This is not a divorce!

Dave Currie has resigned as national director of FamilyLife Canada, effective March 1. This will allow him to focus more energy on the Marriage Uncensored television program he co-hosts with Christie Rayburn and on writing articles and books about marriage and family. He and his wife Donalyn also hope to spend more time with their grandchildren. During the past seven years under Currie's leadership, FamilyLife Canada has grown from a staff of three to a staff of 35. FamilyLife is a ministry of Power to Change (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ, Canada).

This is not marriage

The five bishops of the Anglican Diocese of Toronto are proposing that "a limited number of parishes" be given permission to offer blessings to same-sex couples "in stable, long-term, committed relationships." They are appointing a commission to study the details, and the proposal will be discussed at synods in May and November, but the proposal will be enacted by the bishops without a synod vote. The blessing will not be a marriage blessing, which the bishops say would fall within the jurisdiction of the national General Synod. The proposal is supported by four bishops who voted in favour of same-sex blessings at the last General Synod and by the fifth bishop, Patrick Yu, who had voted against them. Eight other Anglican dioceses in Canada have already approved same-sex blessings. -- Anglican Planet

500 Graces in music video

Almost half of the Anglican churches in Canada participated in the Amazing Grace Project by sending videos of their congregations singing the well-known hymn to the national church headquarters. The 500 videos were compiled onto a single DVD and posted on YouTube. As an afterthought, many participants contributed a toonie, raising $81,000 for Anglican churches in northern Canada. The money will be used on programs to prevent violence and suicide, especially among young people, and on programs to provide training and leadership development in congregations. -- Anglican Journal

A different group with a similar goal

The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada's Aboriginal Ministries Council has produced a DVD titled Through the Pain to educate youth workers, ministry leaders, service workers and individuals about the impact of suicide in the Native community. The EFC hopes the DVD can also be useful in helping to prevent suicides in other ethnic groups and social contexts. It can be ordered for $15 by calling 1-866-302-3362 ext. 234 (or 905-479-5885 in the Toronto area). The DVD was produced in partnership with My People International, "a cross-cultural ministry communicating the teachings of Jesus to Native North American people in a culturally relevant way."

Two-thirds of Canada's population being persecuted

The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada's Religious Liberty Commission (RLC) released a report last week entitled 'Faith and Freedom Collide in India: A Report on the Rise of Recent Violence Against Christians in Orissa and Other Indian States.' The 25-page document examines the Hindu-inspired violence against Christians that reached new heights in August 2008. "The minority Christian population in India is equivalent in numbers to two-thirds of the population of Canada, and this increasing violence is extremely disturbing," said Don Hutchinson, chair of the RLC. "Our hope is that India's upcoming 2009 general election [in April and May] will provide incentives for the nation's leaders to take action to relieve the tensions that have led to these appalling attacks on so many innocent victims. Such blatant disregard for human rights in a democratic country is disgraceful."

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More persecution at high levels

The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada's Religious Liberty Commission has written a letter of thanks to MP Linda Duncan for presenting a petition in the House of Commons on behalf of Iraqi Christians who currently face high levels of persecution.

Not the Canterbury Tales

The UK-based international development agency Christian Aid is inviting Christians to go on a "virtual pilgrimage" to Israel/Palestine during Lent. The online pilgrimage, endorsed by a number of denominations, gives people the chance to watch short videos, go to photo galleries, read stories and pray in the places where Jesus preached. It also gives them the chance to meet local Christians, Jews and Muslims living there today, hear their personal stories, learn how the ongoing conflict there touches their lives, and discover how hard many people are working for peace. -- Ekklesia

We are only lent life

Christians in five Canadian cities (Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, Winnipeg and Edmonton) have joined more than 175 American cities in maintaining 40 Days for Life prayer vigils outside abortion clinics and hospitals. The 40-day effort, which coincides with Lent, began in the United States four years ago. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the "omnibus bill" in Canada's Parliament that "led to opening the door to abortion on demand in Canada," said Ottawa Roman Catholic Archbishop Terrence Prendergast shortly before this year's campaign began. -- Catholic News Service

Another way to observe Lent

The Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace (D&P) has launched its annual Share Lent campaign, saying the current economic crisis is a reason to increase, not decrease, giving to the needy in the Global South. The annual campaign culminates in Solidarity Sunday, March 29, when the offering in Catholic churches across Canada is directed to international development. This drive provides about half of D&Ps annual budget. D&P is also calling on the Canadian government to increase international aid. Worldwide unemployment is forecast to rise from 190 million in 2007 to 210 million in 2009, and the number of people living on less than two dollars a day to increase by 100 million. -- Catholic News Service

Hour of (no) power

Kairos: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives is inviting churches to hold a service during Earth Hour on March 28, or to incorporate Earth Hour materials into their church services on March 29. In 2008, 50 million people in more than 35 countries switched off their lights for Earth Hour in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to draw attention to environmental concerns. Kairos offers a variety of resources and options in support of this effort.

March 5/2009