Community of Christ in Canada
  • Learn
    • Values
    • Mission in Action
    • Lived Experience >
      • The Congregation
      • The Mission Centre
      • The World Church
    • Theology >
      • Enduring Principles
      • Mission Initiatives
      • Sacraments
      • Statement on Scripture
      • Principles of History
      • Generosity
      • Basic Beliefs
    • History & Heritage
  • Connect
    • Congregations >
      • What to Expect
    • Meetup Groups
    • Blog
    • Social Media
    • Partners
    • Contact a Minister
  • Give
    • Giving Tuesday
  • Canada West
    • CWM Dashboard
    • Events Calendar
    • CWM Gatherings
    • News & Updates
    • Staff Directory
    • Congregations
    • Connection Groups
    • Campgrounds
    • Training Courses
    • Forms & Resources
  • Canada East
    • CEM Dashboard
    • Events Calendar
    • CEM Camping 2023
    • CEM Conference
    • News & Updates
    • Staff Directory
    • Congregations
    • Campgrounds
    • Connection Groups
    • Training Courses
    • Forms & Resources
  • Learn
    • Values
    • Mission in Action
    • Lived Experience >
      • The Congregation
      • The Mission Centre
      • The World Church
    • Theology >
      • Enduring Principles
      • Mission Initiatives
      • Sacraments
      • Statement on Scripture
      • Principles of History
      • Generosity
      • Basic Beliefs
    • History & Heritage
  • Connect
    • Congregations >
      • What to Expect
    • Meetup Groups
    • Blog
    • Social Media
    • Partners
    • Contact a Minister
  • Give
    • Giving Tuesday
  • Canada West
    • CWM Dashboard
    • Events Calendar
    • CWM Gatherings
    • News & Updates
    • Staff Directory
    • Congregations
    • Connection Groups
    • Campgrounds
    • Training Courses
    • Forms & Resources
  • Canada East
    • CEM Dashboard
    • Events Calendar
    • CEM Camping 2023
    • CEM Conference
    • News & Updates
    • Staff Directory
    • Congregations
    • Campgrounds
    • Connection Groups
    • Training Courses
    • Forms & Resources

News & Updates

A Moment with the Mission Centre President

6/19/2020

 

​Black Lives Matter
Indigenous Lives Matter
Lives of People of Colour Matter

 
I mentioned in last week’s “Moment” that I had attended an anti-Black racism rally in Edmonton. Many banners and signs at that rally contained the acronym “BIPOC” meaning: Black, Indigenous, People of Colour. The phrase is a recognition that our society has multiple issues to deal with. The primary focus of the demonstrations of the last few weeks have been on calling out attitudes and actions that demonstrate personal racism and systemic racism embedded in our society against persons of African heritage. Those signs and the comments of some speakers reminded us that we also need to confront racism that is particularly deeply embedded in Canadian culture concerning our persons of Indigenous identity, as well as many others more generally described as Persons of Colour. My friends, there is much work to be done!
 
As other tragic events have unfolded over the past couple of weeks involving the tragic and violent deaths of other Black and Indigenous persons, I have felt discouragement and profound sadness. How will we ever find our way out of this? How can we meaningfully and practically begin removing societal and structural barriers to the full and unfettered participation in our society by all persons regardless of skin colour?
 
Jesus told the parable of the “Good Samaritan” (Luke 10:25-37) to illustrate that persons outside the dominant society should be recognized and honoured. Jesus miraculously healed many people in his ministry. One account showed that he would assist even persons aligned with the occupying Roman army (healing of the Centurion’s servant, Matt. 8:5-13; Luke 7:1-10; John 4:43-54). Another actually illustrated that Jesus could be confronted by a personal prejudice and respond and correct himself (healing of the daughter of the Syrophoenician [Gentile] woman, Mark 7:24-30). The scriptural record of the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:5-12) revealed that the Spirit of God was made available to persons from across the known world including those considered to be barbarians (Parthians) and those from the occupying nation (Romans).
 
In all of these accounts there is no record that the principle people involved were actually “converts” to Jesus’ teachings. But they were all intentionally included and not excluded from the blessings of the Holy Spirit. Surely, by extension, we must know that we are to extend the blessings and privileges of our society to all those who are a part of it. In today’s environment and historic moment, we are being challenged to be inclusive of those peoples upon who’s backs so much of our societal wealth and privilege has been built through the shames of slavery, colonialism, and abuses too numerous and grievous to begin listing here.
 
I pray God’s blessings of guidance, understanding, and peace in these challenging times.
 
Steve Thompson
Canada West Mission Centre President
steve@communityofchrist.ca

Comments are closed.

    Archives

    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
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019

    Categories

    All
    BLM
    Camp
    COVID 19 Updates
    MCP Messages
    Obituaries
    Online Events
    Racial Injustice
    We Share Series

    RSS Feed

Quick links

Make a Donation
Canada East Mission Centre
  • Upcoming Events
  • Staff Directory
Canada West Mission Centre
  • Upcoming Events
  • Staff Directory

External links

  • All Voices - Testimony Tapestry
  • Community of Christ World Church
  • Creating Connection
  • Community Place+
  • Community of Christ Mobile App for Android
  • Community of Christ Mobile App for iOS
  • World Accord
  • Encounter World Religions
  • Peace and Justice Committee

community of christ

355 Elmira Road North, Unit 129
Guelph, ON N1K 1S5 Canada
Canada West Mission: 877-411-2632
Canada East Mission: 888-411-7537
Picture

Canada West Social media

Canada East Social Media

Search Communityofchrist.ca

Site powered by Weebly. Managed by Community of Christ
Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Report a Website Issue