Feature

Stop the cycle of violence

Bernard Sabella

The London bombings clearly illustrate that a war is going on. This war is fuelled on the one side by religious fanatics who use, really abuse, religion for their own misled conception of the world divided between the righteous and those outside the bounds of righteousness. Political and other differences with the non-righteous justify, in these fanatics' eyes, mounting massive attacks to specifically drive the point home to their adversaries that there is no geographic or time limit in the ongoing war.

Supercalifragilistic issues

Michael Coren

So another Harry Potter book is about to be published and the critical e-mails are already doing the rounds. But those who wrote the entire world about the hellish horrors of HP may well be correct. Harry, Hermione and Ron could simply be lulling us into a false sense of security before they turn us all into collective newts. Thing is, the problem goes much further than J. K. Rowling and all her sordid works.

Chicks, seeds and schoolhouses

amymaclachlan

You might say Waterloo North Church has already been bucking the Presbyterian trend. Rather than offering a single, lightly-attended Sunday service, it has two on Sunday — with 80 people attending in the morning and about 250 at night. The congregation also has a unique approach to mission, where Haiti is the country of choice. It stems from the idea that this developing country has no shortage of labour but needs the money and the materials to build better lives. "We're simply trying to fulfill our mission statement by being a people who continually share the good news of Jesus Christ in word and deed," said Waterloo's minister, Rev. Dwight Strain. "And that often means just giving people what they need."

Ratzinger not so ecumenical

Lee McKenna duCharme

I was intrigued by the laudatory words for the ecumenical pope in the May and June issues. As an activist and international trainer in conflict transformation and economic literacy, I have a snapshot or two that suggest a less praiseworthy impact of John Paul II's pontificate on ecumenical relations. The anti-communist passions that supported the rise of Solidarnosc and the fall of totalitarian communism in Poland and elsewhere were manifest in Latin America in a hard-edged suppression of liberation-theology-inspired dissent; Leonardo Boff and Archbishop Romero of El Salvador come to mind. Under John Paul II, progressive Catholics lamented his intransigence, even retreat, on several issues, one of them being ecumenical relations.

Grow or die

W. Owen Thornton

The number of Presbyterian churches in London, Ont., has not changed in at least a decade and the collective roll from 1999 to today shows a downwards trend, but the city's population is larger. We're not only losing ground numerically, we're serving a significantly smaller percentage of the population. In the lingo of business, we're dying!

Superior’s reach felt across the planet

amymaclachlan

Four of the Presbytery of Superior's five churches are located in Thunder Bay (established in 1970 when the towns of Port Arthur and Fort William amalgamated), which was crowned a cultural capital of Canada in 2003. Rather than stifling each other's creativity, the closeness of the congregations fosters cooperation and new ideas. "We've been talking lately of pooling our mission resources," said Rev. Harold Hunt, minister at Lakeview, Thunder Bay "There's wonderful, open communication. You can say what you need to say. It's like opening a window, and letting in the fresh air."

Forgiving those who trespass against us

Michael Coren

The following is one of the most significant stories I have ever heard. If its moral and morals were followed to a lesser or greater extent by the world's governments, leaders, businesses and citizens the entire universe would change immediately, and change for the better.

Remembering the tartans

amymaclachlan

A special Scottish service has captivated two congregations on two sides of Ontario. St. Columba, Dalkeith, about an hour's drive from Ottawa, and Knox, St. Thomas, just minutes south of London, are home to an annual service celebrating the traditions of its Scottish founders. Kirkin' O' the Tartan has been going strong at St. Columba for 27 years, and at Knox for four. The special service commemorates the hardships their highland ancestors endured after their defeat at the Battle of Culloden in 1746. "It's a time to remember our heritage and what our Scottish ancestors went through," said Joslyn MacGillivray, a member of St. Columba for 12 years.

Ministering to new ministers

John Borthwick

I have an idea. Let's prepare ministers of Word and Sacraments for pastoral ministry in this way: Three or four years of theological education, a few hours a week of placement in a congregation under the direction of the minister, and if they are motivated (or financially strapped) perhaps several opportunities for pulpit supply. Then let's release them to the church. Oh, wait a minute. That's what we do right now. And it seems to be working out alright. Or is it? Well, how would we really know? We've heard the statistics before: Ministry burnout is on the rise, especially in the first five years following ordination, turnover in ministry staff is high, and church conflict is rampant. Why? It must be the people in churches. It must be the colleges' fault. It must be the individuals we're calling into the ministry. Certainly, each of them have a role to play in the situation we find ourselves.

Following in Jesus’ footsteps

amymaclachlan

What sets the Presbytery of Winnipeg apart from others is the high proportion of resources it devotes to aboriginal ministry. The presbytery of 12 charges supports three aboriginal outreach centres: Flora House and Anishinabe (both in Winnipeg), and Anamiewigummig located farther north in Kenora, Ont. Together, they receive almost 30 per cent of the presbytery's budget and require the most resources — both financial and human. "Our purpose is to meet the spiritual, emotional and physical needs of the people in our area," said Warren Whittaker, director of Flora House. "We try to follow Jesus' model in Luke — to bring liberty to the captive and sight to the blind."

Christians must fight for fair trade

communications

I'm not a poet, not a politician, not an actor, not a student, not an anarchist and don't pick up every fashionable cause that lands within my reach. But I am a Christian. And it is my faith that leads me to have severe reservations about globalization and the lack of fair trade, which seems a likely consequence.

Feeling the cause

amymaclachlan

Amidst the tall trees and tranquil shores of Georgian Bay in Penetanguishene, Ont., members of First Church are counting their blessings — and extending those blessings to others. Thanks to a friendship between the church's minister, Dr. Gerard Booy, and missionaries in Mozambique, the congregation is helping build a classroom for students in the small village of Gurué in northwestern Mozambique. "Living in Canada, we're fortunate," said Mary Sheriff, chair of the missions team that coordinated the project, "but do we realize it? This was a chance to get to know each other more, and our community more, and to learn about others living elsewhere."

Unique location brings hope for growth

amymaclachlan

Close enough to Toronto to commute to work, yet far enough away to enjoy a slower pace and nature's bounties, the Presbytery of Lindsay-Peterborough faces some unique challenges and interesting possibilities. Older individuals flock to the tranquil towns and rolling hills, looking for relaxation in retirement. Small, rural towns add country charm, while the presbytery's northern bounds dip into cottage country — bringing a wealth of city escapees to its shores in the summer months.

Debating dogmas — two views

communications

As a minister I receive unsolicited mailings of theological tripe from various factions of the Christian Right all the time. The issue is not about the faith integrity of individuals, but the distorted dogma driving American policy. This fundamentalist movement has exerted unprecedented influence over the Bush administration during its first term and there is every reason to be alarmed over their continued influence in the U.S., Canada and indeed the world.