The church is resilient, not fragile. There are signs of decline, but also of renewal. Religious congregations contribute billions of dollars to the good of our nation. Such are the findings of two recent studies by WayBase and Cardus, and…
City hall usually seems to have already made up its mind by the time we hear about its various initiatives. But Vancouver Plan looks like a real opportunity to have some input. The City of Vancouver is asking all its…
Whenever someone asks me what Church for Vancouver is all about, I say, “My purpose is to link Christians and to highlight ways in which churches and Christians are working for the good of the broader community.” Tim Day presented…
I have mentioned the work done by Cardus, a Christian think tank based in Ontario, quite often over the past few years. They are moving ahead on several fronts. They conduct original research in six areas: education, family, health, law,…
This comment first appeared in the April issue of the Tamarack Institute’s online magazine Engage! The Tamarack Institute highlights research and stories which encourage community change and help to end poverty. One of the significant challenges that community development faces today…
When Trevor Vanderveen pointed out earlier this year that the Grandview-Woodland Community Plan had overlooked places of worship and their role in the community, city planners and politicians not only listened, they added to the plan. Rather than treating it as…
Pastor Trevor Vanderveen of First Christian Reformed Church of Vancouver has taken a close look at the Grandview-Woodland Community Plan. He has spoken with city officials about some of its weaknesses related to congregations in the area, and is encouraging…
A new book and a just-released study offer some fascinating insights into the positive role of religion in Toronto – and suggest some avenues for exploring the role and value of local congregations in Vancouver. Revisiting ‘Toronto the Good’ demonstrates…