There is a lot of good will between most churches in Metro Vancouver, most of the time. And several ecumenical initiatives (More Than Gold, Voices Together, the Vancouver Consultation, for example) have drawn the Christian community closer in various ways.…
In 1989, at 26 years of age, Tim Dickau became pastor of Grandview Calvary Baptist Church, just off Commercial Drive, on 1st Avenue in east Vancouver. The church, which had been founded in 1908, was dying. Leadership Journal associate editor Paul J. Pastor spoke with Tim Dickau to find…
Over 20 years ago at an annual meeting, Grandview Church began exploring how they might develop their parking lot as well as the lot next door (which had become a community garden). Already then, in 2002, building affordable housing was…
Two years ago, I had a rousing two-hour conversation with the then interim principal of St. Mark’s College on the UBC campus, Michael Higgins. He is the leading biographer of such figures as Henri Nouwen and Thomas Merton and has…
Creating Conversation is a weekly editorial, curated by the Centre for Missional Leadership (CML), which gives opportunity for people to speak about issues they believe are vital for the church in Vancouver. One of the goals of this weekly article is…
Across Canada, a number of congregations which own buildings are on the verge of folding or ending. Complications from COVID-19 and resulting restrictions have exposed and accelerated the demise of certain models of church prominent during Christendom. In these models,…
This weekly editorial gives opportunity for people to speak about issues they believe are vital for the church to respond to. We will also ask someone – in this case Chris Sundby – to respond to the article, in part…
How should we use our church properties? The opportunity to consider that issue drew 150 people together March 12 – 13 at First Christian Reformed Church of Vancouver. A rich combination of story-telling, expert advice and round-table discussions meant that…
Next week church representatives from around Metro Vancouver – and some from across the nation – will discuss and evaluate stories about creative use and development of church lands. Reimagining Church Land & Community will take place the evening of…
I can’t remember when I have felt as optimistic about ecumenical activities among local Christians as I have this fall. Three new (or renewed) initiatives stand out in particular: Mission Fest confirmed for early next year; Taste & Receive will…