From sermons to cartoons
| |

From sermons to cartoons

Jesus doesn’t sit still very often in David Hayward’s cartoons. He’s on the move: rescuing gay sheep, spray-painting church signs, and – on the cover of Hayward’s new book, Flip it Like This – showing a woman how to upend money-laden tables. Remember those plastic bracelets from the 90s asking “WWJD?” The question always had,…

Exploring baptism through stories
|

Exploring baptism through stories

As the pastor of Granite Springs Church in California, Kevin Adams engaged in a yearlong study of baptism with the members of his church community. Much of what they discovered is included in Adams’ compelling narrative in which he invites readers to enter into the mystery of the sacrament: “Baptism tells us we are beloved….

The Vancouver paradigm
|

The Vancouver paradigm

Growing up and growing older biologically is something that we all experience as human creatures. But growing deeper in our discipleship to the risen Lord Jesus has a particular emphasis in the Christian life, whether we call it Christian maturity or sanctification or growth in holiness. In this edition of Christian Courier the theme is…

A Rule for Reconstructing
|

A Rule for Reconstructing

We live in a moment when many Christians are deconstructing forms of faith that don’t ring true to Jesus. A renewed faith fit for life in today’s world often involves sifting out the rot and keeping what is most precious. But if all you end up with is a scrapyard of dismantled pieces, what good…

Left-brained church
|

Left-brained church

I took an intro to drawing class some years back at the Button Factory, a brick factory turned community arts centre here in Waterloo. My teacher was a genial, white-bearded man with the sort of monastic disposition that comes with being resolutely attentive and devoted to a craft. He was pale, with white tissue paper…

Effective immediately: Jesus no longer works here
|

Effective immediately: Jesus no longer works here

In the 1990s, Kellogg Company produced a series of commercials featuring their iconic mascot, Tony the Tiger. The plot of these commercials typically revolved around a kid being bullied. To help the young person overcome their adversaries, Tony the Tiger offers some Frosted Flakes cereal. Through the power of the sugar-coated cereal, the child and…

Be-Longing
|

Be-Longing

I cried out.“I no longer belong.”You heard my painful cry.You walked by on the other side.Afraid to be contaminated?Concerned about what others might say?Confident in your holiness.You threw out those you judged unholy.Now I sit with them in the ashes. I had belonged.All my life I belonged.I belonged to the church, the schools. The community was…

To Cancel or not to Cancel
| |

To Cancel or not to Cancel

There is a question that looms for pastors, elders and other church leaders this year. The last time we had to answer it was in 2016 and the next time will be in 2033.  Should we cancel worship services on Sunday, December 25th? Most Presbyterian congregations normally hold services on Christmas Eve rather than on…

The porn connection
|

The porn connection

During the Christian Reformed Church’s Synod, I was surprised when an overture asking that clergy “curtail pornography use” didn’t pass – especially because “curtail” already sounds toothless in this context. Surely “halt all pornography use immediately” would be better? So I called the Director of Safe Church Ministry, Amanda Benckhuysen, for an explanation. The overture…

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…

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”)…

Hey church, ‘go take a hike’
| |

Hey church, ‘go take a hike’

“Where do you feel closest to God?” I was asked this question during staff devotions at a Quadra Island summer camp back in July. My eyes found the ocean’s horizon and on the crest of a sun-tinted wave came my answer: right here. For me, creation often elicits an emotional response – a rush of…