Support For Anti-Racism Petition

Support is growing for the landmark petitions by Korean-speaking congregations which accuse The Presbyterian Church in Canada of racism by "demonizing" ethnic congregations. This week, a coalition of Chinese congregations, known as the Chinese Consultation, issued a statement in support of the petitions. "We thank the members of the Han-Ca Presbyteries for calling attention to the … Read more

PCC Covenant

There is much that unites us: we worship and serve the same Lord, we hold the same convictions about the inspiration and authority of the Scriptures, and we seek to order our lives and our ministries under the authority of our sovereign God and His revealed Word. Different circumstances will lead us to follow Christ faithfully in different directions, and none of these directions is a better or worse calling than another. ... Read more

Pray for GA 2021

We are presenting a unique 28-day prayer initiative leading up to a very different General Assembly. Starting May 10th, we will be publishing a weekly prayer guide and inviting discussion on a special Facebook group page. The guides will be emailed and posted to the Renewal Fellowship and the PSALT websites. We are working in partnership with those of similar theological thinking … Read more

Eastern and Western Han-Ca Petitions re: Racism and Marginalization

Editor's Note: These Han-Ca petitions have been supported by a letter from the Chinese Consultation, composed of six congregations – Vancouver, Montreal, Toronto, Markham, Mississauga, and Celebration Chinese Presbyterian Churches, and by a letter from Chapel Place, an Arabic-speaking congregation. To the Venerable 146th General Assembly of The Presbyterian Church in Canada, The Presbytery of … Continue reading Eastern and Western Han-Ca Petitions re: Racism and Marginalization

Western Han-Ca Presbytery Overture re: Sister Denomination

To the Venerable 146th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Canada: 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 … Continue reading Western Han-Ca Presbytery Overture re: Sister Denomination

Navigating through the storm when the church is adrift

What can the faithful do when the church is spiritually adrift? When the authority of Scripture is being challenged over sexuality and ordination — what better opportunity to remind ourselves to be anchored in Christ and look for a safe harbour. For inspiration, we turned to our new friends at Cruxifusion, a network of ministers who are centred on Christ ... Read more

Letter to Assembly Council re: Gracious Dismissal

Following the Assembly Council's refusal to receive the report of its own Gracious Dismissal Committee, several members of Psalt drafted the following letter to the Assembly Council, which was signed by 303 people. It was received for information, but unfortunately, no discussion or action was taken on it. Stephen Kendall sent the following reply after … Continue reading Letter to Assembly Council re: Gracious Dismissal

Presbytery of Montreal Overtures

Ten overtures transmitted by the Presbytery of Montreal:Overture from the Presbytery of Montreal requesting consideration of the report of the Gracious Dismissal Committee before proceeding to discussions about Remits "B" and "C" from the 145th General Assembly (2019).Overture from the Presbytery of Montreal requesting the charting of a clear and non-punitive way forward for congregations … Continue reading Presbytery of Montreal Overtures

Voices in the Wilderness

Strike up the band – a renewed chorus of overtures is coming to General Assembly. There's nothing new about overtures in response to our theological differences. For several years, those in orthodoxy have called for a restatement of our traditional understandings. Or, in the face of inevitable change, they've requested more time to study the issues and the ability of congregations to leave the fold. … Read more

Parkwood Ottawa Overture re: Separate Synods

WHEREAS The Presbyterian Church in Canada was formed in 1875 as a union of several branches of the reformed and presbyterian Church, all of which held the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the only rule of faith and life and subscribed to the Westminster Confession of Faith as the principal subordinate standard; … Continue reading Parkwood Ottawa Overture re: Separate Synods

Cote des Neiges Overture re: Non-Geographic Presbyteries

WHEREAS the Presbyterian Church in Canada has accepted the reality that it is deeply divided on the issues surrounding human sexuality; and WHEREAS protracted study and conversation on the issue have not revolved the differences and are unlikely to at any point in the future; and WHEREAS some within the church see the push to … Continue reading Cote des Neiges Overture re: Non-Geographic Presbyteries

St. Edward’s Beauharnois Overture re: Theologically Based Presbyteries And Synods

WHEREAS the Presbyterian Church in Canada has long devoted time and resources to studying and debating the matter of LGBTQI sexuality diverting energy away from other important issues; and WHEREAS the debate on this one issue has revealed a larger theological division within the P.C.C., as is evident in the report from the 2019 General … Continue reading St. Edward’s Beauharnois Overture re: Theologically Based Presbyteries And Synods

Grace Orleans Overture re: Limiting the Agenda

WHEREAS the remits under the Barrier Act of 2019 seek to change the doctrine and practices of The Presbyterian Church in Canada in foundational ways, and WHEREAS through no fault of its own, and in order to respect public health regulations and intentions due to COVID-19 issues, the Presbyterian Church in Canada was unable to … Continue reading Grace Orleans Overture re: Limiting the Agenda

Grace West Hill Overture re: Gracious Dismissal

To the Venerable the General Assembly: WHEREAS the Book of Forms has constituted the guide by which the business of the General Assembly has been conducted within the Presbyterian Church in Canada since its inception; and WHEREAS it has not been our practice, and should not be our practice, to intentionally delay items of business … Continue reading Grace West Hill Overture re: Gracious Dismissal

St. Andrew’s Moncton Overture re: Restructuring Along Theological Lines

WHEREAS The Presbyterian Church in Canada has debated human sexuality for several decades, and WHEREAS the debate is a distraction to our mission, undermining our effectiveness, and WHEREAS the issues pertaining to human sexuality are symptomatic of deeper theological issues, and WHEREAS the theological divide is evidenced in the report from the 2019 General Assembly’s … Continue reading St. Andrew’s Moncton Overture re: Restructuring Along Theological Lines

St. Andrew’s Moncton Overture re: a Limited 2021 Online General Assembly

WHEREAS the Barrier Act of 2019 seeks to change the doctrine and practices of The Presbyterian Church in Canada in foundational ways, and WHEREAS The Presbyterian Church in Canada prides itself in doing things ‘decently and in good order,’ and WHEREAS, through no fault of its own, The Presbyterian Church in Canada has been unable … Continue reading St. Andrew’s Moncton Overture re: a Limited 2021 Online General Assembly

St. Andrew’s Moncton Overture re: 2019 Barrier Act Be Set Aside

WHEREAS issues surrounding human sexuality have been contentious for decades within The Presbyterian Church in Canada, and WHEREAS our ordination vows stipulate that we will not take divisive courses of action, and WHEREAS the actions of the General Assembly of 2019, in sending changes of doctrine and practice through the Barrier Act of the church … Continue reading St. Andrew’s Moncton Overture re: 2019 Barrier Act Be Set Aside

Grace West Hill Overture re: Two Semi-Autonomous National Synods

To the Venerable the General Assembly: WHEREAS the concepts of mutual accountability, empathetic collegiality, and partnership in ministry are at the heart of Presbyterianism, and these concepts demand integrity – integrity that is lacking unless the elders participating in a presbytery undertake ministry with a common understanding of the gospel for ordination, teaching, gospel witness, … Continue reading Grace West Hill Overture re: Two Semi-Autonomous National Synods

Renewal News – Spring 2021

In This Issue: "Navigating thru the storm" – Renewal Day and AGM April 17 by Zoom — "Putting the Bite back in the Apple" by Ian Shaw — Renewal Cafe – Renewal Lives Online — "A Dangerous Precedent" – A joint statement from PSALT and RF — "The future is nothing like the past" by Andy Cornell — "Acting on a precedent" – 1998 Lachine rent-back offer might now go 'the other way' by Robin Ross … Read more