Page 6 - Presbyterian Connection, Spring 2020

Connection
FEATURE
Walking the Way Together: CCC Turns 75
6 SPRING 2020
PRESBYTERIAN
presbyterian.ca
A reflection on the Canadian Council of Churches by the Rev. Stephen Kendall, Principal Clerk, who is serving as President of the Council from 2018–2021
In 1944, as the long years of the Second World War were drawing to a close, the 3rd Canadian Infantry landed at Juno Beach in Normandy. Christians in Canada were yearning for ways to come together at a time when war was tearing people apart.
For many in the churches of the day, the Canadian Council of Churches (CCC) was the answer to that yearn- ing. Over the past 75 years, the Coun- cil has grown to include 26 member churches that represent vir tually all traditions, and whose combined membership includes 85 percent of Christians in Canada.
Today, the Canadian Council of Churches is well aware that the place of the church in society has shifted dramatically. Churches have been coming to grips with dwindling mem- bership, instances of abuse within our walls and a legacy with Indigenous people in Canada that demands re- sponse and reconciliation.
Being a Christian in Canada today can be a counter-culture act, and it can be seen as irrelevant. Together, our church communities are seeking to live with integrity in the way Jesus Christ is calling us to. How is the Ca- nadian Council of Churches contribut- ing to this?
The Council seeks to be build- ers of peace. How will we walk that way together? Our research institute, Project Ploughshares, works with churches, governments and civil soci- ety in Canada and abroad to advance policies and actions to prevent war and armed violence and build peace.
The governing board of the Canadian Council of Churches, November 2019.
It focuses on disarmament efforts and international security, specifically in the areas of the arms trade, emerg- ing military and security technologies, nuclear weapons, and outer space security.
We seek to care for creation. We believe God has entrusted to us a beautiful home we call ear th. Through our relationships with Indigenous peo- ple both in and beyond our churches, we are learning that Turtle Island (the land we share) is precious, and that the urgent call to change our behav- iour and respond to environmental crises must be heeded and followed.
We seek justice for all people.
Groups addressing sexual exploita- tion, mental health, anti-racism and the ethical impact on genetic biotech- nologies all work to place the value and dignity of the human person at the centre of our faith and action.
We seek to live in harmony with people of all faiths and religions, and with those who claim no religious af-
filiation. Through our dialogues with other religious groups, we support not just tolerance but respect for all people of good will. With compassion we stand together against hatred and racism, persecution and violence, and we stand for freedom of conscience and religion.
We support our members who serve as chaplains. Canadian military chaplains are brave and committed men and women, who serve troops at home and on active duty abroad, and are resourced through the Inter- faith Committee on Canadian Military Chaplaincy. Prison chaplains in Cor- rections Canada accompany people through the most difficult period of their lives and are resourced through the Interfaith Prison Chaplaincy Com- mittee of Corrections Canada.
Churches today do not take their place in society for granted. The Ca- nadian Council of Churches is a spe- cial place of common ground, where we seek to think carefully about our
people showed up, including the wor- ship leaders. We prayed, we sang and we worshipped God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Numbers don’t matter when we’re praying together.
This year, we spread the word. A local church organizer, Lily, is trusted by many church leaders in the com- munity because of her years of com-
The presentation of the commemorative membership plaque to PCC reps, (left to right), Peter Noteboom, General Secretary of the Canadian Council of Churches, the Rev. Amanda Currie, the Rev. Matthew Sams and the Rev. Stephen Kendall.
The power of prayer
common calling and work together for the common good.
To mark the 75th anniversary, we are inviting our members to take a deeper look at what it means to be a Christian in Canada today. We are ex- amining what role our churches can
munity service for the sake of the gospel. Lily was part of this year’s organizing committee, which met once in November and they have ex- changed email since then. With her deep network, 12 diverse churches in our community prayed together at the evening service on January 23, with approximately 60 people in attend- ance. Half a dozen attendees were given the task of selecting songs and hymns that would resonate with the theme of the service and reflect their own tradition. Amazingly, all the songs are found in the PCC Book of Praise with a few variations for the tune. How strange is that?!
Who
The churches that regularly partici- pate in the Week of Prayer for Chris-
have in building a just society, guard- ing human dignity and being good neighbours. Seventy-five years ago, churches came together in a world that was being torn apart. Today, the call to work together is every bit as strong.
tian Unity in Canada tend to come from mainstream churches—Pres- byterian, United, Anglican, Roman Catholic and Baptist. This year we made a deliberate effort to seek out independent and house churches, Pentecostal and Evangelical church- es. We are all witnessing to the lib- erating power of Christ’s sacrifice in our lives and in our community. We each bring spiritual gifts given by the Holy Spirit.
Whether 12 or 120 come to your service—you are joining Christians in prayer throughout the world. And there is power in prayer. We are pray- ing that we might be a better church for the glory of God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit. What better prayer can there be to bless the community where you live and work?
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nual work of the World Council of Churches and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Church Unity. You can find them at weekofprayer.ca. The Week is celebrated throughout the world often during the last full week of January, culminating in a joint prayer service. But don’t let this stop you from doing something at any time of the year.
Imagine you’re praying together for the wounds within the church to be healed. Imagine you’re pray- ing together to seek forgiveness and reconciliation for the wounds caused by your church. Imagine you’re pray- ing to become and act as the Body
of Christ. There’s something power- ful in regularly praying for the church down the street for their ministry to be fruitful. There’s something power- ful in coming together every year to pray for unity, while acknowledging and honouring the differences of our traditions.
Organizing
Last year, we organized an evening service to culminate the Week. Four churches responded—remember, there are more than 30 local church- es. We used the prepared order of service available at weekofprayer.ca. On the night of the service, a dozen