The Lausanne Conference, held late last month in Cape Town, South Africa, was accounted a great success — despite internet problems, one government’s opposition and some controversy. It has been touted by its organizers as “perhaps the widest and most diverse gathering of Christians ever held in the history of the church.” lausanne.org/cape-town-2010 The event […]
Sarfati tour challenges evolution champion Dawkins
Respect and love Muslims, and share the good news
Christians need to offer a “correct biblical response” to Muslims, said Randy Hoffmann. And that response is not to burn copies of the Koran as Florida pastor Terry Jones threatened to do. Jones’s militant attitude is “inconsistent with the teachings of the Bible and the spirit of Christian ministry”, said a September 10 statement by […]
In Paul’s footsteps
It was while riding our big, air-conditioned tour bus up the Meander River valley, to view the ruins of Laodicea, that I began to appreciate what Paul and the first Christian evangelists in the Roman province of Asia had to endure for the sake of the gospel. I was travelling through what is now called […]
10 sure ways to avoid growing a youth ministry
Growth is overrated, and usually involves too much hard work and focus. It is far easier to lead with a minimalist strategy. Don’t read anything about youth ministry. Assume that you already know all there is to know about ministry to teenagers, and that those who have more experience are simply older and out of […]
Study predicts United Church decline will continue
The United Church of Canada (UCC) could become a shadow of its former — or even present — self, when it turns 100, according to an analysis of trends recently produced by a soon-to-retire minister of a North Vancouver church. David Ewart of Capilano United Church, a long-established neighbourhood congregation, did the analysis recently as […]
Part 1: Is the local church disappearing?
See our ‘State of the Church’ series for past years In 2008 and in 2009, CC.com ran series of articles on The State of the Canadian Church. Both series drew extensively on research by pollsters, academics and church leaders. This year, we are looking at some of the same issues, but from the bottom up […]
State of the Canadian Church – 2010
See our ‘State of the Church’ series for past years Part 1: Is the local church disappearing? FOR SALE: 45-year-old, 270-seat church; $4.5 million or best offer. In the late 1950s, it was the aim of the United Church to have a church in every high school catchment area in Canada. Today, many of those […]
Shack’s author stokes debate over the cross
Controversy surrounding William P. Young’s The Shack has drawn attention to a major theological debate that many readers of the popular novel may not be aware of. The debate concerns how Christians understand the significance of Christ’s death on the cross. Questions are being raised about one of the traditional concepts of the atonement. The […]
Canadian religion from a secular viewpoint
The State of the Canadian Church — Part 2 Part 1 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 Each week, CC.com links to stories about religion in the mainstream Canadian press under the banner ‘National Print News‘ (formerly called ‘News Links’). These links are grouped together in categories each week, which provides a […]