Latest news with #SaintPaulUniversity
Winnipeg Free Press
12-07-2025
- General
- Winnipeg Free Press
Investigating church attendance and the religious middle
If you are a Christian, how often do you go to church? Do you go weekly? Once a month? Or maybe only on Christmas and Easter? If you are in the latter group, you are not alone. That has become normal for a growing number of churchgoers in Canada, especially in the Anglican Church of Canada. That's what Sarah Kathleen Johnson found when she did research on attendance patterns of members of that church. She shares her findings in her new book, Occasional Religious Practice: Valuing a Very Ordinary Religious Experience (Oxford University Press). For Johnson, a professor of liturgy and pastoral theology at Saint Paul University in Ottawa, interest in the topic was sparked by her own experience of attending an Anglican church in Toronto. During Christmas services, the church was packed. The following Sundays, the sanctuary was nearly empty. Until then, Johnson had not paid much attention to that phenomenon. But seeing the contrast made her wonder how widespread and common it was for Anglicans. Very common, as it turns out. Through interviews, research and her own observations, Johnson concludes that occasional attendance is now normal in many Anglican parishes. 'Routine attendance patterns have changed,' Johnson said, noting there was a time in the past when weekly churchgoing was more the norm. But today, most Anglicans attend church only on holidays like Christmas and Easter or for life transitions such as funerals, weddings or the baptism of someone's child. And not just Anglicans; Johnson suspects that may be the dominant way many Christians go to church in Canada today. This is supported by research by Statistics Canada, which found that 25 per cent of Canadians who attend church services said it was their practice to go either monthly or between one to three times a year. Thirteen per cent said they went once a week. Johnson's findings are also supported by Neil Elliot, statistics and research officer for the Anglican Church of Canada. In his most recent report to the 2025 General Synod, he noted that attendance for Easter services was up 41 per cent and Christmas was up 51 per cent. As for Sunday attendance, that continues to 'decline steadily with no bounce back,' he said, dropping by a third since 2017. Or, as he put it, 'it appears people are coming back to festival services, but not to regular Sunday worship.' What especially intrigued Johnson about this large group of people who attend occasionally was the lack of information about them. She found many books about the very religious who attend services often and also many about non-religious people who never go at all. 'But there wasn't much on the religious middle,' she said. Through her research, Johnson found these occasional attenders are quite content with their current practice. 'They don't feel the need to go more often,' she said. As for why they feel that way, Johnson said it wasn't because they are anti-religion; they just didn't feel going to church was necessary anymore. And when they did go, it was usually because of tradition or family — Grandma wants the family together at church on Christmas Eve. One thing Johnson wants to emphasize is that occasional church attendance isn't a new thing; it's been happening for a long time. In fact, it was over 25 years ago that sociologist of religion Reg Bibby coined the term 'monthly plus' to describe how many churchgoers were considering what constituted regular attendance — no longer as weekly, but as once or twice a month. And not only that, the earliest Christians experienced it, as can be seen in the book of Hebrews. In Chapter 10 Verse 5, the author writes that believers should not be 'neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some.' And it also was on the minds of church leaders in the fourth and fifth centuries, when they complained about people not going to church on a weekly basis. Understandably, clergy and denominational leaders would prefer to see churches full every Sunday. But Johnson said they should avoid preaching against the practice at times when the church is full. 'It will be hard to convert these people into intensive churchgoing,' she said. She thinks it would be better for clergy to accept this as normal and then view Christmas, Easter, weddings and funerals as a way to engage occasional attenders through what she called 'tender, pastoral moments.' Clergy can also shift their thinking about what it means to be part of a church, she said; people may feel part of its mission through volunteering, helping during a disaster, visiting with neighbours or in other ways that don't involve being at worship services. At the same time, it's important to not think God only engages people at religious services. 'I assume that the Spirit is at work within and beyond the formal and informal institutions of the Church,' Johnson said. 'God is active in the lives of people, including occasional practitioners, in ways that are known, unknown, and unknowable to theologians and social scientists.' faith@ The Free Press is committed to covering faith in Manitoba. If you appreciate that coverage, help us do more! Your contribution of $10, $25 or more will allow us to deepen our reporting about faith in the province. Thanks! BECOME A FAITH JOURNALISM SUPPORTER John LonghurstFaith reporter John Longhurst has been writing for Winnipeg's faith pages since 2003. He also writes for Religion News Service in the U.S., and blogs about the media, marketing and communications at Making the News. Read full biography Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
DW
27-06-2025
- Politics
- DW
DRC-Rwanda peace deal: what you need to know – DW – 06/27/2025
