East District

None Posted

West District

None Posted

Conference Wide

NATIONAL TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION

Hello friends:

As the National Truth and Reconciliation Commission gets set to hold its second of seven major national events (this one in Inuvik, Northwest Territories , will run from Tuesday, June 28 to Friday, July 1, 2011), we want to:

1) Inform you of some simple ways you can follow and support the important work of the Commission, and

 2) Invite your prayers.

First, you may be interested to know that the proceedings of this important event, which will be hearing and airing the experiences and stories of school survivors from across the three territories – Yukon, Northwest and Nunavut – and bordering regions in the provinces, can be viewed on webcast as they unfold. You will be able to access the webcast through this link: http://www.myrobust.com/websites/Northern/index.php?p=273 On the commission’s own site (www.trc.ca), you will find a link for the “Northern National Event.” The TRC site, of course, is a rich source of descriptive background about the mandate and processes of the Commission.

Second, we would invite your prayers for all survivors of residential schools, particularly those participating in the Inuvik event. Please pray too, for the TRC staff and Commissioners, and for your United Church representatives. Alvin Dixon, originally of Bella Bella, who sits on the General Council Executive and chairs the national Indigenous Justice and Residential Schools Committee, and myself (as the General Council Officer for Residential Schools) will be attending on behalf of Moderator Mardi Tindal. At the site below, you will find liturgical resources that were prepared for the United Church on the occasion of the TRC’s first national event, held one year ago in Winnipeg: http://united-church.ca/files/aboriginal/schools/resources/tr-resources.pdf Those resources are equally applicable to the TRC’s current Inuvik event. You can learn more about our historical involvement with residential schools, and our ongoing work for healing and reconciliation, here: http://www.united-church.ca/aboriginal/schools

Please join us in learning about and supporting this national justice, healing and reconciliation work. We believe it is of vital importance to all people in Canada, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal, and indeed to our becoming the just nation we want and need to be.

Thank you for your participation and/or that of your congregation.

Blessings, Jamie Scott General Council Officer: Residential Schools

Rev. Faith March-MacCuish

Conference Personnel Minister

Newfoundland and Labrador Conference

The United Church of Canada

320 Elizabeth Avenue

St. John's, NL A1B 1T9

Phone: 709-754-0388

Fax: 709-754-8336

Email: faith@nfld.net   

"KAIROS PALESTINE” ECUMENICAL STUDY GUIDE AVAILABLE FALL 2011

A Moment of Truth: A Word of Faith Hope and Love from the heart of Palestinian Suffering

An Ecumenical 3-session study guide to the Kairos Palestine Document
from The Canadian Churches Forum for Global Ministries Coming Fall 2011

A Moment of Truth: Kairos Palestine is “the Christian Palestinians’ word to the world about what is happening in Palestine.” It speaks to the reality on the ground for the Palestinian people as they experience it, and gives their prophetic Christian response and challenge.

This ecumenical study guide for Canadian faith communities offers
• the full text of the Kairos Palestine document
• background of the document and why should we study it
• the reality on the ground—maps and background information
• a three-session study guide

Fall 2011 release. Available from United Church Resource Distribution, The Book Room (Presbyterian), Anglican Book Centre, and the Canadian Churches’ Forum.
For information about the study guide contact The Canadian Churches’ Forum for Global Ministries at 416-924-9351 or visit www.ccforum.ca.

WSCF-NA SOLIDARITY STATEMENT ON LIBYA

Please see the statement below from one of our justice partners, the World Student Christian Federation, regarding the violence in Libya. Please note the suggestions for acts of solidarity. Thanks,

Church in the World Committee East and West

From: Luciano Kovacs [mailto:wscfna@gmail.com]

Sent: March 8, 2011 6:18 AM

To: Luciano Kovacs

Subject: WSCF-NA Solidarity Statement on Libya Attached and below WSCF-NA Advocacy and Solidarity Committee statement on Lybia

World Student Christian Federation - North American Region Standing in Solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Libya As students of the WSCF - North American we stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters of Libya who are currently experiencing attacks, threats, killings, and other crimes being committed by the inhuman Libyan regime. Recent stories from our brothers and sisters on the ground are indicating that the level of violence is unprecedented. Some 1000 people have died as a result of the "brutal crackdown against protesters." Colonel Muammar Gaddafi is not moving and has indicated that he refuses to give in to the legitimate demands of the people. His government has issued threats to "purge opponents...house by house and ... inch by inch" and do whatever it takes to hold on to his "iron grip on power," while countless of Libyan towns and cities are being taken over by pro-democracy groups.

The UN Security Council issued a resolution this past Saturday, February 26th imposing sanctions on the Libyan regime. This has been the second time the UN Security Council has referred a country to the International Criminal Court with a unanimous vote. We applaud the efforts made by the member of the council but we urge our government to continue providing concrete action steps to follow up on this recent resolution to ensure peace and security in Africa and around the world. We call on our governments to ensure that the people of Libya are protected from grave human rights violations constituting crimes against humanity. As members of the WSCF-NA Region we understand that we have a responsibility to be a prophetic voice, to defend justice and human rights for all. We call on our brothers and sisters across the region to stand up against these injustices, standing in solidarity and demanding that justice be carried out in Libya.

