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Heard but not counted

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During their presentation to assembly, the young adult representatives lamented their limited roles. "I'd like to make an additional motion," said Barry Wade, Presbytery of Seaway-Glengarry. "To give full voting rights to the YARs in conjunction with their speaking privileges." The moderator was asked for permission to speak to the motion, which she granted. "I believe this will give new vitality to the discussions," Wade continued at the microphone. "Our young people are very knowledgeable."

Stipend increases approved

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A controversial move to raise the stipend for executive staff, including those at church offices and the theological colleges, was passed as an interim policy. Assembly Council was ensured responsibility to set policy and base stipend figures. However, their decisions must be recommended to General Assembly, which has the right to approve or disapprove such suggestions. Any proposed changes would, in turn, be subject to review by the council before assembly makes a final decision.

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.

Healing the church’s relationship with God

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Remembering the Pentecostal belief that God can and does heal today could be healthy and worthwhile for the Christian church, according to Ron Wallace, associate secretary of International Ministries for the Presbyterian Church. Wallace attended the World Council of Churches' Conference on World Mission and Evangelism in May. Held in Athens, Greece, the idea of God's healing ran throughout the international event. "Healing on a horizontal level, between denominations, also implies healing the church's relationship with God," he said.

Zimbabweans share in helping twins

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The Toronto Zimbabwean community gathered on May 21 for a dinner and dance to raise money for Tinashe and Tinotenda — the conjoined twins flown from Zimbabwe and separated at the Hospital for Sick Children in March. The event's theme was Any Child is My Child, reminiscent of the traditional Zimbabwean practice of all parents caring for all children. "It takes an entire village to raise a child," said Margaret Zondo, administrator of the Presbyterian Church's International Ministries and one of the event's creators."These kids are really not their mother's kids. They belong to everyone in Zimbabwe."

Sharing and learning

Jean Morris

It was my privilege to serve as moderator during the 131st General Assembly whose theme was Claiming the Joy of Our Faith. With the Assembly ended, I continue in office and have the unique opportunity to meet with people across Canada and beyond, learning and sharing about the Presbyterian Church in Canada. It is my hope that the theme of this year's assembly will continue throughout the year.

Iacobucci to oversee residential schools claims

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The Presbyterian Church hopes to meet with a new federal government representative working on resolving claims of former residential schools students. Mr. Justice Frank Iacobucci is mandated by the government to help resolve claims in a fair and equitable way so that the claimants can move towards healing. He will work with former students, as well as legal counsel for those students, legal counsel for churches and the Assembly of First Nations. "We're looking forward to meeting with Justice Iacobucci to see where we can be helpful in bringing resolution, healing and closure for the claimants, who have waited so long," said Rev. Stephen Kendall, the church's principal clerk.

A Kanata Presbyterian buzzes in U.S. spelling bee

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Called the world's toughest spelling competition, the Scripps National Spelling Bee held in Washington, D.C., saw one Canadian Presbyterian compete. Twelve-year-old Jennifer Hurd, daughter of Rev. James Hurd of Parkwood, Ottawa, Ont., put in a good showing but did not advance to the third round. She tied for 98th place when her written and oral scores from the first two rounds were just short of what was needed to advance. The winner, Anurag Kashyap from San Diego, California, spelled appoggiatura correctly to win the championship after 19 rounds.

Housing is not salary

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A request to include housing allowance in maternity/paternity leave benefits was denied by General Assembly, which argued the current policy is sufficient. Difficulties revolve around the definition of salary, which, as the Pension and Benefits Board contends, is defined by stipend alone. The federal government provides unemployment benefits based on salary.

Leading with care adopted

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The Assembly overwhelmingly voted to adopt Leading with Care: A Policy for Ensuring a Climate of Safety for Children, Youth and Vulnerable Adults. Congregations are expected to implement the policy by July 1, 2006, and presbyteries will oversee this implementation. All congregations will be mailed a copy of the policy, which has been in the works since 2000. Congregations were encouraged to seek the services of David Phillips, who has been working temporarily with the Life and Mission Agency to help congregations understand and implement the policy.

Sun sets on Flames

Caroline Lockerbie

It was Sunday morning, the setting a serious Church of Scotland Service in a formidable stone building several hundred years old. As the minister, I stood to read the announcement which the elder handed me. "Yesterday's kirk fayre was a huge success. Great crack was enjoyed around the tables." His face drained of all of its colour as he realized that my Canadian accent brought a somewhat North American interpretation to the Gaelic word craik. My Highland vocabulary was expanding, but not without a lot of concern on my part over what I had just read and gales of laughter from the congregation. Craik means a good chat, a conversation to catch up on all that has been happening.

Finding Christ in a fetid Ethiopian jail

Paula Todd

There are clues to Mulugeta Abai's Ethiopian past. One of them is the job he has chosen for himself in Toronto at the Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture. Clients say he offers them comfort, that he is perceptive, kind, and always determined to help. But behind his murmurs of understanding, there is his own vivid recall, and behind his sympathy there are the shifting sheets he returns to each night, tossing in nightmares he refuses to share with his wife.

Superglue and wayward youths

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I was a crazy kid. Teachers didn't appreciate me and my parents wondered if there was hope for me. The trouble with being a crazy kid is that God has a sense of humour and one day He may give you some children of your own. The other night after scolding my sons and sending them to bed snackless, I sat in the living room, wondering if there's any hope at all for my descendants. "Do you ever wonder," I asked my wife, "what will happen to a generation that doesn't even know which way to wear their hats? Or how high to pull their pants? A generation raised on Nintendo and Eminem?"

Taiwan celebrates 140 years of Protestant ministry

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Taiwan is celebrating the 140th anniversary of the arrival of Protestant missionaries. Canadian Presbyterian missionary George Mackay was one of the pioneers, arriving in 1872. "When the early evangelists arrived on Taiwan to proclaim the gospel of Christ, local people greeted them with thrown stones, spittle, knives and rejection," said Rev. Dr. C. M. Kao, former General Secretary of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan. "But the gospel was fearlessly proclaimed and the spirit of these brave forerunners remains a pattern worthy of emulation by contemporary Christians."

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!

Fellowship Centre says it faces funding crisis

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The Kenora Fellowship Centre (Anamiewigummig) is facing a funding crisis, says a representative from the centre, which could threaten its 40-year existence. Grants from the federal government totaling $125,000 have been cut, meaning the winter hostel would likely have to close, and the 80 to 90 homeless who seek the centre's warmth would be left in the cold.