Reasons God doesn’t break our legs
|

Reasons God doesn’t break our legs

When a random intruder left newlywed Jessica Ziakin-Cook with a severed femoral artery and nearly took her life, some people at church said it was a lesson to increase her dependence on God. But Jessica drew theological conclusions from a deeper well. I met Jessica Ziakin-Cook at the University of Victoria last December, and she…

Fred Reinders (1930-2023)
|

Fred Reinders (1930-2023)

Fred Reinders is a man whose work has blessed the lives of thousands of Christian Courier readers, and he did this by creating shelters for their study, work, worship and play. Philosopher Calvin Seerveld, who was born in the same year as Reinders, wrote that “God’s firm covenantal grip . . . has provided society…

10 months of turmoil
|

10 months of turmoil

On May 31, 2022, ex-Pastor Bruxy Cavey of The Meeting House (TMH) in Oakville, Ontario was charged with sexual assault by Hamilton Police and required to appear in court the end of June. He was released on conditions and a publication ban was put in place. On June 8, TMH board of directors (called “Overseers”)…

The walking wounded
|

The walking wounded

“This church had a profound and positive impact on me for decades,” a former Meeting House member reflected. “I’m trying to figure out what to do with the revelations about what was going on behind the scenes. Flashes of Bruxy’s teaching will come back to me at various times and I’ll remember how positively it…

Feeling our way forward
|

Feeling our way forward

From grief to relief; from shock to anxiety; from weariness to embarrassment and many points in between. For this editorial, I asked members of the Christian Reformed Church (CRC), “Now that the Human Sexuality Report has passed, with a good majority, how does it feel?” While the theological and biblical reflection has been intense, this…

The Abuse of Words
|

The Abuse of Words

There are at least three different characterizations of the wrongdoing that has left The Meeting House megachurch without its Teaching Pastors. A three-month third-party investigation into the allegations of sexual misconduct against pastor Bruxy Cavey has determined that he is guilty of abusing his pastoral power and authority and this misconduct amounted to sexual harassment….

Hard conversations in the wake of allegations against Bruxy Cavey
|

Hard conversations in the wake of allegations against Bruxy Cavey

Many of Christian Courier’s readers will know Bruxy Cavey – the larger-than-life hippie pastor of Oakville’s The Meeting House megachurch – and they may even have family and friends who attend one of the 20 different remote sites in Southern Ontario (with 90 worldwide venues in 33 countries, as of December 2021). The disappointing news…

Faithful friends are good medicine
|

Faithful friends are good medicine

My wife sometimes compliments me as a husband. “I’m strictly average,” I remind her. I don’t want expectations to rise. Marriages today are emotionally overloaded. We want someone who will be a lover, spouse, soulmate and friend – someone who “completes us,” as Hollywood suggests. This is much more than the biblical “suitable partner.” High…

Engaging the Global Polylogue
| |

Engaging the Global Polylogue

When it comes to matters of sexual ethics, no one can quickly iron out the deep differences in the church today. So why should Christian Courier publish an article on same-sex marriage from distant Uganda? Well, I figure if we are truly part of a catholic church, we ought to hear the voices of our…

A Train Wreck in Slow Motion
|

A Train Wreck in Slow Motion

“HOW DARE YOU? WHO IN THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?” screams Pastor Mark Driscoll at full volume, the spiritual father of thousands of young men. He hounds them to get out of their video games, away from their girlfriend’s bed, and grow up in Christ into a redemptive mission of renewing a messed-up…

Dear American partners
| |

Dear American partners

We the North can be cold and prickly, especially when we talk about American cultural dominance. You see, Canada is a foreign country to you. We call it pop; you call it soda. Our favourite sport is played on ice, yours on grass. We count in metric units, mostly, and French words like poutine signify…

After Roorda’s dismissal, CRC pastors in Canada ask Board to explain, listen
|

After Roorda’s dismissal, CRC pastors in Canada ask Board to explain, listen

,

On July 7 it was announced on the Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA) website that Rev. Dr. Darren Roorda had been dismissed from his position as Canadian Ministries Director by the Canada Corporation – the Canadian section of the governing body known as the Council of Delegates (COD). The news release recounts his…