Page 7 - Presbyterian Connection Newspaper, Summer 2017

Connection
PRESBYTERIAN
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gation is to talk about what no other group in society is talking about—liv- ing the spiritual life by following Je- sus Christ and engaging in spiritual practices that deepen that following.
Where do you see signs of hope for the world and the church?
The biggest sign of hope is the con- tinuing rise of World Christianity. I have had the privilege of serving as the Cross-Cultural Liaison for the Presbytery of Winnipeg, giving me contact with Korean, Filipino, Indige- nous and Arabic-speaking faith com- munities. The vibrancy of faith, the commitment to spiritual disciplines, the desire to share the good news (for these communities have not di- vided evangelism from social action and vice versa) has given me much hope.
This is only what we are experi- encing in Winnipeg. The expansion of World Christianity is the hope for the world, because God’s mission has a church and it is on the move.
What is your favourite flavour of ice cream?
Maple walnut.
To learn more, visit presbyterian.ca/moderator
presbyterian.ca
SUMMER 2017
Meet the Moderator
INTERVIEW
Jeremiah 29:11—This verse is of- ten quoted with little reference to the context. Yes, God is going to bring about the restoration of Israel, but not for 70 years, not in the lifetimes of the first readers of Jeremiah’s letter. Even though God’s restoration seems slow in coming, it can be trusted.
What area of public life do you be- lieve the PCC should be more in- volved in than it currently is?
The church in Nor th America must find effective ways to address the toxic impact of consumerism. Con- sumerism is destructive of commu- nity, ridicules self-giving, undermines collective action and commitment, feeds environmental destruction and disrespects the poor. Consumerism also impacts the life of the church, moving focus away from God and shifting it to the felt-needs of the members.
A colleague highlights this chal- lenge, saying many funerals have moved from being “To the glory of God and in memory of the deceased” to being “To the glory of the deceased and in memory of God.”
Tom Bandy, a United Church pastor, was asked: “What is the one thing that all the turn-around churches you have been involved with had in common?” Bandy replied, “They were lead by
pastors who loved Jesus more than they loved their pension plans.”
Addressing the destructive as- pects of consumerism will lead the church into conversation about the environment, living more simply, and the affirmation of community and neighbourhood decision-making and development. All of this brings us into conversation with those in our society who feel something is wrong at the hear t of present-day economic realities and are seeking an alternative voice and alternative community.
In your opinion, what are the most important features of faithful con- gregational ministry?
The church is not called to be more enter taining than Hollywood, nor is it to provide better music than Nash- ville, nor is it to be more exciting than watching spor ts. The local congre-
On Sunday, June 4, 2017, the Rev. Peter Bush was installed as the 143rd Moderator of The Presbyterian Church in Canada. Peter is the son of mis- sionary parents and is the minister at Westwood Church in Winnipeg. He previously served Knox Presbyterian Church in Mitchell, Ontario (1996– 2007), and St. Andrew’s Church in Flin Flon, Manitoba (1989–1996).
Please provide some background on your involvement in The Presby- terian Church in Canada.
I have been an Interim Moderator 19 times, a member on the Commit- tee on History, Church Doctrine, the Pension and Benefits Board, I edit Presbyterian History and am the lead for the Reformation@500 events. Together with the Rev. Dr. Christine O’Reilly I have led workshops on worship and preaching.
I started writing about the PCC and Residential Schools in 1992. I served on the planning committee for the “Remembering the Children” event in Winnipeg in March 2008, and was involved with the Church Tent at the first of the TRC’s National Events in 2010.
The Presbytery of Winnipeg has star ted or nur tured four non-Euro- Canadian congregations, which are part of the presbytery. Recognizing the need for ongoing connection and suppor t if such congregations are go- ing to flourish, I serve as the Cross- Cultural Liaison for the presbytery, interpreting Canadian Presbyterianism to these congregations and these con- gregations to the Canadian church.
What are your earliest memories of church?
When I was four-and-a-half years old, we moved to Beirut, Lebanon, where we lived until I was nine years old. On Sunday mornings we attended an English-speaking church with the congregation sitting on folding chairs and the Sunday school space a rabbit warren of rooms above the sanctu- ary. I still remember a sermon illus- tration I heard in that church more than 45 years ago.
We lived on the third floor of an apar tment building—and two floors down on the main level an Arabic- speaking church had rented an apar t- ment as their church space (the living- room/dining room was the sanctuary, bedrooms were the minister’s study, Sunday school and meeting space). Sunday nights my parents attended this service and became friends of the Arabic speaking pastor.
What three verses of scripture do you return to over and over and find especially formative?
I Peter 5:7—I was five years old when the Six-Day War happened. We had to dye the light bulbs in our house and put dark construction paper over the windows so that the bombers would not be able see any light from our apar tment. We were eventually evac- uated by the Canadian government. It was a scary time and this verse was very important.
Proverbs 3:5–6—The theme vers- es for the Christian camp that had an enormous impact on my life from age 15 to 24.

The church in
North America must find effective ways to address the toxic impact of consumerism.
Soli Deo Gloria
(For God’s Glory Alone)

October 28, 2017
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