On September 16 to 19, Toward Canada (formerly known as Toward CRC Canada) gathered in St. Albert, Alberta, for a conference entitled: Waymaking. Concerned about the Americanization of the Christian Reformed Church of North America (CRCNA), this expanding movement of Christian churches, organizations, missions and individuals is exploring a new association or network of Canadian…
I didn’t know the train would be like that. Seats across a table like something from a movie. But I’d never been on a French train before. I was twenty-one, so everything felt surprising and it was springtime. The winter had been more grey than I expected. I was a student on exchange for the…
It is fashionable these days for political leaders to talk about cutting red tape and building fast. There is little discussion about what is being lost in the drive for rapid development of major projects. A closer look behind the scenes suggests citizens should hold up a “Slow Down” sign because they will pay for…
“The desert and the sown” seems an accurate way to describe contrasting ways of life in the ancient Middle East: nomadic herding and settled agriculture. I’ve tried to find an original source of the phrase; although it isn’t in the Bible, it describes the language of the Old Testament. It’s also the title of a…
Last month, I raised a troubling question: Why are fewer ministry leaders choosing the local church? Seminary leaders are seeing fewer students preparing for pastoral ministry, while Barna reported that 43 percent of pastors seriously considered leaving it. Do the math forward ten years, and we see fewer pastors entering, existing pastors leaving, and churches…
My parents raised me to respect a solid work ethic and to appreciate the fruits of honest labour. As an adult, I realized the downside of all that is a tendency to confuse who we are with what we do. A visit to Boldt Castle years ago drove the point home for me. Hart Island…
“What makes something significant enough for a museum collection – and what gets overlooked?” Questions like these framed our family’s conversations as we toured the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) this summer. Together, we viewed countless exhibits, from prehistoric fossils and an ancient Egyptian cat mummy to First Nations art and modern furniture, testifying to years…
I’m writing this a couple of days after Anthony Fauci was brought before a hostile American Senate committee where he was accused of creating covid and told he should be in prison. Former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in the United States, Fauci was the reluctant poster-boy for controversial policies…
Concern is growing in the research community about people’s trust in science. From vaccines to the climate, too many people doubt the clear evidence science provides. The results are all around us. Mistrust of vaccine safety and effectiveness means Canada has lost its status as a measles-free country. Enough individuals are hesitant to vaccinate that…
“Lecturing countries from afar is an ineffective strategy.” That’s what Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney told reporters during a July press conference on the decision to restore Canada’s diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia. Critics argue that Canada shouldn’t engage a country with such a troubling human rights record. But Carney’s government sees it differently. Whether…
I do not normally weigh in on ecclesiastical issues in this space, but given my long association with and current membership in the Christian Reformed Church (CRC), I think it is appropriate to comment on Synod 2026’s decision to withdraw from the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC). I understand that church denominations have to…
I love the first day of school. It is a hopeful day. From Lydia’s early school years, I’ve been struck by the sense of unadulterated excitement and energy that rises from the schoolyard as friends see each other after long weeks away. A new community is being created. Some children and teachers are missed –…
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