Whatever you may think of evolution and its place in a Christian understanding of creation, the science is clear that DNA does evolve and change. Humans, plants and animals make adaptations over time. Interestingly, we are now becoming more aware of how DNA can be changed through personal and generational trauma! Evolution is a characteristic of nature, but also of organizations like the Church. Many church leaders love to use the term ‘our DNA’ when talking about the cultu

Catholics are readily Canada’s largest religious group, numbering some 13 million people. That works out to about 40% of the Canadian population, compared to around 25% for Protestants and 10% for Other Major Faiths, led by Muslims at 3%. The balance of the population – almost 25% – indicate that they have no religion. Yet, as the 21st century began, Catholic parishes in Canada were not particularly flourishing. According to those most actively involved, 25% of their congrega

Congregations undoubtedly do amazing work. We have health services, food banks, children’s programming, leadership development, summer camps, long term care facilities, and programming to support every subsector of society with almost any challenge (not to mention supporting our communities with spiritual grounding, emotional support, and connection). If we were for-profits with these fantastic results, we would be shouting this from the rooftop. Our people would brag about

Photo: Courtesy of Elmdon Church, Solihul, UK As a boy in the 1970s I often accompanied my grandmother to her neighborhood United Church for Sunday service. Back then my Grandma’s church was packed with young and old alike. It wasn’t unique. The other Mainline Protestant houses of worship in her town—the local Anglican, Lutheran, and Presbyterian churches—were all filled. Times change. In Canada, the US and the UK the “Mainline” has moved to the “Sideline.” My grandmother’s U

Several months ago, I was invited to speak to a group of pastors and other church leaders on spiritual renewal for congregations. They had been focusing a great deal on change—how to respond to changing culture, how to manage change within the church---and I had been asked to shift the conversation from what to do about change to how we might find spiritual renewal in changing times. What does it mean to be a spiritually renewed church in the midst of change? When the New Tes