With regard to Calvin Brown's article in the January 2007 Record, there are some aspects which need to be considered also. It may be that the early church fathers insisted that belief in the virgin birth was essential to thinking that one was a Christian, but, speaking as a woman, their attitude toward women, and thus to any topic in which gender issues are involved, can hardly be seen as most healthy and so their attitude in this regard could be seen to impinge upon/undermine their authority somewhat. However, this is too large a topic to deal with here and is merely an observation – speaking as a woman. Rather, this article responds specifically to Mr. Brown's contention: “If we do not believe in the Christmas story, including the virgin birth, then we have no good reason to believe Jesus is really God”, and his claim this “must be believed by Christians”.

I was disappointed to see that you did not think it important to print Marion Ballards's biblical, theologically sound and intelligent rebuttal to Calvin Brown's article. I read Ms Ballard's response before she sent it and was hoping that it would give readers an opportunity to consider a more thoughtful approach to the issue and in the process learn more about their Christian faith. Instead, you have reduced her article to a short letter (April 2007) and have managed to garble beyond belief what the article actually says. Whoever edited the article changed the words, “He” (i.e. Jesus) “defends Himself over and over again…” to “Calvin Brown defends himself over and over again…” And again, whoever edited the article changed “He” (i.e. Jesus) “makes no reference to His birth…” to “Isaiah makes no reference to Christ's birth ….” What is going on in the editorial department? I think an apology is in order, or, better still, print the article.

Please curb the tendency to make so much of our magazine online. A lot of the subscribers from my home church do not have computers. Some of our long time members feel left out.

Congratulations on your continuing excellent work. As well as the editorials, articles and photos, I particularly find the covers highly interesting. Keep up the good work.

I'm pleased to see the refreshed design of the Presbyterian Record (March). The magazine has a more dynamic look, which will attract the eyes of readers (and prospective readers). Overall the magazine has a more confident, authoritative feel but is friendly in appearance. It is more user friendly making it easier to read. The new design encourages me to read the words. The use of more colour photos helps too. May we see a new front cover logo soon? It is said, “quality is in the details.” Keep up the good work.

Re Wanted Excited Christians, March

I would like to express appreciation for the deeply sensitive, searching and intelligent prayers offered by Rev. Jean Armstrong on the back of the worship bulletins for Lent. They are classic, passionate prayers which deserve to be read and prayed by a multitude of God's people!

Re By The Numbers — January, March, April, May

Re Fair trade not really fair, May

The real issue is not the way we interpret scripture but whether we believe God is the father of Jesus. If God is not the father, who is? A mere human? A mere human could not bring salvation to me by shedding his blood on a cross, or by any other means. My sins would still be my sins and I would have no hope of eternal life.

Zander! Zander! How you have mellowed! I recall how some years ago you shocked many in the Presbyterian Church with a question about Jesus' anatomy. Now you get top marks for your outstanding Christian charity towards someone who does not even believe you can be a Christian! (i.e. Calvin Brown re: the virgin birth, which I as a good Presbyterian declared must be believed by Christians). Christian charity notwithstanding, I am disappointed. By the way, perhaps Calvin Brown would tell us where in the New Testament Jesus says that to be his disciple we must believe his mother was a virgin.

Metaphors are useful things. They help us get our heads around ideas that otherwise baffle us. Unfortunately, you can get yourself into serious trouble when you mistake metaphor for reality. “Life is a highway,” Tom Cochrane sang. Metaphor or reality? If it's a metaphor, it implies that life resembles a journey with all its accompanying twists and turns, ups and downs. If it's reality, it suggests that all of us ought to become either truckers or bus drivers. I can see Hwy. 401 becoming more crowded even as I write.

Economist magazine in December, 2006, made the case that “paying a guaranteed Fair Trade premium — in effect a subsidy — both prevents” crop diversifi cation and “by raising the average price paid for coffee, encourages more producers to enter the market.” So, it is both bad farming practice and bad economics.

Has Andrew Faiz been watching too many M*A*S*H* reruns lately? The founding minister of Riverside Church in New York was not Charles Emerson Fosdick but Harry Emerson Fosdick, the famous anti-evangelical of the first half of the 20th century. He was a Baptist clergyman who had served a Presbyterian pulpit as stated supply until the Presbytery of New York cancelled this arrangement due to his denial of central Christian teachings. Several wealthy donors (including John D. Rockefeller) then proceeded to build a magnifi cent non-denominational church in which Dr. Fosdick could preach: Riverside Church.

Having attended two of the four previous Fosdick Convocations at the Riverside Church and unable to attend the fifth, held last October, I was delighted to read Andrew Faiz's comprehensive “notes” in the March Record. As in the previous convocations, it was clear the presenters represented different traditions and theological leanings. One of the great strengths of Riverside is that it has always valued diversity and encouraged dialogue. I believe that those qualities give defi nition to the meaning of “progressive.” I would not equate the “progressive church” with the traditional names we assign to churches, ministers or denominations: liberal, conservative, evangelical, charismatic, fundamentalist, etc. Progressive church to me describes a faith journey that involves learning, growing, changing, praising, trusting and risking in the context of Jesus as Lord. Progressive church allows for diversity of points of view regarding biblical interpretation (e.g. virgin birth, samesex relationships). Progressive church encourages wisdom in thought and courage in action.

Re Renewal, January

Ple-e-e-ase give credit where credit is due. It would appear that the Good Shepherd and the Lamb is a bronze statue. I would like to know more about it and where it could be seen. It is so beautiful and some of us receive more messages from art.

Re By The Numbers, January

Rev. August Basson of Lesotho is working in a rural area, among the people with the Africa Inland Mission. The ability of the people there to sustain themselves is in jeopardy due in part to the serious problem of erosion. We in the West have made the switch to conservation agriculture (where the soil is disturbed as little as possible). Our experience in this field has 20 years of trial and error so we have learned a lot. The main thing is that it works.

This writer continues to suffer grievous pain, resultant from my beloved wife's death and fond memories of a marriage of 50 years' duration. Philip of Macedon gave a standing order to his slave to come into the King's presence every morning regardless of what the King was doing and say, “Philip, remember that you must die.” We all die without exception. Modern humanism considers death only as an intrusion into our plans and an illusion.