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The Purposes and Concerns of The Renewal Fellowship Within The Presbyterian Church in Canada

The Board intends to use this to shape our discussions, planning and programs. Please send your written comments to us. (Check the inside front cover for the address.)

Introduction

In 1991 the Board of The Renewal Fellowship Within The Presbyterian Church in Canada decided it was necessary to thoroughly consider the Renewal Fellowship’s effectiveness in encouraging renewal within The Presbyterian Church in Canada. Dr. Alan Caimie offered to facilitate a day of “issues analysis” in order to help the Board accomplish its goal.

On February 1, 1992, eight members of the Renewal Fellowship met in Etobicoke in order to identify and prioritize different issues and concerns considered of importance. At the end of that day it was concluded there were twelve main areas of interest.

Those twelve interests were further distilled to the three considered most urgent, which are:

  • To conduct an evaluation of the existing activities and programs of the Renewal Fellowship;
  • To develop a positive interface with The Presbyterian Church in Canada;
  • To examine our commitment to renewal on local levels.

What we have found through this process is not so much an insistence upon new directions and purposes as it is a confirmation and crystallization of many areas we have worked on in the past or felt we should be working on. It is hoped that through having engaged in this process, the Renewal Fellowship will be able to focus clearly on specific areas and offer leadership needed to revitalize The Presbyterian Church in Canada under the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit. We also hope this process will even more clearly bring to our attention our own need for renewal. Remembering the words of Living Faith, we take upon ourselves the image of beggars telling others where they can find food. We hope to be used by God as living indicators of his way for the church.

What is Renewal?

It is of paramount importance we clearly understand what we hope to see arise within our denomination. Therefore we take this as our working definition of renewal:

Renewal, the work of the Holy Spirit, is the on-going process which produces spiritual, theological and structural revitalization in the life, faith and ministry of the church and its members.

Through being renewed, we will reflect what it means to know, love, and serve God in our lives, our church and the world.

Our Mission Statement

To be faithful servants of the Lord Jesus Christ as he renews his church.

Our Doctrinal Basis

We are in full agreement with the faith confessed by The Presbyterian Church in Canada, in the subordinate standards of the Westminster Confession of Faith as adopted in 1875 and 1889, and in the Declaration of Faith Concerning Church and Nation of 1954, as well as with the standards and subscription for membership and leadership within The Presbyterian Church in Canada. In re-affirming these convictions, we wish to underline the following emphases of our biblical, evangelical and reformed faith:

  • The unity of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit in the Godhead.
  • The sovereignty of God in creation, revelation, redemption and final judgment.
  • The divine inspiration of Holy Scripture, which is therefore entirely reliable as the Word of God for today, and supremely authoritative in all matters of faith and conduct.
  • The sinfulness and guilt of all people before God, by which they are left subject to condemnation.
  • Forgiveness, reconcifiation and victory over sin through the sacrificial and substitutionary death of the Lord Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son of God, our only Mediator.
  • The bodily resurrection of this same Jesus Christ from the dead and his ascension to the right hand of God.
  • Our justification solely by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ.
  • The presence and power of the Holy Spirit in the work of regeneration leading us to repentance and obedience.
  • The indwelling and equipping work of the Holy Spirit in the believer.
  • The one holy catholic church which is the Body of Christ and to which all believers belong.
  • The imminent return in glory of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Our Goals

In submission to the God of love, we pray for:

  • Fresh power and authority from the Holy Spirit.
  • Responsible participation in the life of the church.
  • A deep hunger for the teaching of the Bible.
  • A zeal for serving others.

Our Objectives

Our objectives are:

  • To be a means of contact and encouragement among those concerned for renewal within The Presbyterian Church in Canada.
  • To promote publications and other material that clarify our concerns, that provide biblical and theological comment, and that encourage practical and specific ideas.
  • To encourage the development of resources for prayer, worship, evangelism, social justice and community building, thereby enhancing personal and corporate discipleship.
  • To organize conferences, seminars, and other activities to facilitate the process of strengthening our church’s reformed and evangelical witness.

Our Membership Policy

Membership in the Renewal Fellowship is open to all members and adherents of The Presbyterian Church in Canada who agree with our mission statement and doctrinal basis and are committed to renewal. The membership of the Renewal Fellowship elects the Board of Directors. The Board is responsible for the business of The Fellowship. The members also choose a Council of Reference made up of people chosen for their wisdom, judgment, maturity or expertise. The Council advises the Board of Directors. The members of the Board and Council must be professing members in good standing of The Presbyterian Church in Canada.

Our Relationship to The Presbyterian Church in Canada

We wish to work constructively within our church. In order to be best able to pursue our specific goals and objectives, we choose to serve as an autonomous organization within The Presbyterian Church in Canada.

