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

Share the Pain

The court rendered its decision. Before sentencing, the victims were allowed to speak. One by one, they opened their hearts and bared their souls, sharing how the decision had impacted them. Many prepared carefully-worded statements. A few were off the cuff. All were spoken from the heart and testified to something which had changed their lives – and the lives of those around them ... Read more

Remarks to “A Place to Stand”

Since the early 1980s, The Renewal Fellowship has striven to be a voice of encouragement to those who stand for orthodoxy. Our vision has been the renewal of the Presbyterian Church in Canada by adhering to authentic Reformed hermeneutic, Spirit-led prayer and effective Gospel witness. That dream remains – even though some tell us ... Read more

Extending Space or Drawing a Line?

It would seem that the differing theological and Biblical starting points that have become apparent within the PCC in light of the remits before us indicate that we are confronted not so much with varying points of interpretation within the same faith family, but have actually become differing families altogether. I say this very aware that faith families are often ... Read more

A Holy Discontent

Discontent can be a destructive energy that harms us physically, emotionally, and relationally. It may be a symptom of ingratitude or an inability to accept one's lot in life – never having "learned to be content whatever the circumstances". At its root, one is shaking an angry fist at God, accusing Him of failing to satisfy one's expectations. This kind of discontent is ... Read more

A message the world doesn’t want to hear

The world is changing – fast. Every week, there’s a new advance in technology. Each year, our computers and cell phones become outdated. Trends come and go like the flavour of the month. On the one hand, change is good. Growth is impossible without it. Any farmer will tell you that. And Christ tells us to turn from our selfish ways. Wouldn’t it be great to be able to press a pause button and ... Read more

Dedicated Prayer: Let’s Make it Happen

What’s the first thing we give up when life gets busy? Time for ourselves. We can easily ignore our personal needs with fewer immediate repercussions than skipping commitments at work, church, in the community and with family. But I’m going to suggest there’s something that’s pushed aside even before our personal downtime. Take my life as an example. ... Read more

Dal Schindell: a true “Channel”

Dal Schindell’s death on August 6, 2019 in Vancouver leaves us saddened at the passing of a unique Canadian evangelical who made a significant contribution to the establishment of The Renewal Fellowship within the Presbyterian Church in Canada. Dal had a vision for a publication of the organization which had been founded in May 1983. … Continue reading Dal Schindell: a true “Channel”

Renewal Fellowship’s Response to the 2019 Remits

Dear Renewal Friend, In its 5th sederunt, the 145th General Assembly of The Presbyterian Church in Canada (PCC) approved Pathway "B" as presented by the Special Committee of Former Moderators*. In the 10th sederunt, remits to enable this change in doctrine and practice were approved for consideration under the Barrier Act (see below for the … Continue reading Renewal Fellowship’s Response to the 2019 Remits

My dwelling place shall be …

Like many of you, I am tired. I’m tired of the negativity, the toxic spin on the Gospel, the lack of Holy Spirit submission in so-called Christian ministry, the butting of heads. I yearn to rediscover what it is to be the church. It’s been so long. So I’m not going to dwell on the conclusion in the “Report of the Special Committee Regarding Implications of Option B” at 2019 General Assembly” which began: ... Read more

Tales from Assembly: Understanding the Other

This blog represents the thoughts of the author. While they may reflect the theological position of The Renewal Fellowship, they should not be seen as an official statement. We call it “the issue” – code for the tortuous wrestling with our official response to same-sex attraction. Long after the secular world and most other mainline … Continue reading Tales from Assembly: Understanding the Other

Renewal News – Summer 2019

In This Issue: GA 2019: a way forward? – Andy Cornell
The trouble with norms – Ian Shaw
Stage set for Barrier battle
RF board to respond to remits
Renewal for the next generation – Lauren and Jillian McWhinnie
RF's Knox College bursary revived
Authentic Biblical thinking – Ian Shaw
Powerful, Spirit-led prayer – Andy Cornell
Effective Gospel witness – John Park ... Read more

A Letter to Evangelicals

The decision of the 145th General Assembly to adopt option "B" in the Report of the Special Committee of Former Moderators and the subsequent Remits on Human Sexuality and Marriage have caused a range of responses among members of the Renewal Fellowship and throughout our denomination. As a result of a meeting at Vaughan Community … Continue reading A Letter to Evangelicals

Tales from Assembly: Why I Dissented

“Pragmatism or principle” was the duelling dynamic for commissioners as we wrestled with how we would rank the four pathways proposed by the Special Committee of Former Moderators. For many who hold onto classical theology, only two pathways – ‘A’ (tradition) and ‘C’ (three streams) – were seriously considered. ‘B’ (inclusion) and ‘D’ (accommodation) were non starters. … Read More

General Assembly 2019

WOW! We didn't see that coming. 145th General Assembly lived up its advanced billing. It was intense, deeply emotional, and contentious. In the end, commissioners choose Pathway B – Inclusion – that disappointed and dismayed us. However, the remits (printed below), to be sent down to presbyteries for approval, propose a much less exclusionary avenue. … Continue reading General Assembly 2019

A Commissioner Scans the Pathways

What will best serve the Kingdom – politics or principle? That is one of several questions I have as I consider the four pathways laid out by the Special Committee of Former Moderators, whose long-awaited report was released May 21 (posted here). The committee’s report is in response to General Assembly 2018’s direction to “propose … Continue reading A Commissioner Scans the Pathways

Authentic Biblical Thinking

There are many ways to tackle this subject. However, for the brief time we have, I want to explore the theme examining how Jesus approached the Scriptures of His day. First though, some thoughts about the implied verb: thinking. We often define the word as a matter of logic or a left-brained approach – researching … Continue reading Authentic Biblical Thinking