“In centuries past, influential Christian thinkers … have penned literature that continues to influence Christians today. The Foundations of Faith series unearths these works for a new audience of twentysomethings hungry for revolutionary material that speaks to their lives…” So reads the back cover of each book in this new series. The goal, clearly, is to get theological/spiritual classics read by a younger generation.
When my sons were little
Bridlewood Presbyterian, Toronto, has been involved with MissionFest Toronto, in one way or another, since its inception in 1995. The latest event, held in March, was the biggest yet, attracting 22,000 participants and relying on 230 volunteers. MFT has grown to over 200 exhibitors, 40 seminars, concerts and special programs. As a former director of MFT, I have attended each year and am encouraged by the increasing number of missions (like Yonge Street Mission and The Scott Mission, two inner-city ministries supported by various Presbyterian congregations), which present their ministries in varied formats. Other Presbyterian churches that supported the event include Smyrna Korean, Etobicoke, St. Andrew's Islington, Toronto, Toronto Korean Yum Kwang, Markham, Young Nak Korean, North York, and Light Korean, Toronto.
Rev. Dr. John Johnston, January Will and Rev. Stephen Kendall unveil a portrait of Will's father, Rev. Dr. T. Melville Bailey during the dedication of the church's national archive's reading room in Bailey's name in late April. Bailey was the irrepressible force behind the creation of the archives (and the museum, which Johnston oversees). Bailey's historical interests included his church and his beloved hometown of Hamilton, Ont. A park there will be named after him on June 23.
This will be the last time you will hear from me under the heading of Message From The Moderator. The year has gone quickly and I want to take this opportunity to thank congregations, presbyteries, presbyterials, synods and synodicals, as well as individuals for the kindness they have shown me. I have such wonderful memories of my time visiting across the Church. I have been warmly welcomed. I have been truly blessed.
God of Calvary's grief and glory,
Katharine Masterton has been named the new program coordinator for Justice Ministries, after serving in the position on a contract basis since last August. She had been filling in for Gail Turner, who was recovering from surgery after an extensive illness. Turner decided to retire as of April 30, turning Masterton's position into a permanent one. She brings a keen interest in public justice issues to this post, is a graduate of Carleton University with a Bachelor of Humanities degree, and is a member of Unionville Presbyterian Church.
A national advertising campaign kicked off in April to provide notice and inform former students of Indian residential schools of their right to decline the overall settlement agreement between government, churches and Aboriginal Peoples. The optout period for potential claimants will end on Aug. 20. The revised agreement will see lump sum payments distributed to all former students, with extra compensation for cases of serious abuse. The agreement also includes funds for national commemoration events, and a truth and reconciliation commission. If 5000 opt out the agreement will not proceed.
The Record received four first place citations at the Canadian Church Press 50th anniversary awards, in May.
My angel daughter grabs my omelet with both fists and hangs it from her little brother. Within seconds, milk is everywhere. Plates crash to the floor. Hollering ensues: the kind that peels paint from walls. I stand quickly to resolve the situation, banging my left knee hard on the underside of the table. Clutching at the wound, I accidentally smack my knuckles on the sharp table edge
ENI — Religious leaders praised Boris Yeltsin, the first president of Russia, who died in April at age 76, for enabling a religious revival. “Boris Nikolayevich strove to maintain good relations between the state authorities and the Church,” Patriarch Alexei II of the Russian Orthodox Church stated.
ENI — “What I believe we need for a renewed theological grasp of scripture, is the recognition that scripture is something heard in the event where the community affirms its identity and seeks its renewal,” the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams said in Toronto in April.
The Presbyterian Church's website is going through a massive reconstruction. The new site is scheduled to be launched this summer, the result of a months-long process involving an outside web design company and a team of people at the national office. Keith Knight, associate secretary for communication, spearheaded the reconstruction process. “New technology allows us to transform our website from a library of resources into an interactive community where information is shared and conversation takes place.” He said new software allows people at the national office to easily update their portion of the website. The new format also makes the site easier to manage and navigate, and allows for the creation of discussion forums and blogs to provide for regular interaction with Presbyterians, sessions and presbyteries.
Many of us as Christians have directive to forgive — forgive those who trespass against us; to forgive is divine; love your enemies; turn the other cheek — but not training in how to forgive. We are frustrated and puzzled by how hard it is to let go of our hurt, especially when we have seen little or no remorse on the part of an offender. Unable to forgive, we might then ask, “are we being bad Christians?”
Guy Smagghe, of Presbyterian World Service and Development, right, visited the Kashtra refugee Camp, near Mansehra, Pakistan, for victims of the October 2005 earthquake that flattened many mountain villages. Over a thousand aftershocks since that fateful event have kept thousands, like the man beside him, from returning permanently to their traditional homes. PWS&D supports the camp through Action by Churches Together.
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.
ENI — Global migration poses new challenges for churches worldwide, said Rev. Samuel Kobia, the general secretary of the World Council of Churches.