Relationships between Canadian Church and LGBT

Donald NelsonChristian religion

Homosexual relations are strictly prohibited in Christianity and there is no room for such people in the religion other than they become straight. The LGBT groups in Canada do not think the same way and therefore if they are strongly opposing the conference which is being held this summer. The event has been highly publicized and LGBT groups are highly opposing the gathering. The church on the other hand is time and again saying that the intentions of it are misunderstood by such groups. The bone of contention between both the parties is the ex-gay speakers which are invited to the conference. The LGBT groups urge the church to cancel their invitations so that homophobic thought is not instilled in the minds of the members of their community. Both the speakers are from Ohio and the missionaries which are associated with these speakers are “Coming Out”. He speakers back in Ohio are also known for the speaker therapies which are thought to be disintegrating the idea of homosexuality. This is called a complete therapy and as per these speakers they have been cured and cure others which this therapy. The LGBT groups are highly influenced by this idea and they want to get rid of this problem.

LGBT Halifax

The Halifax LGBT group is also demanding the church that this problem should never ever come to the church. The praying away the gay which is the initiative of these speakers is highly opposed by the community. They are of the view that the sexual orientation is their own free choice and no one is ever allowed to change it by force. The group is of the view that the members of their community will have negative thoughts about the minds about their group. The LGBT group is also of the view that these speakers will let the LBGT community feeling shame.

The church response

The Church is of the view that it is the media that has misunderstood the story. It has been misinterpreted. The speakers are coming to the conference without a shadow of the doubt but it is not what the LGBT groups think. These speakers will not be speaking about the sexual orientation nor will they be praying away the gays. The stories are thought associated to the speakers but this is not the case of their invitation here. The “Coming Out” ministries have always taught the church to love and respect the LGBT community and the speakers are coming here to preach the same.

What’s the verdict

The church should definitely call the pastors for the sermon which is scheduled as per the church supporters. If the sermon is canceled then this will not only become the talk of the day but such incidents will also happen in future and the people will think that the church is under pressure of the LGBT community and can make them do anything. Calling from the darkness to the light is what this conference is all about and therefore it is highly advised not to cancel the speakers or disinvite them at all.

Famous Christian places in Canada

Anthony TylerChristian religion, Places of worship

About 67.3% of the total Canadian population is Christian. 39% Roman Catholic and 28.3% belong to other Christian groups. The main aspect of Canada that is solely related to religion is that the state has no official religion. It also means that the religious freedom is something that is highly regarded in Canada. As well as, Canadians are free to choose how to dedicate time to pleasure. This includes different types of entertainment, gambling is one of them. Therefore – doesn’t matter where are you from – you may have some fun coming over source with such activities on ValleyGames, with the help of which you will select the best online casino for you.

Religious discrimination is a culpable offense and therefore it is not seen as a good gesture in Canada. The political parties in Canada also ask for votes by making religious freedom a main part of their charter. It also means that the political structure of the country is such that it grants every citizen a right to practice whatever he likes. However, the political structure of Canada does not bar the religious groups from visiting the country. Canada is one of the best places for Christians to make sure that they get to know the Christian places that exist there. There are hundreds of Christian religious sites in Canada. Some of the sites are as follows:

Martyr’s Shrine

Though located in Ontario it is regarded as one of the national shrines of Quebec. It has been built to honor those martyrs that have laid down their lives 350 years ago for preaching Christianity in the region. The vast complex can accommodate the largest groups as well. The groups’ tours can contact the management before time to make sure that they get all the necessary facilities. It has been a site of Christian religious honor and therefore visited by millions from all over the world. The church, gardens, and hall in the shrine are the most visited sections and therefore they are the ones recommended.

Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal

This Goth style church was built in between 1824 to 1843 and has been regarded a lot by indigenous Christians. Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal is regarded as the most visited religious site in Canada. At the peak hours, about 2500 people visit this place per day. The overall feel and look of the church are superb and it is maintained in the same manner. There have been a lot of inner shrines that can be visited to get the religious harmony. The groups can schedule tours but it should be done beforehand to avoid any inconvenience. The two main types of tours that can be scheduled are 60 minutes and 90 minutes depending on the size of group and time it wants to spend.

Shrine of Saint-Anne-de-Beaupre

It is also regarded as one of the most visited sites of Christianity and therefore it is always full of tourists. For over 350 years now this shrine has attracted people from all over the world and therefore it has a fascinating ambiance that lures in all the visitors. It is dedicated to the grand mother of Jesus and therefore holds a significant importance. The best part about this site is that it can also be visited using the audio guides. These guides are available at the reception. In 4 different languages, these audio guides surely prove to be handy.

62 Year Old Canadian Pastor Returns Home after 2 Year Imprisonment in North Korea

Leslie HutchinsonNews

A private jet of the Canadian government carried a 62-year-old pastor back to his home after being released from a North Korea prison. Hyeon Soo Lim was set free from a labor camp after being imprisoned for 2 years on charges of trying to overthrow the Pyongyang regime.

Lim was freed with the assistance of the Global Affairs Canada and the government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The release of Mr. Lim comes after a delegation visited North Korea headed by Daniel Jean, the national security adviser of Trudeau. North Korea released Lim on sick bail though he looked quite healthy as he landed at the air base in CFB Trenton. But his family is going through a series of medical checkups to ensure his health.

Lim had made many trips to North Korea for humanitarian missions working on food and nutrition sustainability. He made over 100 trips over a span of two decades before he was imprisoned in December 2015. The information about his release came up on first on the KCNA news agency of North Korea which cited humanitarian grounds for his release based on poor health. Later Global Affairs called his family to inform about the development and confirm the news.

