Moderator Rick Fee received a reply to his message of sympathy sent to the South Africa Council of Churches and to Ilse Naude, wife of the late Christiaan Frederick Beyers Naude who passed away in September. The hand written note said:
The Mennonite church has made an official application to join the Canadian Council of Churches. In a ceremony described by Principal Clerk Stephen Kendall as "a moving ecumenical moment for the Council," the application was welcomed. The Mennonites have a commitment to peace and justice. They will be named full members of the Council later this year. Seen here are Mr. Kendall (far left), Rev. Will Ingram, Sandra Demson (all from the PCC), Rev. Dr. Dan Nighswander, Rev. Peter Krause (the Mennonite Church) and Rev. Karen Hamilton, general secretary of the CCC.
When Nigerians gather, whether within their own country or in the diaspora, one expression will inevitably be brought up – "the Nigeria Factor". Self-deprecating and all inclusive, it is national "in-house" language or code. All Nigerians know what is intended, but they struggle to define it.
It's been a terrible week. Our elderly cat was diagnosed with kidney failure, our newly built basement flooded with water from the winter rains, and Yelena was stabbed to death right over our heads.
Each week, the Record receives review copies of faith books from publishers. Each book is a theological argument, aimed at a particular market of comfortable North American Christians. I have chosen a few books from this overflowing inbox that seem to me to express a similar brand of middle-class suburban big box theology. They are not well written or compellingly intelligent, but they do provide a curious sociological insight. This is the face, largely, of Christianity today on our continent.
Churches in India have taken the lead in initiating an interfaith response to the scourge of HIV/AIDS, which in India is reaching massive proportions.
Twenty-seven Zimbabwean pastors from various Christian denominations have undergone a voluntary HIV test in a move aimed at removing stigma in the church against people living with HIV/AIDS.
Here is an unabridged letter of appreciation received from a returning camper in the Intermediate II Camp at Camp Geddie.
Twelve years ago, I began writing a column called "Family Matters" for a popular magazine. It was a rather daunting task for a young father. One night, as the deadline loomed, I told my wife Ramona about the stress of it all. "I can't do it," I stammered. "Look at me. I'm an imperfect father. I get mad at my kids. I slid hamsters down banisters when I was a child. I argue with my wife sometimes."
Keep Your Kids Safe on the Internet, by Simon Johnson. McGraw Hill/Osborne.
A Vatican-based cardinal has urged Roman Catholics in Myanmar, a country ruled by a military junta that does not allow democratic elections, that their faith will help them overcome difficulties they face on a daily basis.
Presbyterians across Canada donated more than $345,000 to Presbyterian World Service and Development as of mid-January to help the victims left in the wake of the tsunami that hit southeast Asia. More donations arrive daily from individuals and congregations moved by the plight of millions.
Some former, retired and current PCC missionaries to Taiwan met at a cottage in Bracebridge, Ont., last summer for fellowship. Back row, from left to right, Terry Samuel, Paul McLean, Murray Garvin. Center row, Marilyn Ellis, Mary Beth McLean, Joy Randall, Wilma Welsh, Diane (Petrie) Osborn, Mary Helen Garvin. Front row, Louise Gamble, Betty Geddes, Jack Geddes, Grace McGill, Marie Wilson.”;
An evangelical Nigerian preacher believes he has the ultimate counter-terrorism tool and wants the United Nations to take heed. "The secret of a successful battle against terrorism lies in sending Christian missionaries into the Middle East. It is only the Christian Gospel that can bring down hatred," Dr. Panya Baba stressed at a meeting organized by the Evangelical Church of West Africa. "The United Nations should ask member nations to contribute to mission work. Missionaries are doing better in bringing peace into the world.
Ormsby Presbyterian Church, known affectionately as "the little church on the rock," celebrated its 100th anniversary on August 15 in Ormsby, Ont. Former Presbyterian Church in Canada moderator Rev. Arthur Currie was the special guest. Kevin Martin, whose great, great grandfather donated the land for the church building, preached the sermon.
The construction of an eye-popping new building for the Ghanaian Presbyterian Church of Toronto has begun.
While the HIV/AIDS pandemic is ravaging parts of the world, the folks in the Presbytery of Lanark and Renfrew are doing what they can to help. "There is a sense of closeness and caring," said Rev. Milton Fraser, St. Andrew's, Arnprior. "In terms of the relationship within the congregations and within the community, there is a genuine concern for each other."
It really is extraordinary how little most media people know about the Christian faith and its adherents. The period since the election in the United States has been a disgrace for journalism. Especially for Canadian journalism. Especially for liberal Canadian journalism. Unable to tolerate losing in the game of democracy, left-leaning pundits decided to blame the participants. Welcome to the hellish world of The Christian Right.
Like any other church, Knox, St. Thomas, Ont., values all its members and adherents. Age or tenure matter not – we simply enjoy having everyone with us each week. However, at the beginning of last summer, it came to our attention in rather short order that we had two very remarkable women in our midst.
Millions of red locusts have swarmed into the Holy Land conjuring up Biblical images as they ate palm trees bare, feasted on crops and even settled on the shores of the Dead Sea.