United Church moderator shares her vision for a smaller denomination: Being small doesn’t mean being insignificant

“We May Not Be Big, But We’re Small.” 

That was the motto of The Vinyl Cafe, a fictional record store owned by Dave, a character featured in the stories of the late Canadian author and CBC radio host Stuart McLean. 

It could also be the motto for the United Church of Canada, according to moderator Kimberly Heath. 

I spoke with Heath last September, after she was elected to that position. Looking ahead to her new role, she noted that United Church members still liked to think of their church as big — even though that was no longer the case. 

But being smaller doesn’t mean being insignificant, she said. 

“There are plenty of examples in the Bible of God using things that were small,” she said. “We shouldn’t bemoan we are not the church we were in the 1960s. Yes, we are small now. But maybe that is what we are called to be at this time.” 

Read my column about Heath and her vision for the United Church of Canada in the Free Press.

Winnipeg Archbishop urges Catholics to learn about Indigenous spirituality

Roman Catholics will benefit by taking time to learn more about Indigenous spirituality, the head of the Archdiocese of Winnipeg says. 

“It can help us deepen our own faith,” said Archbishop Murray Chatlain. “It can help us ask better questions about what we believe.” 

Chatlain was responding to news that the Portage la Prairie School Division upheld a decision to reject a Roman Catholic family’s request for a religious exemption from activities related to Indigenous spirituality. Portage la Prairie is part of the Archdiocese of Winnipeg. 

Being open to Indigenous spirituality is a good thing for Roman Catholics, Chatlain said. “There is a gift there for us. Indigenous people can contribute to our understanding of God.” 

Read my article in the Free Press.

A little bit of religious knowledge might have gone a long way before the Trump administration attacked Iran

Madeline Albright was the first woman to be Secretary of State in the U.S., holding that position from 1997 to 2001 under president Bill Clinton. 

One thing she learned during her time as America’s top diplomat was the important role that religion played when making decisions about foreign policy. 

“Religion has to be considered as we look at various conflicts,” she said. “Our diplomats have to understand the religious basis of these conflicts. In fact, they have to have training in religion. I would also make a point of the secretary of state having more religious advisers.” 

Why do I bring up Albright now? Because the Trump administration, which is now at war against Iran, could have benefitted from her insight before launching its attack three weeks ago. 

Knowing more about the religious make-up of Iran, with its Shia Islam belief in the importance of martyrdom, along with its predictions about the chaos and conflict leading to the end of the world, might have helped them anticipate the regime’s fierce resistance during this conflict.

Read about this in my latest Free Press column.

Photo above: Iranians gather after former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in Israeli and U.S. strikes. From India Today.

“We are not in a good place now, but give us time." North Dakotan on religion, Trump and Christian nationalism in his state

 

Manitobans and North Dakotans have long enjoyed good relations as neighbours. We share a border, a river and the weather. Grand Forks and Fargo are places for Winnipeggers to enjoy a weekend getaway. (Or, at least, we did until Trump started his tariffs and talk about invasion or annexation.) 

Over all the time I’ve lived in Manitoba, I never thought much about the religious make up of North Dakota. That is, until I saw a recent poll by the Public Religion Research Institute that showed that it was one of the top states in the U.S. for Christian nationalism—the belief that the U.S. is a Christian nation that should be governed by Christian values and laws. 

I decided to do a little digging; how deeply do people in that state actually believe it? And who is against it? My recent column in the Free Press explores those questions.

Freedom, family and faith: How religion is being used by some Albertans to justify separation from Canada

Albertans who want to separate from Canada cite various reasons for wanting to leave: Economic unfairness, political alienation from Ottawa, conflicts over energy and environmental policies.

 

Some also cite faith. That's the message from the Alberta Prosperity Project, the group leading the effort to leave Canada. It says it right in its crest: Family, faith and freedom.

 

It’s also the message proclaimed by Tim Stephens, pastor of the evangelical congregation Fairview Baptist Church in Calgary. In his view, separation is supported by four biblical principles: liberty, justice, vocation and belonging.

 

I had a chance to talk to Stephens recently about his views. And I spoke with church leaders and others who feel the opposite way when it comes to mixing faith and politics in that province.

 

Read my story in Canadian Affairs.

A different lens, a bigger picture: Teacher and students share about importance of learning about other religions

In January, the Manitoba government announced a new resource for schools to address Islamophobia. Two years ago, it announced the creation of a new curriculum about the Holocaust.

Those are good things. They will help students know more about Islam and Judaism, and the challenges facing members of those groups. But I wondered: What resources are available to help students develop an even broader sense of religious literacy?

As it turns out, the province has an optional grade 12 course titled “World of Religions: A Canadian Perspective.” But not many schools use it. I was able to speak to a teacher who is teaching it, and some students who are taking the course. “It’s given me a different lens,” said one. "It gives me a bigger picture,” said another. 

Read my column here.

New book aims to help Christians learn more about Islam, combat Islamophobia

Ramadan began last week. It runs until March 19. For Muslims, it’s a sacred time when they pray and fast daily from dawn to sunset, seeking to grow closer to God. 

While Ramadan is for Muslims, other religious groups can see it as a good opportunity to learn more about Islam — including during Christian worship services. 

That’s the view of Anna Piela and Michael Woolf in their new book, Confronting Islamophobia in the Church: Liturgical Tools for Justice. (Judson Press.) 

In the book, the married couple say that taking time to learn about Islam at church can help Christians combat Islamophobia and be better neighbours to Muslims in their communities. As a bonus, it can also help them develop a deeper understanding of their own Christian beliefs. 

“By studying Islam and engaging with Muslims, you can be a better Christian,” said Piela. “By engaging with other traditions and their scriptures, you are better able to better define what your own beliefs are.” 

Read about the book in my Free Press column.