Vol IX No.4
****
GLOBAL AND ECUMENICAL IN SCOPE
CANADIAN IN PERSPECTIVE
Wayne A. Holst, Editor
My E-Mail Address:
waholst@telusplanet.net
Colleagues List Web Site:
http://colleagueslist.blogspot.com
"Quicklinks" are included with many items
at the beginning of this issue.
To get a more complete picture, however,
scroll down to find your special selection
in the body of the blog.
*****
Dear friends:
This is the last bi-weekly summer issue of
Colleagues List. Two weeks from now,
September 8th, weekly issues will begin.
My Special Item this week is a book notice
for colleague Tim Callaway who has been
a friend and reader of this newsletter for
many years.
His book is entitled - "Training Disciplined
Soldiers for Christ - Prairie Bible Institute"
and I see this title as one which could open
new vistas of significant Canadian church
history for many of you.
http://tinyurl.com/jvov69g
--
Colleague Comment:
Marjorie Gibson responds to the appearance
of her "mandate" as a 91 year-old - which
was published in the Globe and Mail and
again, on Colleagues List several weeks ago.
http://tinyurl.com/m9398nu
--
Colleague Contributions:
Lorna Dueck of Toronto, Ontario
http://tinyurl.com/ktpn3pb
Ron Rolheiser of San Antonio, Texas
http://tinyurl.com/mmso5bo (and)
Jim Taylor of Okanagan, BC
http://tinyurl.com/mdprdbp
- provide current columns for us.
--
Net Notes:
'"The Cult of Apple'" - two presentations,
one, a video and one, a review, surface at
the appearance of "Jobs" the story of the
life of Steve Jobs (America Magazine)
http://tinyurl.com/l28dda5
http://tinyurl.com/n59aj7v
"Bonisteel Dies at 83" - the host of the CBC
religion TV show "Man Alive" several decades
ago, died recently (Winnipeg Free Press)
http://tinyurl.com/mp9zk37
"Hindus Applaud Francis" - the interfaith
impact of the pope is beginning to be
felt (Eurasia News)
http://tinyurl.com/mhgu3hv
"Copts and Islamic Violence" - political
strife in Egypt is wrecking significant
havoc on Christians in that land, and
the Canadian government objects
(The Tablet, Anglican Journal)
http://www.thetablet.co.uk/article/164582
http://tinyurl.com/l8gb286
"Anglican Communion 'On Precipice'" -
Archbishop Welby expresses grave
concern for the future of the Anglican
world communion (The Telegram, UK)
http://tinyurl.com/m5d923z
"Are Atheists Smarter than Religious?" -
a survey provides interesting findings
on intelligence and faith (Huffington
Post Canada) http://tinyurl.com/m45jlxy
"Will the Pope Tackle Women's Issues?" -
He opened the door, and now some wonder
if he really wants to take on this issue too
(Sojourners) http://tinyurl.com/m5d923z
"Evangelicals Soften Their Stance on Gays" -
The US Supreme Court has changed the
way Americans approach the gay issue,
with an impact on evangelical attitudes
(Religious News Service)
http://tinyurl.com/mq4q4z4
"Rowan Williams Says 'Christians Grow Up'" -
the former Archbishop of Canterbury writes
that Christians in the West know little about
persecution, in spite of their complaints
(The Guardian, UK) http://tinyurl.com/kc5fuyl
"Canadian Sikhs and the Residential Schools" -
they were not Canadians when the violence of
the residential schools was first impacting
First Nations children, but they care today
(Anglican Journal) http://tinyurl.com/klzxhuu
"US Lutherans Elect First Woman Presiding Bishop"
- some years after Canadian Lutherans elected
their first woman National Bishop (colleague
Susan Johnson) Americans have just elected
their's (Religious News Service)
http://tinyurl.com/nmbg5xr
--
Wisdom of the Week:
Sojourner Truth, Rowan Williams, Martin of Tours,
Desmond Tutu, Joseph of Panephysis,
John Chrysostom, Macarius, Common Prayer
and the Shepherd of Hermas - offer helpful
insights for us.
