I have known Alan Chambers a long time. I met him at the very beginning of my tenure with New Direction when he was newly the president of Exodus. I’ve read the two previous books that Alan authored and so when my complimentary copy of My Exodus: from fear to grace arrived in the mail…
To be in the world, but not of the world, requires subversive alertness. Cultivation of a contemplative mind is crucial. Spiritual practices and disciplines help form the virtues that guide our public engagement. We learn to take a breath before reacting. We recognize that our anger is a reminder of a deeper pain. We choose…
Part 2 If there was any doctrine that reinforced fear, for me it was the Atonement. Growing up studying the Heidelberg Catechism in the basement of my Christian Reformed Church, I learned such things as Lord’s Day 15, Question and Answer 37: “Q. What do you understand by the word “suffered”? A. That during his whole life on…
Have you noticed the inordinate amount of attention that is given to concerns about sin at the intersection of faith and sexuality? It seems to be a sticking point for so many. “But it’s sin.” With this short phrase dialogue can be cut off, attempts to understand can be closed, relationships strained, alienation experienced, judgement…
Earlier this month, 75 people attended our annual Generous Spaciousness Retreat. Most were from southern Ontario, but some came from as far as Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, and New Brunswick! We spent three days together at a conference center on a frozen lake, laughing, crying, eating, singing, praying, listening to each other’s stories, and watching…
On the final morning of last month’s Gay Christian Network (GCN) conference in Portland, which our staff from New Direction attended, it was clear that the conference organizers had gone to great lengths to figure out how to serve communion to 1300 participants from multiple denominations. It may have taken more time to explain how to receive…