Proclamation

A growing number of Canadian churches are discovering...

Proclamation – the Word of the Lord

Proclamation is the reading of God’s Word, aloud, in public and in its entirety, from beginning to end.

For many Canadians – both those who listen and those who read during Proclamation – it is a remarkable new experience. But the roots of Proclamation are as old as the book of Nehemiah. There, in the eighth chapter, Ezra the priest reads the Law aloud to the whole assembly of Israel, from beginning to end, and spiritual renewal follows.

Proclamation is having a similar impact today. Hundreds of participants have described how the Scriptures have spoken freshly to them during a Proclamation event. And church leaders have seen renewal in their congregations.

But Proclamation isn’t only about reinvigorating the church. It’s about public witness. Most Proclamation events bring together congregations and parishes from many different denominations and confessions – and the co-operative spirit makes a powerful statement to the community. More importantly, the profile that Proclamation gives to the Scriptures is itself a strong witness to the Christian faith.

What leaders are saying about Proclamation...

“It was particularly exciting to see people come out of church after their reading, and say, ‘I can’t wait to get home and share with my spouse and my neighbours what this passage means to me.’” ~ Rev. Canon Philip Bristow, St. Philip’s on-the-Hill Anglican Church, Markham, Ontario

“The whole town became aware that the Bible was being read completely!” ~ Rev. Douglas Porter, Napanee Baptist Church

“I have always supported Proclamation because I believe it is an excellent avenue to proclaim the Word of God outside the regular Sunday liturgy.” ~ Jean-Claude Cardinal Turcotte, Montréal

VIDEOS

Proclamation in Fergus, ON

Proclamation: a tremendous blessing to both readers and hearers.

Proclamation Questions and Answers

Q: How many readings are needed to cover the whole Bible?
A: For the purposes of Proclamation, the Bible has been divided into 1,300 readings, each of which takes an average of five minutes.

Q: Is Proclamation something one church can do on its own?
A: Not usually. And that’s a benefit. Often churches from a variety of different Christian denominations and confessions co-operate in a Proclamation event. That kind of shared effort provides a unique opportunity for groups to meet around a common cause – the Bible – and makes an important statement to the community about Christian unity.

Q: Does the reading go on 24 hours a day?

A: No. During Proclamation the readings occur for approximately 40 minutes each hour from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM. The remaining time until the start of the next hour is kept as a break during which participants can enjoy fellowship over coffee, and prepare themselves for the next session. In this way, the entire Bible can be read aloud in 10 days.

Q: How hard is it to organize a Proclamation event?
A: It certainly takes some work. But the Canadian Bible Society provides a complete and detailed guide that lays out every step and every factor that needs to be considered. A volunteer committee of four or five can usually do the job, starting months in advance.

Q: What Christian denominations and confessions have participated in Proclamation?
A: Here’s just a partial list: Roman Catholic, Anglican, Pentecostal Assemblies, United Church, Baptist, Salvation Army, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Free Methodist, Brethren, Alliance, Mennonite, Mennonite Brethren, Associated Gospel,...

For more information on Proclamation – The Word of the Lord, contact your local District Office.