Whoah. What a week. It included: (1) starting to work full-time at a job which shall remain unnamed which, on certain days, turned out to be pretty nerve-wracking (2) attending for the first time a Christian writers' group (with only two others present: a down-homey time) (3) receiving and completing a news assignment and (4) attending a "Wilberforce Weekend."
The later, held at our church, was run by the Manning Centre. Preston Manning (who greeted me, asked my name, asked how I found out about the conference) was founder of Canada's Reform Party and the former Leader of the Opposition in Parliament. He's an evangelical.
His efforts, by the way, were responsible for the current state of affairs in Canadian federal politics. The Reform Party, trying to "broaden their tent," eventually became the Canadian Alliance which eventually joined forces with the federal Progressive Conservative remnant to form the Conservative Party of Canada. It gave small "c" conservative forces enough clout to finally get somewhere nationally; the Conservatives today lead a minority government.
Anyhow, it was quite a conference. Friday evening we watched Amazing Grace, the story of how William Wilberforce, aided by a coalition mainly of Christians, finally got the slave trade abolished in the British Empire after a long, long fight. Wilberforce was the parliamentary point man, a brilliant orator and debater, who raised the issue year after year.
At the time he first introduced the bill, Manning pointed out, bringing up the slave trade would have been comparable to talking about abortion in today's Canadian Parliament. (You do not go there.)
At the conference Saturday we launched a simulated campaign about a current ethically-charged political issue (euthanasia and doctor-assisted suicide). We drew on principles from the Wilberforce campaign. Manning got the ball rolling by laying out several lessons to be learned from Wilberforce and was, I thought, brilliant. He used examples from the life of Jesus as well to show how we must have the "wisdom of the serpent and the graciousness of the dove" in combating public evil.
Clearly, some thought, the Christian Right in the USA could learn valuable lessons from what was being said and, it turns out, may have their chance. The weekend was videotaped and will be used for running future conferences.
Next on the agenda was another brilliant presentation, by a Christian lawyer, on euthanasia, etc. Then we selected small groups of our choosing to work on our part of the "campaign." (I chose Communications, a group which in the end joined forces with Media.)
Finally, we all met for another plenary session to have group leaders report their findings.
The latter part got tedious, yet by the end of I still was glad I'd gone. For one thing, I met really interesting, thoughtful and/or activist-type Christians. It showed me what a Mecca for evangelicals Calgary is: a little bit like Wheaton or Colorado Springs in the USA, perhaps?
Furthermore I was able to "network" a little, collecting a few business cards and getting more ideas for articles.
It all--this writing and everything else--continues to seem surreal and I've felt the need to slow down, rest, and let it sink in. Realizing the sudden crazy busyness my life now, I even made a decision, which I am carrying out today, to try to, as it were, "keep the Sabbath" again. I do so not out of legalism but from a sense of a need to set boundaries to work and say, "Thus far and no further!" If I said instead, "Okay, I'll take part of my Sabbath on Friday evening and Saturday morning, then work some more on Sunday," methinks I'd end not really getting a full Sabbath, after all. I do believe there's a principle, built into creation, that humans were made with the need to really really rest a minimum of one day in seven. (And on that day we should, if possible, reflect and worship God as well.)
As I say I will not become a legalist about this issue--there could be instances in which I still might work--but it'd better be pretty important!
The later, held at our church, was run by the Manning Centre. Preston Manning (who greeted me, asked my name, asked how I found out about the conference) was founder of Canada's Reform Party and the former Leader of the Opposition in Parliament. He's an evangelical.
His efforts, by the way, were responsible for the current state of affairs in Canadian federal politics. The Reform Party, trying to "broaden their tent," eventually became the Canadian Alliance which eventually joined forces with the federal Progressive Conservative remnant to form the Conservative Party of Canada. It gave small "c" conservative forces enough clout to finally get somewhere nationally; the Conservatives today lead a minority government.
Anyhow, it was quite a conference. Friday evening we watched Amazing Grace, the story of how William Wilberforce, aided by a coalition mainly of Christians, finally got the slave trade abolished in the British Empire after a long, long fight. Wilberforce was the parliamentary point man, a brilliant orator and debater, who raised the issue year after year.
At the time he first introduced the bill, Manning pointed out, bringing up the slave trade would have been comparable to talking about abortion in today's Canadian Parliament. (You do not go there.)
At the conference Saturday we launched a simulated campaign about a current ethically-charged political issue (euthanasia and doctor-assisted suicide). We drew on principles from the Wilberforce campaign. Manning got the ball rolling by laying out several lessons to be learned from Wilberforce and was, I thought, brilliant. He used examples from the life of Jesus as well to show how we must have the "wisdom of the serpent and the graciousness of the dove" in combating public evil.
Clearly, some thought, the Christian Right in the USA could learn valuable lessons from what was being said and, it turns out, may have their chance. The weekend was videotaped and will be used for running future conferences.
Next on the agenda was another brilliant presentation, by a Christian lawyer, on euthanasia, etc. Then we selected small groups of our choosing to work on our part of the "campaign." (I chose Communications, a group which in the end joined forces with Media.)
Finally, we all met for another plenary session to have group leaders report their findings.
The latter part got tedious, yet by the end of I still was glad I'd gone. For one thing, I met really interesting, thoughtful and/or activist-type Christians. It showed me what a Mecca for evangelicals Calgary is: a little bit like Wheaton or Colorado Springs in the USA, perhaps?
Furthermore I was able to "network" a little, collecting a few business cards and getting more ideas for articles.
It all--this writing and everything else--continues to seem surreal and I've felt the need to slow down, rest, and let it sink in. Realizing the sudden crazy busyness my life now, I even made a decision, which I am carrying out today, to try to, as it were, "keep the Sabbath" again. I do so not out of legalism but from a sense of a need to set boundaries to work and say, "Thus far and no further!" If I said instead, "Okay, I'll take part of my Sabbath on Friday evening and Saturday morning, then work some more on Sunday," methinks I'd end not really getting a full Sabbath, after all. I do believe there's a principle, built into creation, that humans were made with the need to really really rest a minimum of one day in seven. (And on that day we should, if possible, reflect and worship God as well.)
As I say I will not become a legalist about this issue--there could be instances in which I still might work--but it'd better be pretty important!
posted by Ted | 12:36 PM
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