Page 17 - Presbyterian Connection

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SUMMER 2024
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PRESBYTERIAN
17
Narratives of Hope and Possibility
By the Rev. Dr. Jean Morris, Interim Moderator, Grace Presbyterian Church in Calgary, Alta., and the Rev. Victor Kim, Principal Clerk
Narratives have the power to tell the story of organizations. Narra- tives can tell the story of denomi- nations as well, including The Presbyterian Church in Canada. What are the stories being told about our church and our de- nomination today? We recognize that these are challenging times for the church and the stories we hear about the church, congrega- tions and ministries often reflect the realities of changing demo- graphics, closing congregations, an inadequate resourcing of min- istries, increased secularization in our society, and of course the repercussions of a pandemic that continue to contribute to the chal- lenges we are facing, just to name a few. The Assembly Council is concerned about the present and future ministry of The Presbyteri- an Church in Canada, its congre- gations and structures.
The Assembly Council is a group of people appointed by the General Assembly from across the country, responsible for the implementation of the policies established by the General As- sembly. It has both a coordinat- ing and prophetic role, and in its prophetic role the Assembly Council will, among other things, “present a vision for the mission of a church that looks to God for continual renewal and will dream about the future of the church and seek to be a leading edge of what the church might be in the future.”
Beginning in the autumn of 2022, the Assembly Council has engaged in thoughtful consid- eration and exploration of what its prophetic role may be at this time and how God’s Spirit may be guiding The Presbyterian Church
in Canada through the narratives that shape our story and ministry. In effect, the narrative is the man- ger in which Christ is laid. This image affirms that at the heart of the church’s narrative is the per- son of Jesus Christ.
At the 2023 General Assem- bly, commissioners participated in times of conversation called Narratives of Hope and Possibil- ity, including stories we tell about ourselves and how our structures serve our stories. Building on the feedback received from the General Assembly, the Assem- bly Council appointed a working group to consider narratives of hope and possibility. The work- ing group consists of up to 20 members drawn from across the denomination, from a diversity of cultures and ministries. The As- sembly Council is aware that pre- vious attempts at denominational revitalization have not always resulted in what was originally hoped for. The Council begins this work with the prayerful expecta- tion that good fruit might be borne through God’s acting and leading.
The working group is convened by the Rev. Dr. Jean Morris, sup- ported by the Rev. Victor Kim, Principal Clerk of the General
Assembly, and is charged with exploring and recommending pathways that position The Pres- byterian Church in Canada in an attitude of openness and possibil- ity regarding the church’s future, and will report to the Assembly Council and through Assembly Council to the General Assembly.
Working group responsibilities:
1. Reflect upon, review, pub- licize and reinforce faithful, Christ-centred narratives for the denomination that clarify and encourage The Presby- terian Church in Canada to imagine, learn and act upon narratives that could lead to renewal, transformation and vitality for congregations, courts and agencies of the church.
2. Provide a theological ration- ale that underpins any nar- rative and invitation to trans- formational change.
3. Present to the denomination faithful stories of hope and possibility that would lead to a renewal in the structures of the denomination.
4. Present an ecclesiology that informs any proposed changes to the current
structures of The Presbyte-
rian Church in Canada.
5. Explore good practices and experiences of other Chris- tian denominations, both in
Canada and beyond.
6. Reporting via the Assembly
Council through at least one in-person joint meeting per year, aim to bring a report to the 2025 General Assembly, intended to inspire direction and vision for the future of The Presbyterian Church in Canada as guided by Christ.
The working group has met twice. While still in the initial stages of its work, the working group has discerned some con- sistent themes that have arisen during its meetings.
faithfulness as the PCC seeks
God’s direction for our future. • We believe that, as a de- nomination, telling stories of hope and possibility, along with stories of suffering and struggle that are part of our life together in Christ, are im- portant as we consider the pathways of possibility that
may be before us.
• We understand that the
church needs a theological framework to tell, or remem- ber to tell, our stories again. We need to recover language that helps us as Christians speak about God and how God acts in the life of the church and in the world.
• We recognize the need to address the structures that shape the ways by which we are organized and act. We realize that our stories will have a primary role in shap- ing our structures.
• We believe that The Presbyte-
rian Church in Canada bears
witness to the faithfulness of
God in all things and seeks
re-orientation by God’s ac-
tive agency in our world. While we intend to bring
Solar Eclipse in Brockville
• We wonder whether The Presbyterian Church in Can- ada is being called to a sea- son of engaged waiting on God, with renewed time and energy in prayer, scripture and telling stories of God’s
By the Rev. Marianne Emig Carr, First Presbyterian Church in Brockville, Ont.
First Presbyterian Church in Brockville, Ont., held its third PA Day Camp of the 2023–24 school year on April 8. As it was a very special day with the solar eclipse, the camp theme was built around this rare celestial event! Campers made eclipse-themed crafts, read stories and watched the eclipse through totality—with proper eye protection, of course!
For the camp mission project, campers heard from the John Howard Society about the soci-
through the Assembly Council in its prophetic role a full report to the 2025 General Assembly, the working group offers this brief and initial update to the church and seeks the prayers of the church for the work of its members.
ety’s work in assisting those who have been in conflict with the law, as well as vulnerable youth, to find housing, medical services and other supports to help them toward fulfilling lives. The camp- ers donated bags of personal care items for the society’s clients.
Everyone had a great time, and we are looking forward to the final PA Day Camp for this school year, which is on May 31. First Pres- byterian Church has been hosting PA Day Camps for children in the Brockville area since 2014, and we are grateful for our wonderful staff and volunteers who so faith- fully support this ministry!