To be Presbyterian is to be identified by one’s church government. Historically speaking, Presbyterianism emerged as a kind of proto democracy, distinguishing itself against the Roman Catholic Church government by the model of a body of representatives known as presbyters (elders). If it wishes to remain true to its handle, The Presbyterian Record must, above all, represent the voices of the people who make up the Presbyterian Church in Canada.
Letters appearing in the editorial section of the Record, while belying a lack of consensus on major issues in the PCC, assure the reader that Presbyterianism in its essence is alive and well. The lack of consensus in the PCC may reflect the Canada of its name – a nation known for its proroguing parliament. The Record on the other hand, provides an open forum where differences can be, if not resolved, at least aired in democratic fashion and with the Christian hope that God’s Spirit is at work in the process.
Opinions are bound to differ around the question, what is news? The Canadian singer, Anne Murray spoke for all Canadians when she sang, ‘We sure could use a little good news today.’ When Adrian C. Van Draanen of Richmond, Ont., laments the favouring of scholarly debate over updates about Christian good works in the Record, he echoes both Murray’s sentiments and the exhortation of the author of Hebrews to encourage one another day after day (Hebrews 3:13). Moreover, while our opinions and academic research will die with us, the works that God has provided in advance for us to do – clothing the naked, feeding the hungry – will be the eternal mark of God’s love for us and of our relationship to Christ (Matthew 25).
But the importance of intellectual dialogue cannot be underestimated. Theology is the concern of Rev. Doug Swanson of Salmon Arm, B.C., whose letter questions the Presbyterian integrity of content provided both by specific contributors and by the Record itself. This bold submission demonstrates how the Record enables members of the PCC, from BC to Newfoundland, to remain in democratic conversation. Swanson’s concerns that the Record may not be ‘upholding the Reformed teachings and standards of our denomination’ are addressed by the very process in which he is engaged – a reflection on and recommitment to what it is to be reformed. In the end, it is more than a denominational handle, but rather a commitment to being daily renewed by Christ, “… so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.” (2Corinthians 4:16).
So thank God for the Record, shall we? It is one of the great strengths of the PCC and of democracy to encourage self-critique. This is what it means to be not only reformed, but also reforming. That these letters would be written, published and written about again is a testament to the democratic values that makes the PCC a place where people with a spectrum of views can share God’s grace and work together to create good news stories that will hopefully grace the pages of future editions of the Record.
