The artful Gallery

The National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa is exhibiting 'From Raphael to Carracci: The Art of Papal Rome,' a collection of more than 150 works of art commissioned by popes from 1503 to 1606. The collection, which includes works by Michelangelo, Titian, El Greco, Vasari, Barocci and Annibale Carracci, shows how church patronage helped create much of the art of the Renaissance. To accompany the exhibit, the Gallery has produced a 480-page catalogue with 378 illustrations, which sells for $75. The exhibit runs from May 29 to September 7.

Christian college helps redeem the economy

Redeemer University College in Ancaster, Ontario has received a $2.9 million grant from the federal government's Knowledge Infrastructure Program (KIP). The money covers half of the cost of more than 25 capital projects, including adding three science labs and upgrading three others, adding solar panels and other energy-saving initiatives, improving campus security, and expanding the food services area. KIP is a two-year, $2-billion federal government plan to repair and expand facilities at Canadian colleges and universities while stimulating the economy. This is the first capital grant Redeemer, a private Christian institution, has received from the federal government.

That's a big light

The Salvation Army opened its new $35 million Toronto Harbour Light development in downtown Toronto, in a ceremony attended by politicians from all levels of government, May 22. The development includes an 85-bed residential substance abuse treatment program, 98 transitional housing apartments, and an immigration and refugee service centre. The federal government contributed $1.5 million to the project, the Ontario government provided 98 rent supplements, and the City of Toronto waived development fees and charges and provided property tax exemptions worth $1.4 million. The event was one of 15 open houses at Salvation Army facilities across Canada designed to highlight the Army's annual Red Shield campaign, which had a goal of raising $3 million in the month of May.

Called to pray

United Church of Canada moderator David Giuliano has designated June 10 as a national day of prayer for his church. He is asking congregations and churches to set aside time for special prayer on June 10, the anniversary of the denomination, or on Sunday, June 7. The denomination is preparing for its 40th General Council, to be held in Kelowna, BC in August. Earlier this year, it released 'Called to Be Church,' a document intended to generate grassroots reflection and conversation about the church.

Prayer for Tamils

The Governing Board of the Canadian Council of Churches wrote to Prime Minister Harper and other Members of Parliament May 19 about "current reports of wide scale deaths of Tamil civilians including women and children, the continued exclusion of the independent press and the catastrophic loss of human life in Sri Lanka." The letter calls on the Government of Canada "to appeal to all sides in the conflict to immediately ensure access and safety to the press and humanitarian relief organizations" and "seek an assurance from the Sri Lankan government that they will take all necessary measures to guarantee and protect the civil rights and physical integrity of the Tamil community." The letter also promised the government that Canadian churches would continue to pray "for wisdom and guidance" for the Canadian government.

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Didn't get the numbers right

Last week, we reported that the Christian Heritage Party (CHP) hopes to run ten candidates (one in each riding) in New Brunswick in the next federal election, compared to the five it ran last election. The last assertion was our error, as CHP ran no candidates in New Brunswick last election but five in Nova Scotia. CHP hopes to run candidates in all 308 ridings in Canada next election, compared to 59 last election. With 6,000 members across Canada, CHP is the sixth largest of Canada's 19 political parties.

Homeless left and right

In a May 13 speech in the House of Commons, Sault Ste Marie NDP MP Tony Martin noted that the Canadian Council of Churches and Evangelical Fellowship of Canada had recently hosted a forum on a sustainable economy that would include everyone. He argued that if the religious right and left can agree on fighting poverty, right and left political parties should do the same.

Doctors of diversity

Tyndale University College & Seminary launched its new Doctor of Ministry (DMin) program May 25 with its first cohort of 25 students. The group represents 18 denominations and 12 countries of origin. Teaching sessions will take place on campus twice a year for a total of three weeks each year for three years. Candidates will spend the balance of program time engaged in research and project development, supported by coaches, librarians and a customized website. Tyndale is now accepting applications for the 2010 and 2011 cohorts. Applicants must have an MDiv or equivalent and at least three years of ministry experience.

This mission makes beautiful music

The Duncan Africa Society is hosting an open house at its headquarters in Surrey, BC June 5 - 6. The Society was founded as a Christian mission by Jay Duncan in 2006. Duncan spent the next three years founding a guitar-making school in Mpigi near Kampala in Uganda. The project provides income for Ugandans when the Duncan guitars are sold in Canada, and will hopefully make the mission self-supporting. The guitars are being used by some prominent Christian musicians in British Columbia, including Brian Doerksen, Kevin Boese, Steve Mitchinson, Brian Thiessen, Chris Graffignino, Steve Klassen and Roy Salmond.

The goodest writing in Canada

The United Church Observer has been named the best Canadian church magazine in the 2009 Canadian Church Press awards. Celebrate! was named best specialized magazine, The Anglican Journal the best national newspaper, and ChristianWeek the best regional newspaper. Christian Info Society, which produces CanadianChristianity.com, won several awards for its print publications. David Aupperlee's article 'Becoming Naked' in Options won honourable mention in the A.C. Forrest Memorial Award competition; Lloyd Mackey's article 'Bergens Vow to Continue Work' in BC Christian News won third place in the category Best News Story in a Newspaper/Newsletter; Jim Coggins's article 'Religious Right is Losing Steam' in BC Christian News won third place in the category In-Depth Treatment of a News Event in a Newspaper; Bruce Fawcett's article 'Have You Ever Wondered if God is Calling you to...Full time Ministry?' in Options won honourable mention in the category Feature in a Magazine; John Cody's music columns in BC Christian News (February, March and July 2008) won first place in the Newspaper Column category; Peter T. Chattaway's film columns in BC Christian News (May, June and July 2008) won second place in the category Media Review; and Fred Peter's 'A Nursing Log' in BC Christian News won third place in the category Original Artwork.

June 4/2009