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PRESBYTERIAN
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Connection
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SUMMER 2019
MESSAGE FROM THE GENERAL SECRETARY
PRESBYTERIAN
A picture drawn by Sarah for the PCC 2020 wall calendar, age 9.
By the Rev. Ian Ross-McDonald, Life and Mission Agency
Colouring outside the lines
“...when the eye sees something beautiful, the hand wants to draw it,” says Elaine Scarry in her book On Beauty and Being Just. She’s right. God spoke and the world was beauti- fully created and, ever since, paint- ers, sculptors, poets and musicians have tried to imitate all they see and hear. True, in the Book of Proverbs it is written that “charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting,” and beauty has frequently been distrusted and fallen into disfavour in Christian history. But, in the scriptures at least, mis- givings about beauty is a minority report. The bulk of scripture swells with verse after verse in praise of beauty and all that our senses can tell us about creation: “worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness;” “the heav- ens are telling the glory of God;” “you are all together beautiful, my love;” “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” Our puritan ancestors may have been suspicious of beauty and art, but in Exodus, God orders the temple to be decorated with beautiful art and re- minds the people that artistic ability is a God-given gift: “in the hearts of all who are skillful, I have put skill.”
This year, we asked young people in the church to submit artwork and we received amazing submissions that the church will enjoy in calen-
dars, posters, bulletin covers, and on the web. The artwork reveals that there are lots of young hearts filled with skill and creativity. Some of the ar t is technically advanced, some is more abstract, some is multimedia (where would we be without cotton balls, glitter and Popsicle sticks?); all of it is beautiful. Noah’s ark, rain- bows and nativity scenes were the most common subjects, which is fitting since these stories all point to God’s promises and great acts of salvation.
It’s true that sometimes these young theologian-ar tists coloured outside the lines. But that’s when they are most like God—that first and greatest Ar tist—whose lavish grace, extravagant love and over- flowing goodness spills over the lines and cannot be contained.
Considering the treatment of children
In June, the General Assembly marked 25 years since the church first confessed its role in operating Indian Residential Schools. These schools and the spiritual, political and cultural context through which the schools came to be and contin- ued to operate under, caused last- ing harm to Indigenous children, their families and their communities. Along with marking this Confession, the Assembly also considered a re-
quest from St. David & St. Martin Presbyterian Church in Ottawa that the PCC endorse the Joint Statement on Physical Punishment of Children and Youth, a study developed by a national coalition of organizations concerned with the well-being of children facilitated by the Children’s Hospital Eastern Ontario (CHEO). It concluded that there was clear and compelling evidence that the physi- cal punishment of children and youth plays no useful role in their upbringing and only poses risks to their devel- opment. Additionally, the Assembly was asked to consider requesting the Canadian Government repeal Section 43 of the Criminal Code of Canada, which allows parents and teachers to use force to correct a child’s behav- iour. This request is in accord with the 6th Call to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Since the 25th anniversary of the Confession coincides with the request to endorse the Joint State- ment and the proposal to encourage repealing Section 43 of the Criminal Code, the General Assembly took an unflinching look at how society has treated children historically. Just as importantly, however, we were asked to envision a future where we amend and revise our treatment of chil- dren, doing the best for those most in need of care among us, i.e., the weakest and smallest—not because they are less but because they are more and are beautiful—and to place their well-being at the centre of the church’s care.
Gaston Bachelard wrote that: “... like a forgotten fire, a childhood can always flare up again within us.” Let’s hope so. It is recorded in Matthew 18:2–4 that Jesus “called a child, whom he put among them, and said, ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.’” It’s worth noting that Jesus made the child the focus and placed her or him at the centre of the gather- ing because there is something about childhood that is holy and a means to the kingdom. May we be so faithful as to remember that, and may we be so blessed that we glimpse the king- dom of heaven expanding among us.
Created (with a little assistance) by Mary, age 5.