Page 4 - Presbyterian Connection Newspaper, Summer 2017

Voting on the various recommendations.
By Barb Summers, Communications Office
The 2017 General Assembly of The Presbyterian Church in Canada was held at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, from June 4–7. The meeting of church representa- tives from across the country pro- vided a time of fellowship, worship, discussion and discernment. The Rev. Douglas Rollwage passed the moderatorial torch to the Rev. Peter Bush, minister from Westwood Pres- byterian Church in Winnipeg, during the Sunday night worship service at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Kingston. The event was lives- treamed and the archived sessions are available for viewing.
More than a meeting, the Assembly is an opportunity for prayerful delib- eration on the issues and challenges
Dr. Cindy Blackstock.
The Rev. Peter Bush (right) and the Rev. Douglas Rollwage.
facing
the church
today. Repor ts
came from a variety of ministries and groups, providing valuable updates on activities and asking the Assem- bly to approve recommendations.
In response to the ongoing crisis of the 86 Indigenous communities without access to clean drinking wa- ter, the moderator will write the Gov- ernment of Canada to inquire about their plan to provide clean and pota- ble water in Indigenous communities. Sessions and presbyteries were also commended to write to their MPs en- couraging suppor t to provide clean and potable water in every Indig- enous community.
International Affairs drew the As- sembly’s attention to the world’s larg- est minority group—people with dis- abilities—and the moderator will write to church partners in Ghana to affirm their ministry to this vulnerable group.
The General Assembly approved the Canadian Ministries repor t on de-
grew from the Refugee Ministry of the Reformed Church in Hungary, a long- time PCC par tner. Ms. Kanizsai-Nagy described her organization’s work to welcome refugees in Budapest and spoke to the Assembly about what they are doing to help refugees, some of the most vulnerable people in their community.
“This is our responsibility—to be good neighbors, to show love and compassion. I believe that God’s face is reflected in the stranger’s face. And the future of the stranger is dependent on us,” Ms. Kanizsai- Nagy said.
The PCC has been active in mis- sion work in Hungary, through In- ternational Mission staff. Currently, Jackie Bannerman is serving as a young adult intern working closely with refugees.
The Rev. André Lavergne from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Can- ada spoke of the enduring bond be- tween Lutherans and Presbyterians, from the Reformation 500 years ago to present collaboration through the World Council of Churches, KAIROS, the World Communion of Reformed Churches and other alliances. In cel- ebration of our shared theological his- tory and the unity of Christ’s church, he said, “There is more that unites us in all our diversity than divides us. We can lift each other up.”
The moderator, the Rev. Peter Bush, will take part in the upcoming Evangelical Lutheran Church annual convention.
E.H. Johnson
Memorial Fund Award
Cindy Blackstock, executive director of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada and Pro- fessor at McGill University School of Social Work was awarded the Dr. E. H. Johnson Memorial Fund award for her work “on the cutting edge of mis- sion.” A member of the Gitksan First Nation, Dr. Blackstock has 25 years of social work experience in child protection and Indigenous children’s rights.
Dr. Blackstock gave a powerful address advocating for the rights of children, especially Indigenous chil- dren. She challenged the Assembly and Canadians to take courageous actions. “There is no excuse for say- ing no to a child, that you get less, because of your race,” she said. “All of us must speak out and demand the government comply with the le- gal orders to cease discrimination against First Nations children and their families. Let’s show the children that we love them enough to stand up for them.”
The Assembly thanked Dr. Black- stock with a standing ovation.
Commissioners left the Assembly having made a number of decisions that will impact the future of the church. They are tasked with further study and reflection on a number of different issues.
The 144th General Assembly of the church will take place in June 2018.
To read the summaries, view photos and access the livestream channel from the 2017 General Assembly, visit presbyterian.ca/ga2017
The Presbyterian Message is a publication of the Atlantic Mission Society with nine issues per year.
“Presbyterians get The Message!”
• meditations, poetry and prayers
• mission information and studies
• synod and national church news
• auxiliary and society events, and more!
Individual subscriptions: $14.00 per year. Group subscriptions: $12.00 per year.
For more information or to order:
Kathy McKay, 55 Pine Bud Ave. St. John’s, NL A1B 1M8 709-579-0721 kwmckay@gmail.com
Connection
PRESBYTERIAN
4 SUMMER 2017
Highlights from General Assembly
clining ministry, which found that re- newal and growth are possible in all kinds of ministries and contexts, and that visionary leadership is a crucial factor in nurturing strong, healthy and growing ministries.
One of the key issues at this year’s Assembly was dealing with ques- tions about sexuality and marriage that came from overtures submitted in recent years. (An overture is a pro- posal or request seeking the enact- ment of a law, rule or action.)
After significant debate and pas- sionate discussion, the Assembly created a space where stories of harm to LGBTQI people (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or ques- tioning, and intersex) can be told and listened to, and appropriate respons- es and actions regarding repentance of homophobia and hypocrisy can be considered. A number of documents that outline different theological per- spectives and the implications of keeping or changing church doctrine will be studied and must be reported back to the Committee on Church Doctrine and Life and Mission Agency by January 31, 2018. These documents will be translated into Korean. The General Assembly also commended the repor t “The Church and People Who Are Transgender or Intersex” for study.
Ecumenical and
Interfaith Guests
The Assembly welcomed several ecumenical and inter faith guests who spoke of their work in justice and hu- man rights.
Ms. Alia Hogben, from the Ca- nadian Council of Muslim Women, spoke of the organization’s work to empower Muslim women. Ms. Hog- ben described what it is like to be a Canadian Muslim and the challenges Muslims sometimes experience be- cause of their faith. She mentioned that there is a lot of controversy in the Muslim community about wom- en wearing head coverings. She ex- plained that organization believes it is not a religious requirement to wear a head covering,but they suppor t women if they choose to wear one.
Ms. Dóra Kanizsai-Nagy is co- founder of the Kalunba Social Serv- ices Association, an organization that
Young adult representatives.
presbyterian.ca