A treaty between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo comes as the United States tries to reassert its role as a global mediator under President Donald Trump. But it leaves many unanswered questions. Congolese Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba and her Rwandan counterpart, Olivier Nduhungirehe, are due to sign a peace agreement in the presence of Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington this Friday. Reportedly, a meeting with US President Donald Trump in the White House is set to follow. Trump has already referred to the agreement as a "wonderful treaty" even before its final signing, but some critical voices doubt whether the deal is far-reaching enough. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Thousands of people have died and millions displaced in a conflict that reignited in 2021 when M23 rebels launched its most recent offensive in the DRC. The fighting quickly escalated as allegations of Rwanda propping up M23 insurgents from across the border were broadly circulated and later confirmed by various international bodies, including the US government. Rwanda has repeatedly denied those claims but has nonetheless agreed to commit to the peace deal. "This agreement marks a very important step towards establishing peace in the African Great Lakes region," says Yvon Muya, a political analyst focused on African Affairs at Saint Paul University in Ottawa, Canada. "But nobody knows yet whether it will hold. That will depend primarily on the two parties concerned, i.e. the Congolese and Rwandan authorities." There's a great deal of hope resting on the agreement, which could potentially bring an end to 30 years of unrest in the eastern DRC. Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), told DW however that in the absence of any external controls to guarantee peace on the ground, it was "very important to ensure that everyone sticks to this peace process." "I hope it will help stabilize the situation here. Life is very difficult for these communities," Fletcher said. "The world is distracted by Europe, Israel, Iran and so on. I'm here to remind people that we must not forget about the Congo," Fletcher said. The city of Goma, which is on the border with Rwanda, bore witness to the brunt of atrocities and fighting. "I was truly shocked to see the rate of violence against women," Fletcher said. "Although this peace process will deliver a different life for these communities, we need to strengthen international law, and protect people. We have to ask: Will this peace help protect them against sexual crimes, sexual violence?" The UN says rape has historically and systematically been used as a weapon of war in the DRC by M23 rebels and other groups fighting to expand their influence. But the peace deal, which was brokered by American andQatari diplomats, does not address sexual violence directly nor any measures for justice and restitution. Rather, it stipulates the future will be built on "respect for territorial integrity and a prohibition of all hostilities," and that it will also include a clause on the disarmament of all "non-state armed groups." "There is also mention of integrating the armed groups, but only under strict conditions," Muya meanwhile told DW. "This suggests that the mediators for the region have perhaps learned a lesson from previous efforts. They clearly remember how in the past, the Congolese army was infiltrated by other armed or criminal groups and also by questionable figures." To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Previous attempts at disarming and integrating rebel groups have typically delivered mixed results at best. The US-brokered deal has especially been subject to criticism for not paying close enough attention to this particular aspect of the conflict in the final draft of the document. In fact, with M23 representatives walking out on previous peace talks, the peace deal might come across as more of a truce. While the agreement focuses on disarmament on the DRC side of the border, it makes no reference to Rwandan forces, which have long been suspected of participating in the conflict. The peace deal seems to rely on economic cooperation intended to benefit both countries. According to a press statement, the agreement focuses on the creation of a "regional economic integration framework" without however going into further detail. "The two countries have at least committed themselves to ceasing all forms of hostility. In this sense, [the peace deal] is chiefly a process to restore trust," Muya told DW, expressing hope in this transactional approach to peace. But Muya adds that the "human aspect seems to be overlooked" in the agreement, such as the return of refugees and displaced people. Fletcher also points out "communities have been displaced and destabilized several times." "We really need to support the refugees, the displaced with whatever they need," he told DW, adding that securing funds rebuild the region was likely going to be difficult. "[T]he world has become less generous, less kind, in fact. And so it's our job to convince [the international community] to provide the necessary support," he said, as the UN faces major funding shortfalls due to cuts. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Some analysts fear an exploitative dimension to the peace deal. The wording on economic cooperation between the DRC, Rwanda and US has been criticized as being too weak considering the abundant mineral wealth of the region. Previously, this resource wealth has been a catalyst for regional hostilities. The Trump administration has suggested it wants to expand its influence in Africa and compete with China. The deal also leaves out key African players who have recently tried to mediate and stabilize the region. The East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) are completely left out of the agreement after, in some instances, withdrawing their troops from the region recently.
