Thanks very much for your comment.

I would encourage you (and other men seeking fellowship within the Presbyterian community) to investigate the presence of men’s groups in your local Presbyterian congregations.

National office staff (either through The Vine or the Communications Office) would be happy to help anyone identify congregations that currently have such groups.

Thanks,
Colin

My father was a Presbyterian missionary who dedicated his life to lay development and justice issues for 40 years. I was brought up in a multi-cultural, trans-national, inter-faith environment where virtually everyone I met, Protestant/Catholic/Buddhist/Atheist or Canadian/American/Japanese/Korean, were in synch on important matters of living together, even though they used different names for God and practiced different rituals.

Just at a time when our “nation of peace” Canada is sending soldiers to half-way around the earth to kill and die in war (“keeping peace” for an oil pipeline), I get the sinking feeling that the PCC has become rudderless in such areas as racial/cultural/religious dialogue and social justice. Spirituality is undeniably important, but I feel it is promoted in vogue, but vague, language that is ultimately individuating. Rather than “turn the other cheek,” we seem to be teaching people to “look the other way” in the name of Spirit. And even though the people I know are all good people, I feel increasingly like a stranger in my own home.

I understand there used to be something called “Presbyterian Men” for lay male adherents of our church, but that it has been defunct for a whole generation. The last time my father spoke to the PCC General Assembly he said; “Without the laity there is no church.” He was talking about quality, not quantity, I think. Do you ever hear people, men, in the PCC lamenting that our church has no formal vessel for lay men to “steward” our own faith, like the Jesuits have Opus Dei? What would it take to revive Presbyterian Men for lonely hearts like me. I want to feel relevance with fellow Presbyterians, beyond friendly small talk and fundraising. What can you do to help me make it happen this General Assembly?