Singing with compassion for the poor

The CompassionArt charity has released a CD called CompassionArt: Creating Freedom From Poverty. The album has 14 songs featuring 19 songwriters and singers. It also includes a 50-minute DVD documentary and a companion book, The Art of Compassion, written by the 12 CompassionArt songwriters. Canadians Andy Park and Paul Baloche each contributed a track. All song, artist and author royalties received from the projects will be donated to the poor.

Deb Grey speaks out

Former MP Deborah Grey will deliver the 11th annual Mel Smith Lecture at Trinity Western University February 5. Her subject will be 'Power, Parliament and Preston Manning: My Life as a Reformer.' Dubbed the 'First Lady of Reform,' she began her political career in 1989, becoming the Reform Party's first Member of Parliament, and sat as its sole MP for four-and-a-half years. Her media presence and parliamentary debating skills earned national respect over her 15 years of public service.

Christian Channel gets Youngren ownership

The S-VOX group of companies, which includes VisionTV and One: the Body, Mind & Spirit channel, has sold The Christian Channel to World Impact Ministries (WIM), a Christian charity based in St. Catharines, Ontario, subject to the approval of the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). Peter Youngren, president and founder of WIM, said: "We are proud to continue building on the vibrant Christian television channel that the S-VOX group has established in Canada. WIM looks to create a strong spiritual voice of goodwill and friendship toward all Canadians, and to present relevant religious programming that addresses the needs and interests of society as a whole. WIM will seek to increase the distribution of The Christian Channel both within Canada and around the globe."

The song is over for Jazz Vespers pioneer

Gordon Turner, the retired senior pastor at St. Andrew's-Wesley United Church in Vancouver, died suddenly while vacationing in Cuba January 19. Among his many accomplishments, he began the church's well-known Jazz Vespers services. While the concept originated in the United States, Turner was the first to introduce it to Canadian churches, beginning in Ontario in 1972. He had recently been helping a church in Whistler plan for its future.

Winnipeg Archbishop in West Bank

James Weisgerber, Catholic Archbishop of Winnipeg and president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, has returned from a trip to the West Bank. "All of Gaza is destroyed," he said. Development and Peace, the relief and development arm of the Canadian Roman Catholic Church, has just sent $150,000 to its partner Caritas Jerusalem to distribute blankets, medical supplies and food to thousands of victims of the latest violence in Gaza. "While both Israel and Hamas have adopted a ceasefire, peace is precarious," warns Gilio Brunelli, Director of International Programs at Development and Peace. "As Canadians," Weisgerber says, "it is essential that we pressure our government to play a stronger role in the peace process and that we support international aid."

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Abortion does affect mental health

The Institute of Marriage and Family Canada (IMFC) has released a paper disagreeing with a report by the American Psychological Association (APA) last year that said women who have first-trimester abortions are at no greater risk of mental health problems. Andrea Mrozek, author of the IMFC paper, noted that the APA's report was based on only one scientific study while ignoring many others, and added: "It is important to maintain a high level of scientific rigour. Their analysis appears to fall short of that, and could have negative implications for women's health." The APA report has implications for psychology in Canada because of the widespread respect the APA commands. The IMFC exists to present credible, research based evidence -- to governments, media and all Canadians -- that supports mom-and-dad marriage and family life.

CMU brings in Schellenberg to be external VP

Terry Schellenberg has been appointed vice president external at Canadian Mennonite University in Winnipeg, effective in August. Schellenberg is currently principal of Rockway Mennonite Collegiate in Kitchener, Ontario and was previously principal of Menno Simons Christian School in Calgary. He has an MA in Theology and Ethics from Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, a BA from the University of Manitoba and a BTh from Canadian Mennonite Bible College.

Promise Keepers new President

The board of Promise Keepers Canada has announced the appointment of Kirk Giles to the position of president, effective April 1. Kirk has served in various roles at Promise Keepers Canada for almost 13 years. Most recently, he has served as the director of ministry advancement, overseeing the areas of events, marketing, resources, and discipleship.

Third bishop for Anglican Network

Bishop Ronald Ferris, the recently retired Bishop of Algoma in Ontario, has joined the Anglican Network in Canada (ANiC) under the jurisdiction of Archbishop Gregory Venables, Primate of the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone. Ferris is the third Canadian bishop to be received under Venables for ministry in the ANiC, a coalition of churches that left the Anglican Church of Canada over issues such as same-sex blessings. While Ferris will focus primarily on church planting in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, he will be available to assist Bishop Donald Harvey in episcopal ministry. The ANiC currently numbers three bishops, 66 priests and deacons and 26 parishes with about 3,200 Canadians in church on an average Sunday.

Canadians embrace leprosy mission

Donations to the Leprosy Mission Canada (LMC) were up by more than eight percent in 2008, reaching more than $7 million. Canada will host the International Assembly of the Leprosy Mission for the first time ever May 31 - June 3. The Assembly is a gathering of leaders in the field of leprosy treatment and research, and the mission hopes to attract extensive media coverage and educate Canadians about the disease.

January 29/2009