I was recently invited to be part of a conference in Guelph, Ontario with about thirty Canadian Christian leaders. During one personal conversation with a seminary president, I mentioned that my daughter had recently graduated from Regent College in Vancouver with a Masters of Divinity. He asked whether she intended to serve as a local…
In my youth I cut my political teeth on the Watergate scandal, and this, along with the Turkish invasion of my father’s native island of Cyprus, moved me to study politics. Like many Americans at the time, I was incensed that a sitting president, sworn to uphold the constitution, would abuse his office to gain…
James Mackay was known to be a brilliant lawyer and Presbyterian elder long before he became Lord Advocate of Scotland (1979-84) and then Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain (1987-97). He was, in the words of a past president of the Law Society of Scotland: “not only an outstanding man in his profession, but one…
Every year, across the church world, denominations gather their leaders together. Some call it synod. Others call it a general assembly, congress, conference or annual gathering. Whatever the title, the reality is the same: for a few days, 150 to 300 key leaders from churches, schools, ministries, charities and networks gather in one place. These…
Across Canada, many Christian boards and church councils carry an unspoken expectation: composure equals competence. Especially in governing meetings, and particularly for the most senior staff leader, emotions are often subdued, if not quietly discouraged. The intent is understandable. Boards want clarity, objectivity and wise decision-making. (Have you ever seen a synod or church council…
After 27 years with the Canadian Council of Churches (CCC), including two terms as General Secretary from 2018-2026, Peter Noteboom will step into semi-retirement at the end of June. Ecumenism – working for the visible unity of the church across denominational lines – has been his calling and life-work. “This job of General Secretary is…
Hollywood seldom portrays faith well. On one hand are glossy depictions of near-perfect characters who prosper if they pray hard, look right and win enough converts. On the other hand, Christianity is displayed as destructive and colonial. What happens to the stories in the middle, the ones that expose the harm of the church while showing…
I was ordained as a Minister of the Word and Sacraments over 45 years ago. It happened on a Thursday night because of Halloween, of all things! The elders of the rural Southern Alberta congregation that had called me, a 25-year-old seminary graduate, to be their pastor, had first scheduled the event for Friday night….
“Look up – look waaaaay up.” That is how The Friendly Giant invited children to expand their horizons through the magic of puppets on TV. In a similar way, Indigenous brothers and sisters remind us to consider seven generations ahead and seven generations backward to broaden our perspective on specific decisions. Being mindful of wider…
Based on my experiences in Christian leadership over the past 30 years, I am confident that one of the clearest indicators of future organizational success is the qualitative experience you provide to currently serving or soon-to-depart leaders. If departing leaders are speaking well on the way out, your future looks bright! For example, in both…
Susan met me online for a leadership consultation. We spoke about the Christian charity she used to work for, one of my clients. “How are you doing now that you are done with your role as Director?” I asked. “How is life outside of the ministry? Enjoying yourself? What’s keeping you busy?” Susan glowed. The…
The 2025 election of Pope Leo XIV has renewed audience interest in the recent film Conclave. When the film was released in late 2024, the last papal conclave had happened twenty years earlier and wasn’t the result of a papal death. The exteriors shot in Rome, the detailed costuming and the strong performances give Conclave a vivid sense…
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