February 17, 2004
News Briefs for February 2004
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The Importance of Humpty Dumpty
"When
I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said in a rather scornful
tone," it means
just
what I choose it to mean." Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking
Glass
A prophetic voice, Humpty Dumpty's. And seventy-five years later, in his novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, George Orwell takes Carroll's absurdity and points out how its adoption by officialdom leads inescapably to Newspeak, the imposition of radical redefinition of terms. Now, after another half century, Canada has its own fine example of Newspeak as several of our courts, with no apparent resistance from Ottawa, push for a new - and much broader - understanding of "marriage".
The NACC has made its position on marriage clear - it is what it traditionally has been: the union of one of one man and one woman. Not "two persons" of unspecified gender, which, sadly, is what important voices in our denomination have plumped for.
The federal government has now referred the matter to the Supreme Court of Canada for advice, which means this issue will probably not feature prominently in expected spring election. However, this issue is not going to go away, and, whatever the Supreme Court eventually has to say, Parliament has the responsibility for making the final decision. Your local MP is responsible to you, as an elector, and he or she needs the benefit of your advice.
You can reach your MP through the local constituency office or by writing, postage free, c/o The House of Commons, The Parliament Buildings, Ottawa ON K1A 0A6. For online information on reaching your MP, go to http://canada.gc.ca/directories/direct_e.html.
"[Marriage] points mysteriously to the wonder of the Trinity, our ultimate pattern of 'other but same in relationship' ". -- Edith Humphrey
Caplin or Cod?
"Caplin" needs no explanation to NLACC members, but for those from off The Rock:
A small iridescent deep-water fish like a smelt which, followed by the cod, appears inshore during June and July to spawn along the beaches, and is netted for bait, for manuring the fields, or dried, salted, smoked or frozen for eating. (Dictionary of Newfoundland English)
The National Alliance has about 100 member congregations across Canada, which is admittedly tiny beside the United Church's 3,677. However, if that makes us a "caplin", we're still a good-sized one, with more member churches than 25 of the 55 Canadian denominations identified by Faith Today (Sept./Oct., 2003).
"The Passion of Christ"
Directed by Mel Gibson, "The Passion" is up for general release later this month. Through the kind offices of Outreach Canada, the NACC is able to offer an introductory DVD to each of its member congregations. We ourselves have not had a preview of the film, but those who have - even religious skeptics - seem agreed that it is immensely powerful. To give you a flavour, two non-skeptics comment:
Billy Graham - "The film is faithful to the Bible's teaching that we are all responsible for Jesus' death, because we all have sinned. It is our sins that caused his death, not any particular group." He adds, " After watching The Passion... I feel as if I have actually been there. I was moved to tears. [Reportedly, many that've seen it have been.] I doubt if there has ever been a more graphic and moving presentation of Jesus' death and resurrection."
Dr. James Dobson (Focus on the Family) - "The Passion of Christ . . . is one of the most deeply disturbing and powerful movies I've ever seen, but one that everyone should watch. I recommend it highly."
For a congregational copy of the introductory DVD, contact a regional officer.
Briefly:
The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (to which the NACC belongs) now has a fine online newsletter at www.christianity.ca. Go there for more on "The Passion" (above).
Sad news about Wayne Crofford. Wayne went into UCC ministry from one of our BCACC congregations. Just a few months into his second pastorate, Manitoba Conference has removed him from the charge and, now, completely from UCC ministry. We have seen nothing convincing to support these actions. Wayne now serves a church in another denomination.
Through your regional association you should be able to get copies of the various NACC brochures (now redesigned). Broadly speaking they are either informational -
"The National Alliance of Covenanting Congregations", "Steps to Becoming a Covenanting Congregation", "What It Means to Be a Covenanting Congregation", "So Your Minister Is Leaving . . . ", "You Asked?" [on congregational rights and responsibilities], "How We Relate to Other Christian Denominations",
or theological -
"Who Is Jesus?", "Morality and the Family", "Authority and Interpretation of Scripture", and "The DuPage Declaration: a call to biblical fidelity".
Posted at February 17, 2004 12:36 PM