Our MCN Dispatch — Respectful Engagement (2025 04 16)
[This was originally distributed by Gmail on April 16, 2025 ]
Hello Missional Friends…
Promoting Viewpoints from within our Network
Last time we shared with you the on-going reflections of Sam Berg and his series on the Sermon on the Mount.
We appreciate the contributions of Sam and others. In keeping with MCN goals, we encourage both expression of views and active engagement by readers. Starting within our own community, and with strong commitment to sorting out what exactly scripture teaches (the message of the Gospel), we want to encourage each other in careful reflection on Christian social concerns.
On Christian social responsibility
As an Evangelical group, we have been supportive of a clear statement on social concerns first enunciated 50 years ago at the first Lausanne Congress on Evangelicalism under leadership of Billy Graham and John Stott and others. MSN has attempted to trace this clear expression of Christian duty beginning with this web page:
On Lausanne Covenant: Christian Social Responsibility
How do we seek to engage?
For MCN, we have attempted to defined our approach to social issues in the following ways:
- Approach the issue primarily from a biblical, rather than political, framework.
- Practice love and generosity towards people at every level of debate; deal with the facts and perceptions issues while respecting the rights of people to hold different opinions.
- Explore quality research, both in terms of scripture and in terms of social research. Learn as much as one can before taking hard and fast positions. Exercise care to avoid superficial analysis, adopting positions simply because of influence of identity groups, and rash decision-making that can seriously undermine the exercise of influence of Christians in the larger community.
- Provide opportunity for discussion and debate, focusing on supporting evidence, weighing multiple interpretations, and encouraging development of thoughtful rationale for arriving at positions.
- Provide support to one another as Christians, as we attempt to be the salt and light Christ expects of his disciples. As a “missional” movement, we are deeply concerned about our public witness. Let’s take care that there is integrity between Word and Deed.
- In all of this we attempt to maintain a commitment to Christian unity, as members of the Body of Christ, the Church, and as Kingdom People. This commitment is primarily focussed on our relationships with one another, and only secondarily on the degree of agreement on issues.
And, on this statement, we welcome your reactions.
Recent and Current contributions
Last week, another of our networked participants, Wayne Bernakevitch, distributed his perspective on changing culture and related issues. As part of the Regina Civic Awareness and Action Network (RCAAN), Wayne publishes Wayne’s Words from time to time. With his permission I have reproduced his blog posting for April 10.
A Perspective on Culture and Christian Engagement (Wayne Bernakevitch 2025 05 10)
In days ahead, many of us will find particular points for discussion that emerge from the perspectives of these people and others of us. We welcome your careful analysis of issues and expressions of wisdom on how to relate appropriately and effectively within our own and the larger community.
Example of issues of common concern
Today, I came across two news items that relate to an issue of significant debate, the matter of gender dysphoria, legal rights of transgender people, and the charge of transphobia. I reference two news items below, followed by a web page created from a recent online MS Copilot search.
B.C. nurse appeals disciplinary decision over transgender comments
The case of a BC nurse and nurse educator who has been disciplined by her professional body for political action on the transgender issue.
UK Supreme Court rules legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex – BBC News
A decision on transgender status. It does not address all of the issues of concern, but does help to establish clarity on a specific matter, at least.
QS — Reacting to Gender Dysphoria and Bulimia Nervosa
A “quick search” we conducted using MS Copilot online search of resource materials and common viewpoints on the gender dysphoria phenomenon,
But, MCN is keenly interested of other traditional areas of concern to Christians, the care we are to give to the most vulnerable. In the past, we have highlighted this issue with presentations on the work of the Salvation Army (with Maj Karen Hoeft) and also with the work of MyCityCare (a developing program for churches, first initiated in Lethbridge AB, now also in Regina through efforts of the Regina Apostolic Church).
Much of the initial impetus for development of our Missional Church Network (MCN) has been to highlight the need for supporting initiatives for the poor and marginalized, a matter so deeply rooted in the Gospel of Christ.
Here is a recent article regarding our local housing crisis…
I would love to see an inter-church housing-oriented initiative launched that would provide action guidelines for our Evangelical community. If you sense that this is a timely focus for our MCN interests, please let me (Ron) know. (Ronald.Richmond@sasktel.net)
We also pray for and express concerns for Christian witness among Evangelicals in the USA on a daily basis. For many of us, this article is welcome news.
In addition to ideas expressed above, we are also exploring ways to acquire some of the latest quality books and media resources for distribution among our leadership group and beyond. As some of you have resources to share, financially or otherwise, please do keep us in mind and plan to connect personally with us.
Part of our sharing will also be with our web pages. Please check us out at MCN Initiative – RRVista…
Acting Coordinator, along with
Kevin Vance, kvancester@gmail.com
Sam Berg, sberg@briercrest.ca
And others of our Missional Church Network
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