--
On This Day:
August 11th - 24th
Provided from the archives
of the New York Times -
East German Troops Seal Border
http://tinyurl.com/l83pfxw
Japan Surrenders, Ending WWII
http://tinyurl.com/lfsk5uh
Historic Woodstock Festival Ends
http://tinyurl.com/3xlysla
India and Pakistan Partitioned
http://tinyurl.com/ghyu3
--
Closing Thought: Rowan Williams
--
Enjoy the last weeks of summer vacation,
you in the Northern climes!
I hope to visit with you again in two weeks,
Wayne
*****
UPCOMING ACTIVITY AT THE CHURCH -
TURKEY TOUR
REPORT TO THE CONGREGATION
St. David's United Church, Calgary
Sunday, September 8th, 2013
10:00 AM
Members of the tour will present
thoughts on their travel experiences
in April and May of this year.
(more to follow)
*****
MY AUTUMN PROGRAMS AT
THE CHURCH AND UNIVERSITY
--
FALL MONDAY NIGHT STUDY
ST. DAVID'S UNITED CHURCH
"Immortal Diamond - The Search
for the True Self" by Richard Rohr
Description of the Book:
http://tinyurl.com/n9ymr59
Mondays, 7:00PM - 9:00PM
September 16th - November 5th, 2013
Team Taught With Jock McTavish
Books on sale at the church Sunday, August 26th
Registration, Hospitality and Book - $50.00
Book only - $20.
--
MONDAY "BOOKEND" EVENT
To Launch Fall Study Series
September 9th, 7-9 PM
Neera and Alka Joshi Jain
Indian Husband-Wife Social Justice Activists
"Gender Inequality in India -
and What's Being Done About It"
All are Welcome!
--
THURSDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY
Weekly from September 19th - December 5th
10:00 - 11:00AM
Two Six Week Series -
Themes to be Selected by the Class
During its First Meeting, Sept. 19th.
*****
FALL TUESDAY NIGHT UNIVERSITY COURSE
"Heresies and Heretics" -
Encountering the Early Church Controversies
by Bart Ehrmann
Tuesday, 7:00PM - 9:00PM
September 24th - December 3rd, 2013
(no class, October 7th)
Description and Registration Info:
http://tinyurl.com/qcs6hx7
Jock McTavish will offer two video sessions
to complement the series
--
FAITH AND SPIRITUALITY CENTRE
FALL STUDY
For Faculty, Staff and Students
Six Week Series
Fridays in October and November
Theme to be Announced Shortly
******
SPECIAL ST. DAVID'S LINKS
Contact us at: asdm@sduc.ca (or) admin@sduc.ca
St. David's Web Address - http://sduc.ca/
Listen to audio recordings of Sunday services -
http://sduc.ca/St_Davids_United_Church/Audio.html
*****
STUDY ARCHIVES
An accumulation of thirty-five books studied
since 2000 can quickly be found at:
http://tinyurl.com/6oxmyj4
This collection of study resources represents
more than a decade of Monday Night Studies at
St. David's, plus extra courses too!
You are welcome to use our course outlines,
class notes and resource pages in your personal
and group reflections.
*****
SPECIAL ITEM
Book Notice -
TRAINING DISCIPLINED SOLDIERS FOR CHRIST
The Influence of American Fundamentalism
on Prairie Bible Institute (1922-1980)
by Tim W. Callaway
West Bow Press, Thomas Nelson
Bloomington, IN. 2013.
$31.09 CAD paper. Kindle edition $3.79.
ISBN # 978-1-4497-8989-3
Publisher's Promo/Introductory Forward:
The story of Canadian Evangelicals is, like Canadians
themselves, a tricky one to tell. One of the truisms
about Canadians and our identity as such is that the
only thing we know for sure is that we are not
Americans!
This could be said to be equally true about Canadian
evangelicals.We inhabit a much smaller world than
American evangelicals and have experienced a very
different set of social realities than our
counterparts south of 49th parallel - especially
those concerning the relations between church and
state.
Ours is also a different story with respect to how
our national mythos connects to how we understand
ourselves as evangelicals. We see clearly the ways
in which evangelicals and conservatives in the
United States have erred and strayed from
faithfulness to the gospel - principally in the
ways in which they are different from us.
