the church today, from within and without. We’re all struggling with the reality of what Charles Taylor calls a secular age. Everyone talks about the postmodern and post – Christendom society in which we now live. And according to recent polls in Canada, the credibility of the church and its leadership is at an all time low. But every challenge is an opportunity. And I still believe that local congregations of God’s people, struggling to be faithful in worship and witness, led by thoughtful and well – trained pastors, are the building blocks of God’s reign in the world.
posted on February 1, 2012 in Community News, News
Throughout the 2011 General Assembly, one word seemed to emerge over and over again: Vision. The Record asked the nominees for moderator of the 2012 assembly to introduce themselves and reflect on their visions for the future of the church…
In his 25 years in ordained ministry, Rev. Dr. Andrew Johnston has served two congregations and many boards and committees. He is currently minister at St. Andrew’s, Ottawa, convener of the Norman M. Paterson Fund for Ministerial Assistance, a member of the board of governors for the Presbyterian College, Montreal, and a member of the board of the ecumenical social justice group Kairos. He has also convened the Presbyterian World Service and Development committee and served as president of the Christian Council of the Capital Area, not to mention serving a few terms as presbytery moderator. In 2007, Presbyterian College awarded him an honourary doctorate of divinity.
How did you come to follow a call to ministry? What has kept you going?
From my earliest years the gospel was planted within me, and I thank God for my parents and my church families. I grew into a personal commitment to serve God, but spent several years wondering how. I have always appreciated the Reformation emphasis upon vocation in every and any field of endeavour, but it does leave the options wide open! With the detachment of some time spent studying overseas, I realised that perhaps God could better use me in the church—no blinding flash of light, but an unfolding understanding … and affirmation.
What would you say your passion is when it comes to the church and/or faith?
By my study I have a copy of Raeburn’s painting of the Rev. Robert Walker skating—he may be having fun, but he certainly doesn’t communicate it. Like the Presbyterian minister of old, I don’t often speak about ‘passion,’ so I appreciate your challenge!
Upon reflection, I would say that I am most passionate about living the gospel we know in Jesus Christ. This is a generation that asks not ‘Tell me about the resurrection’ but rather ‘Show me the resurrection,’ and I think the challenge is right on. One could say that Christian faith is not real unless it can be spoken and seen.
I feel passion during the Wednesday evening series in autumn and winter at St. Andrew’s, Ottawa, when eighty individuals gather around four different study themes, exploring, sharing and yes debating. I feel passion when a team from the congregation brings a meal once a month and eats with women in their assisted living home or dedicates a day to caring for the grounds and garden of a local HIV/AIDS hospice, making real the care of Christ through their caring. I feel passion when we dedicate our weekly tithes and offerings not only to the ministry of Christ through our congregations, but through the wider church and works of relief and development around the world.
Have you thought about a particular theme or issue to focus on, if elected as moderator?
No I have not.
But a theme that is coming to the fore in my own mind and heart these days is ‘together.’ Not only together with Christ, but together in Christ.
I feel that there are powers working to rule this world by shaping us by fear and threatening us with scarcity, encouraging us to withdraw, to rely upon ourselves and care for our own. And so all the more clearly these days I hear the gospel proclamation that by God’s grace there is abundance, and we know this abundance as we share it.
As individual Christians we struggle with the dynamics of membership in a particular congregation, all the demands and all the disappointments, but I believe it is together in Christ that we learn spiritual disciplines like patience and sacrifice and experience spiritual joys like forgiveness and hope.
As individual congregations we struggle with issues of budgets and leadership, but I believe it is together in Christ as a denomination that we become stronger together than we ever could be apart. Our diverse contexts and priorities and even theologies actually keep us mindful of matters foundational and also open to new inspiration.
As individual Christian denominations in Canada we struggle, but I believe it is together in Christ that we could be much more the Church of Christ. Sometimes there are groups of school children who gather outside St. Andrew’s Ottawa – they are on a scavenger hunt, and must answer the question ‘Of what religion is the building across from the Supreme Court?’ And I realise that there is nothing that even says ‘Christian’ on the church sign! Wouldn’t it be a great witness to others (and a great reminder to ourselves) if every church of every denomination in the city had the same overarching phrase ‘Church of Christ in Ottawa’ with ‘Presbyterian’ or ‘Roman Catholic’ or ‘Mennonite’ only added after?
And as the Church of Christ in Canada it is hard to grow into the reality of being a minority, but I believe together in Christ with Christians around the world we have an opportunity to enjoy a new beginning. Christianity is the largest faith in the world, the churches of our partners in South America, Africa and Asia are alive in witness and service, and they offer us a great company of encouragement and example.
As individuals in congregations, as congregations in denomination, as denominations in a nation, as branches of the global Church … we need to resist being led into isolation, trust again in the grace and calling of our God, and find ways to be more fully together in Christ.
There has been a lot of talk about vision and the future of the church. What is your vision for the future?
To be quite honest, I am not a very ‘visionary’ sort of person as far as ‘the church’ is concerned. There are some things that I personally leave in God’s hands, and this is one of them. In every generation God raises up a people of God’s praise and service, and my primary concern is to participate in such praise and service as fully as I can in my generation.
The vision upon which I do focus is the Reign of God, as described by and lived by Christ, in which mercy is extended, illness healed, wars banished, justice worked. I remember hearing a saying that went something like ‘Hope is a bird that feels the dawn while it is still dark, and starts to sing’. It is an inspiring vision to think of the church as that bird, singing of the dawn in the darkness, not only from pews on Sunday mornings but also by gestures for all to hear and see that point to the Kingdom of God that is coming. It is not up to us to achieve it, only celebrate it; we are not called to be successful, only faithful.
I understand that such ‘singing’ can be costly. From my father I learned how individual Presbyterians and this denomination as a whole participated in the shaping of our nation of Canada for the common good. From my mother I learned how certain Christians of her homeland of Germany gathered together secretly and often at great cost as the Confessing Church, to confess Christ as their only ruler and oppose the government of their day. Extending mercy, speaking truth, standing publicly for justice for others and respect of this earth as God’s creation, this can be costly, but to God it is beautiful. This is my vision of the church.
Two congregations turn tragedy to triumph.
posted on February 1, 2012 in News
The new Beacan Presbyterian in the midst of construction. The congregation is an amalgamation success story.
This is a good news story.
In 2007, Knox Presbyterian Church in Cannington, Ont., was destroyed in a deliberately – set fire. A year later, the fire marshal told nearby Beaverton Presbyterian that they would have to close their 82 – year – old building or spend close to $1 million upgrading it.
Fortunately, the two congregations had already been discussing the possibility of an amalgamation since 2002.
“After the fire, everything sat dormant for a year,” said Rev. Barney Grace, who was the minister of the Beaverton church at the time. Then, in October of 2009, the two congregations officially came together. They met and worshipped in the Beaverton theatre for two years while a new church—dubbed Beacan Presbyterian—was being constructed on the former site of the unsafe Beaverton church.
When the new building was completed, congregants were invited by telephone for a surprise first service, a week before the official opening on Aug. 28, 2011. The following Sunday, then – moderator Rev. Herb Gale led a celebratory service that attracted more than 600 worshippers, including the mayor of Brock Township, several councillors, members of the community, and two music groups: Revelation, a praise band from Orillia, and the Ulster accordion band from Toronto.
Congregation member Jim Hughes describes the new church as “a modern building to serve the community and surrounding area.” At 12,600 square feet, it is fully accessible to those with mobility problems and boasts meeting rooms, a board room, a modern kitchen, a gymnasium that doubles as a banquet hall, and a youth centre.
The youth centre was an important part of the Beacan vision. The congregations included nearly 40 children and young adults when they were first amalgamated, and the number rose steadily during the construction process. In fact, it is still rising.
