Providence College confronts gay reality
Community covenant tested by public declaration
Karla Braun
ChristianWeek Staff
OTTERBURNE, MB–Administrators at Providence College and Seminary faced a significant challenge earlier this year when a senior Biblical and Theological Studies major publicly declared himself to be gay.
Fourth-year student David Puranen–who wants to be a pastor–wrote a theological study on why it is not unbiblical for him to pursue a same-sex relationship within the loving, monogamous, committed guidelines set out by Scripture and posted it on his weblog.
It was not a popular action at the conservative Christian college.
Calgary school board rejects alternative Christian programs
The Calgary Board of Education (CBE) said no to faith-based alternative programs in public schools three years ago and have done so once again.
Three Calgary private schools have been lobbying to join the public board. In response, CBE trustee Carol Bazinet re-opened the debate at a recent board meeting. Bazinet told the Calgary Herald alternative programs shouldn't be rejected on the basis of faith alone.
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Study points to rise in youth behavioural issues
A new report by the Vanier Institute of the Family indicates there has been a dramatic rise in the number of children and teens demonstrating severe problematic behaviour over the last three decades.
The report, "Contemporary Family Trends," draws on 80 Canadian and U.S. studies to document the increase in bad behaviour and points to multiple causes including poor parenting, media influences and reduced emphasis on religion "as a life-structuring element and agency of social control."
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Rudy Wiebe wins Taylor prize, mentors writers
In the great and ever growing library of Canadian story, we find the very building blocks of the nation as it is today. Or perhaps we should say building logs, ice, hide and stone that have sheltered those who have lived and told the stories of this land.
This month, author Rudy Wiebe returns to Winnipeg where he will be co-leading the mentorship-based School of Writing at Canadian Mennonite University with poet Sarah Klassen. He sees the role of mentor as a way of giving back.
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Worship network brings unity to Waterloo region
Four years ago, Steve Peng wondered if worship leaders could have the support as pastors with their ministerial associations.
So began the Waterloo Region Worship (WRW) Network, an organization of worship leaders and worship pastors from more than 30 local churches, who gather bimonthly to discuss worship-related topics, plan region-wide worship events and pray for each other’s churches and ministries.
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Quebec churches grapple with emergent movement
Response in Quebec to what is broadly termed the emerging church movement is mixed but largely indifferent.
Categorical opposition to emergent leaders is nothing new. Since Brian D. McLaren's The Church on the Other Side was made available in French by the Scripture Union's European publications department in France, there have been repeated calls for the typically conservative publisher to withdraw the book. It is still the only title available in French.
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