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A church for an extraordinary time
We do not live in interesting times. These are extraordinary times. Artificial Intelligence is taking the digital age to a new level. AI is either the saviour of humankind by allowing us to progress technologically at a lightning pace and potentially solve all kinds of problems. Or it's the advent of a super intelligence which … Continue reading A church for an extraordinary time
New Publications
The second issue of Living in Truth, the new online magazine of The Renewal Fellowship has now been published.
A printable version of the current quarterly Prayer Calendar for January - March 2025 can be downloaded here. The Prayer Calendar requests are also sent as a convenient daily reminder or as a weekly or monthly summary with your subscription to Renewal Fellowship e-mailings. You can email us your public prayer requests for inclusion in the Prayer Calendar. We encourage prayers with specific dates for specific congregations and ministries.
Feedback on Proposed Constitution Changes
Some things noteworthy from this year's annual general meeting (AGM) were some housekeeping changes that were adopted to our Constitution in sections 3d, 4c, 10a, 10b, and 10c. Other proposed amendments as indicated in the Constitution document were also presented for discussion, as well as changes to our foundation statements of Vision, Mission and Passion. … Continue reading Feedback on Proposed Constitution Changes
Now that the deadline has passed
Since Nov. 1, 2022, congregations displeased with the adoption of Remits ‘B’ and ‘C’ which approved parallel definitions of marriage have had the opportunity to embark on a journey toward Voluntary Withdrawal from The Presbyterian Church in Canada. It’s a time-limited offer which expired on May 31, 2024. Now that the deadline has passed . … Continue reading Now that the deadline has passed
Are we on the right track?
Until it was axed, Plugged In was one of two magazines I would literally read cover to cover. It was filled with reviews of TV shows and films from a Christian family perspective. It was well written and relevant and exactly what this young dad needed. The other was The Presbyterian Record – intelligent, newsy … Continue reading Are we on the right track?
Renewal News Winter 2024
Download the entire Winter 2024 issue of Renewal News in PDF format, or read and comment on the individual articles as follows:
- Renewal renewal – RF proposes a new way forward
- In Joyful Expectation – Rev. Sandy Copland-Dufour, RF Board Chair
- Holy Imagination! – 2023 Pastors' Retreat report
- Introducing Andrew introducing – Rev. Dr. Richard Topping
- Get back to where we once belonged – Rev. Paul D. Johnson
Renewal renewal
RF proposes a new way forward. Faced with ongoing deficits and a declining bank balance, the Renewal Fellowship is proposing significant changes in the way it operates. Starting March 1, the Executive Director’s call will be cut in half as the Fellowship eliminates road trips and focuses mainly on online encouragement, support and advocacy for … Continue reading Renewal renewal
In Joyful Expectation
A song was heard at Christmas To wake the midnight sky A Saviour’s birth and peace on earth And praise to God on high. The Angels sang at Christmas With all the hosts above And still we sing the newborn King His glory and His love. This poem by Timothy Dudley-Smith is a song of … Continue reading In Joyful Expectation
Holy Imagination!
More than 40 pastors gathered for the 2023 PCC Pastors’ Retreat on November 6-8. Here are some comments from a few of the participants:
“I was so blessed by the praise team and the prayer time. The praise worship this year exceeded my expectations. It was a time of renewal of my spirit.”
“Rev. Dr. Richard Topping provided great lectures to inspire us to slow down and … Read more
Introducing Andrew introducing
A past moderator of the Presbyterian Church (USA), Marg Carpenter, who spent most of her life promoting mission, said this: “I’ll say it one more time: the church is alive and well in the world. I’m tired of hearing anything else. I love mission, I love the church, I love the Lord Jesus Christ, and I love you Presbyterians, well most of you." … Read more
Get back to where we once belonged
What if we spent less time reading reports, more time getting to know one another? Ministry can often feel like a lonely task. Pastors with large undefined workloads feel lonely and stressed. Congregations discouraged by small attendance feel isolated and adrift. Does anyone understand the challenges we face out here? Strong relationships help with these … Continue reading Get back to where we once belonged
What do you need right now?
Leafing through the fall 2023 edition of Presbyterian Connection, the denomination’s quarterly newsletter, I find plenty of stories about social justice and activism: racism, aboriginal rights, climate, poverty, hunger, sexuality and affordable housing. There’s content on church business: use of property, social media, travel tales, congregational renewal and stewardship. There’s the usual multi-page spread of … Continue reading What do you need right now?
Download the entire Fall 2023 issue of Renewal News in PDF format, or read and comment on the individual articles as follows:
- A new front emerges – Opposition to Physician Assisted Suicide/MAID by Rev. Andy Cornell
- Bread in the wilderness by Rev. Sandy Copland-Dufour
- Physician Assisted Suicide: Readers respond
- Retreat needs financial support by Rev. Andy Cornell
- Go to the desert road by Rev. Dr. Joon-ki Kim
- Good news, but challenge remains
- Thanks to our Supporting Congregations!
- Become a Supporting Congregation
- Christianity and Liberalism by Rev. Andy Cornell
A new front emerges
Opposition to Physician Assisted Suicide/MAID. Like a typical town hall meeting, Renewal Cafés provide a glimpse into the mind of Christ within the evangelical wings of The Presbyterian Church in Canada. We send an invitation, accept RSVPs and open the door. The conversation then takes a life of its own. The invitation to the July … Continue reading A new front emerges
Bread in the wilderness
Dear Fellow Followers of Jesus, I recently came across a prayer/poem of Walter Brueggemann. It begins: “On our own, we conclude: there is not enough to go around, we are going to run short of money, of love, of grades, of publications…” (1) We are living in a time of “shrinkflation.” We see packaging change to accommodate … Continue reading Bread in the wilderness
Go to the desert road
Message to General Assembly during morning worship, June 7, 2023. A divine command steered Philip. As a preacher he was to go to the desert road which was not a road, in fact. But Philip followed the command with a childlike innocence and profound trust in God’s mystery. So, there he was, in the wilderness … Continue reading Go to the desert road
Good news, but challenge remains
Decline slowed after increased financial support from congregations. Thanks to our faithful supporters, the decline in our finances for the first half of 2023 was not as bad as we had expected. Renewal Fellowship lost $17,288 from January to June compared to a budgeted loss of $26,552. Part of the reason for this is the … Continue reading Good news, but challenge remains
Christianity and Liberalism
Classic 1923 text by J. Gresham Machen comes to life again. In this diverse world of ours, we live side-by-side with colleagues, friends, neighbours and even family members who hold sometimes radically different political views, lifestyles and opinions about life. The Presbyterian Church in Canada has never been wholly unified. Progressives and traditionalists have been … Continue reading Christianity and Liberalism
Physician Assisted Suicide
The following is a summary of the work of the Committee on Church Doctrine regarding Physician Assisted Suicide and the responses of General Assembly since 2017 Report from the Committee on Church Doctrine 2017 Introduction Canada’s changing attitudes towards Physician Assisted Suicide (PAS; See “Definitions – A word about words” below for explanation of terminology) … Continue reading Physician Assisted Suicide