Author: The Webmaster

Gracious Dismissal Final Report

This week, Assembly Council published the minutes of its October 27, 2020, meeting in which the report of its Gracious Dismissal Committee was on the agenda. A majority on the council voted not to receive it "until at least after the General Assembly has dealt with Remits B and C." Notwithstanding this decision ... Read more

Renewal News – Winter 2021

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Profile: First Presbyterian Church, Trail BC

In the beginning, God sent one Rev. Robertson in 1896 to start the Presbyterian ministry here in Trail BC. And the Lord God continued to send faithful servants to keep up the ministry through the years of the first century of the life of the congregation. In 1925, the continuing Presbyterians were the minority ... Read more

Renewal News – Fall 2020

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In This Issue:

Renewal News – Summer 2020

In This Issue: "Everyone did as they saw fit" by Rev. Dr. Jonathan Hong; "When all is said and done" by Rev. Ian Shaw, RF Board chairperson; "We need to create new wineskins" by Rev. James Statham; "Panelists respond to Renewal Day message"; Profile: Paris Presbyterian Church" by Rev. Joel Sherbino; and "A new initiative, a renewed board and a great gift" by Rev. Andy Cornell, Executive Director ... Read more

Grace Orleans Overture re: Governance Model Protection

Whereas the discussion of human sexuality issues has been before the Presbyterian Church in Canada for at least the past thirty years; it is time to bring it to a conclusion that protects congregations with a traditional understanding of the Bible; and whereas the Session and congregation of Grace, Orleans ON, has yet to see a definitive response to an Overture submitted five years ago regarding Gracious Dismissal, having experienced significant pain both in the congregation and the loss of its pastor of many years, and significant conflict over this issue ... Read more

Remit Voting Results

From September 2019 through March 2020, each of the 45 presbyteries in the Presbyterian Church in Canada will be voting on the two Remits concerning same-sex marriage and ordination. If a majority of the 45 presbyteries approve, and that majority consists of at least half of the combined total of the constituent members on the rolls of presbyteries, then the remits will go to next year’s General Assembly, which is free to vote “Yes” or “No”. The dates, results, and numbers were supplied to us by members of the courts ... Read more

Cheyne Stoney Creek Overture re: Two-Stream Structure

Whereas since 2014 many studies, overtures, and debates focusing on LGBTQI matters have revealed a deeply divided denomination; and whereas, despite many serious attempts to resolve these deep divisions, the numerous dissents and expressions of profound pain at the 145th General Assembly … Read more

Overture from Eastern Han-Ca Presbytery

Whereas Korean congregations from 1967 onwards entered into a mutual covenant with The Presbyterian Church in Canada for the reason that our theological and doctrinal beliefs, expression of faith and worship, and governance were in consonance with those of The Presbyterian Church in Canada; and whereas these beliefs of The Presbyterian Church in Canada are found in our subordinate standards – the Westminster Confession of Faith adopted in 1875 and 1889 ... Read more

Grace West Hill Overture re: Safe Place for Congregations

Whereas the beliefs of The Presbyterian Church in Canada are defined in our subordinate standards, and whereas every minister and elder in The Presbyterian Church in Canada affirmed our subordinate standards in their ordination vows; and whereas General Assemblies of our denomination, despite these ordination vows, have nevertheless for several years been discussing changes, referred to as human sexuality issues, that would contravene our subordinate standards ... Read more

Renewal News – Winter 2020

In This Issue: Tracking the Remit Voting — 20/20 Vision in 2020 — On the road: Alberta/Saskatchewan/New Brunswick — Renewal’s Winter 2020 Prayer Guide — Regional conversations: Montreal, Moncton, Vaughan, Kelowna, and Calgary — Profile: Zion Charlottetown — "20/20 Vision: Vigilant and Vital" - RF Renewal Day, April 25th … Read more

Legal Opinions on the Impact of the Remits

Two advocates before the Supreme Court of Canada have written opinions that if the Remits are implemented in their current form, it will be difficult to effectively defend the position of PCC clergy, congregations, or members who refuse to participate in same-sex wedding ceremonies, with potential resulting liability to the PCC itself. Any member of a church court can forward these legal opinions to their court’s clerk ... Read more

PSALT’s Remit Reflection/Response

From PSALT’s Courts of the Church Team: We are very grateful for the spirit underlying the presentation of the remits to the 145th General Assembly. For a long time and certainly since 2015 this debate has had times of rancour and division. The expressed attitude of the mover of these remits was ... Read more

Why we should not vote by secret ballot

By Rev. Joel Coppieters, in response to the proposal by the Presbytery of Montreal regarding voting for Remits ‘B’ and ‘C’ on October 15, 2019. There are three reasons why we should not proceed by secret ballot. First, throughout this debate there has been a persistent plea for open dialogue with a strong insistence that … Continue reading Why we should not vote by secret ballot

Why I cannot vote in favour of these remits

Remarks prepared by Rev. Joel Coppieters to the Presbytery of Montreal, October 15, 2019 I cannot vote in favour of these remits for biblical reasons. I echo the report the PCC’s own Church Doctrine Committee presented to the 2018 General Assembly, that after years of study we have not seen sufficient biblical grounds to abandon … Continue reading Why I cannot vote in favour of these remits

Presbytery of Eastern Han-Ca Statement on the Remits

The recommendation to the congregations in our Presbytery is that they vote “No” to the remits handed down by GA 2019. The following are both the rationales for a “No” vote, and the implications of a “Yes” vote should the remits pass. Should the remits pass an alternative definition of marriage that is in contradiction to the scriptures will be introduced ... Read more