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Reconciliation and Indigenous Justice News from
The United Church of Canada
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General Council 44: Big Changes for the Church
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The Rev. Elenor Thompson after two proposals on Indigenous self-determination are passed.
[Image credit: The United Church of Canada]
General Council 44 took significant steps toward Indigenous self-determination and right relations, passing a motion on the autonomy of the Indigenous Church that directs the General Secretary to identify and remove all the structural barriers to developing and sustaining an autonomous Indigenous Church within The United Church of Canada, consistent with the Calls to the Church and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. There is also a call to continue the conversation of restructuring, right relations, and reparations with the National Indigenous Council; and to report back to General Council 45 on the state of the dialogue and required next steps.
A second proposal enables a “Category 3” remit to approve the new structure of the Indigenous Church and the relationship with the non-Indigenous Church, to be determined by the Indigenous Church in its own time and through its own processes, without the need for further remit approval, shortening the time for study from 24 months to 12 months. Resources will be made available to support this process.
In response, Honoured Elder the Rev. Elenor Thompson said: “Today all of me, my whole heart, loves the United Church. So very proud of the church and the people.”
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First Female Indigenous Moderator
[Photo credit: The United Church of Canada]
The United Church also selected the first female Indigenous Moderator (and second Indigenous Moderator): the Rev. Dr. Carmen Lansdowne, who has named repentance and reconciliation among her priorities. Carmen is a member of the Heiltsuk First Nation, and most recently served as Executive Director of First United Church Community Ministry Society in downtown Vancouver. She also serves as a Keeper of the Vision of the Sandy Saulteaux Spiritual Centre. You can learn more in her biography and message prepared for General Council. All are invited to the Moderator’s Installation on August 7, either in person at Canadian Memorial United Church or on the United Church YouTube Livestream on Sunday, August 7, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. PDT / 4:00 p.m. EDT / 5:30 p.m. NDT.
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Papal Statement to Residential Institution Survivors
We at the United Church acknowledge the complexity of emotions brought up this week by the Papal visit and the Pope’s message to survivors of residential institutions, their families, and their communities. Only they can decide whether this was the response they wanted to TRC Call to Action 58.
We urge non-Indigenous people to continue to respectfully follow the discussion that is taking place, to listen to what is being said and why. Listen to survivors, to Indigenous activists and organizations, and to people such as the former TRC commissioners, all of whom have expressed their opinions on this. And above all, please continue to do what you can do to help fulfill the other 93 Calls to Action.
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Orange Shirt Week!!
[Image credit: The United Church of Canada]
Get ready to make faithful witness for Orange Shirt Day. We’ll launch most of our plans, including webinars and church-based activities, after Labour Day. Stay tuned to the United Church website.
We’ll also be hosting another Orange Shirt Day Giveaway, this time for 40 “Every Child Matters” flags, on August 30. Details will be forthcoming from the Indigenous Ministries Facebook and Twitter accounts in the next couple of weeks. So sign up and stay tuned to our social media channels! That’s Facebook Indigenous Ministries; Facebook Indigenous Justice; and Twitter.
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Justice and Reconciliation Fund Fall Deadline
The Justice and Reconciliation Fund supports projects by United Church groups that foster education, dialogue, reconciliation, and relationship-building between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. The next deadline for applications is September 15. Check the United Church website for more details and application criteria.
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