Under Siege: Religious Freedom and the Church in Canada at 150 (1867-2017)

Don Hutchinson

Feb 2017 · Word Alive Press

About this ebook

Writing from the perspective of a student of life, history, law, politics, and theology, Don Hutchinson draws on all of these areas in Under Siege to offer perceptive insight into the Christian Church of today’s Canada. The reader will receive the benefit of his thirty years of church leadership, Christian witness, constitutional law, and public policy experience to gain a practical understanding of how we, the Church, may cast the deciding votes on the future of Christianity in our constitutionally guaranteed “free and democratic society.”

How did we get here? What happened to “Christian” Canada? Do we not have Charter rights like everyone else? What does the Bible say?

Many Christians sense that an advancing secularism is trying to force upon Canadians a culture in which faith is meant to be private. Hutchinson presents historic, legal, and theological grounds for us not to hide our faith in stained-glass closets, but instead to enter Canada’s contested public space with confidence. Together as individual Christians, congregations, denominations, and para-congregational ministries, we are the Church in Canada. And together we have the capacity to impact the nation for God’s good, the good of our neighbours, and the good of ourselves. Will we?

About the author

Don Hutchinson studied history and politics at Queen’s University and law at the University of British Columbia. Following fifteen years in leadership with The Salvation Army, Don consulted with World Vision Canada and others before serving seven and a half years with The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, including as Director of the Centre for Faith and Public Life, and then as interim National Director/CEO of the Canadian Bible Society.

A member of the Law Society of Upper Canada since 1990, Don has appeared before the Supreme Court of Canada on several occasions as well as a number of parliamentary committees. In addition to being featured in print, television, and radio media, this avid motorcyclist has served on the boards of local and national charities.

Recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medal, as greater reward Don has been married with Gloria for over three decades. They have a daughter and a grandson.