Brian Doerksen passed away in mid-summer (July 21, after having been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer), so this is not news. But as I read the many reflections, comments and eulogies after his death I realized how positive an influence…
On a sunny Thursday afternoon this past August, a group comprising Protestant and Catholic volunteers, addiction-recovery professionals, civic politicians, recovering addicts, representatives of a family-run philanthropic fund and a Catholic priest crowded into the living room of a modest home…
Is ‘sex work’ really work? Not according to Cardus Work and Economics program director Renze Nauta in a new report – true work doesn’t undermine human dignity and the common good like prostitution does. Cardus is “a non-partisan think tank dedicated to clarifying…
This is my last weekly Church for Vancouver update until the fall. Have a good summer! First United will soon be moving back to its home base at Hastings and Gore, in the midst of the Downtown Eastside, following a…
The political climate in Canada, as in much of the world, has became less receptive to refugees – so it is good to see that the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (EFC), along with the Refugee Resettlement Roundtable, have made a …
On October 12, 2023, Ryan Cleland and Nicola Smith of Prince George, faced a parent’s worst nightmare, the suicide of their 12 year old son, Carson. Carson was targeted by a predator online, just one of a growing number of…
Delegates from a diverse range of civic-minded groups recently met at Kerrisdale Presbyterian Church, hoping to influence the Vancouver election this fall. Tim Dickau, co-chair of the lead strategy team for Metro Vancouver Alliance (MVA) wrote: On Wednesday, June 15,…
Mark Clark left Vancouver for the States several years ago, but his legacy with Village Church and beyond remains. Jason Ballard interviewed him for a podcast which was posted June 15 on The Pastorate site. The conversation includes portions on…
As I noted a couple of weeks ago, my updates will be spotty until mid-June, because my wife Margaret and I are travelling in Europe (see accompanying (Not) Around Town article for a brief update. But we are staying with…
Food insecurity is again becoming an unwanted and anxiety-producing reality for many children, families and individuals in Metro Vancouver. Increasing food prices and rising unemployment are a recipe for a poorer nutritional diet or the lack of food altogether. Churches…