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Connection
FOCUS ON THE MODERATOR
The Rev. Mary Fontaine, Moderator of the 2023 General Assembly
2 SUMMER 2023
PRESBYTERIAN
presbyterian.ca
The Rev. Mary Fontaine, Moderator of the 2023 General Assembly.
the Band office reached the staff who worked there. People got their bottles ready for our bottle drives. The women gathered at the church to make crafts to auc- tion off at the school’s Christmas pageant. We had special winter events, like sledding on Sunday afternoons, roasting hot dogs and sipping hot chocolate. This connection to the community motivated people to volunteer when we needed help for church programs and we reached youth through our summer and winter outings and many children at- tended Vacation Bible School.
Congregations need to find new ways of talking about our faith in Jesus Christ by connecting with the people in our neighbourhoods. An outreach community group could be organized to visit and invite people to special events at the church, and result in a sense of warmth and community toward the church.
Often people need a safe place to go to and to meet new friends. The church’s work in overcoming the saga of the residential school system may lead to the creation of a new image of the church, and unanticipated benefits and growth.
One way to reimagine the church is to think of it as part of a larger circle of life—one that is inclusive, yet with a unique and valued identity. One that helps to set a standard of listening and respecting the gifts that God has distributed among the nations of the world. The circle represents Indigenous theological concepts like harmonious respectful re- lationships, strong community, multiple connections and equal value among the nations and life- forms of God’s creation.
The PCC could draw on the wisdom of Indigenous Elders, through its eight Indigenous ministries, for a deeper under- standing of Indigenous theol- Continued on page 3
On June 4, 2023, the Rev. Mary Fontaine, founding director of Hummingbird Ministries, was in- stalled as Moderator of the 2023 General Assembly of The Presby- terian Church in Canada.
Mary Fontaine is Nëhiyaw (Cree) from Mistawasis Nëhi- yawak, Saskatchewan, where she grew up attending Mistawasis Me- morial Presbyterian Church with her family. Mary has a B.A. in Na- tive Studies from the University of Alberta (1995) and an M.Div. from the Vancouver School of Theology (2003). She was on the Executive Committee of the World Commun- ion of Reformed Churches (2010– 2017). She convenes the National Indigenous Ministries Council of The Presbyterian Church in Cana- da and serves on the Special Com- mittee re. Petitions 1 and 2, 2021.
Mary discerns the Spirit at work in Indigenous wisdom and spirituality and sees how this can enhance the church she
loves, in various ways, including relationship-building and care of the earth. She trusts in the Indig- enous vision (similar to that of Revelation) that one day the na- tions will gather beneath the tree of peace and learn to love and live in harmony with one another.
An interview was held with Mary during the moderator nomi- nation process. Below are her an- swers to the questions presented.
What verses of scripture do you return to and find especially formative and sustaining? Jeremiah 31:31–34, Psalm 23, Philippians 4:6–7, Luke 10:27 and Matthew 7:16.
What is your image and vision of the church at its best?
The church is welcoming and open to new people regardless of race, background or identity. Together we worship and honour God in ways that are meaningful
to each of us. We worship every- where in what we do, how we live and treat one another, not only during Sunday worship. We’ve learned to love the Lord our God with all our hearts, our minds, our souls, and our neighbour as ourselves, by caring for and help- ing one another. The church is buzzing with life everywhere, not only the church, but it has also grown outside its buildings. And it includes children and youth. Re- lationships are healthy and open between generations. Grandchil- dren are close with grandparents.
What would you say is the core calling of the church in Canada today?
The core calling of the church is to set the example of emotional and spiritual maturity by demon- strating that we are not all about material wealth but the spiritual abundance demonstrated by how closely we follow the path created
by the One who died that we may live. To love justice by heeding the cries of the world and to be a friend; not judging or blaming but loving and caring for even those who are different.
What area of public life do you believe the PCC should be more involved in than it currently is? The church needs to find ways of connecting with the people in its immediate vicinity and work ecumenically and with other faith groups, where possible. When I was a student minister at Mista- wasis Presbyterian Church, one of my sisters said, “Now don’t stick by yourself at the church, be part of our community. Come to the school, come to community events, be with us.” I followed that advice by fundraising with the children and youth so they could attend summer camps and social outings during the winter. Fundraising barbecues outside
Hummingbird Ministries is an Indigenous-led ministry of the Presbytery of Westminster. The main goals of the organization are to reclaim the sacredness of Indigenous people and the beauty of Indigenous culture, spirituality, worldview and the sacred identity as God’s people through faith circles, arts and projects. Hummingbird Ministries promotes awareness and Indigenous relationships with churches, schools and others through dance, drama and music performances, events, presentations and preaching.