CBC
17-03-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Meet the 1st Israeli jailed for refusing military conscription after the Oct. 7 attacks
Tal Mitnick, the first Israeli jailed for refusing mandatory conscription after the Hamas-led attacks of Oct. 7, leans back in his seat in the Saint Paul University's auditorium in Ottawa. On Dec. 26, 2023, Mitnick arrived at an enlistment centre in central Tel Aviv and publicly announced that he would refuse to serve with the Israel Defence Forces (IDF). "I had a choice: to be part of this force currently genociding my neighbours, that is killing people's loved ones, or I had a choice to refuse," he told CBC News. He was detained for five consecutive 30-day sentences, the maximum sentence refuseniks get, in accordance with Israeli law. The 19 year old, who was released from Israeli prison in July on medical grounds, is on a cross-Canada tour with fellow refusenik Einat Gerlitz, who refused military service in 2022. The pair are speaking about their experiences as conscientious objectors, a position which has drawn scorn in Israel and interest from North American audiences. The tour, organized by local chapters of Independent Jewish Voices, an advocacy group, runs in cities from Quebec to British Colombia throughout March. The Hamas-led attacks of Oct. 7, 2023 killed some 1,200 Israelis, in what many consider the worst single-day massacre of Jews since the Holocaust. The attack fuelled Israel's invasion of Gaza, which has killed more than 48,500 Palestinians in the territory, according to local health authorities. Some young Israelis feel a more pacifist approach would have been better for bringing lasting peace to both Israelis and Palestinians. A small but growing number of Israelis are refusing mandatory enlistment or to return to their military duty after tours in Gaza. But few do so publicly. Military duty is compulsory for most Israeli men and women and refuseniks face jail time as well as social and professional blow back. "Being the first public refuser [since Oct. 7] we didn't know what the military would do with me," Mitnick said. "I went back again and again, each time I got the maximum sentence until I reached 185 days." IDF 'condemns refusals' In a statement to CBC News, the IDF said mandatory recruitment is set in the country's Security Services Law and the military is "committed to implementing the law and recruiting in accordance with it." The statement goes on to say that it "condemns refusals." Regarding Mitnick, the IDF said a professional committee determined that there were "no conscientious reasons for his claims" to refuse enlistment. After he "vehemently" refused, he was sentenced to jail, the IDF said. Mattan Helman is executive director of Refuser Solidarity Network, an organization which supports refuseniks during their sentences and provides information about their stories online. He said publicly refusing comes with consequences. But he encourages the practice to help spread the word that it is an option for Israeli conscripts, including those who condemn the scale of violence in Gaza and feel that the only way to get Israeli hostages back is through a deal with Hamas. "We should look at it like an iceberg, there's the ones who refuse publicly at the top of the iceberg that's above the water, and the majority who refuse in a different way that is underwater," Helman told CBC News via Zoom. Although the RSN doesn't have exact numbers on refuseniks, Mattan said there are "thousands" and the numbers have been increasing since Oct. 7, "especially with reserve soldiers." Surviving jail On the day of his refusal, videos and pictures of Mitnick flooded social media. A protest outside his enlistment office saw people chanting and waving signs along with him. "It was weird that the protest was centred around me, I'm not really used to things being centered around me," he says. The teen said he shies away from the spotlight and admits it makes him "a little uncomfortable." But he said that moment represented a turning point for his life as an activist. This is where he met many of his current friends, supporters and people who would help him on his journey in jail and beyond. "I'm very blessed to have found this activist circle of people that have the same opinions as me and support me," he said. Mitnick said his time in jail revolved around his capacity to survive. His fellow prisoners didn't know why Mitnick was incarcerated and he was careful in sharing his political opinions. Some fellow prisoners eventually started to recognize him in jail, he said, adding that he denied being "that guy from the social media videos." Mitnick is a self-proclaimed leftist who was inspired by his father, a journalist who he said spent a lot of time in the Israeli-occupied West Bank telling stories from the Palestinian side. "Politics was always a thing that we talked about in the house," he said. "And it was very present in the fact that something had to change." As for what's next, Mitnick takes a moment to formulate his thoughts as though he feels the weight of the question on his conscience. " Inshallah," he says, using the Arabic term for God willing. "The walls will fall and all will live in peace and freedom."