“Every week it’s busier than the week before,” said Grace. “There are new faces coming, especially young people with children.”
To address the needs of these young people, Beacan hired a youth pastor, Steve Pauls, who came to them from People’s Church in Toronto. The church runs a free after – school program four days a week that offers sports, tutoring and cooking classes to any young people who walk through the doors. There are also two evening youth groups: Just for You, which serves young people aged 10 to 13, and The Rock, which serves youth aged 14 to 20. One of the most important features of these groups, according to Hughes, is that the young people really want to come, and that they can experience “a church setting without it being ‘forced’ upon them.” It has led to “a marked increase … in families attending Sunday services—both adults and teenagers.”
Of course, Beacan’s community involvement doesn’t stop with youth. The church also hosts a Moms and Tots program, a monthly senior’s luncheon, and a seniors’ exercise program run by the Victorian Order of Nurses. In addition to Grace and Pauls, the staff includes Sylvia Pauls, who works part – time in women’s ministries, and Rev. Malcolm Rice, who served at Knox before the amalgamation and who now works part – time with seniors.
“Our hope is that we will continue to grow and make a spiritual impact on the community in a stronger, more vibrant, outreaching way,” said Grace. “That we won’t just be a service or a social club or a babysitter. That we will make a spiritual impact on the community.”
To achieve this, Beacan needs an army of volunteers. Unlike many churches, it draws those volunteers from both the congregation and the community. One day in October 2011, the Beaverton police station—which happens to be next door to the church—held a special evening dedicated entirely to processing the police checks of Beacan volunteers.
“Seeing all these people standing outside because they couldn’t all get in at the same time… it was a very proud moment,” Grace reflected.
Young as it is, Beacan already has a host of positive stories like the one above—so many that they might seem almost too good to be true to another congregation struggling with transition. How did these two churches negotiate change so smoothly?
Keeping the pastors of both former churches on staff helped. An open process of congregational meetings—both separate and joint—also ensured that every member knew his or her voice was being heard. Another factor is the physical building of Beacan, which honours the histories of both Knox, Cannington, and Beaverton.
“Both cornerstones are part of the foyer,” said Grace. “Each has pews from their own church in the foyer. There are memories from both histories.” Collaboration in the building process also helped every member take ownership of the project. “Both congregations went into the new building together, watching it and helping it to be built together.”
Church closures and amalgamations are becoming increasingly common in the Presbyterian Church, but the subject remains a difficult one for many people. Grace’s advice to others facing an amalgamation is, surprisingly, more practical than spiritual.
“Put all of the paperwork in order, no matter what the paperwork is, whether it’s financial or archives or anything. Put all of that in order before you actually do the amalgamation. You can’t leave things lingering on.”
Beacan has certainly left nothing “lingering on.” With every i dotted, every t crossed, and every police check processed, the church that emerged from tragedy and struggle is moving forward in a spirit of community and co – operation.
“We have people dropping by all the time saying, ‘What a beautiful church … what an addition to the community with a place for our youth to come,’” said Hughes. “There is no doubt that Beacan has a bright future.”
Growth is a ‘God-thing’ in Ontario presbytery.
posted on February 1, 2012 in News
In the Presbytery of Oak Ridges, we think of our congregations as being in the business of sharing the Good News in every way possible—and that’s precisely what we’ve been striving to do throughout the last few years.
Oak Ridges is one of the denomination’s newer presbyteries, created in 1993 as a gathering of congregations from the extremities of other presbyteries (including East Toronto, Pickering, West Toronto, Barrie and Brampton). It encompasses all of York Region in Ontario (north of Toronto), with small bits of Simcoe County and Peel Region included. There are 21 congregations within the bounds.
The communities within the presbytery are among the fastest growing in Canada, so there is no shortage of potential for growth! This is why it was a visionary act in the earlier days of the presbytery’s existence to create a Presbytery Growth Fund. The fund is accessible to congregations in Oak Ridges to assist with capital projects, with part of the amount repaid, and the rest granted. It has been a great help to several churches, with two deserving special mention.
Two of our fastest growing churches are in two of our fastest growing communities: Bradford and Keswick. Kirk and Allyson MacLeod sensed a call to begin a new work in Keswick several years ago; in 2009, the congregation realized a great dream when, in May of that year, its own building was completed and dedicated to the Lord’s work by the presbytery. In 2004, St. John’s, Bradford, completed a new building, and is already considering an expansion. This is a remarkable ‘God thing,’ considering Rev. Dan Scott was sent to Bradford to close the church back in the mid – 1990s; it had gotten so small, it had ceased to be viable. God is at work!
In 2011, the presbytery engaged in two never – previously – tried initiatives. In March, at the invitation of Rev. Peter Han, minister of Vaughan Community Church in the Presbytery of Han – Ca East, the Presbytery of Oak Ridges shared a fellowship meal and worship with the Korean presbytery, in Vaughan Community Church, which is within the bounds of Oak Ridges. Our time together felt like a taste of God’s eternal kingdom, where worship happens in many languages. We hope to reciprocate in the near future.
The other new initiative was a Day Apart. This was an educational and formational event open to clergy, elders, and worship leaders to hear Dr. Kevin Livingston, Associate Professor of Pastoral Ministry at Tyndale Seminary, speak about worship and preaching in the season of Advent. We were pleased with the attendance for this first attempt, welcoming over 20 people representing several congregations on what was otherwise a busy Saturday in October. The presbytery budgeted for the cost of the event, so congregations were asked to make a donation to Presbyterian World Service and Development as their ‘admission fee.’ The response, even from those not able to attend, has encouraged us to have another Day Apart this year.
While the Presbytery of Oak Ridges is replete with towns seen as bedroom communities for those who work in Toronto, and where income levels are high, we have not forgotten those in need. The presbytery collects needful things for Evangel Hall, a Presbyterian outreach to the inner city of Toronto. And, guests are welcomed from local and national relief and development agencies as we look beyond our borders to offer the compassion of our Saviour as part of the Good News.
More ways to spend your day online.
posted on February 1, 2012 in News, The Other Six Days
Canadian Music
The band Downhere was founded by Marc Martel and Jason Germain when they were roommates at Briercrest Bible College in Caronport, Sask. For a Canadian Christian band they’ve made a pretty good name for themselves, having released 11 albums, and winning 28 GMA Canada awards and four Junos. But they’ve recently become famous for something else. Martel recorded an audition tape for the role of Freddie Mercury in an upcoming “Queen Extravaganza” live touring band organized by Queen’s drummer, Roger Taylor. His version of Somebody to Love was watched on YouTube 3.5 million times its first week.
marcmartelmusic.com
Website
Pop Culture Christ: What Would Jesus Blog? is run by Joel A. Moroney who is the associate minister at St. Luke’s Anglican Church in Liverpool, Australia. He writes articles, podcasts sermons, reviews movies, music and comic books. Most importantly, he does everything with an odd sense of humour which helps him get through those tough theological quandaries like: “Do all dogs really go to heaven?”
joelamoroney.com
Unintentionally funny
Christian music seemed to take on a life of its own in the 1960s. Then, between 1980 and 2000 in particular, Christian bands tried to mimic the style of popular bands yet always managed to get their music out just as the sound they hoped to copy became unpopular. Christian bands “answered” popular bands with “sounds – like _______” charts so teens and parents could appear culturally involved while still praising Jesus. Listening to Christian music was sort of like buying a knock – off Rolex watch from the back of a van. Out of this genuine attempt to be in the world but not of it comes some of the most unintentionally hilarious music the world will ever know. Topping the list is Sonseed’s Jesus is my Friend. I don’t know if it’s wonderfully awful or awfully wonderful, but I love it!
youtube.com. Search for Jesus is my Friend.
