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The Author
Since then we have immigrated to Canada where we became Canadian citizens and raised a family of four children, three boys and a girl. Since all have grown up to be productive members of our society, Mary and I figure that our pedagogic efforts have not been in vain. With regards to religious matters, we were both members of the Christian Reformed Church. When we later moved to Terrace Bay, we switched to the United Church of Canada. Initially the move was made in order to fill a hiatus as there was no CRC in Terrace Bay. Later on however it became clear to me that the move had been a propitious one as I found the necessary freedom to explore the Christian tenets. To put my cards on the table, I am what is called a liberal thinker. Although I am sure that the trend was there, I can tell you that I didn't start out that way. I was very much a product of my family upbringing and the influences the CRC exerted upon me during the years I belonged to that denomination. It was only very slowly that the many unanswered questions I had forced me to rethink the statements of belief I had been repeating verbatim over the years. Fortunately I was assisted in my quest for understanding by the books I found in the local church libraries. In addition I have had the great good fortune to have always been associated with ministers (beginning with Rev Fraser Muldrew and Rev Ed Prinselaar of Schreiber) who encouraged me to stretch my spiritual muscle to the limit. And finally, I had some fine professors to instruct me when, at a later age, I obtained a liberal arts degree with majors in Religious studies and Philosophy. To make it short, I have finally arrived at the place where I feel strongly that we need to make a real effort to re-state our beliefs in language that is grounded in contemporary knowledge and thus can be understood by the normally intelligent wo/man in the street. Although many people will insist that there is nothing fundamentally wrong with the 20 articles of faith as they are found in the Basis of Union, I submit that to refuse to engage in this exercise is to hamper our Church severely in its bid to remain alive and active and an influence in society. I base my argument mainly on the events that surrounded the ordination services I have attended over the last few years. During those services the question is raised time and again as to whether the ordinands really subscribe to the articles of faith as we have them in our Basis of Union. My own perception is that the majority of the candidates do not. When pushed, the truth will out, and that is that the articles of faith are only subscribed to in a very general way. Then what is their value? To repeat, what really is it that we are asking the ordinands to subscribe to? In order to find an answer to that question, I hope you will join in the effort to help clarify that. Some points for your consideration are: a) When the Basis of Union (including the articles of faith) was written, it was written in the language of the mid-twenties by men who had the mindset of the twenties. If that same document had been put together today, it would have read differently. That perceptions change and that the United Church can change with them is demonstrated in the fact that as early as the thirties the United Church of Canada decided that gender was no reason to deny any person the right to serve the Church in any capacity, including that of minister. Another example of this shift in perception of reality and the capacity for change by the United Church can be seen in the release of the New Creed (which has recently been amended again). How did these changes come about? They came about through the lessons the leaders of the Church learned from observing the world around them. That process is still going on today. The difference with this initiative is that, rather than coming down from on high, it is welling up from the grass roots. b) As you may have noticed, the Church will be pushing hard to realize its one affirmation that "All may be one". Just exactly what is it that we are saying when we say that "All are one"? One in what? When this issue is stripped of its verbiage, we find that we are dealing with the relative merits of the religions of the world. This issue is a contentious one, and is another very good reason for the members of the Church to become involved in examining their beliefs and the fundamentals they are build on. Finally, regardless of origin and purpose, institutions change and take on baggage of one kind or another. Much of that baggage served a purpose at one time but is superfluous today. That being the case, a house cleaning seems to be in order. As it hasn't been done for a long time, and as we are preparing for the 75th anniversary of the United Church, this may be a good time to do a job. What can be expected from me as your host? My function, as I see it, is to design a track to run on, to keep the conversation on that track and to feed information into the debate. The single purpose of this effort is to encourage people to spread their spiritual wings and to learn to soar. When everything is said and done, it will be up to each individual to decide what to believe. i.e. this is not a place where people are going to be indoctrinated, no, it is a place where people come together for the purpose of studying the Bible, its "Good News" message and the statements of faith we have build upon them. The participants are encouraged to do this in a framework of contemporary knowledge and in an atmosphere that is conducive to searching and exploring, to contemplating and wrestling with the findings and to sharing the discoveries. What is the track? The 20 articles of Faith as they are found in the Basis of Union. In addition we will be referring to the Apostle's Creed, the Nicene Creed and the United Church New Creed. Finally, we will have our Bible(s) at hand. How will this work? We start from Article 1 (which speaks of God) and proceed from there. We keep at it till we have finished with them, hopefully by the time GC 37 rolls around. Some sort of schedule will be worked out as we proceed. With regards to discipline, my only function is to remind all participants to be respectful of the beliefs of others. Religion and associated beliefs are sensitive issues. My hope is that we can engage one another in constructive debate for the purpose of enhancing our individual capacity for spiritual growth. May the Spirit of almighty God be with us and sustain us and lead us in our deliberations. Shalom! After the fact:
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