This has produced in us a tendency to do all we
can to distance ourselves from them to the point
that, at times, we deny or forget or simply cannot
acknowledge the ways in which we are deeply
implicated in the same practices and shortcomings.
The trouble is, or course, that our ability to
understand ourselves or be shaped differently
is limited by the degree to which we can properly
tell our collective story.
My point in all this is that Tim Callaway tells
the story of Prairie Bible Institute (PBI) well -
and indoing that he helps me tell my story and
thestory of Canadian evangelicalism, well. He
remembers, he pauses over the details and
allows the warts and the foibles to come to the
surface, without ever casting aspersions on PBI
and its leaderships.
He makes room for right remembering - and for
healing and forgiveness, if that is required.
And for that I am in his debt.
- The Rev. Myron B. Penner, Edmonton
--
Author's Words:
An earlier edition of the manuscript (of this
book) was submitted in 2010 as a doctoral
dissertation.
The comparative scarcity of academic attention
given Prairie Bible Institute at Three Hills,
Alberta, Canada, was indeed a motivating factor
... My work should therefore be regarded as an
attempt to contribute to and refine how PBI's
first half century should be understood and
interpreted by students of North American church
history.
As a significant part of this overarching objective,
this book reflects both a belated response to and an
eager interaction with the valuable foundational
efforts of Canadian scholar Dr. John G. Stackhouse
Jr....
Although an evaluation of PBI represented only a
part of Stackhouse's treatise... (he) kindly invited
dialogue with his initiative...
Accordingly,,, I attempt to "improve upon"
Stackhouse's conclusions regarding how
PBI's first half-century should be viewed by
those interested in this particular component
of religious history.
Drawing on an insider's perspective of PBI,
I challenge the adequacy of Stackhouse's
comparatively narrow definition of fundamentalism.
I also question the legitimacy of his inference that
the kind of "sectish evangelicalism" he rightly
claims typified PBI in the twentieth century was
substantially different from the characteristics
of the broader understanding of American
fundamentalism that I advance from my analysis
of the relevant data...
My understanding ... advances that PBI...reflected
the influence of American fundamentalism to a
far greater extent than what Stackhouse allowed
in his research... (thus) readers of Stackhouse's
work are therefore likely to come away from his
study with both an inadequate and an
inaccurate picture of PBI's identity during the
period of history that saw the school attain
international acclaim...
My contention is that whatever one wishes to
conclude about the nature of the (Canadian)
evangelicalism that prevailed at PBI (during the
period in question) it was not uniquely Canadian
in its nature as Stackhouse maintained...
(Callaway concludes this section with direct
references to his own class notes while a
student at PBI, and shows how this grounds
and clarifies his arguments.)
- from the Introduction
--
My Thoughts:
As a young, rather precocious and enthusiastic
Lutheran Christian, growing up in Southern
Ontario during the 1950's and 60's, I was looking
for exciting centers of faith with which to identify,
It seemed to me, in those days, that rather few
such centers existed in Canada. I wanted to go
"where the action was" and that often led me
to places and personalities in the United States.
There was at least one exception to this.
That center happened to exist in a place called
Three Hills, Alberta (quite outside my comfort
zone and geographical frame of reference,
actually.) Still, The Prairie Bible Institute held
an intrigue for me. For one thing, my father
would receive literature and tracts from there.
Reading these materials instilled in me a
sense that even here in Canada one could
find a place where religion was big news!
While PBI might have been popular and even
global in its reach, I also grew to view it as
a place to stay away from. The people there
were hyper-enthusiastic to "save the world for
Jesus"." As my theological education grew,
I was also influenced to think that "Prairie"
was a fundamentalist, anti-intellectual
operation that cared more about saving
people's souls than tending to their minds.
--
Things change. Life evolves. PBI is not the
Christian dynamo it once was. At the same
time, we have come to nuance terms like
"fundamentalism" and "evangelicalism" in
a Canadian context. We have also witnessed
the growing prominence of conservative
Christians in Canadian society. With such
developments going on around us, it is
no longer possible to "pigeon-hole" some
people in the fundamentalist and liberal
camps as we once did. Everyone is on
a spiritual quest - religious or otherwise.