The bible for teens
Sixty – Six Books is a project out of Sydney, Australia, set up by a youth minister hoping to make the Bible easier for teens to understand. His aim is to create simple overviews and reading plans for each of the Bible’s 66 books. Everything on the site is put into simple, contemporary language. You’ll find outlines for each book presented more like a play or a movie performed in acts. It also includes summaries of sections, simple explanations for who wrote each book, as well as side notes to highlight how what happens in one book affects what’s happening in another. Everything on the site is free. sixtysixbooks.tumblr.com
Vacation
The Holy Land Experience is a kind of Christian museum/theme park located in Orlando, Florida. It’s owned by the Trinity Broadcasting Network who purchased the park for just under $40 – million and it was featured in Bill Maher’s film, Religulous. Once inside, you can visit replicas of the Damascus and Jaffa Gates, walk through an elaborate Jerusalem market place, and enter a tabernacle and listen to the high priest. There are also Qumran caves, the world’s largest indoor model of ancient Jerusalem, and a six – story temple plaza based on Herod’s own. You can also see a bloody reenactment of the crucifixion of Jesus that would make Mel Gibson proud. Some of it is terribly inaccurate but if I’m honest, I’d go there for sure if I lived nearby!
holylandexperience.com
Questions about future remain.
posted on February 1, 2012 in News
East Lake Ainslie Presbyterian Church caught fire on Dec. 18th.
In the days leading up to Christmas, two historic churches in Cape Breton burned to the ground, leaving their small congregations to mourn their losses and discern their futures.
The 133 – year – old East Lake Ainslie Presbyterian Church caught fire the morning of Dec. 18, after its two – year – old furnace was turned on to warm the sanctuary. Volunteer firefighters were on the scene by 9 a.m., but flames poured out of the roof and the wood structure and all of its contents were beyond saving.
“It was like you were seeing it and it almost wasn’t real,” said Johnena MacLellan, clerk of session. “It’s so hard to explain. It’s like you didn’t believe it was really happening.”
Firefighters managed to save the nearby church hall, however, which was soon to host a Christmas meal.
Only eight days earlier, Victoria, Birch Grove, whose congregation was preparing to celebrate its centennial anniversary in 2012, was reduced to a blackened heap in the early hours of Dec. 10. That fire is thought to have been electrical, and likely began in the attic.
Officials are not considering either of the fires suspicious, and the towns are separated by a two and a half hour drive. No one was hurt in either case.
Rev. Lloyd Murdock, who preached at Victoria, said a few things survived the fire: the church’s bell, a plaque from the cornerstone, some silver cups, and one pew Bible that emerged from the ashes with only scorch marks. The congregation plans to donate the bell and plaque to a local museum.
“They [the congregants] have been through so much in life, they say ‘our building may be gone but our memory will live on with us,’” Murdock said the day after the congregation met to decide its future. “Thank heavens for memories. [Last night] they all spoke so highly of their previous ministers. We were a friendly, happy family. They were full of fun. It was a joy to be their minister.”
The members of the small, aging congregation plan to attend other churches now.
The congregation of East Lake Ainslie held a turkey dinner two days after their sanctuary was lost.
“That night we didn’t make any decisions,” said Rev. Louis Ihasz, the retired United Church minister who for the past five years has been filling the pulpits in the two – point charge of East Lake Ainslie and Farquharson Memorial, Middle River. “We thought it was too early and thought we’d give ourselves some time to do some mourning and crying.” But he said he sensed the congregation would like to rebuild.
“There has been a church there since 1833 and I thought it’s inconceivable that there would not be a Presbyterian congregation in that community.”
The building was the third to have stood on the site.
Ihasz said he had already been contacted with offers of support. St. Andrew’s in Lancaster, Ont., donated the money collected at their Christmas Eve service, which totaled about $2,400. Others have offered pulpits and church furniture, and a donated organ has been placed in the hall where the congregation of about 20 continues to worship.
posted on February 1, 2012 in Community News, News
Throughout the 2011 General Assembly, one word seemed to emerge over and over again: Vision. The Record asked the nominees for moderator of the 2012 assembly to introduce themselves and reflect on their visions for the future of the church…
Few nominees for moderator call attention to their age, but in the extended biography he prepared for his nomination, Rev. John Borthwick proudly declared: “I’m average.” At 39, his age is the national median age of Canadians. And with a love of social media, he has not hesitated to use the internet to get people talking.
As minister at St. Andrew’s, Guelph, Ont., since 2003, Borthwick has been active in the community. He organized the region’s first multi – faith Habitat for Humanity building project and chaired the inaugural Habitat celebration dinner that brought together 300 people and raised $30,000. In 2008, he was awarded Guelph Mercury’s “under 40″ award for his work. At present, he serves as moderator of the Presbytery of Waterloo – Wellington.
Tell me a little bit about yourself. How did you come to follow a call to ministry? What has kept you going?
Whenever I’ve been asked about my call to ministry, I always say that it was my parents’ call to ministry and I made it mine when I finally got there. I fought against the idea of becoming a minister for many years even though my gifts were affirmed by my home congregation and my family. Their support and encouragement finally got me to Knox College [in Toronto] where I would say I felt at home within the first week and I haven’t turned my back on it since.
However, it has been an incredible act of will to stay in ministry. It is a challenging call to sustain. Don’t get me wrong, I love what I do and am incredibly honoured to be a part of people’s lives in the way that ministry allows, but ordained ministry is hard work. Family and friends have definitely helped to keep me going. A certificate in conflict mediation didn’t hurt. And a good sense of humour, a willingness to laugh at myself and life in general, and a harnessed ego have contributed to sustaining my 14 years of ministry.
What would you say your passion is when it comes to the church and/or faith?
I love igniting a passion for the Bible in the hearts and minds of people. Our future as a church will be equipping people to be the custodians of our sacred text. Developing a relationship with the Bible is exciting and life giving. I’m happiest when I’m talking about some passage of scripture with another person or in a group setting, or preaching on Sunday morning. I love to hear how someone else ‘hears’ the ‘living word’ in their own lives. I can’t wait for Sunday or my Thursday morning group when I get to share some gem I discovered the week before.
Some moderators like to choose a particular theme or issue to focus on during their year in the position. Have you thought about something like that? If so, what, and why is this important to you?
I would like to see moderators picking up on themes that come out of the church itself or perhaps a previous General Assembly (like your next question points out). So I would suggest that my theme would be to invite the church to a time of listening and meaningful conversation about our future. I would like to spend the majority of my year gathering regional bodies (presbyteries, synods) as well as individual congregations or a number of congregations in close proximity to each other to dialogue about the future of the church and their churches, and imagine new ways and rediscover ancient ways of being church and being congregations of the Presbyterian Church in Canada. At the end of my year, I would present a “State of the PCC Address” through social media (perhaps with some help from the Record). I think that the work of Mission:Possible would be a good tie in to this overall conversation.
At the 2011 General Assembly, there was a lot of talk about vision and the future of the church. What would you say is your vision for the future?
I believe that as leaders in the church we are called to stand for creating, maintaining and protecting a spirit of openness. People need a safe place to share their thoughts, express their doubts and ask their questions about God, faith and life. If we want to encourage ‘the future’ of the church (our young people and young adults—really anyone 50 and under), they need a place to express themselves freely without judgment and criticism. I think that is ‘a hill worth dying on.’
We need to be open to experimentation, encourage creativity and accept cheerfully different ways of doing things. And I say, that in my experience, this isn’t only for the ‘young’ but for people of all ages. My experience with many of ‘the older generation’ is that they need a safe place, too. The wisdom of their long life has left them with many questions and doubts. And my experience is that many of them are more than willing to make room for innovation and ‘new shoots’ from rich soil.
Our future will depend on how open we are to new ways of doing things; new and different expressions of being church. Our future will need to embrace some experimentation… that may fail. And our future will depend on how malleable our well – defined ‘church – shaped’ boxes are.
