News briefs

Largest Christian book distributor closes

R.G. Mitchell, the largest Christian book distributor in Canada, went into receivership September 15. The company, based in Willowdale, Ontario, has stopped distributing books to Christian bookstores. Its eight Christian bookstores in Ontario have also closed.

Largest Christian music distributor taken over

David C. Cook Distribution Canada has taken over CMC Distribution, effective August 31. CMC Distribution, based in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, was "the world's largest distributor of Christian music outside the United States" distributing music and videos to Canadian Christian retail stores. David C. Cook Distribution Canada, based in Paris, Ont., is a division of David C. Cook Publishing based in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

How evangelicals, Roman Catholics and real women should vote

Several groups have released guides and pamphlets advising Canadians on their choices in the Canadian election. The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada has released an 'Election Kit' that includes a call to prayer, guidance on what churches can do, and reflections and questions to ask candidates on 10 key issues: the environment, family integrity, freedom of religion in Canada, global poverty reduction, national unity and reconciliation, poverty and homelessness, prostitution and human trafficking, refugees, religious freedom internationally, and respect for human life. The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops has issued a 'Federal Election 2008 Guide' that "encourages Catholics to become better informed about the issues, to voice their concerns with the political candidates, to promote vigorous public debate, to consider running for office and, most of all, to vote." And REAL Women of Canada has issued an election pamphlet called 'Strengthening our Nation' that compares the Conservative, Liberal and NDP party positions on safety/law and order, non-medical use of drugs, child pornography, euthanasia, family taxation, child care, prostitution, and special interest funding. REAL Women says it has not included abortion in the pamphlet because none of the parties has taken a pro-life position.

Movies raise questions

Filmmakers John and Ed Priddy have created 'Windrider Forums' to foster conversations on the intersection of faith and film. For the first time this year, they offered a Windrider Forum at the Toronto International Film Festival, which ended last week. Each evening, a Priddy brothers film was shown, followed by a discussion. To Die in Jerusalem tells the story of an 18-year-old Palestinian woman who chooses to be a suicide bomber, killing herself and a 17-year-old Jewish woman. The Big Question explores the issue of forgiveness, using interviews with people such as Sister Helen Prejean, whose story was told in the movie Dead Man Walking, and Desmond Tutu. The Third Wave follows four volunteers with no links to any organization who brought healing and hope to the victims of the 2006 tsunami in a small town in Sri Lanka.

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Is march the right name for it?

The Saskatoon Peace Coalition is holding an 'It's Time for Peace in Afghanistan' march and rally September 21. The event is supported by the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace, the Canadian Friends Service Committee (Quakers), KAIROS Canada, Mennonite Central Committee Saskatchewan, and Project Ploughshares.

Two honoured for exemplifying integrity

The Canadian Council of Christian Charities (CCCC) has scheduled an evening celebration at the Coast Plaza Hotel in Calgary September 24 to recognize Billy Graham and David Mainse for the integrity they have shown throughout a lifetime of ministry. Graham is founder of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, and Mainse is founder of Crossroads Christian Communications. CCCC is an association of nearly 3,000 charities committed to maintaining high standards of accountability.

Anglicans see red again

The Anglican Church of Canada had a deficit of $777,195 in 2007, its fifth consecutive annual deficit. The national denomination had revenues of $13.68 million and expenses of $14.46 million. The deficit would have been larger, but the denomination received $1.17 million back from the federal government due to a revision in the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement. Most of the remaining deficit was due to expenses connected to the transfer of the church's Toronto bookstore, the Anglican Book Centre, to the Lutheran bookseller Augsburg Fortress Canada. -- Anglican Journal

Rehearsing for heaven again

The second Heaven's Rehearsal will be held November 1 at the Rogers Centre in Toronto. Since Toronto claims to be "the most multicultural city in the world," the worship event tries to bring together as many representatives of the nations of the world as possible. The first Heaven's Rehearsal in September 2007 attracted 16,000 worshippers.

Still playing with toys at 23

Motorcyclists in Calgary held their 23rd annual Toy Run September 14. Participants in the hour-long ride contributed a toy or cash donation to the Salvation Army's Family Christmas Assistance Program.

Bible on parade

The ninth annual Jesus in the City parade took place in Toronto September 6. Churches presented the books of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation through floats, biblical costumes, live bands, choirs, dancers, banners and flags.

September 18/2008