We may end up in spiritual communities
quite different from where we began.
In addition, a growing number of disillusioned
people want nothing to do what much of what
they have experienced in faith communities.
We "pick and choose" what we will accept.
--
The appearance of colleague Tim Callaway's
book on Prairie Bible Institute is a valuable
contribution to the study of religious history
in Canada. Tim literally grew up at PBI as
his parents worked at the school. He has
evolved in his faith considerably from that
time (as I hope many of us have) but, for
all its shortcomings, he views his experience
as a kind of lover's quarrel with his tradition.
This book helps to reveal a story that has
been largely untold, and quite unfamiliar
to many Canadians, including myself.
PBI was a gem of a place "out in the middle
of nowhere" and far removed from the great
centres of university education. The teachers
there were unknown to those not connected
but very influential to those who were.
In terms of training gospel-workers, this
organization had a vast influence in
Canada and beyond. As much as many of
us have been taught to respect learning,
there was also disciplined learning at PBI.
Callaway writes an "insiders" history
for insiders and outsiders alike. He tells of
significant American fundamentalist
influence in spite of Canadian denials and
he helps to unpack the meanings of
"fundamentalist" and "evangelical" in helpful
new ways. He also provides a chapter on the
"militant" fundamentalism that existed
at Prairie for a considerable period of time.
For those who want to gain a meaningful
portrayal of "what was going on there" -
that attracted even young fellows like
me from far away, here is a much
needed addition to the literatuve.
The book is well-written and much effort
has been made to popularize what was
initially an academic treatise.
Thanks for sharing this with us, Tim!
---
Purchase the book from Amazon.ca:
http://tinyurl.com/jvov69g
*****
COLLEAGUE COMMENT
MARJORIE GIBSON,
Vancouver, BC
August 11th, 2013
Wayne -
I have a deeply ingrained flaw. Criticism I seem
to be able to take and use, especially when there
are obvious ways to make it useful.
Compliments I do not know how to handle, and
am awkward when one comes my way.
I am trying to say "thank you" for in your recent
posting you highlighted some of my writing. It
surprises and then pleases me that you consider
them worth including. There are a world of people
out there we all find interesting and helpful.
Do hope my stuff will do some of this.
Love to all, MG
Editor's Note: Marjorie is 91. Her manifesto
appeared recently in the Facts and Arguments
section of the Globe and Mail.
http://tinyurl.com/m9398nu
*****
COLLEAGUE CONTRIBUTIONS
LORNA DUECK
Toronto, ON.
"Jesus as We'd Like Him to Be"
Globe and Mail
August 19th, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/ktpn3pb
--
RON ROLHEISER
San Antonio, TX
Personal Website
August 18th, 2013
"Rationalizing Our Anger
and Moral Indignation"
http://tinyurl.com/mmso5bo
--
JIM TAYLOR
Okanagan, BC
Personal Website
August 18th, 2013
"Guns In Church"
http://tinyurl.com/mdprdbp
*****
NET NOTES
THE CULT OF APPLE
What Jobs Created (Video)
America Magazine
August 19th, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/l28dda5
Review of the Movie "Jobs"
America Magazine,
August 26th, v2013
http://tinyurl.com/n59aj7v
--
ROY BONISTEEL DIES AT 83
Host of "Man Alive" on TV
Winnipeg Free Press
August 16th, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/mp9zk37
--
HINDUS APPLAUD FRANCIS
His Openness to Muslims
"A Step in the Right Direction"
Eurasia News
August 12th, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/mhgu3hv
--
COPTS SUFFER ISLAMIC VIOLENCE
Egypt Erupts in Current Unrest
The Tablet
August 24th, 2013
http://www.thetablet.co.uk/article/164582
Egyptian Religious Attacks -
'Unacceptable' to Canadian Government
Anglican Journal
August 15th, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/l8gb286
--
ANGLICAN COMMUNION 'ON PRECIPICE'
Welby Fears Liberal-Conservative Split
The Telegram
August 22nd, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/my7xa2u
--
ARE ATHEISTS SMARTER THAN RELIGIOUS?