And the good news is that the future belongs to God in Christ, not you and I… thank God! We are called to be followers of him and to be ready to midwife whatever it is that God has in store for Christ’s body in this world.
What do you see as the greatest challenges facing the church today?
1. Collective Anxiety – I occasionally see people in the church (ministers, leaders, and folks in the pews) acting like cornered, injured raccoons. They are hurting and lamenting what they have ‘lost’ in the institution as well as dealing with their own stuff in their personal lives. The church is a ‘safe place’ to lash out—and in their anxiety and pain they do, damaging and wounding our lay leaders and ministers and making the church as a whole an uncomfortable place to find that quiet place with God.
2. Idolatry – of buildings, of processes, of the PCC way of doing things. This limits our creativity and imagination. And thus, keeps the dreamers and visionaries quiet or out of the PCC.
3. Theological polarization – If our leaders find it difficult to work together based on theological differences, then how can we expect our churches to be functional? Many of our conflicts come from misinterpreting/misunderstanding our theological language—I’d call it a language barrier.
John Borthwick hasn’t been shy to make his nomination for a moderator a subject of discussion on the internet. He has created a blog, a Facebook page and makes use of Twitter.
posted on February 1, 2012 in News
North Korea Worst for Christian Persecution
The international Christian organization Open Doors released its annual World Watch List in January, naming the 50 countries where it says Christians face the worst persecution. For the first time in 20 years, the situation for Christians did not improve in any country.
For the 10th year running, North Korea topped the list. Open Doors reported that Christianity has been driven so far underground in North Korea that parents wait until their children are old enough to understand the dangers of practicing their faith before teaching them about it. The organization also estimated that between 50,000 and 70,000 Christians are currently interned in labour camps.
The top five countries on the list also include Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia and Iran. The country where things have deteriorated most since the 2011 report is Nigeria. At least 300 Christians were killed last year and sectarian violence has intensified. On Christmas Day, more than 35 people were killed in bomb attacks on churches across the country.
Open Doors provides training for pastors and distributes Bibles in countries where Christianity is suppressed. It estimates that 100 million Christians worldwide face persecution. ¦ —ENI
Christianity Shifts to Africa
With 2.18 billion adherents, Christianity has become a truly global religion over the past century as rapid growth in developing nations offset declines in Christianity’s traditional strongholds, according to the “Global Christianity” report released by the Washington – based Pew Research Center in December.
Findings illustrate major shifts since 1910, when two – thirds of the world’s Christians lived in Europe. Now only one in four Christians live in Europe. Most of the rest are distributed across the Americas (37 per cent), sub – Saharan Africa (24 per cent) and the Asia – Pacific region (13 per cent).
The report confirms Christianity’s standing as the world’s largest religion, with 32 per cent of the global population. Islam is second with about 23 per cent, according to a 2009 Pew report.
A close look at the details reveals a few ironies.
Although Christianity traces its beginnings to the Middle East and North Africa, only four per cent of residents in these regions claim the Christian faith today.
But the faith has exploded exponentially in sub – Saharan Africa, from just nine per cent of the population in 1910 to 63 per cent today. Nigeria, home to more than 80 million Christians, has more Protestants than Germany, where the Protestant Reformation began.
The report also sheds light on the difficult question of how many Chinese are Christians. China’s policies on religion are thought to discourage Christians from self – identifying as such in official surveys. Researchers estimate the Christian community in China includes five per cent of the population, or 67 million people. ¦ —ENI
Two Killed in Dadaab
Two leaders of the community peace and security teams (CPSTs) working at the Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya were fatally shot in January. The Presbyterian Church’s relief and development agency, Presbyterian World Service and Development, is working with partners in the camp to support Somali refugees fleeing famine.
PWS&D has been supporting the establishment of CPSTs, where refugees from within the camp volunteer to serve as a mix of firefighter, police officer, medic and counsellor. Working to establish peace and cooperation, they receive training in how to resolve issues and ease tensions. They have been particularly effective at dealing with issues of domestic violence, brawls, encroachment and robberies.
In close camp quarters, disputes and conflicts are inevitable, however estimates indicate the ratio of police officers to people is about 1:15,000 in Dadaab. ¦ —PWS&D
Canadians Meet with Government about Egypt
a group of four representing the Canadian Council of Churches, including Rev. Ibrahim Wahby of Chapel Place Presbyterian, Markham, Ont., met with Paul Hong, senior policy advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs in December to discuss religious freedom in Egypt.
Hong noted that the government is limited in what it can do in Egypt, and suggested church agencies can help by sharing information and seeking future meetings with policy – makers, learning about advocacy and accountability, supporting pro – democracy activists, and encouraging international church partners to work with their governments to support religious freedom. ¦ —AM with files from the CCC
Five ministers share their thoughts on faith and the future.
posted on February 1, 2012 in Community News, News
Throughout the 2011 General Assembly, one word seemed to emerge over and over again: Vision. The Record asked the nominees for moderator of the 2012 assembly to introduce themselves and reflect on their visions for the future of the church…
By the time he was 14, Peter Bush had spent more than half of his life in Beirut, Lebanon, and Shiraz, Iran, with his missionary parents. “Not surprisingly those years have been formative to the way I see the world,” he wrote. “I am fascinated by the way Christianity grows in Asia and Africa and South America—and believe the church in North America has much to learn.”
Following the promptings of the Spirit—and of a minister he worked with at Camp Geddie, N.S.—Bush embraced a calling to ministry and discovered a love for teaching, preaching, and training lay people to do the same. He is currently minister at Westwood, Winnipeg (although he prefers the term “teaching elder”), and has been editor of Presbyterian History, a publication of the history committee, for more than two decades. He has also served as moderator of presbytery and synod, and as an interim moderator more than a dozen times. He penned the book In Dying We Are Born based on his experiences with congregations as they underwent change.
Tell me a little bit about yourself. How did you come to follow a call to ministry? What has kept you going?
Seven and half of the first 14 years of my life I spent in Beirut, Lebanon and Shiraz, Iran. My parents were missionaries, my father teaching math at the university level as a way to carry the good news into places where regular missionaries had difficulty going. Not surprisingly, those years have been formative to the way I see the world. I am fascinated by the way Christianity grows in the Asia and Africa and South America—and believe the church in North America has much to learn from our Christian sisters and brothers in other places.
I grew up in the church, and I never rebelled against God or the church. But I never wanted to be a minister. I tried to get into a Ph.D. program in history—but God clearly shut the door to that. So I was not sure what I was supposed to be doing. I spent a summer at Camp Geddie (a PCC camp in Nova Scotia) as program director and there a minister who was serving as a camp counselor for one week said to me, “Have you ever thought of being a minister? You lead Bible studies well, you preach well, you should think about this.” And that was a key factor in my hearing the call to ministry. And ministry within the PCC.
I love preaching and teaching—something happens when I get the chance to do those things. I have a sense that I am where I am supposed to be when I have the opportunity to preach or teach.
I believe the church has been called into being by God—and although human beings (including me) keep messing it up—somehow in the mystery of God, God still uses the church for God’s honour and glory. Through the church I have the chance to fulfill my highest calling —the highest calling of any human being—to glorify God and to enjoy God forever.
What would you say your passion is when it comes to the church and/or faith?
I am going to take your question in a somewhat different direction and highlight five things that I am passionate about as it relates to the church/the Christian faith
1. The Word of God. I am committed to helping people discover the power of the Word in their lives and for their lives. This includes not just preaching—but helping lay people discover that the Bible can and does speak to them and their lives and to the reality of the world.
2. Reaching outside the doors of the church. We have been blessed that we might be a blessing; we have been blessed that we might serve. We are the salt of the earth and we need to get out of the saltshaker. Not for our good—not for our benefit—but for God’s glory.