As an act of solidarity we urge you to:

* Hold a vigil in memory of the lives who have been lost and the countless lives that are still at danger in Libya * Join other mobilizations in your community to end the violence directed towards the innocent civilians exercising their rights * Take action and write to your government urging that they remain committed to giving follow-up to the steps outlined in the most current UN Security Council resolution referring to the situation in Libya Let us remember, as Martin Luther King Jr. so strongly pointed out, that "injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." As people of faith, we are called to work towards putting an end to the violence that is being exercised against those in Libya because our well-being is inextricably tied to our brothers and sisters around the world. As a way of moving forward, we call for the UN Security Council to ensure that the International Court of Justice has the necessary resources to fully investigate all crimes committed and to put an end to the culture of impunity and silence perpetrated by the Gaddafi regime. We will continue to monitor the situation in Libya closely as we honor and remember those who have lost their lives in the continuing fight for a more democratic and just world.

Respectfully Submitted Advocacy and Solidarity Working Group WSCF - North American Region Luciano Kovacs North America Regional Secretary World Student Christian Federation 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 810 New York, NY 10115 phone+1-212-870-2470 fax +1-212-870-3112 wscfna@gmail.com www.wscfna.org www.wscfglobal.org   

VOICES ACTION PLAN: A DAY FOR DEMOCRACY!

Re: the Voice.Voix campaign for democratic space in Canada As you may know, The United Church of Canada is a member organization of Voices.Voix, a group organized last year in response to Government abuses of power and silencing of civil society groups. It's purpose is to advocate for the restoration of responsible democratic space in Canada.

The moderator and the national church have urged all church courts and bodies to sign the Voices.Voix declaration. Click here for the plans they are proposing for an action Day For Democracy in April. Please forward to your networks and encourage them to consider offering an event or joining with others in these event.

With thanks,

Barbara   

WSCF-NA Solidarity Statement on Libya
Below WSCF-NA Advocacy and Solidarity Committee statement on Lybia

World Student Christian Federation - North American Region

Standing in Solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Libya

As students of the WSCF - North American we stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters of Libya who are currently experiencing attacks, threats, killings, and other crimes being committed by the inhuman Libyan regime. Recent stories from our brothers and sisters on the ground are indicating that the level of violence is unprecedented. Some 1000 people have died as a result of the "brutal crackdown against protesters." Colonel Muammar Gaddafi is not moving and has indicated that he refuses to give in to the legitimate demands of the people. His government has issued threats to "purge opponents...house by house and ... inch by inch" and do whatever it takes to hold on to his "iron grip on power," while countless of Libyan towns and cities are being taken over by pro-democracy groups.

The UN Security Council issued a resolution this past Saturday, February 26th imposing sanctions on the Libyan regime. This has been the second time the UN Security Council has referred a country to the International Criminal Court with a unanimous vote. We applaud the efforts made by the member of the council but we urge our government to continue providing concrete action steps to follow up on this recent resolution to ensure peace and security in Africa and around the world. We call on our governments to ensure that the people of Libya are protected from grave human rights violations constituting crimes against humanity. As members of the WSCF-NA Region we understand that we have a responsibility to be a prophetic voice, to defend justice and human rights for all. We call on our brothers and sisters across the region to stand up against these injustices, standing in solidarity and demanding that justice be carried out in Libya.

As an act of solidarity we urge you to:

* Hold a vigil in memory of the lives who have been lost and the countless lives that are still at danger in Libya

* Join other mobilizations in your community to end the violence directed towards the innocent civilians exercising their rights

* Take action and write to your government urging that they remain committed to giving follow-up to the steps outlined in the most current UN Security Council resolution referring to the situation in Libya

Let us remember, as Martin Luther King Jr. so strongly pointed out, that "injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." As people of faith, we are called to work towards putting an end to the violence that is being exercised against those in Libya because our well-being is inextricably tied to our brothers and sisters around the world. As a way of moving forward, we call for the UN Security Council to ensure that the International Court of Justice has the necessary resources to fully investigate all crimes committed and to put an end to the culture of impunity and silence perpetrated by the Gaddafi regime. We will continue to monitor the situation in Libya closely as we honor and remember those who have lost their lives in the continuing fight for a more democratic and just world.

Respectfully Submitted

Advocacy and Solidarity Working Group

WSCF - North American Region

Luciano Kovacs
North America Regional Secretary
World Student Christian Federation
475 Riverside Drive, Suite 810
New York, NY 10115

phone+1-212-870-2470
fax +1-212-870-3112

wscfna@gmail.com
www.wscfna.org
www.wscfglobal.org

 

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