Lim’s family and the members of his church community were waiting for him at the ground. He got the chance to talk to his son, mother, and wife using a phone on the trip back. James Lim, his son had his daughter with him whom Lim met for the first time. James described the reunion as “surreal” and said it felt amazing to see his dad holding his granddaughter for the first time. In a press conference, James told they were happy and ecstatic that their father has returned home.

Mr. Lim’s health was their main concern and they wanted him to rest and take the time to reconnect with his family and friends. Though the first thing Lim wants to do after reaching home has a relaxing coffee and donut at the popular joint Tim Hortons.

Lim’s experience in North Korea as a prisoner is not available yet but it has strengthened his faith, said James. In the camp, Lim had to eat around 2,700 meals on his own in isolation and he used the time to connect to God. Lim tried to use his time in the best way, which can spend time with God in solitude, said James. The senior pastor will be joining the services in his church and appear before the public. Till then his family wants everyone to respect their privacy and give him time.

James has expressed his gratitude to the government and Global Affairs for facilitating the release of his father.

A New Way of Looking at Canadian Churches

Donald NelsonPlaces of worship

How about a church converted to a brewery or a wedding hall?

It may sound surprising, but Canadian churches are selling like hot cakes in the real estate market. There are many reasons that have prompted the phenomenon including decreasing congregations and coming of the mega churches. But most important is the rising demand for real estate in the urban centers of the country. From religious to secular, the buildings are being given a new identity and makeover by the business owners. Church converting is not the only one quickly developing field in Canada. It includes also gambling industry. Nowadays a lot of credible gaming sources like online review directories or others become online-oriented, that is why you can easily find the detailed listing of best gaming activities.

There are many interesting examples out there. A church in Sherbrooke has been converted to a rock climbing gym while a few others have been transformed into restaurants. Marly Anderson from Victoria-by-the-Sea in Prince Edward Island roped in the federal and provincial government in her initiative of converting a church into a wedding venue.

She received funding from the government for the project and renovated the church which was sitting empty for 12 years. With an investment of $140,000, The Grand Victorian was opened retaining the look of the church from outside. But inside it was completely changed and now the altar serves as the bar during weddings!

Silversmith Brewing Co. in Virgil, Ontario operates out of a 1890s Anglican Church and is another fine example of the religious real estate industry. Owner Chris Pontsioen bought the 1,800-square- foot church for $500,000 in 2012 after a long negotiation with the owner. The building had stopped being used as a church for around 50 years and an antique shop was setup keeping the original looks. Pontsioen and his friends were apprehensive about backlash from the neighboring community but to their relief, the encountered none. Most people find the idea amusing, said Mr. Pontsioen. He believed that transforming and preserving the church was more acceptable to the population than tearing it down.

Realtors Leonardo Di Francesco and Rav Rampuri have developed their business around selling churches. In 20 years they have finalized more than 100 deals involving churches. Operating in the Vancouver area, they get numerous calls from realtors and appraisers. But they are not able to entertain everyone as there is a lack of churches ready for sale.

Sometimes regulations play the spoilsport by limiting the sale. One of such challenges faced by the duo involved a church located in North Burnaby with a value of $8.8 million. They could not make any deal with it because the P1 zoning of the church did not allow for conversion. A process of rezoning can be initiated, but it takes many years for it making it impractical.

There is a big market for houses of worship on the market right now but not everyone is lucky enough to find a deal!

Young Immigrants more Devoted to Christianity than Canadians

Anthony TylerChristian religion

The initial feeling of loneliness and lack of community can be hard to take for many people when they immigrate to a different country. It has been seen that people rely on religion to overcome that feeling and find a sense of belonging.

An interesting trend has been noticed among the young immigrants of Canada- most of them are highly passionate about their religion, sometimes on a greater level than in their native country.

The trend is also highlighted by findings of Angus Reid Institute pollsters presented in the Statistics Canada. The religious commitment was seen to be high among the young immigrants.

The Tale of Boh Ryung Kim

Boh-Ryung Kim arrived in Canada with her parents in 2000. The family and the 22-year-old found Roman Catholicism to give them hope and made it a holistic part of their life. Kim said that they didn’t know anyone in Canada and going to church offered them a feeling of community and also provided a way to know people.

Kim’s Story

Kim attended the St. Andrew Kim Catholic Church in Surrey in the beginning which had 6,500 members comprising mostly of ethnic Koreans. Later when she was studying at the University of B.C., she went to St. Mark’s parish. Kim finds her religion to guide her in the right way and help her adjust to the foreign surroundings. A priest from UBC’s St. Mark’s Catholic parish, Father Rob Allore revealed that the foreign students who attended the church put more importance on the community than native British Columbians.

The young immigrants, mostly from Asia are making up for the attendance in the Canadian churches. The majority of the immigrants who came to Canada between 2001 and 2011 were either Catholics (21%) or Protestants (23%). Most of the immigrants to arrive in the decade were Roman Catholics numbering around 478,000, followed by 162,000 evangelicals and 108,000 Eastern Orthodox Christians.

How Is it For Young Immigrants?

Angus Reid pollsters say the young immigrants are almost 3 times more likely to participate in religious activities compared to Canadians. It is not surprising that there are many Roman Catholic mega-churches in Metro Vancouver attended by Chinese, Korean, Filipino, and Vietnamese people.

One can also find multiple evangelical Protestant churches serving to ethnic populations. Sometimes the immigrants attend churches more frequently than they did in their native countries. 50% of the polled immigrants said that they visited a religious institution at least once a month in Canada.

Reginald Bibby, Canadian sociologist of religion opines that institutional religion is not going to vanish from Canada anytime soon. The trend of spiritual passion has also been seen in other religions other than Christianity like Islam, Hinduism, and Sikh.

But not all stay on the religious path. Some exploit the freedom and divert to other enjoyments of life.