Free Republic

Members of First Wesley United Church in Thunder Bay spent most of their Sunday service laughing out loud. The church celebrated 'Holy Humour Sunday', where church members were encouraged to laugh during the service and tell jokes. Some wore wigs, hockey jerseys and clown costumes. Even the sermon was spent practising laughing yoga. Reverend Scott Gale said the day shows members of his congregation that religion is not all serious. "That laughter and humour should be part of worship, and should be part of our faith as well." Colleen Dolce delivered the sermon to parishioners, using the techniques of laughing...

OTTAWA — In a historic vote, the United Church of Canada has elected its first openly gay moderator. After six ballots and nearly eight hours of voting at the church’s 41st general council in Ottawa Thursday, Rev. Gary Paterson emerged from a record field of 15 candidates to win the top job at Canada’s largest Protestant church. He is thought to be the first openly gay person to head any mainstream Christian denomination. The 350 voting commissioners at the general council greeted the announcement with cheers and a prolonged standing ovation, and quickly voted to make Paterson’s election unanimous. “I...

"Sorry" is heard often when United Church of Canada members meet en masse. Facing an uncertain future, brought about in part by internal divisions and financial constraints, the church is busy with remorse. It topped the agenda at the church's 40th General Council, ending today. Apologies were offered first to ab-originals forced to attend residential schools in Canada; some students experienced violence and abuse at schools administered by the United Church. The church formally apologized in 1998 but the process of recognition and reconciliation will continue, said Rev. James Scott, the church's General Council Officer for Residential Schools. "Reconciling, particularly...

United Church officials in Calgary are offering what is believed to be Alberta's first same-sex marriage preparation classes this fall. They say such classes are long overdue in Alberta, but the church waited for the provincial government to recognize the law before offering the marriage preparation course. The first seminar was to be held this past weekend, but was cancelled after only one couple signed up. Organizers blame the political climate for the lack of seminar participants on the weekend. Reverend Linda Hunter of Wild Rose United Church in northwest Calgary said the legislation is new, Alberta is particularly homophobic,...