Community of Christ in Canada
  • About
    • Values
    • Lived Experience >
      • The Congregation
      • The Mission Centre
      • The World Church
      • Mission in Action
    • Theology >
      • Enduring Principles
      • Mission Initiatives
      • Sacraments
      • Statement on Scripture
      • Principles of History
      • Generosity
      • Basic Beliefs
    • History & Heritage
    • Onward Together >
      • Strategic Plan
      • The Mission Centre Design Team
    • Board of Directors
    • Partners
  • Connect
    • Congregations >
      • Online Worship
      • What to Expect
    • Beyond the Walls
    • Blog
    • Stay Connected >
      • CWM Newsletter Signup
      • CEM Newsletter Signup
      • Online Worship Signup
      • Social Media
    • Contact a Minister
  • Give
    • Giving Tuesday
  • Canada West
    • CWM Dashboard
    • CWM Conference
    • CWM CAMPING 2025
    • News & Updates
    • Events Calendar
    • Staff Directory
    • Congregations
    • Creating Connection >
      • Blog
    • Campgrounds
    • CWM Archive
  • Canada East
    • CEM Dashboard
    • Events Calendar
    • CEM Camping 2025
    • CEM Conference
    • News & Updates
    • Staff Directory
    • Congregations
    • Campgrounds
    • Connection Groups
  • Resources
    • Search
    • Training
    • Worship Resources
    • Congregational Resources
    • Forms
    • Posters and Media
    • Online Lectures
    • Job Opportunities
  • About
    • Values
    • Lived Experience >
      • The Congregation
      • The Mission Centre
      • The World Church
      • Mission in Action
    • Theology >
      • Enduring Principles
      • Mission Initiatives
      • Sacraments
      • Statement on Scripture
      • Principles of History
      • Generosity
      • Basic Beliefs
    • History & Heritage
    • Onward Together >
      • Strategic Plan
      • The Mission Centre Design Team
    • Board of Directors
    • Partners
  • Connect
    • Congregations >
      • Online Worship
      • What to Expect
    • Beyond the Walls
    • Blog
    • Stay Connected >
      • CWM Newsletter Signup
      • CEM Newsletter Signup
      • Online Worship Signup
      • Social Media
    • Contact a Minister
  • Give
    • Giving Tuesday
  • Canada West
    • CWM Dashboard
    • CWM Conference
    • CWM CAMPING 2025
    • News & Updates
    • Events Calendar
    • Staff Directory
    • Congregations
    • Creating Connection >
      • Blog
    • Campgrounds
    • CWM Archive
  • Canada East
    • CEM Dashboard
    • Events Calendar
    • CEM Camping 2025
    • CEM Conference
    • News & Updates
    • Staff Directory
    • Congregations
    • Campgrounds
    • Connection Groups
  • Resources
    • Search
    • Training
    • Worship Resources
    • Congregational Resources
    • Forms
    • Posters and Media
    • Online Lectures
    • Job Opportunities

Blog

A Moment with the Mission Centre President–National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

9/29/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
Black Lives Matter
Indigenous Lives Matter
Lives of People of Colour Matter

 
I have brought back the three-line header as a reminder that the issues of prejudice, discrimination, and racism continue to plague our society. The focus today is on “Indigenous Lives Matter.”
 
Thursday, September 30, 2021, will be the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The day has been established by the federal government of Canada to provide an opportunity for all Canadians to reflect on the legacy of Indian residential schools specifically, and the effects, generally, of other examples of systemic racism experienced in the daily lives of Indigenous persons in this country.

Beginning in early July, I have been participating in an online course called “Indigenous Canada,” which is offered through the University of Alberta. Topics covered included the fur trade and other exchange relationships, land claims and environmental impacts, legal systems and rights, political conflicts and alliances, Indigenous political activism, and contemporary Indigenous life, art, and its expressions.

We have had a weekly discussion group of people from Canada West Mission Centre (and a few from Canada East) to debrief what we heard and saw in each week’s presentations. It has been an informative and illuminating experience and I encourage anyone to check it out. The course is available for free.

The course has provided much food for thought as I consider the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The course presented excellent history and background on the experience of the Indigenous community in Canada over the last 150 years – and really the last 500 years. I am still considering what kind of a response it requires of me to be supportive of the initiatives of reconciliation.

For a quick (or in-depth, if you choose) introduction to the issues of reconciliation, consult the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, and especially their resources supporting “Truth and Reconciliation Week.”

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation has been set on September 30 because that is the date used in recent years to mark “Orange Shirt Day.” I won’t take up space here to tell that story. You can read about in the words of the woman who had her orange shirt taken from her on her first day at a residential school here.

When we act to support reconciliation with Indigenous persons, I suggest that we are being consistent with Jesus’ statement of the “second” commandment (after “love the Lord your God…”): “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:39) We also give expression to a number of our church’s “Enduring Principles,” including “Worth of All Persons,” “Pursuit of Peace (Shalom),” and “Unity in Diversity.”

Even if you are reading this after September 30, I encourage you to give some thought to the priority of reconciliation in our communities and what role you might find to personally support those efforts.

As always, I pray for you God’s blessings of joy, hope, love, and peace in these challenging times.
​
Steve Thompson
Canada West Mission Centre President
[email protected]
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    October 2019
    April 2019

    Categories

    All
    All Voices
    Announcements
    Apostle Art Smith
    BLM
    Board Updates
    Camp
    Celebrate Mission
    Climate Justice
    COVID-19
    Creating Connection
    Giving Tuesday
    MIssion Centre Design Team
    Mission Centre President
    Onward Together
    Racial Justice
    Vlog
    World Church

    RSS Feed

COMMUNITY OF CHRIST
355 Elmira Road North, Unit 129
Guelph, ON N1K 1S5 Canada
888-411-7537
QUICK LINKS
  • Make a Donation
  • Beyond the Walls
  • Resources
CANADA WEST MISSION
  • Congregations
  • Campgrounds
  • Upcoming Events
  • Staff Directory
  • Join our mailing list
  • 877-411-2632
CANADA EAST MISSION
  • Congregations
  • Campgrounds
  • Upcoming Events
  • Staff Directory
  • Join our mailing list
  • 888-411-7537
SEARCH OUR WEBSITE
EXTERNAL LINKS
  • World Church Website
  • Creating Connection
  • World Accord
  • Encounter World Religions
Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Report a Website Issue