One thing I value about the Record is that it allows everyone to have a voice on any issue. Rev. Livingston's letter in the February issue reminds me that it's been a while since the word 'homosexual' has appeared in our magazine. It seems that Livingston would be happy to consider the status of homosexuals in our church settled. I hope and pray that it is not settled, and that articles like the book review by Will Ingram in the October 2007 issue continue to result in discussion and examination of this issue. Livingston complains that the author of Jesus, the Bible and Homosexuality exhibits a “liberal theological agenda” and a “leftward pilgrimage.” I rejoice in every article that evidences this pilgrimage on any subject – witness the refreshing Progressive Lectionary in January.

Living just outside of Victoria, we see many of the issues of other urban centres. With the milder climate, Victoria seems to attract a lot of transient travelers from other provinces.

Re Living on the Edge, February

Re On His Own Needs, January

Gardasil article author Rev. Roland De Vries seems to have confused a public health program – namely the prevention of human papilloma virus infection by a vaccine – with a license to engage in “unprotected sexual contact.”

Re Living with Gardasil, February

Re Full Time Cheerleader, January

Yes, the lord will always be with Patricia Schneider as she mourns and grieves the passing of her beloved husband. How wonderful it is to know the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal friend and Saviour of our lives. How I wish some of the other published articles in the Record were as uplifting and true as this one, not slanderous and full of untruths …

Just read your article Jesus Good in the Record. I'm not an expert on the Meeting House or Bruxy Cavey but I have been attending for about 8 months with my 14-year-old son. This church is denominational. They belong to the Brethren in Christ – Mennonite in heritage I believe. They meet every Sunday to praise God and listen to a talk from Bruxy. They encourage the people attending to belong to a home church and actually say The Meeting House is a group of Home Churches getting together on Sunday. Bruxy's teaching focuses on living a Christ focused life. Study and searching is encouraged. Love, other centred living, radical generousity, looking at each person as an individual with a story, walking with God all the time…these are the themes that I hear each week. You can be anywhere on your journey and be welcome here but they do encourage you to become involved. He bravely talks about every topic. He is not afraid to talk about the dark side of the church or religion. One of my favourite moments was Bruxy passionately talking about why he felt baptism was so important and then at the end he paused and said or I could be wrong… Anyway I feel I am learning a great deal and am understanding the bible more than at any other point in my life. Well I guess you can draw your own conclusions. Thanks for your article.

With managing editors like Andrew Faiz, who needs enemies? I'm not entirely clear about the point, if any, of Faiz's article. It does seem clear that Faiz is as enamored of the word “zeitgeist” as he is of the parenthesis keys on his computer. If his point is that the traditional denominations in North America representing “religion” face a prevailing culture that is skeptical of their compassion and sincerity, then that is worth discussing. If his point is also that this perception is created exclusively by influential writers, then that also is worth discussing.

Re Jesus Good, January

Today memories of my camping days at Gen Mohr in the mid 1950's floated back into my mind as clean and sweet as the days they were made. They came attached to the words of an old camping song. I realize that they were the sweetest times in an otherwise somewhat troubled childhood. My church, Zephyr and Udora Presbyterian, paid the fee for a child who was chosen to attend. For 3 years, I was that child.

In my experience, at the best of times it seems very difficult to keep a sense of liturgy before Presbyterians and actually live and experience the riches of catholicity. However, this Advent it has been particularly difficult.

Re Mark Tremblay letter, December

As a new member of St. Andrew's, Penticton, B.C., I applaud Rev. Colin Cross for his boldness and courage. The Walk to Bethlehem (December 2007) was a way to connect with people from all walks even in our own church. People worked side by side for Christ's sake not their own. They spent an evening in the cold to bring warmth into hearts of all who came. It was uplifting and exciting to be a part of. I look forward to see what God has next for our St. Andrew's in the heart of Penticton.

I wonder if the practice of offering critiques of the ministry and motives of particular ministers in our denomination, through the pages of the Record, is going to become a regular feature of the magazine? I will supply the editor with names and contact information of parishioners who could offer their criticisms of my ministry, if more material is being sought and the focus broadening beyond Mr. Nieuwhof. With some fine articles of late – such as the pieces by Chuck Congram and Alex McLeod in the last issue – it seems a pity to spend more ink, space and time pointing fingers and tearing down individual congregations and/or clergy. But if this is the newest pursuit for the Record, I would find it difficult to sit back and watch others under the exposing searchlight while I hide in the shadows.

Re November editorial and related articles and letters

Re Full Time Cheerleader, January

The review of Jack Rogers’ book on homosexuality (October 2007) unfortunately adds to the confusion on this matter in the church at large. Prof. Robert Gagnon of Pittsburgh (Presbyterian) Theological Seminary has refuted every major exegetical and theological claim made by Rogers in his monumental work The Bible and Homosexual Practice: Texts and Hermeneutics; and also in his detailed critique of Rogers at robgagnon.net/articles/RogersUseAnalogies.pdf.

I just read the article about Trinity Community Church in the December issue of the Presbyterian Record and want to say that as a mature long-time Christian I always felt fed, inspired and encouraged by Carey's messages at Trinity. I have attended many church services during my 57 years and found Trinity quite by accident. I was turned on to a church as never before — enough to drive 40 minutes every Sunday to the 8:30 service from Penetanguishene! I now feel like a lost soul, since the drive to south Barrie or Orillia is just that much farther and the 8:30 service is no longer. I am now searching for a church closer to home that can provide me with the same uplifting message and experience that I had from Trinity. Not an easy task! The Presbyterian Church made a HUGE mistake in not finding a way to keep Trinity's ministry within its denomination!

The headline from the Record reads “Oro votes to leave denomination.” It's not easy to know what to do with news of this sort. In the past half century, I cannot recall having seen anything like it in our denomination.