Study Suggests Religious are Less Intelligent
Huffington Post Canada
August 10th, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/m45jlxy
--
WILL THE POPE TACKLE WOMEN'S ISSUES?
Key to Reform is Women and the Church
Sojourners
September, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/m5d923z
--
EVANGELICALS SOFTEN THEIR STANCE ON GAYS
Position Less Negative than in Past
Religious News Service
August 9th, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/mq4q4z4
--
ROWAN. WILLIAMS SAYS - "CHRISTIANS GROW UP"
West Knows Little About Persecution
The Guardian, UK
August 15th. 2013
http://tinyurl.com/kc5fuyl
--
CANADIAN SIKHS AND RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS
Connecting With Tragedy Across Cultures
Anglican Journal
June 15th, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/klzxhuu
--
US LUTHERANS ELECT FIRST
WOMAN PRESIDING BISHOP
Religious News Service
August 14th, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/nmbg5xr
*****
WISDOM OF THE WEEK
Provided by Sojourners Online
When an angry heckler once declared, 'Old
woman, I don't care any more for your talk
than I do for the bite of a flea,' abolitionist
Sojourner Truth replied, 'The Lord willing,
I'll keep you scratching.'
- Sojourner Truth
--
I am a soldier of Christ; it is not lawful for me
to fight.
- Martin of Tours
--
The first law of our being is that we are set in a
delicate network of interdependence with our fellow
human beings and with the rest of God's creation.
- Desmond Tutu
--
If you want to find rest here below, and hereafter,
in all circumstances say, 'Who am I?' and do not
judge anyone.
- Joseph of Panephysis
--
Our spirit should be quick to reach out toward God,
not only when it is engaged in meditation; at other
times also, when it is carrying out its duties,
caring for the needy, performing works of charity,
or giving generously in the service of others. Our
spirit should long for God and call him to mind, so
that these works may be seasoned with the salt of
God's love, and so make a palatable offering to
the Lord of the universe.
- John Chrysostom
--
There is no need at all to make long discourses;
it is enough to stretch out one's hands and say,
'Lord, as you will, and as you know, have mercy.'
And if the conflict grows fiercer say, 'Lord, help!'
[God] knows very well what we need and [God] shows
us [God's] mercy.
- Macarius
--
O God, our deliverer, we thank you that you have
not left us alone. Thank you for the Spirit who
intercedes for us. Give us wisdom beyond ourselves
that we might see the path you have set before us.
Grant us words that bring life to the broken, the
suffering, the addicted, the lonely, and those who
long for the fulfillment of your kingdom. Amen.
- Common Prayer
--
You know that you who are God's servants are living
in a foreign country, for your own city-state is far
away from this City-state. Knowing, then, which one
is to be your own City-state, why do you acquire
fields, costly furnishings, buildings, and frail
dwellings here? Instead of fields, buy for
yourselves people in distress in accordance with
your means. It is far, far better to buy this kind
of field, property, or building, which is quite
different and which you can find again in your own
City when you come home. This 'extravagance' is
beautiful and holy; it brings no grief and no fear;
it brings nothing but joy.
- The Shepherd of Hermas
*****
ON THIS DAY
August 11th - 24th
Provided from the Archives
of the New York Times
EAST GERMAN TROOPS SEAL BORDER
http://tinyurl.com/l83pfxw
JAPAN SURRENDERS, ENDING WWII
http://tinyurl.com/lfsk5uh
HISTORIC WOODSTOCK FESTIVAL ENDS
http://tinyurl.com/3xlysla
INDIA AND PAKISTAN PARTIONED
http://tinyurl.com/ghyu3
*****
CLOSING THOUGHT
Our present ecological crisis, the biggest
single practical threat to our human existence
in the middle to long term, has, religious
people would say, a great deal to do with our
failure to think of the world as existing in
relation to the mystery of God, not just as
a huge warehouse of stuff to be used for our
convenience.
- Archbishop Rowan Williams
(end)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment