Recalling 40 years as a military and a hospital chaplain: We love applause, the lift from the clapping of hands from a receptive audience. Once upon a time my parishioners presented me with a set of luggage. Were they trying to tell me something? Was this an ever-so-gentle hint that they had had it with my pastoral leadership? Do you recall this verse?

Re Our faith demands more of us, October

I was really annoyed to read in October “the cancerous consumerist totalitarianism of the American Empire” in an article by Stuart Coles.

What a joy to see the photos in October: the cover, children, youth, men and women. Thanks for including Something Extra with its fine photos and choices of giving meaningfully. This issue seems to bind our Presbyterian family together. I found David Harris' editorial both insightful and forthright. The edition's arrival days before Thanksgiving weekend provided me additional reasons for thanksgiving.

Re Thank You, Padre, November.

Training Programs Rejected, September, outlined several materials that were deemed unacceptable by our national Christian Education Advisory Committee. I want to clarify that some of these resources are poor (in our estimation), but others are excellent. They just aren't a good fit. For instance, our committee looked recently at an excellent and affordable curriculum called Gather Round. Even though we liked it very much, one of the reasons we did not add it to our chart of recommended curricula was due to liberal references to Mennonite mission projects and we do not want to distract Presbyterians from our own mission endeavours with PWS&D and Presbyterians Sharing.

Re. Evaluating curriculum as reported in September. The article says, “Gather Round by the Brethren Press (was) also deemed unacceptable.” Was a careful examination of the materials made? The article gave no reasons for the conclusion. I could only speculate that it might have to do with the view on infant baptism and the emphasis on peace.

I am an 81-year-old retired elder (“emeritus”) from a Presbyterian congregation in Scarborough, Ont., whose dedicated passion is to be part of an ongoing reformation within our Canadian Presbyterian Church.

I'm a single female, 83, with degrees, have worked in an office, been involved in the education system (whether I taught anyone is for them to say) at various levels, was a member of the Social Assistance Review Board; Presbyterian born and raised, stayed away from church and do not attend regularly now.

One aspect of the anniversary of the ordination of women that grieves me is the loss of the Ordained Missionary appointments, and the fact that several rural and remote churches have gone without ministers for years. Because an OM appointment was necessary for ordination, because half-time appointments didn't qualify, and because qualifying vacant churches near each other were in short supply, those who were settling clergy couples in OM appointments decided that it was more important for both partners to be ordained than for rural and remote churches to have ministers, so the OM appointments were done away with. Now that half-time appointments qualify for ordination, it's time for OM appointments to be reinstated, for the good of our rural and remote ministries.

This is a year for rejoicing that our church has moved forward in recognizing women's gifts for ministry. However, let's remember that our denomination's gradual acceptance of the leadership of ordained women was preceded and prepared for by the work of capable and dedicated women who are now called members of the order of diaconal ministries.

Vivian Ketchum's letters in the July/August issue seem an unfair criticism when the overall situation is considered. Political correctness currently rules out witnessing for the faith of our fathers, so the sacrificial effort on the part of residential schools staff doing the best they were able under the circumstances is recklessly denigrated as faulty. In actuality, the churches of the day were requested and/or required to care for the native children, many of whom were rescued from privation and potential starvation. It is incongruous to thus blot the record after the fact for faithful servants years after they have passed on.

I was at the last two General Assemblies, one as a commissioner and one as a visitor. Warren Whittaker and I are the directors of Winnipeg Inner City Missions, one of the church's seven ministries with aboriginal peoples in Canada. I do not think the people in the church understand that even with the motions passed at assembly in both years, the aboriginal ministries are not being given access to the use of the funds designated for healing and reconciliation to support and augment our work.

“The Bible is not a book of science,” so says the Presbyterian Church (USA) in May.

As an enthusiastic supporter of the Record, I read the article entitled On Being A Widow by Gwyneth Whilsmith in May. I wrote the following on January 20, 2004:

Re William P. Thompson, July/August issue.

I know there will be great diversity of opinion regarding the reporting on the presbytery decision regarding Dr. Robert Fourney. Perhaps that will evidence itself nowhere more dramatically than in the responses to your editorial for the July/August edition. I would personally like to express a series of words that I feel characterize the nature of your editorial. Courageous — as difficult as it is to make commentary in these situations I believe you spoke forthrightly and courageously. Critical — in a day and age when these types of issues are frequently swept under the proverbial carpet it was essential that someone speak clearly concerning the decision. Compassionate — appropriate recognition was given to the needs which Dr. Fourney as well as the congregations he has served will have going forward from here while at the same time acknowledging that the circle of those impacted adversely by all of this is much bigger than the victims themselves. Conscientious — for I can only imagine how much consideration must have gone into the decision not only about what would be reported but how best to do that. Heartfelt thanks to you for doing the right thing.

Thank you for your closing statement in the July/August edition of the Record. We as a society have selected to remember the one bad thing someone does, not the many good things.

Stuart MacDonald is correct that the institutional church is facing a monumental change owing to the fact that our close bonds with the central establishments of Western society have been cut after a period of 1,700 years. By all means pray, but when we look at our church and the reality that we have failed to connect with generations born in the past 65 years, we should realize that we have been getting deeper in the wilderness for some time. If insight and direction do not come soon we will die in the wilderness.

Joseph McLelland states “Genesis 1–11 is religious mythology …”