Angela Reitsma Bick

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Marginalia

Dec 20, 2024 | christiancourier.ca | Angela Reitsma Bick

I would recognize their handwriting anywhere. Right beside Numbers 18, where God is instructing Aaron on how the tribe of Levi needs to keep itself separate, there’s a vertical note to look up the Catholic interpretation in my dad’s distinctive scrawl. And adjacent to Deuteronomy 1:6, after the description of Yahweh, “who brought you out of Egypt by night,” my mom wrote: “What for us now?”These notations are in a thick brown Bible I plucked off the shelf recently.
The world-wide body of Christ needs all its members

Nov 22, 2024 | christiancourier.ca | Angela Reitsma Bick

CC: Where is the Christian Reformed Church (CRC) in the landscape of the global church? Are we having the same conversations as other Christians around the world? Charles Oh, Philippines (Attended in-person): From where I stand, the CRC is definitely part of the broader conversation in the global church. We’re talking about social justice, poverty and how to live out our faith in cultures that are often at odds with Christianity. These are the same issues I hear from churches around the world.
Blessed are the Undone: Testimonies of the Quiet Deconstruction of Faith in Canada

Nov 22, 2024 | thebanner.org | Angela Reitsma Bick |Peter Schuurman |Paul Verhoef

Why are some Canadians currently deconstructing their Christian faith? Responses to this question shape this wise and winsome book by two born-and-bred members of the CRC in Canada. There are two key things to know about this book. It is deeply Christian—written by two of our Christian siblings who interviewed 28 people (geographically, gender, and age diverse from 18 through 70+).
Peace talks

Nov 18, 2024 | christiancourier.ca | Angela Reitsma Bick

Canada, 2008-2015. Also Argentina. Australia. Congo. Czech Republic. Fiji. Finland. Ireland. Liberia. Morocco. Norway. Paraguay. Peru. Poland. Philippines. Sierra Leone. South Africa. South Korea. Taiwan. The Ukraine. What do all these countries have in common? After the coup, after apartheid, after colonialism, after civil war – they’ve each had to figure out: how can embattled citizens live peacefully alongside one another once again?
When church feels like a “gauntlet of unspoken rules”

Nov 1, 2024 | christiancourier.ca | Angela Reitsma Bick

In his book, Daniel Bowman Jr. describes wanting to crawl out of his skin when someone touches him without warning at church. Altar call, coffee hour and “popcorn prayers” are equally hard – a “gauntlet of unspoken rules and expectations requiring vigilant navigation” (p.112). We asked Bowman to elaborate on what churches can do differently. Christian Courier: In addition to greater empathy, are there specific things churches could do for their autistic members?
‘Faithful in the days we are in’

Oct 2, 2024 | christiancourier.ca | Angela Reitsma Bick

Bruce Adema was the Director of Canadian Ministries for the Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA) from 2006-2012. He pastored two churches after that, then retired from CRC ministry and, in January 2024, started working as Executive Director for the Henri Nouwen Society. Christian Courier’s Editor spoke with Adema recently about his new role and what Henri Nouwen might say to churches today. Christian Courier (CC): For those who don’t know him, who was Henri Nouwen?
Blessed are the Undone

Sep 16, 2024 | christiancourier.ca | Angela Reitsma Bick |Peter Schuurman

“Never question a man of God.”That’s how Emily*, 42, summarized the Word of Life church. She was working as a Youth Pastor in her early 20s when the first scandal broke. Her pastor had sexually abused a staff member – was literally caught in the act in his church office – and faced zero consequences. He “took one week out of the pulpit” while the woman “lost everything,” Emily told us.
Whales and waterfalls

Sep 13, 2024 | christiancourier.ca | Angela Reitsma Bick

“We are all going to die by 2040,” the tour guide said flatly, “based on the cascading negative effects of climate change.” As shocking as that sentence was, I was more taken aback by the fact that it got zero reaction from his audience.
If Synod had a children’s message

Aug 12, 2024 | christiancourier.ca | Angela Reitsma Bick

On one of the last days in June, we sneaked into church five minutes late. The Grade 12s looked resplendent in their dark blue gowns, cap tassels swinging jauntily with every movement. We waved at Emerson, a close family friend, and got ready to cheer our hearts out for his moment on stage. It was the same Christian Reformed Church (CRC) our family attended for seven years, when the leggy teens sitting next to me had been squirmy toddlers.
Straight talk after Synod

Aug 9, 2024 | christiancourier.ca | Angela Reitsma Bick

CC: How would you summarize the key decisions made at Synod 2024? What was the overall mood (or tone), in your impression? Rev. Al Postma: Summarizing is difficult as there were many items on the agenda.