“The times are urgent; let us slow down. Slowing down is losing our way – not a human capacity or capability. It is the invitations that are now in the world-at-large, inviting us to listen deeply, to be keen, to be fresh, to be quick with our heels, to follow the signs and sounds and smells of the world.”
( ― Bayo Akomolafe )
Friends in Justice,
As we move into the summer months, it is a good time to step back, slow down, take some deep breaths, and recharge. Even amidst the many urgencies, anxieties and challenges that claim us, it is a time to listen for the deeper voices of hope and possibility that murmur underneath all that clamour. What is ending? What is beginning? What gives you hope as you move forward?
Starting on July 11, I am going to be hitting the pause button for some holiday time and continuing education leave, returning on August 22. During this time, I will be taking some courses at VST, reflecting on everything that has happened in this position over the past year, and – as much as possible – following Bayo Akomolafe’s advice to follow the signs and sounds and smells of the world. I am looking forward to continuing to build PMR justice connections, opportunities for conversation and ideas for action when I return. Many blessings for a restorative and hope-filled summer…
Blessings,
Jane
In the interim, please submit any relevant United Church Justice-themed events that fall within the PMRC’s Community Connections guidelines (seen at the bottom of this page) to pacificmountain@united-church.ca
NEWS
We are an Affirming Regional Council – we celebrated our confirmed status at our June 2022 General Meeting with an amazing street party, in Prince George! This video was made in celebration of this status, and we thank participants from throughout the Region for their participation.
Affirming Regional Council – Work Plan and Call for Working Group members
Becoming an Affirming Regional Council is one important step in continuing our journey towards welcome and inclusiveness. Check out the Affirming Action Group’s Work Plan identifying some important key steps at this link.
The current members of the Affirming Working Group are: Rev. Katherine Brittain, Lynda Dickson, Sandy Hwang, Rev. Sun-Young (Sunny) Kim, Daniel Martin and Thea Sheridan-Jonah.
We are looking for two more people to round out the group. If you feel called to contribute your gifts to this important work, please let us know (contact Alexandra at abarr@united-church.ca)
Korean Rainbow United is a network of The United Church of Canada for Korean queer people and allies. Members of the network work along with affirming Christian alliances in Korea, as well as with the “Rainbow Jesus” activist movement to end the discrimination and hate caused by homophobia/heterosexism.
Watch Zoë Chaytors’ full EDGEy Conversation with Yoonjoo Shin and visit the Korean Rainbow United website to learn more.
Dismantling White Supremicist Culture
As part of its commitment to becoming an anti-racist church, the United Church has prepared a series of videos exploring racism and how we can address it. Watch Becoming an Anti-Racist Church: Dismantling White Supremacist Culture, and learn more about dismantling White supremacist culture.
Stay Up to Date!
The United Church of Canada has been a Sponsorship Agreement Holder (SAH) for more than 40 years. Over the past 10 years, the United Church has helped more than 4,000 refugees arrive in Canada. The process to welcome and sponsor refugees can be tedious and long, but faith communities have shown resilience in their work to host refugee families who come from conflict areas around the world. Subscribe to the Refugee Sponsorship News e-newsletter to follow along as we share these impactful stories, sponsorship support information, and changes to the Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program.
Updates from GC44
General Council 44 continues this summer with Decision sessions on July 21‒25, 2022, including the election for Moderator on July 23.
For the latest news, information, draft agenda, and ways to connect, visit the 44th General Council website.
This FAQ from GC44 is intended to provide clarity around the Palestine and Israel proposals and the process related to them, and how they relate to a new proposal on antisemitism. Find it at this link.
Keynote speakers include Carmen Lansdowne, Jenny Te Paa-Daniel & Dan Longboat.
Held August 5-6, Online.
Details at this link.
A project of the United Church of Canada’s Anti-racism and Equity Office and the Office of Vocation.
By engaging in this project you can help the United Church of Canada do better in supporting Equity-seeking Ministry Personnel [Indigenous, racialized, Deaf, those who speak English as an additional language, disabled, Two-Spirit, LGBTQIA+, and female] and their Communities of Faith. The UCC seeks to learn what helps or hinders your Pastoral Relationship in thriving.
Learn more & participate here.
From the Guaranteed Livable Income Network:
Back in December 2021, two bills for a Guaranteed Livable Basic Income in Canada were introduced in Parliament: Bill S-233 by Senator Kim Pate and C-223 by MP Leah Gazan. This week, S-233 is in Second Reading and is being actively debated in the Senate. Soon, our senators will vote on whether to take the bill to the next step – sending it to Committee – where experts would be brought in to testify and evidence showing that Basic Income works would be presented to Parliament.
This is a pivotal moment for Basic Income in Canada. We need your help to contact our senators and let them know of the importance of this bill, and its meaning to you.
Find out more at this link.
A global sign-on initiative to call for no more exploration, development, or subsidies for new fossil fuel infrastructure, and a quick phase out of existing fossil fuel dependence. Learn more here.
Join the interfaith call for the Treaty’s implimentation here.
EVENTS
Peninsula United Church, which serves South Surrey and White Rock, will be celebrating achieving its Affirming Ministry designation during and after 10 a.m. worship on Sunday, August 7. All visitors are welcome!
PUC worships at 2756 127th St., Surrey. Members will be actively involved in White Rock Pride Week from July 15-23 this year as well.
Enjoy 3 summer nights in the glorious Okanagan Valley, in queer Christian community with friends and families of all ages and life stages!
This engaging, welcoming retreat is for those who consider themselves as part of the Queer Family! Gathering at Naramata Centre, we will connect with one another, with Creator, with the Land and with ourselves. We will celebrate this time as community with values of belonging, justice and love. We will rest, sing, run wild, play, create and share – just as we are, beautifully and wonderfully made by God.
Anyone you consider family is invited to join us – birth, chosen, found, immediate, extended, church, or otherwise. All expressions of faith are welcome, even as we draw on the Christian practices of prayer, story, and times of worship. From birth to elder years, this retreat is for all ages and stages and is led by experienced facilitators from the queer and ally community.
$195 for People 18+, Kiddos and Youth are FREE. August 25 – 28, 2022.
The $195 retreat fee includes the retreat’s food truck community dinner on Thursday, and all retreat offerings over the 4 days we are gathered. Accommodation is not included. Meals, other than our food truck community dinners, are self-catered.
Click on the Facebook link here The Queer Family Retreat or go straight to Naramata Centre’s site The Queer Family Retreat for more information and to register.
OPPORTUNITIES IN JUSTICE
Open call for youth & Indigenous candidates for COP27 delegation
KAIROS is looking for two youth (18-30) and Indigenous candidates to join the in-person COP27 delegation in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt! This delegation is co-sponsored by KAIROS and For the Love of Creation, a faith-based initiative for climate justice.
Application Deadline: July 31, 2022
Learn more & apply here.
CONTACT US
Please submit any relevant United Church Justice-themed events that fall within the PMRC’s Community Connections guidelines (seen at the bottom of this page) here.
Want to subscribe? Click here, and check off the box labeled ‘JUSTICE NETWORK’.