By Rebekah Sears | Tuesday, July 27th, 2010 - 3:05PM
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This week I’m just coming back to work after a couple weeks of vacation in Vancouver. It was a different kind of vacation because I decided to audit a two week theology class at Regent College, on the campus of the University of British Columbia.
Regent has a great reputation for integrating faith with all aspects of life, including public life and work, which I’ve talked about a lot, but also in all our daily activities, in some ways that did not really occur to me before. Read more »
By Rebekah Sears | Monday, June 21st, 2010 - 1:13PM
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Last week the Canadian Truth and Reconciliation Commission for the Indian Residential Schools was officially launched in Winnipeg. Those present included Murray Sinclair and the other commissioners, government officials such as the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs, Chuck Strahl, Aboriginal, Métis and Inuit people from across the country, representatives from the four national churches who ran the schools, and the general public.
This was the first opportunity for many residential school survivors to share their stories with the Canadian public. Emotions were running high for those testifying, as well as those listening. The truth stirred up memories among survivors, and regret among the others. Read more »
By Rebekah Sears | Monday, June 7th, 2010 - 12:57PM
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June 11 is the second anniversary of the government’s official apology for the Indian Residential Schools, which represent a disturbing legacy in Canada’s history.This June there are various events and conferences being held across the country to mark the anniversary of the apology and promote ways for the people of Canada to move forward: Read more »
June 11 marks the second anniversary of the Canadian Government’s apology for the Indian Residential Schools. But an apology by itself is not enough. Forgiveness, reconciliation and the restoration of broken relationships requires a change in behaviour: repentance. In recent months, there have been more promises and actions to restore relations with Aboriginal peoples and the Government of Canada. But is it enough? Taking responsibility for the past can and should inspire significant and lasting change for the future –building a new legacy of change and hope. Read more »
Our work at CPJ is to bring change through government policies. The personal stories inspire and speak strongly to the Biblical foundations of the call to promote justice. But so do the statistics, because they highlight potential policy options for promoting dignity for all Canadians. At CPJ's Annual General Meeting on May 27, 2010, Richard Shillington, from Informetrica and CPJ's Karri Munn-Venn looked at the statistics and stories that motivate us to continue our work to end poverty in Canada and promote dignity for everyone. Read more »
It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon when a lively group of Ottawans rambled down the highway to Hamilton. There were two priests, two young adults from a local parish and the two of us. We were among the 85 or so clergy and lay people from across the country making our way to “Community Justice Camp – Live the Change you want to see.”
Community –be it geographic, experience-based, or otherwise –is central in our pursuit of social justice. At Justice Camp we had the opportunity to be among a wonderful group of justice advocates from across the country to learn, share, and grow together as we explored how to discern and interpret local needs in a way that leads to charity, justice, and a strong and healthy community for all. Read more »
By Chandra Pasma | Friday, February 26th, 2010 - 3:37PM
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At workshops and presentations, people often ask me what they and their churches can do to get involved in fighting poverty locally. One of my suggestions is to follow the example of Operation Sharing in Woodstock, Ontario: they got rid of their food bank.
Operation Sharing is a local charity based in Oxford County, about an hour’s drive from Toronto. Operation Sharing is owned and run by local churches, with many different denominations contributing board members, volunteers, donations and funding. It was created over 25 years ago by four local United Church ministers. Read more »
The hope of Christmas extends beyond our homes and workplaces and into all aspects of our world. The good news Christ ushered in nearly two thousand years ago is a message of hope. Christmas is not simply that Christ has come, but that in that small baby lying humbly in a manger, we can hope. Despite all that is falling apart in our lives, our communities, and the world around us, we can hope for something different. Read more »
By Rebekah Sears | Wednesday, October 21st, 2009 - 12:48PM
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In April 2009 the congregation at St. Matthew Evangelical Lutheran Church in Fredericton, New Brunswick opened the doors of their brand new facility, Luther Place. This facility not only included a new space for worship, but also 45 apartment units for affordable housing.
One of the most important roles of the church is to spread the love of God throughout the surrounding communities. This means looking beyond the walls of the church building to the needs of society. The congregation at St. Matthew did just that in their latest project. Read more »
By Karri Munn-Venn | Wednesday, September 9th, 2009 - 11:04AM
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Poverty Justice Camp, an Anglican Church event with participants from across Canada, was a week of intense experiences and reflections on poverty, charity, and justice. As a participant in the “urban poverty and homelessness” immersion group, I visited a number of service agencies and met a number of people they served. I was witness to the tremendous compassion and caring of front-line workers. The solidarity they demonstrated as they journey together with people facing marginalization and exclusion was truly inspirational. Read more »
June 11 marks the second anniversary of the Canadian Government’s apology for the Indian Residential Schools. But an apology by itself is not enough. Forgiveness, reconciliation and the restoration of broken relationships requires a change in behaviour: repentance. In recent months, there have been more promises and actions to restore relations with Aboriginal peoples and the Government of Canada. But is it enough? Taking responsibility for the past can and should inspire significant and lasting change for the future –building a new legacy of change and hope. 
The hope of Christmas extends beyond our homes and workplaces and into all aspects of our world. The good news Christ ushered in nearly two thousand years ago is a message of hope. Christmas is not simply that Christ has come, but that in that small baby lying humbly in a manger, we can hope. Despite all that is falling apart in our lives, our communities, and the world around us, we can hope for something different. 
