The Main Wycliffe Blog

By Ephraim Radner

Except from "Is Christ Relevant to Politics? Theologians Tackles How Faith Shapes Public Life" -  Faith Today, March/April 2017 edition, p.31-32

Sound theology isn't just important for pastors, priests and professors. "It's important for every Christian's every concern - including political ones," according to this article in Faith Today magazine.

All the world’s abuzz with talk of this weekend’s royal wedding. For Christians, a wedding ceremony is a sacred celebration that includes promises that a couple makes before God. Meghan and Harry are both members of the Church of England, which is part of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and one of the expressions of the Christian faith. Peter Robinson (PR) Professor of Proclamation, Worship and Ministry here at Wycliffe College, sheds some light on the anticipated proceedings for us below.

Preaching Jesus Christ Today: Six Questions for Moving from Scripture to Sermon (Baker Academic, April 2018) is the newest book from Wycliffe College Chaplain and Professor of Pastoral Theology Annette Brownlee. The book approaches preaching as both a theological practice and a spiritual discipline.

The Rev. Earl Gerber (Wycliffe '53) shares with us his joy and sorrow, and God's abiding grace since graduating from Wycliffe College.

It was sixty-five years ago next month that I graduated from Wycliffe (April 30, 1953.) The College will always have a special spot in my memory and affection. Although officially "retired" in June 1994 I am still active in St. Andrew here in Alliston. I preach once a month, and lead an adult Bible class once a week, with fifteen members who are hardworking, faithful, and incredibly loyal. It is very humbling.

In the wake of the mass killing in Toronto yesterday, journalists are - like all of us - struggling to make sense of the senseless. Most Canadians reacted to the news of yesterday’s tragic events with shock, disbelief, horror. A sinking sense of "not again, not here." At some level, this has to be because we deeply value human life, and we recognize the injustice when innocent life is snatched away. Murray Henderson ("MH" below) has been working at Wycliffe College this semester as Interim Chaplain. He reflects on our reactions to the tragedy.

It began with self-deprecation but quickly moved to raw anguish. Humboldt Broncos team pastor Sean Brandow shook his head, “I don’t want to be here,” he said shortly after taking the platform at Sunday’s vigil for the victims of last week’s devastating crash, when the hockey team's bus collided with a truck, killing 15 and injuring 14 others.

“I really don’t want to be here. But it’s good that we are,” he added, choking out the words.

The following blog originated as part of a sermon preached by Wycliffe’s Professor of Pastoral Theology Marilyn Draper during an ordination service.

As Canadians continue to grapple with the legacy of the residential schools, denominations, churches and seminaries across the country are considering what it means to live into the Calls to Action coming out of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). Many of those Calls will have implications for ministry and mission now and in the coming generations, with some specifically referencing seminaries.

By John Bowen

We knew it would happen one day, that a headline would appear announcing “The Death of Billy Graham.” But the fact that we knew it would come makes the event no less sad. It is the end of an era. Billy Graham defined evangelism, and indeed much of evangelicalism, for the second half of the twentieth century.