3. New models of church. It is time to experiment, to find new models of church—to develop lay – led church models, to embrace circuit riding, to raise up house churches, and to play with other models that we have not yet talked about. Most of these new models will mean less clergy involvement and more space for lay people to exercise the priesthood of all believers and the gifts the Holy Spirit gives to all followers of Jesus Christ.
4. Partnering with Christians of all branches of the church. To make connections with Baptists and Anglicans, Pentecostals and Lutherans, Mennonites and Roman Catholics—to enter into these connections with humility and courage. To be willing to learn from people we have often looked down on. To enter a conversation where we are unapologetic about being Presbyterians.
5. The history of the church. Both the saints and sinners of the past remind us to walk humbly now. The past reminds us of who we are. The story of past forms us now.
Some moderators like to choose a particular theme or issue to focus on during their year in the position. Have you thought about something like that? If so, what, and why is this important to you?
I have thought about theme; I have not chosen one. I am hoping that if I were to be elected, which I think is unlikely, the Holy Spirit will help me discern a theme.
at the 2011 General Assembly, there was a lot of talk about vision and the future of the church.
What would you say is your vision for the future?
I think we have not yet been broken enough to hear what God’s vision is. We are still working on the basis of us human beings finding the vision that will save the church. We cannot save the church—only God can do that. Before we can discern the vision God has we need to give up the reins of power, dying to our visions, dying to our plans, dying to our dreams. We need to be able to pray the phrase from the Lord’s prayer, “Thy will be done” and really mean it before we will be able to see the vision God has. And I know for myself I am not sure that I am there yet, and I don’t think that many of the people I meet in the church are there yet either. We need to be further broken.
What do you see as the greatest challenges facing the church today?
The answer to the last question may sound very depressing. And in some ways it is. But there is something I have not said yet: God knows how to get broken, dead people—and churches—out of the tomb. The God who raised Jesus Christ to life again can raise the church from its tomb. The challenge for the church is not to find some way to find new life; the challenge for the church is to have the courage and faith to get into the tomb—knowing that God will bring new life. That new life is something we cannot predict—that new life is not something we can control—we don’t even know its shape. All we know is that God will raise to the church to new life—and we will be astounded.
Working and dreaming in the land of mountains.
posted on January 1, 2012 in Mission, News
A family from Léogâne, Haiti, in front of their new home after their previous home was destroyed in the earthquake.
The Haitian expression, Dèyè mon gen mon (“after this mountain, another mountain”) could come straight from the pages of Ecclesiastes with its weary wisdom, borne out of too little joy and too much suffering. When one considers that the name, Haiti means land of mountains, the expression only magnifies how troubled and difficult life can be in the poorest country in the Americas.
A trip to Haiti in September to visit some of the projects that Presbyterians in Canada generously supported after the earthquake, confronted me with the harsh reality that is life in Port – au – Prince. There were still many living in temporary shelters, much rubble yet to be cleared and an historically dysfunctional government. There are clearly no quick or short – term solutions to the many pre – and post – earthquake challenges facing Haitian society. But that is why we as Presbyterians are there. Not because the solutions are easy but because the challenges are great and the need clear. With our Haitian brothers and sisters we work and dream in the land of mountains, remembering the words of Psalm 121: “I look up to the mountains—from where does my help come? It comes from the Lord.”
Rebuilding homes is one of the many projects receiving support through PWS&D and it is inspiring in places like Léogâne—where an estimated 80 per cent of the town was damaged—to see families reclaim home and space. As the frame is assembled and the foundation poured, it is not uncommon to see many hands involved, including those of young children. The home that will support the family is first built by the family. A woman was asked if she would stand with her family for a photograph in front of her new home. She responded quickly, “Oh yes, please. My old home was humble, this is a palace.” That a solid wooden home with a tin roof could be referred to as a palace is a reminder of how little it can take to build a better world. Where I live, houses cost more than 500 times as much but rarely is the term “palace” used in my neighborhood.
In Haiti today, homes are being built, livelihoods reclaimed, access to safe water secured and those injured from the earthquake are learning how to move, live and work again. One region in the mountains of Léogâne now runs a program through our partner, Christian Reformed World Relief Committee that ensures every family gets three goats. The goats are later sold in a local market and replenished through the community ‘goat bank.’ To support this project, locals have also been trained as first aid veterinarians to ensure the health and welfare of the animals. The knowledge of animal husbandry that is shared and remains in the village is as important and valuable as the goats themselves.
This work is not nearly enough in the face of so much adversity, so many mountains. But our support and the amazing work of our partners is a little salt, a little light and that is a start. Another ancient but lesser known name for Haiti and the Dominican Republic that share one island is, Kiskeya. It means the cradle of life. Such a name speaks of the beauty, hope and potential that is possible. May our prayers and support join that dream and desire for Haiti to be Kiskeya again.
posted on January 1, 2012 in News
A member of the Psalm 100 Christian church, wearing clothes representing an angel, demonstrates against violence in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, last September.
Teens Bring Message to Murderers in Mexico
Angels are not a common sight in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico’s most violent border city, where the public cemetery is putrid and overflowing, and where a handful of churches worship the skeletal saint of death, Santa Muerte.
But at crime scenes and busy corners recently, more than a dozen angels have appeared—10 feet tall, with white robes and feathered wings. That these angels are mostly teenagers from a tiny evangelical church makes their presence no less striking: they carry signs to murder scenes that say, “murderers repent.”
“It’s incredible, one of the most spectacular things I’ve seen,” said Jesús Nuñez, director of a local social service agency. “It’s dangerous, but they keep doing it.”
Marches against violence are more common here … perhaps because this city has so much experience with tragedy. The killings of dozens of women who worked in factories here over a decade ago even predated the rash of drug – war violence that intensified in 2006.
The Messenger Angels got started last year, after conversations at a church on the city’s outskirts, Psalm 100. Carlos Mayorga, 33, a leader of the group, said the church’s young people had become frustrated with the violence and wanted to do something hard to miss. So they asked for donations of old curtains that became angelic robes, raised money for makeup and collected feathers for wings.
Then they made signs that speak to criminals and corrupted officials. “We wanted to prick the consciences of the people who have caused this city so much pain,” said Mayorga.
Early on, the angels focused on busy intersections. Later, they started going to crime scenes, where their messages were often greeted with odd stares, and occasionally tears. They have also set up at prosecutors’ offices and police stations.
Mayorga said he hopes that somehow, eventually, they will help bring peace. “The idea is to keep going,” he said. “We have to.” ¦ —Damien Cave, The New York Times
Interfaith Rally Highlights Climate Change
An interfaith rally in Durban, South Africa in November urged a United Nations conference to deliver a fair, ambitious and binding treaty that addresses the issue of climate change.
“This is the only home we have,” said Nobel Peace Prize laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu, referring to care for the planet Earth, according to a news release from the World Council of Churches.
The 17th Conference of Parties to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change, or COP 17, ran from Nov. 28 to Dec. 9.
“Africa is a continent of faith, and we have come here together from different faith traditions to voice our moral and spiritual call for a paradigm shift. We call for climate justice now,” said Bishop Geoff Davies, director of the Southern Africa Faith Communities Environmental Institute.
Tutu delivered a petition with 200,000 signatures titled, “We have faith” to the incoming president of COP 17, Maite Nkoana – Mashabane, South African minister of International Relations and Cooperation. The petition had an African emphasis taken from the “Time for Climate Justice” campaign. ¦ —ENI
Alleged Miracle Cure
The border between faith and science is being tested in Samunge, a village near the Kenya – Tanzanian border, where thousands of people are heading for a “miracle cure” being offered by Rev. Ambilikile Mwasapile.
Mwasapile, a retired Lutheran priest, says he received instructions from God to make the medicine, and some say church workers, pastors and bishops had taken the cure and were being healed.
