Visualizing Restorative Justice (Part One): Tapestries, Spider-webs, and Doilies
“Restorative justice” is a phrase that sounds very nice. It likely conjures up images of people smiling, of sunlight pouring through windows, of trees swaying in the wind—the stuff of daydreams. On the other hand, some might think of courtrooms, prisons, prisoners, lawyers and judges. Yet still others might think of “talking circles”, victim-offender conferences,…
Responding to God’s Call to “Do Justice”
“I was listening to the Lord and to my heart.” This is how the Safe Room along the Highway of Tears came about. A simple tugging on the heart and, as Bart Plugboer would testify, when you listen, God will use that to do good. Bart Plugboer is the Diaconal Coach (formerly called Diaconal Ministry…
Reverse Mentoring: A New Learning Curve
“The church needs young blood in its veins. Our strength for holding the faith may lie in experienced saints but our zeal for propagating it must be found in the young.” Charles Spurgeon These words by British preacher Charles Spurgeon were written over 150 years ago but communicate a clear vision for young and old…
The Refugee Crisis and the CRC Response
The following was sent out by the CRCNA Communications: With the refugee crisis on many people’s minds, questions have come in to various agency and ministry staff about what the CRC is doing to help. A number of communication items have recently gone out from our office to address the refugee crisis and how churches…
Meet DMC’s new Justice Mobilizer!
I’m Dan Galenkamp, the new Justice Mobilizer for DMC. As a recent graduate of Redeemer University College in Ancaster, Ontario, I’ve been eager on finding work that incorporates my faith and my enthusiasm for helping others. I have a real passion for justice and reconciliation. From the humble beginnings of a high school law class—where…
Synod 2015 and diaconal ministry
Dear Deacons: This is a significant year for deacons in the Christian Reformed Church. The 2015 Task Force report approved some important principles for diaconal ministry in the 21st century. The report addressed the role of deacons in congregations and communities as well as the role of elders. And, Synod approved deacon delegation at Classis…
Summer Reading
If there’s one book that you might want to read on charity, I recommend Robert Lupton’s book Toxic Charity: How Churches and Charities Hurt Those They Help. Lupton’s 40 years of experience in community development in Atlanta have led him to claim that charitable giving is “either wasted or actually harms the people it is targeted…
Developing Spiritual Gifts: mentoring deacons and more
“So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up…” (Ephesians 4:11-12) The Taskforce report on Elders and Deacons roles in ministry has presented opportunities for teaching and unpacking how leaders in the…
Connecting with Our Muslim Neighbours
Disability Concerns, the refugee office of World Renew, the Office of Social Justice and Race Relations are a number of CRC agencies which partner with Diaconal Ministries Canada in the work of justice. Partnerships with other networks, programs and agencies continue to strengthen the possibilities and the ways that the church engages in a spirit…
DoJustice Blog
- Food for the Community April 22, 2024
- The Deepening of Hope: Progress Inside the Story of Jesus April 12, 2024
- Journey towards Justice and Reconciliation April 8, 2024
- Keeping Eventbrite Open April 1, 2024
