Magazine

Ministry in the name of Jesus

Richard (Rick) Fee

Recently I reconnected with a friend with whom I had lost contact. His family had gone through an emotional and traumatic loss. While he was raised Presbyterian, he explained that he has had little contact with the church outside of occasionally joining his parents when they attended special church services. As we spoke, he told me of the events surrounding his family's bereavement. Paramount in his narrative was the role that his parents' minister had played. He spoke with great appreciation and deep respect for this minister. He mentioned the words that were chosen, the time that was spent, and the dignity that was extended in the hospital, in the home and at the funeral services. It was obvious to me that he had received great strength from a Christian minister during a really tough time.

Separating body and spirit

afaiz

My father died horribly just before his 70th birthday. By then he had been ill with a form of Parkinson's disease for the better part of a decade. It's an insidious illness that slowly eats away the victim's motor ability. In the last year of his life, my dad was trapped in his own body. Everything that was him — his voice, his smile, his touch, his wit, his love, his knowledge —was locked in his flesh. It was his body, but it was not my father.

Youth starve for those who have AIDS

amymaclachlan

A group of youth from Toronto starved themselves for a day to increase their awareness of HIV/AIDS and to raise money for the national church's Towards a World Without AIDS campaign. About 50 highschoolers gathered at Knox, Spadina, on April 22 and 23 for the annual East Toronto presbytery event and raised $8,500 for the cause.

Working through emotional pain

Patricia Elford

The unhealthiest individuals are those who think there is no sin in them. Coming a close second are those who fear or know something is terribly wrong and can't or won't deal with it. Pity both, and pity those around them. The garbage becomes more deeply entrenched, seeping out to poison all systems: the person's own body and spirit, marriage, family, congregation, church, from generation to generation.

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.

A love letter to his son

Phil Callaway

Dear Son,
It seems like last Wednesday that you graduated from kindergarten with a Life Saver dangling from your cardboard hat. I congratulate you on waiting until the final prayer to crunch that candy. And I congratulate you today on an even greater achievement: graduation from high school.

Renovated and re-dedicated

amymaclachlan

St. Andrew's, Brampton, Ont., is the oldest church in the city and is already a designated heritage building. Thanks to a generous endowment from a long-time member, and the faithful giving of the congregation, the church that was built in 1885 has been lovingly restored, renewed and renovated. The changes were officially designated on April 24 at a special service. "When you receive a large gift, take it and make it even larger," said Rev. Wes Denyer, quoting one of his favourite stewardship teachers, Kennon Callahan. "And that is indeed what we have done. We're looking forward to the future. There are a lot of good things going on here."

From heights of love to depths of misery

Harris Athanasiadis

I have recently read two great books: Nikos Kazantsakis' St. Francis, which offers us the heights of love with its costly demands upon life, and Peter Balakian's best selling, The Burning Tigris, which in focussing on the Armenian genocide at the beginning of the 20th century offers disturbing testimony of the intensity of human evil and affliction. Based on my experience of these books, I have derived four criteria for measuring the substance and authenticity of spiritual guidance:

A rainbow of faith traditions support same-sex marriage

communications

A multi-faith coalition held a news conference in April to voice its support of same-sex civil marriage. "It is essential that politicians recognize the diversity of views that exist within faith communities," said the Religious Coalition for Equal Marriage Rights, which includes Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Jews, Muslims, Quakers, Sikhs and Unitarians. Presbyterians are not part of this group.

China seeks ministers for post-denominational church

amymaclachlan

"The situation of ordained pastors in China is totally inadequate," said Rev. Ronald Wallace, associate secretary for International Ministries. With only one ordained minister to every 7,000 church members of the China Christian Council, educating clergy is a top priority – and something the Presbyterian church is supporting. By contrast, in Canada, there is one minister per 180 members. Despite China's severe lack of ministers, Wallace and his colleagues were impressed by the work of the council, which they witnessed during a visit to the Far East in April.

Indefatigable historian gave us our story

John A. Johnston

Mel Bailey walked the Great Wall of China; he dined in the banquet halls of such luminaries as the Archbishops of Oslo, Norway and Leningrad, Russia. Equally he brought cigarettes every Tuesday to a blind man in an Ancaster nursing home and spent long nights by the side of dying saints and sinners. A beloved husband and father who walked in pastures green and in the valley of the shadow. This is our Mel.

The ecumenical Pope

Joseph Sinasac

The Roman Catholic Church has elected a new leader to great cheers, but in certain circles there is little enthusiasm for Pope Benedict XVI. Those labouring in the vineyards of ecumenical dialogue are worried about what they can expect from this man who, as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, they believe is responsible for putting the brakes on the great progress made during the pontificate of Pope John Paul II.

Breathing to God’s breath

Douglas DuCharme

In his classic A History of Christian Spirituality, Urban T. Holmes writes "to be spiritual means more than to be capable of receiving God into our lives. It means that we are called to know God… God communicates… and we can receive that communication. How we receive that communication is another question." In Christ Wisdom: Spiritual Practice in the Beatitudes and the Lord's Prayer, Christopher Page delves into those deep questions about how we know God, and how we are known by God and transformed.

Churches included in Heritage bill

amymaclachlan

Amendments to the Ontario Heritage Act were passed in April that will offer comprehensive protection to buildings waiting for heritage status. Concerns of churches — including how they will pay for aging buildings that are designated — did not affect Bill 60, but a consultation process will be set up to address concerns. "The communication lines are open and the minister has every intention of developing guidelines that are in line with their concerns," said Carole Drouin, communications representative at the Ministry of Culture.