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

We Need to Create New Wineskins

It’s time for the church to issue its own marriage licences. This writer is old enough to remember the burning of draft cards to protest the Vietnam war and bras being burned to somehow advance a feminist agenda. Similarly, as both a protest and affirmation, he would have no difficulty shredding his government-issued marriage licence ... 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

An Opportunity, Not a Threat

One of the most-encouraging aspects of church renewal is seeing the Holy Spirit work in surprising ways. When all appears to be without hope, a Saviour appears. When churches around the world were forced to suspend in-person worship in mid-March, I was blown away by how many of my colleagues immediately opened their virtual doors ... Read more

Addressing the Colonial Mindset

We mix and mingle among those with whom we're most comfortable. Shared interests and culture are at the top of the list. As a student at Knox College, I was delighted to find people from my same culture and age group. We hit it off and stuck together. I'm ashamed to admit that I didn't make much of an attempt to get to know those whose first language was not English … Read more

Reflections on COVID-19

April 2020 - Dr. Clyde Ervine engages the COVID-19 pandemic theologically to discern possible lessons for God’s people as they pursue faithfulness. A month ago, I was enjoying spring weather in Northern Ireland, the place of my birth, meeting family and old friends, talking about this and that, but not about the topic we’ve talked … Continue reading Reflections on COVID-19

Response to COVID-19

Churches everywhere have responded quickly to the pandemic precautions. It's inspiring. It's powerful. It's a witness to the truth that the church will never die. And it testifies to the dictum that the church is reformed and continues to do so. In this section, we've created a menu of items in which we can tell … Continue reading Response to COVID-19

One Man’s Holy Dissent

Any member of a court who has voted on a question and who disagrees with the outcome may register a dissent. The following was written in response to the Presbytery of Hamilton's decision to support Remits "B" and "C". Rev. George Anderson All things in the church start and end with Jesus Christ who is … Continue reading One Man’s Holy Dissent