October Magazine 2017

October’s issue of RLN explores the continuing legacy of the Reformation for its 500th anniversary. You can download the pdf or read it in Issuu below.

A Return to Allegorical Readings of Scripture

There are texts in scripture that present moral problems and, throughout history, the Church has found it difficult to come to terms with many of the teachings and stories in scripture. Today, the Church employs various approaches to these difficult texts: the more conservative voices usually place the importance of

Children’s Place in Church Community

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me,” but how do we do that in these changing times? Our approach to children’s spiritual formation in the Church is changing, as we have seen through the “Killing Sunday School & Birthing Cross+Gen Community” movement and other conversations exploring ways of

Mickey Mouse and Youth Ministry

In a 1989 article for Youthworker Journal, Stuart Cummings-Bond declared, “Churches with strong youth programs have usually controlled adolescence by corralling it, by institutionalizing it ‒ and not within the daily rhythm of the church, but outside of it, in a smaller circle that is tangent to the larger one,

September Magazine 2017

RLN is back with September’s issue on the Inter-generational Church. In this issue, we take a look at how the different generations of the Church relate to one another. Also included is an update from the Anglican Foundation on its 60th anniversary and a piece on allegorical readings of scripture.

Statement Denouncing White Supremacy, Terrorism, and Violence

“My anguish, my anguish! I writhe in pain! Oh, the walls of my heart! My heart is beating wildly; I cannot keep silent.” – Jeremiah 4:19 Such are the words of a Middle Eastern prophet some 2,700 years ago. During their time, ancient prophets exposed and challenged social injustice, abuses

River Life, Theologically Speaking

Before arriving in Winnipeg just over a month ago, I lived in cities in Ontario, the UK, and, briefly, the American Midwest. What links these distant places to Winnipeg is how important their rivers are to the social life of the city. Guelph, Ontario, has the Speed River; London has

Restorative Justice: listening with the heart

A man in his late twenties sits across from the woman whose house he entered to steal articles that he could sell in order to buy the drugs he desperately needed to feed his habit. He listens as she tells him about the impact his actions had on her family,

Job Posting: St. Aidan’s Christian School

St. Aidan’s Christian School is looking for a a new principal. St. Aidan’s Christian School, Winnipeg, is a small Christian school in Winnipeg comprised of two campuses, one in the North End, working mainly with Indigenous students, the other downtown, working mainly with an immigrant and refugee student population. View

Diakonia: Serving with Authority

Jesus came to bring good news to the poor. That is one of the reasons the Church calls people to be deacons, who will help us find and be among those who are poor of body and spirit. Churches of the Orthodox, Catholic, Reform and Evangelical traditions all have some

Mental Illness through a Biblical Lens

Religion and psychiatry have a long and complex relationship, not always a positive one. However, in recent years there has been an increase of interest in, and openness to, spirituality in mental health care. When mental illness enters the picture, spiritual well-being suffers. The person may feel alienated from, or

When God was Young

“I’m only 19, but my mind is old, and when things get for real, my warm heart turns cold.” I heard these words at 1:00 a.m. on a Saturday night while sitting at home attempting to read my notes from psychology. These are the words of Prodigy (one half of

Animals and the Church?

A Meditation for the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi Who brings rain to a land “where no one lives, on the desert, which is empty of human life”? (Job 38:25–26). God poses the question to a beleaguered Job and it is a striking one. Why indeed does God

Finding Common Ground through Poetry

The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People is a fairly short document, only consisting of 46 articles. However, some might find it difficult to read: “[it] sounds like Western legalese and it’s somewhat technical,” says Steve Heinrichs, Director of Indigenous Relations for Mennonite Church Canada. “The words

I Notice God in the Mundane

I heard about the Companions program at the Sisterhood of St. John the Divine in the bulletin at saint benedict’s table, the Anglican church I was attending while working toward a degree at the Canadian Mennonite University in Winnipeg. Though intuition compelled me to apply, I spent a self-allotted two

Pilgrimage For Indigenous Rights

Recently, I took part in the Pilgrimage for Indigenous Rights, organized by Mennonite Church Canada and Christian Peacemaker Teams ‒ Indigenous Peoples’ Solidarity Project. Between April 22 and May 14, 30-60 people from diverse ages, stories, and backgrounds participated in this 600km walk. The majority of the walkers identified as

June Magazine 2017

June’s magazine for National Aboriginal History Month focuses on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. It also includes a list of recommended books on Indigenous issues and a first-hand account of the Companions on an Ancient Path program offered by the Sisterhood of St. John the

The Art of Bob Webster

When I was a child, I had no artistic ability, so I never followed any of those inclinations. However, in a mid-career evaluation course, I realized that I was doing nothing with my creative drives. I decided to dabble in oils and had a few satisfying results, but for a

CURRENT ISSUE

Generations

We start this month’s issue off with an article from the Rev. Theo Robinson on the resolution at General Synod on Pastoral Liturgies for Journeys for Gender Transition and Affirmation. This article explores the context leading up to the resolution and the good news of the Anglican Church of Canada becoming the first in the worldwide communion of Anglican Churches to have a pastoral liturgy for gender transition.

Next, the Rev. Dixie Bird describes the experiences and teachings shared at Sacred Beginnings. Sacred Beginnings is an embryo of Sacred Circle for youth to learn traditional teachings and get involved in the work being done by Indigenous Anglicans and just had its second gathering in May this year.

The Rev. Alan Hayes reflects on the 1963 Anglican Congress in Toronto which was a turning point in Anglican history and began significant conversations about decolonization and the Anglican Church’s relationship with the British empire. A recent conference marking 60 years since this congress has brought forward reflections on what has changed in the Anglican church in the intervening years.

A note from Refugee Coordinator Marlene Smith invites you to the diocese’s marking of World Refugee Day on June 23rd at Epiphany Indigenous Church. This day is meant as an invitation to “welcome the stranger” and calls us to explore the relationship between moving towards reconciliation with Indigenous peoples and supporting those displaced by war abroad.

Robyn Sulkko of the PWRDF youth council announces their 12 month Youth to Youth program which provides opportunities for people ages 12-16 to learn about each other’s cultures and build right relationships with each other.

Finally, a parish profile on St. Michael and All Angels’ explores how that community’s unique Anglo-Catholic worship connects with both retired clergy and congregants in their 20s all looking to worship with all the senses in a context outside of the business of daily life.

I hope you enjoy this month’s articles.

 

Read and download the June issue here.

Access a printer-friendly version here.

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