The herbal mixture is made from the roots of the “mugariga” tree. A single cup allegedly treats all sicknesses, including HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and cancer.
Some infected people have abandoned their daily HIV/AIDS drugs, and have seen their condition worsen, complicating the fight against the epidemic, according to AIDS experts.
Despite pressure from some politicians and faith leaders, the government says it cannot stop the priest because his actions were inspired by his faith and the mixture is not harmful. ¦ —ENI
But St. Giles, Ottawa, finds hope and renewal amidst change.
posted on January 1, 2012 in Community News, News
When the Presbytery of Ottawa locked the doors to the sanctuary at St. Giles, Ottawa, to “discipline” the warring congregation, the secular press jumped on the unique measure, saying the congregation had been “sent to its room,” forcing the faithful to worship in the church basement.
But they missed out on the main story: That those worship services now held in the church hall—or, yes, the basement—are filled with laughter, fellowship, and honest discussion about what lies ahead. St. Giles members aren’t mourning their temporary loss; rather, they are discovering and welcoming new voices to the table, and talking about how great things might be.
“There is a genuine excitement, a real lightness of being right now, and it’s catching,” said interim moderator, Rev. Wayne Menard. “We have a Sunday school for the first time in years. We have university students who come on a regular basis. Leadership has popped up. The elders who remained on session who had been silenced are now speaking, and what a wonderful sound!”
The root of the divisions is not unique in congregations across the church: that of tradition vs. change.
The most recent arguments were seemingly buoyed by the arrival of Rev. Ruth Houtby in 2006, who had a community – building leadership style that was, according to Menard, “very different” from the male ministers the congregation had called in the past.
A group of four long – serving elders complained loudly to presbytery, even managing to get other members on their side. Presbytery ruled their complaints unfounded.
Houtby eventually left St. Giles, and following other interim solutions and various committee reports, Menard arrived on May 1, 2011. It wasn’t long before the same group of elders complained about him.
Presbytery stood fast in their decision to station Menard at St. Giles. He is also a chaplain at nearby Carleton University.
“There was a group within the congregation who had lost their voice,” said Menard. “And there was a small contingent of session who held all the power. The fuss came when they were told they could no longer hold that power.
“Some of the eldership had ceased to be the church for others. They were the church for themselves, and it just wasn’t working.”
When the congregation still couldn’t get along, presbytery decided “with profound regret” to make the sanctuary off limits—a powerful symbol showing the congregation that the church is not its building. A closing worship service was held Nov. 20, and presbytery hopes to hold a celebratory re – opening worship once members prove they’re ready to move back in.
“One of the deepest divisions has been over the sanctuary, and what it should be like,” said Rev. James T. Hurd, presbytery clerk. “[T]he sanctuary was not a place of refuge and worship, but a place of argument … So presbytery decided they need a period of time during which we pray fervently that healing and reconciliation will take place.”
One of the elders was removed by presbytery, and others have stepped back. Assessor elders and a support committee have been appointed.
About 50 people attend the breakfast and cosy worship now being held in the church hall—the first of which was on the first Sunday of Advent.
“The irony is, that the very things Ruth was criticized and chastised for are now being realized in worship,” said Menard. “Ruth is still a beloved minister of the church and of this congregation, and we’re honouring her by doing exactly what she wanted us to do.
“The future looks brighter and brighter with each Advent candle lit and each face that returns,” said Sharon Stewart, an elder for 10 years. “I believe that those who wish to worship together will be there and those who cannot will hopefully and prayerfully find a place where they will be comforted.”
“I think there is a message here and it is this: When the liberating Spirit of Christ in his church is allowed some freedom, anything can happen,” said Menard.
Small, struggling congregations are figuring out how to be vibrant and relevant.
posted on January 1, 2012 in News
For some time now, we have been struggling to come to grips with the apocalyptic predictions of post – modernity in the late 20th century. We have heard that religion is on the way out! Churches are dying and closing; this is a coming of age for humanity who has finally discovered that it doesn’t need God! But we also hear, as Harvey Cox says in The Future of Faith that there is an “unanticipated resurgence of religion in both public and private life.” This observation is from around the globe. Can it be so for the people along the shores of the mighty St. Lawrence River, to the rolling hills of Glengarry, and all the points in between?
We hear the cries from congregations who strive to be alive and thriving. They don’t want to turn their backs on the faithful who over the years strived tirelessly to bring the faith to their communities. What they want is to build on the commitment demonstrated over the years, and continue the journey, growing in faith, embracing and serving God in all of life. They want to move forward, “accenting spiritual experience, discipleship and hope,” according to Cox. They want the institution of the church to take a back seat to the moving forward of the Spirit.
But how do we create a movement out of an institution?
Two congregations at the western end of the presbytery have not yet found the answer to that question; but, they have been trying to find it and we share their story with you. The Church of the Covenant in Lansdowne has discussed its future many times over the past few years. Convinced that it still has something to offer, it is working to discover its place in the community. Recently, the congregation decided to put an advertisement in a local paper asking people to participate in an online survey of seven questions. The congregation also decided to send out a letter with a paper copy of the survey to select professionals within the community. The questions were simple: Do you think the church still has a place in the community? If so, what? Would you be willing to participate in a church – based community program? If you do not already attend church, would you consider attending the Church of the Covenant? The congregation even offered a night’s stay at Kingston’s Four – Points Sheraton as a lure.
The responses confirmed what we have been reading in the literature and already knew. Over half of our respondents were in the 30–39 age range—not a demographic currently worshipping in the church. Unanimously, respondents felt that the church still has a place in the community. And while none were willing to come to our church, most said they would participate in a church – based community program! Being part of the community means more than simply having a building in the community, and our challenge is to discern in which part of the community we can become active.
Some 20 km east of Lansdowne sits a modest church building on the Caintown Road—the last country church of its kind in the area. A recognition of the need for community and each other drives the many ways the members of St. Paul’s express their faith in the wider community. Responding to requests from many years of singing at community events, the choir recorded their first CD in 2010 and it sold out within weeks. Cheered on by its success, they recorded a Christmas CD in 2011. The church dinners, held in the Community Hall because the church does not have running water, are well supported by the community, and the yearly Advent concert in the church is a standing room – only event as the choir and local musicians provide great entertainment. Recently, the session of St. Paul’s partnered with a financial company in Kingston and hosted an estate planning evening.
Space does not permit a longer sharing of the hope demonstrated by these two congregations and their willingness to move forward and away from fear. We are encouraged by their openness to the Spirit and we pray that the work will continue. They have shown us that we need not be limited in the ways we model faith in the community. With God’s help, these two congregations—and many more—will continue the journey, moving forward and out into the community, sharing the news that the body of Christ still has a heartbeat. Don’t close the doors yet!
International gathering held at church offices just prior to World AIDS Day.
posted on January 1, 2012 in News
Faith leaders gathered at the Presbyterian Church’s national offices to renew their commitments to address HIV/AIDS.
Faith leaders from across the globe gathered at the church’s national offices in Toronto to examine their responses to HIV and AIDS as the international effort to end the epidemic seems to be teetering on the verge of continued success or a backslide.
The three – day November gathering was a follow – up to an international summit held March 2010 in the Netherlands, which aimed to increase collaboration among high – level faith leaders as they responded to HIV and AIDS. In addition to producing a statement, the multi – faith group crafted a pledge of personal commitment requiring signatories to be accountable to each other in their own responses to HIV, and to report back every 18 months beginning in Nov. 2011. The summit and follow – up meeting were organized by the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance, which represents 80 faith groups worldwide.
The meeting brought hopeful news about the effort to end the epidemic, and generated renewed commitment to ongoing struggles against stigma.
“The good news is that new infections and deaths are decreasing,” Sally Smith, program advisor with the United Nations’ AIDS department, told the Record. “We have a wide package of prevention measures that are effective. We’ve also discovered this year that treatment is highly effective as a form of prevention.”
