In 2022, The Presbyterian Church in Canada adopted the report of the Special Committee re Petition Nos. 1 and 2, 2021. The report draws on the stories of people who shared their experiences of harm by racist and marginalizing actions, words and attitudes of the church and its members. In recognition of the harm the church has caused, funds are available to provide financial assistance for accessing counselling or psychotherapy to help support healing.
What is the fund for?
The fund provides financial assistance to support psychotherapy or counselling for those who have been harmed by racism and marginalization within The Presbyterian Church in Canada. Financial assistance provided through this fund may be used for an array of therapeutic options. Requests may be submitted A) to reimburse costs incurred for past counselling or psychotherapy sessions and/or B) to cover the cost of ongoing or new counselling or psychotherapy sessions.
Who is eligible to receive funding?
People who have experienced harm from racism and marginalization within The Presbyterian Church in Canada are eligible to be considered for financial support. People enquiring about funds will be asked to relate their story and describe how they experienced harm in The Presbyterian Church in Canada and how it has negatively impacted them.
Who reviews requests for funding?
Requests will be considered promptly by a small committee. There is no annual or quarterly deadline to submit a request. All requests are kept strictly confidential. The review committee is comprised of the Associate Secretary for Justice Ministries; the General Secretary, Life and Mission Agency and the Principal Clerk of the General Assembly. The review committee’s work is confidential and only pertinent details are shared with the three-person review committee by the person who receives the initial request. Questions about this process and its composition can be discussed when speaking with one of the members of the committee about applying for funds.
What can individuals do if they want to inquire about the fund but are reluctant to contact the denomination’s offices directly?
People who have experienced harm in the church may be hesitant to contact the church’s offices. In such cases, individuals may choose to ask a trusted person to contact a member of the review committee on their behalf to seek additional information about the process. A trusted third party might be a family member, friend, minister, church elder, or mental health professional. The review committee would not require a third party to disclose the name of the person who asked them to inquire about the fund.
Counselling Fund related to experiences of racism – ArabicCounselling Fund related to experiences of racism – FrenchCounselling Fund related to experiences of racism – HungarianCounselling Fund related to experiences of racism – KoreanCounselling Fund related to experiences of racism – MandarinHow can requests be submitted?
Individuals inquiring about the fund or who are interested in requesting support from it may call 1-800-619-7301 and speak with:
Dr. Allyson Carr (Associate Secretary, Justice Ministries) ext. 322;
The Rev. Ian Ross-McDonald (General Secretary, Life and Mission Agency) ext. 289;
The Rev. Victor Kim (Principal Clerk, General Assembly) ext. 227.