A searchable, downloadable PDF of the original article, with photos from the General Assembly, appears below. Calvin Brown is the Executive Director of The Renewal Fellowship.
WORSHIP
The opening worship at Assembly and the morning worship was arranged by the host congregation Glenview, Toronto whose minister is Dr. Bob Foumey. The focus was on Lay Ministry and encouraging stories were told by participants of how they saw their ministry in the everyday work place. The music was varied and enthusiastic. Prayers were said in many languages to illustrate the multi-cultural nature of our denomination and youth and children were often included as worship leaders.
MISSIONARY GOODBYE and LAST TESTAMENT
Undoubtedly one of the most moving moments of Assembly was when long-time Renewal Fellowship members Jack and Beth McIntosh were presented to Assembly for a “Minute of Appreciation” on Tuesday evening. They had been for forty years missionaries to the Korean Church in Japan. Jack, literally rose off his death bed, to come and share once again the gospel and to urge the church to persevere in faith. The Moderator of the Korean Christian Church in Japan, Rev. Duk Hwa Kim, was on hand to make a presentation on behalf of his delegation and the Koreans in Japan. Thomas Kim, a VST student said that it was through Jack McIntosh that he had learned to serve God and to serve people. He said to see the response of the church to the McIntosh’s life was “To witness how much God loves those whom he has chosen for his service.” The Moderator, Joe Reed, also a missionary, said “the mantle that once was Jack’s we pass to these students that Jesus may also be your Lord and Master.” When Jack’s transition to heaven was announced on Thursday morning the Assembly stopped in silence and prayers were offered in thanksgiving for his ministry and for comfort for his family and friends. “How blessed are they who die in the Lord!”
YARS
Young Adult reps are given permission to speak at Assembly but not to vote so when they asked the Moderator about this he said that they could offer up trial balloons in the hope that a Commissioner would turn their concern into motion. The YARS had much to offer to the Assembly discussions. In the briefing session I attended on the Human Sexuality Report, along with the Commissioners they asked probing questions. One YAR, after the group was led into the perennial debate about whether homosexuality was a matter of genetics or training, cut to the nub by asking “Isn’t the real issue about what God says in his word?” The Convenor’s response was that “For some that is the issue.”
When asked to summarize what the probable conclusion of the Committee would be when they brought in their final Report the Convenor replied that probably it would be that we have to live in the gray area and not draw any final conclusions. Another YAR, in obvious frustration, commented “So after five years of study we are just going to accept this sin like all the others the Presbyterian Church accepts.”
One wonders if our church is unable to give the clear moral direction that many of our youth are asking for whether in a few years they won’t be found in a denomination that does. It was a sad way to end the Flames focus for the year for Children and Youth.
It is to be hoped that by prayer and study that the church will be more ready to make a clearly biblical stand when the final Report is given to the Assembly in two years time.
On a lighter side, the YAR sense of humour was evident when in their “Report” they lampooned the Assembly. The comic highlight was when they introduced an ecumenical guest who entered the Assembly wearing a papal mitre. When invited to address the Assembly his holiness (alias Scott Fraser) assured the Assembly he was not the Anti-Christ ( a fact the Assembly already had concluded in response to an Overture to adapt the historic Westminster Confession of Faith which describes him in that language. After the Assembly was re-assured by his comments he removed his hat (mitre) to reveal two braided horns of hair on his head. Hopefully the Roman Catholics can also laugh at themselves and ecumenical relations will not be set back!
CHURCH DOCTRINE
Church Doctrine answered an Overture asking guidance concerning membership in the Masonic Lodge. The Committee had taken the stand that church leaders needed to examine whether or not participation in the secret brotherhood of the Lodge compromised “their singular commitment to Christs reign in their lives and in the church.” An amendment was made to make available anyone seeking guidance on the subject the recent report of the Church of Scotland on the matter which roundly denounced participation of church members in the Lodge but the amendment was defeated.
The Committee also presented a new Catechism which was sent down for study and report. This is worth our reading and thinking about.
They also dealt with the issue of whether or not there could be any other baptismal formula than in the “name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” and concluded that other formulas were not acceptable. In this age of pluralism and political correctness it is an important report to read.
RENEWAL PRESENCE
Your Executive Director and Board member, Liz Birnie, greeted people at the local arrangements table at York University, as they arrived at Assembly beginning on the Saturday. Many chose to sign up for the Renewal Fellowship event which included a brief bus tour of downtown Toronto, a wonderful meal hosted by Knox Presbyterian Church, and a worship service at which the Rev. Rodney Curpanen (above), Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Mauritius, spoke. It was a great opportunity for many at Knox to meet evangelical Christians from across the country.
Crieff Hills, with whom we sponsor the Annual Pastor’s Conference, again invited us to use some of their display space to tell of our work and we are very thankful to them.
Perhaps in some ways the low-key informal prayer meetings we sponsor are the most appreciated part of our presence. After several of the evening sessions of Assembly we gather for praise and prayer. This year especially on the Thursday evening the presence of the Holy Spirit was at work as one after another poured out their hearts in deep intercessory prayer for their children. We lifted one another in prayer and some were anointed for healing. Several said they couldn’t believe that such a prayer time would be available at Assembly and were very thankful for the ministry.
Next year the Assembly will meet in Cornwall, Ontario and we invite you to be preparing hearts and minds in prayer now to see God at work through this ministry and the work of the Assembly as we begin the year that Active Evangelism is the Flames initiative focus.