HIV – positive people who take antiretroviral medication to suppress the virus are 96 per cent less likely to transmit the infection to an uninfected partner according to results of a medical study released in 2011 by the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
With an additional push in its response, the world could see significant reductions in the spread of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, according to Peter Prove, executive director of the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance. Yet global financial support seems to be falling.
The Board of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria announced in November it would cancel its 11th round of funding due to a shortage of funds, meaning services currently financed will continue but it will offer no new funds to scale up the response until at least 2014.
“Despite the quite positive recommitment at the political level by the international community as expressed in New York in June [at the UN General Assembly High Level Meeting on AIDS, which crafted ambitious targets to be achieved by 2015], the reality is that we see a continuing and rather serious drift in financial support for those political commitments,” Prove said. “So at this moment, at this precise moment when we suddenly have the means of addressing HIV from a scientific and medical point of view—we have the means within our hands of ending HIV—at that precise moment the funding stops. And we put at risk all the gains, which are significant, that have been made.”
According to a report released by UNAIDS for World AIDS Day on Dec. 1, more people are able to access treatment for HIV and as a result fewer are dying of causes related to AIDS. Of the 14.2 million people eligible for antiretroviral medication in low – and middle – income countries, almost 50 per cent (6.6 million) were accessing it in 2010. An estimated 2.5 million deaths have been averted in these countries since 1995.
This also means there are more people than ever living with HIV—an estimated 34 million worldwide. Many of them face stigma and discrimination because of their status, and must deal with misconceptions about the virus.
Swami Techer Advayananda, a Hindu monk from Arsha Vidya Ashram in Reunion Island, said he kept his HIV – positive status a secret from everyone except his family for 18 years. But two years ago he decided to proclaim it publically, so as a religious leader he could better help others.
“There is so much stigma, so much misunderstanding, so much ignorance also about HIV everywhere in the world,” he told the Record. “And sometimes having a religious man or woman who knows directly what it is to have HIV may be able to offer counseling or advice, and would be heard.”
But his own faith community has not always shared his view.
“I noticed that I used to be invited to temples in Reunion, and the doors closed. So there was no more inviting me. I understood. But at the same time, doors of big international organizations opened widely for me.”
Other faith communities have felt the issue of HIV and AIDS did not affect them, since it was often associated with people who were rarely seen in a church pew: drug users, sex workers, and men who have sex with men.
Bishop Gerry Seale, executive general of the Evangelical Association of the Caribbean, did a survey of church – going young people (mostly between 12 and 20), first in his native Barbados and then in other Caribbean countries, to find out how many knew they were already HIV – positive. The reported rates among young people in the church proved to be comparable to or higher than the national prevalence rates.
“That has opened the door for me to have a much greater dialogue with the church leadership about sexuality, about HIV and about the issues around HIV. … We need to move our community from [thinking about] ‘them’ out there somewhere who have HIV to ‘us’ in here.”
“Giving a sermon to a person who is already positive is not going to cure him,” said Prof. Akhtarul Wasey of Zakir Husain Institute of Islamic Studies in New Delhi, India. “He needs an attitude of compassion, care and consideration. He needs medicine. There’s the basic thing.”
posted on January 1, 2012 in News, The Other Six Days
TOYS
Isaac Bros. Bobbleheads hasn’t been around that long but I hope they have a good future ahead of them. Citing Genesis 21:6, “God has brought me laughter and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me” as their battle cry, Isaac Bros. gives us some truly wonderful little toys. The company produces a vast array of silly Bible bobbleheads including Moses, Noah, Esther, Samson, Daniel and my personal favourite, John the Baptist. Now it’s true some might find these kinds of toys offensive and hey, everybody has a different since of humour, but what’s best about this company is that they really mean to bring the Bible to life. Each bobblehead comes with a foldout comic that illustrates the life of these Bible heroes. In the end, they hope to make collecting Bible – based toys as popular as collecting athletic cards.
isaacbros.com
Scotch
Arran is a fairly well known name in the world of scotch. Being established very recently (1995) hasn’t seemed to hold them back at all. But what makes this brand unique? Well, it’s all in the name. The company has a line of Robert Burns single malts. Now that’s nothing new. A lot of brands have tried that card before and quite frankly, Burns was from Kilmarnock (like Johnnie Walker) but Arran boasts the first brand “officially endorsed” by the World Burns Federation. Now in my humble opinion, scotch should always be dark, cask strength and smell heavily of peat but if you’re one of those silly people who like it very light and very smooth, you might give this one a try.
arranwhisky.com
Storytelling
For some reason, we Christians really love to teach our kids some of the most terrifying stories in the Bible. What Sunday school curriculum would be complete without Noah’s Ark or Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego being thrown into the fiery furnace? Well now there’s help. If you’re going to teach “the whole counsel of God,” why not use puppets? It’s with that in mind that JewishStore.com brings us these Passover 10 Plagues finger puppets to help you do just that.
jewishstore.com. Search for “Finger puppets”.
Quiz
Ever wonder what your true religion is? Well, if you have five minutes the good folks at belief.net can help you figure it out. All you have to do is answer 20 multiple choice questions and rate each one’s priority as “high,” “medium” or “low.” And that’s it. You may have been worshipping at Presbyterian churches all your life, but who knows? Maybe you’re really a Quaker or even a Buddhist. As it turns out, I’m 100 per cent mainline Christian Protestant, though somehow there is also an 87 per cent chance that I’m a Seventh Day Adventist… huh, I didn’t see that coming.
beliefnet.com. Click on “Belief – O – Matic.”
Donations
Okay, so there’s a lot of fun stuff online, but every once in a while it’s time to get serious. About 200 million people contract one of the many strains of malaria each year. Most of these are not deadly and many can be easily treated. But not everyone is so lucky. An estimated one million human beings die of plasmodium falciparum (the deadliest form of malaria) annually. For the most part, people just go to sleep at night, wake up with a small red bump and that’s it … their fate is sealed. But it doesn’t have to be this way. For only five dollars, you can purchase a mosquito net through PWS&D’s Gifts of Change to help ensure this won’t happen. Think about that the next time you buy a five – dollar cup of coffee. I know I will.
presbyterian.ca/pwsd. Click on “Gifts of Change.”
posted on January 1, 2012 in Community News, News
Known to locals as "the pink church", St Andrews Presbyterian in Hamilton, Bermuda is a charge within the Presbyterian Church in Canada and is a part of the presbytery of West Toronto.
Bermuda Minister Joins Toronto Presbytery Meeting
Rev. John Fraser has generally been forgiven for skipping presbytery meetings. More than 1,700 km—a good chunk of them covered by the Atlantic Ocean—stand between his church and the rest of the presbytery. But at the October 2011 meeting, he joined his fellow presbyters without leaving home.
Using the popular videoconferencing program Skype, Fraser was able to see and be seen among members of the West Toronto presbytery. All it took was a pair of laptops—one in Toronto and one in his home office in Hamilton, Bermuda—and a wireless internet connection in the church where the meeting took place.
It was only the second time Fraser had been able to participate in presbytery since he was called to St. Andrew’s in Hamilton, Bermuda, in August 2009.
Known locally as the “pink church”—for pink it is—St. Andrew’s is the only non – Canadian church in the Presbyterian Church in Canada.
“It was different being a member of presbytery from over a thousand miles away,” Fraser told the Record from his office. There were some glitches, he noted, including a time lag that seemed to turn his “yes” votes into “no” votes by transmitting the image of his raised hand only after the moderator had called for “those opposed.” But he found a low tech solution: writing “yes” and “no” on pieces of paper and raising those instead.
Yet the experience was so positive, the presbytery has decided to do something unprecedented. A worship service at the March meeting, which includes communion, is to be led by Fraser and “hosted” by St. Andrew’s via Skype.
