My Thoughts

District Diaries June 2025 Edition
by Marvin Penner

I was present for all of these proceedings and acted as a scrutineer during the election. I had the opportunity to talk with many people from across the EFCC during the Theology Summit. I have a lot of thoughts but will share three of the things I am thinking about here.

The first thing I want to say is that I love and support every one of our Alberta Parkland District churches. The controversies that surround the BOD’s decision to no longer support salaried Serve Beyond missionaries have understandably generated strong emotion, actions and reactions. Some of our APD churches decided to utilize provisions in our EFCC bylaws to call a special business meeting. This is good and proper. These provisions are in our bylaws for exactly such a time as this. There are strong differences of opinion, and this process provides a way for these differences to be brought into the open where we can deal with them.

The second thought I will share with you is that disagreement and the challenges the EFCC faces as a result should not really be surprising to us. The EFCC is made up of people and churches that see the world from different and diverse perspectives. There is nothing sinful about disagreeing. What is important is that when we disagree, we continue to act and think with godly character towards one another. The question is not whether or not we will find ourselves in disagreement. The question is will we raise to the occasion and learn and develop in the ways that God desires for us?

And finally, I want to say that the ministry of reconciliation belongs to every one of us! If we are in fact a grassroots organization then it is the responsibility of the grassroots to understand one another and come together again. Our leaders will follow us if we do the work that lies before us. I find myself feeling a lot like I feel when counseling couples. One thing I know is that a couple will never overcome their differences until they learn or remember how to practice active listening. This means to repeat what the other has expressed back to them in your own words until they become confident that you have understood their perspective. Many of you know someone or know of someone who holds a different point of view on the present controversy than you do. Why don’t you contact them and ask if you could listen to their point of view until you understand it. Perhaps they will return the favor. You will gain an understanding and probably a friend. I’m not suggesting you try to persuade one another or change minds. What I mean to suggest is that the way forward together will open up when we truly honor and understand each other. It is easy to wait for the other person to put aside pride and make the first move. All I know is that if God waited until I asked for forgiveness before he sent his Son to show me that forgiveness is possible, we would all still be waiting. He made the first move, and I hope to be more like Him.

2 Corinthians 5:18 And all these things are from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and who has given us the ministry of reconciliation.