By choosing to be autonomous we are free to speak out on matters of concern to us and also to provide Presbyterians in general, and our members in particular, with an avenue for encouragement, fellowship and exchange of perspectives on many topics.

Key Theological Issues in The Presbyterian Church in Canada

We recognize the authority of Scripture as the key theological issue in The Presbyterian Church in Canada today. We are convinced all other issues within the church, either theological or social, relate to this central issue. We shall actively affirm the authority of Scripture in all matters of teaching and practice. We shall develop strong statements confirming our position on the doctrine of Scripture. Where needed we shall develop other position statements. In particular we presently recognize a need for that to be done with respect to:

  • The doctrine of Christ;
  • The doctrine of the Holy Spirit;
  • The doctrine of ministry;
  • The doctrine of the church.

The Executive Director of The Renewal Fellowship Within The Presbyterian Church in Canada

We shall secure the services of an Executive Director as soon as possible. The Executive Director’s role is to:

  • Promote the Renewal Fellowship’s concerns;
  • Encourage our members,
  • Visit congregations and renewal events across the country in order to help facilitate renewal within the church.

Renewal in Local Congregations

We will work to encourage renewal within local churches. We will provide information to increase awareness of renewal. We will distribute resources related to different ways of facilitating renewal within a local congregation.

Local Chapters of The Renewal Fellowship

We will encourage the development of local chapters which meet periodically to provide encouragement and support.

Renewal, the work of the Holy Spirit, is the on-going process which produces spiritual, theological and structural revitalization in the life, faith and ministry of the church and its members.

Renewal Events

We shall hold periodic events in a variety of formats to encourage renewal. These events shall be held across the country, offering participants fellowship, encouragement and awareness of the work of renewal.

Channels

We will publish Channels quarterly. We adopt these as guiding principles for the publication of Channels:

  • It will be a means of networking between Renewal Fellowship members;
  • It will contain inspirational articles which motivate and encourage renewal, prayer and a deepening of one’s understanding of faith and its relationship to today’s world and issues;
  • It will contain articles about renewal in other denominations or mission fields;
  • It will contain articles based on in-depth biblical exegesis;
  • It will advertise renewal events such as Renewal Days and annual meetings;
  • It will comment on issues before the church and the Renewal Fellowship’s position on them;
  • It will act as a means of recruiting members;
  • It will educate readers on evangelism/outreach;
  • It will identify the need for change within evangelical Christianity;
  • It will stimulate readers to develop creative ministries.

Financing

We shall develop and implement a financial plan to provide for our financial viability in the short and long term. Within this plan we shall:

  • Establish and nurture long term commitment from our contributors;
  • Ensure that each event we sponsor is within budget;
  • Encourage planned giving such as wills, bequests, life insurance policies and living annuities.

We shall establish a contribution model, measure our growth and evaluate our performance against the model. We shall more effectively track people we come in contact with through renewal events.

Communication with the Membership of The Presbyterian Church in Canada.

Corporately we will seek a variety of ways to communicate with the membership of The Presbyterian Church in Canada. These could include the following:

  • Asking for prayer specifically related to renewal;
  • Placing advertisements and articles in The Presbyterian Record, Glad Tidings and other publications within the church, including PC PAK;
  • Promoting our work in Synods and Presbyteries;
  • Planning events in co-operation with Presbytery and Synod Committees and other church organizations;
  • Providing resources for bulletin inserts;
  • Using Prayer Calendars.

As individuals committed to renewal we shall communicate with fellow-members of The Presbyterian Church in Canada by:

  • inviting people to attend renewal events;
  • having a Renewal Fellowship representative in each congregation;
  • creating teams who would visit congregations to promote renewal and the Renewal Fellowship.

Communicating with the National Office of The Presbyterian Church in Canada

We share concerns with the national staff of The Presbyterian Church in Canada. Therefore we shall encourage communication, interaction and cooperation as much as it is possible and beneficial.

Our Presence at the General Assembly

We wish to acquaint the General Assembly with the Renewal Fellowship’s position on issues before the church. To achieve this we will:

  • Gather information of pertinent subjects;
  • Study the importance and relevance of the issues;
  • Prior to the General Assembly we shall make materials available to help people understand our position on the issues to be debated.

We wish to provide opportunities for prayer and fellowship at the General Assembly.

The Courts of the Church

We encourage members of the Renewal Fellowship to be active in the courts and committees of the Church.

Conclusion

We believe God is calling us to this ministry of encouraging renewal within The Presbyterian Church in Canada. In charting our course for the future, we pray we shall be obedient to this vision of our ministry and responsive to the voice of Christ as he renews us and his church.