Fraser said the plan for March involves more work than previous meetings, as he and members of the congregation intend to set up cameras in the sanctuary. The service will feature the St. Andrew’s choir, and a minister will help administer communion in Toronto as he presides in Hamilton.
“We want to do it in a way that’s meaningful,” he said. “We’re not just playing with computers here; we’re conducting a worship service and the sacrament of Holy Communion.
“If it goes over well, it’ll open a lot of doors. It brings a spirit of closeness; we’re not as far away as we sometimes think we are.”
The question of whether a minister can conduct communion from afar via webcam or a program like Skype without another minister present with the congregation is being examined by the committee on church doctrine, and will eventually be presented to General Assembly. ¦ —CW
Violence Reaches Doors of Presbyterian College
A clash between police and demonstrators at Montreal’s McGill University was too close to home for staff and residents of the Presbyterian College.
Violence erupted Nov. 10 when riot police deployed against a large crowd of students and supporters protesting tuition hikes at an administration building near the college.
“[P]rotesters moved and/or were pushed east where violent confrontations between police and protesters occurred immediately in front of and around our building,” Rev. Dr. John Vissers, principal of Presbyterian College, wrote in a submission to Daniel Jutras, dean of the university’s faculty of law. Jutras was in charge of an investigation into the events. Vissers, who was not on campus at the time, based the submission on the report of the college’s dean of residence.
“Significant numbers of police from the riot squad were present on our property. Student protesters who sought refuge inside our building were pepper – sprayed. McGill students housed in our residence and Presbyterian College students, faculty, and staff felt threatened. Thankfully, it appears that no one was seriously hurt; and there does not appear to be any significant damage to property.”
The police presence on campus seems to have begun earlier in the day, when campus security called police to help dislodge protestors occupying the offices of the principal and provost in the James Administration Building. A number of police on bicycles were allegedly pushed off campus by the large crowd that had gathered outside. The university insists it had no part in summoning the riot squad to deal with the protestors. ¦ —CW
Protest Chaplains Update
In a growing number of cities worldwide, law enforcers have dismantled the tent cities of protesters who had been occupying public spaces to protest corporate control of western democracy. As protesters seek ways to remain viable without their permanent encampments, they are still supported by the protest chaplains, an interfaith group of pastors, seminary students and other men and women who feel called to walk with the occupiers.
Rafael Vallejo, pastor at Queen Street East, Toronto, has been active with the Occupy Toronto protest chaplains since the group was formed in October. When Toronto’s tent city was removed from St. James Park on Nov. 23, he and fellow chaplain Rev. Alexa Gilmour acted as mediators between police and protesters. They also negotiated for permission to stay with the 11 protesters who were arrested as they were taken into custody, processed, and later released.
Protesters continue to organize events, both in cities where encampments still exist and in cities where they have been removed. These events include demonstrations, movie nights, flash mobs, committee meetings, general assemblies and panel discussions. The protest chaplains also continue their ministry, each group adapting its support to the needs of protesters in its area. “Faith and Occupy” meetings are being held at local and national levels to discern the future of the protest chaplain ministry. ¦ —EW
News from the Life and Mission Agency
The three – day November meeting
of the Life and Mission Agency brought committee members up to date on the work of its various departments, as well as the Women’s Missionary and Atlantic Mission Societies.
• The committee granted a request from the amalgamated office of Canadian Ministries/The Vine to shorten its name to Canadian Ministries. Although the double name “functioned well during the transition period to assure the denomination that the responsibilities of the Vine continued,” the office’s report noted, it proved cumbersome.
• The funds already set aside for a pilot employee assistance program should be enough to extend the project into a third year, the Ministry and Church Vocations office announced. The program, which launched Sept. 1, 2010, offers professional church workers and their families confidential psychological and social support, counseling, and referral services. The contract with the service provider, Sheppell.fgi, has been extended until the end of Aug. 2013. The service is paid for with funds from the sustaining pastoral excellence fund, which was established in Nov. 2009.
• Building on the success of their May 2011 Women’s Conference, the WMS reported plans to hold another national conference in 2014. That year will also mark the society’s 100th anniversary. The group has also decided to shorten this year’s May council meeting by one day and shift it to a weekend instead of holding it during the week.
• Following an evaluation, the church has renewed its internship program with the Waterloo – based peace organization Project Ploughshares for another three years. The yearly eight – month internships offered to university graduates are funded by undesignated bequests. The newest peace and security intern is expected to begin work this September.
• The Communications office is working to replace the current donation system used on the Presbyterian.ca website with a simpler, more secure one which is better able to handle complex donations such as Presbyterian World Service and Development’s Gifts of Change projects. Online donations have reached the $250,000 mark. Although there is no official launch date for the new system or a reworked version of Presbyterian.ca, both are expected to appear early this year. ¦ —CW
Assembly Council Discusses GA, Future and Funds
The Assembly Council spent a large portion of its November meeting in visioning work. In helping the Vision and Mission Committee in its quest to garner as many ideas about the church’s future as possible, the Council split into groups and brainstormed about what the PCC could and should be. Images about partnerships, authenticity, inclusivity, and service surfaced repeatedly.
Council also split into groups to discuss the days and design of General Assembly. It was agreed that all board and committee reports to the 2012 assembly will follow a consent agenda—a process whereby certain recommendations are grouped together and passed all at once. Commissioners may ask that any recommendation be debated separately. The consent agenda was given a trial run last year.
The schedule of the 2012 assembly will also be different, commencing on Sunday and ending Thursday at noon. A proposed schedule was passed, whereby (among other things) informal, job fair – style briefing groups will be held on Sunday afternoon, Monday morning will be devoted to an orientation for the entire assembly, and a regular business sederunt will commence Monday afternoon. The local planning committee is able to alter the schedule if needed.
The church’s finances continue to be a concern. As of June 2013, the church will need a $3 – million increase in contributions to maintain its pension plan. The pension and benefits board is currently looking at the issue, and more information will come to assembly in June.
Council decided to retain the church’s missionary residence, a 50 – year – old, 12 – unit apartment building located close to church offices and used mainly to house missionaries on furlough. A proposal to sell the building and buy three new condominiums that would need less maintenance was denied. A new motion asking that the committee examine property management of the building and rental of the units was carried.
Council debated at length about directing funds left by George van Beek, benefactor of the Experimental Fund, to that fund following his death last January, or to the church’s undesignated bequests. Van Beek originally left his estate to the fund in a will drawn up in 1984. However, a will created 20 years later said the money would be an undesignated bequest to the PCC.
According to a policy endorsed by Assembly Council in 2004, undesignated bequests siphon portions of the monies to the church’s operating fund, a bequest stabilization fund, the colleges, and the five funds handled by the Life and Mission Agency. The remainder (the total amount of the estate is anticipated to be around $1 million) is then directed to wherever the Assembly Council deems fit.
Not wanting to try to interpret what van Beek intended, Council endorsed the exact wording of the latest will, directing the money to undesignated bequests.
The fund’s name will change to the Avondbloem Experimental Fund of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, as requested by van Beek. Monies in the fund currently sit at $553,000, and are used to support new and unique projects within the church. ¦ —AM
Moderator Nominees Announced
There will be five names on the ballot for moderator of the church’s 138th
General Assembly:
Rev. John Borthwick of St. Andrew’s, Guelph, Ont.
Rev. Peter Bush of Westwood, Winnipeg
Rev. Gordon Haynes of the Life and Mission Agency in Toronto
Rev. Dr. Andrew Johnston of St. Andrew’s, Ottawa
Rev. Dr. John Vissers, principal of the Presbyterian College in Montreal.
Ballots were sent to presbyteries in December 2011, and votes will be tallied on April 2. The new moderator will be inducted at assembly, which begins June 3 in Oshawa, Ont.
