Response of the Churches to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada

The Anglican Church of Canada, The Presbyterian Church in Canada, the Roman Catholic Entities Parties to the Settlement Agreement, The United Church of Canada and the Jesuits of English Canada make the following statement in response to the findings and Calls to Action issued by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.

It is with gratitude and humility that we are here today to speak together as representatives of churches that participated in the operation of Indian Residential Schools. We are grateful to the Commissioners and staff of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada for the commitment with which they have carried out their mandate, and we are humbled in the knowledge that we continue to share a responsibility to ensure that the task of reconciliation does not end today.
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Posted: June 2, 2015 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=8618
Categories: Documents • In this article: Anglican Church of Canada, Catholic, Jesuits, Presbyterian Church in Canada, Truth and Reconciliation Commission, United Church of Canada Transmis : 2 juin 2015 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=8618
Catégorie : Documents • Dans cet article : Anglican Church of Canada, Catholic, Jesuits, Presbyterian Church in Canada, Truth and Reconciliation Commission, United Church of Canada

Presbyterian Statement on Aboriginal Spiritual Practices

As part of the churches’ commitment to a journey of truth and reconciliation, The Presbyterian Church in Canada has learned that many facets of Aboriginal traditional spiritualties bring life and oneness with creation. Accepting this has sometimes been a challenge for The Presbyterian Church in Canada. We are now aware that there is a wide variety of aboriginal spiritual practices and we acknowledge that it is for our church to continue in humility to learn the deep significance of these practices and to respect them and the Aboriginal elders who are the keepers of their traditional sacred truths….

These practices are received as gifts and serve to enrich our congregations. Ceremonies and traditions such as smudging, the circle/medicine wheel, drum songs and drumming, and indigenous wisdom teachings have been some of the practices our church has experienced as gifts from Aboriginal brothers and sisters. We acknowledge and respect both Aboriginal members of The Presbyterian Church in Canada who wish to bring traditional practices into their congregations and those Aboriginal members who are not comfortable or willing to do so. The church must be a community where all are valued and respected. It is not for The Presbyterian Church in Canada to validate or invalidate Aboriginal spiritualties and practices. Our church, however, is deeply respectful of these traditions. We acknowledge them as important spiritual practices through which Aboriginal peoples experience the presence of the creator God. In this spirit The Presbyterian Church in Canada is committed to walking with Aboriginal people in seeking shared truth that will lead to restoring right relations.
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Posted: Jan. 29, 2015 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=8013
Categories: Documents • In this article: Indigenous peoples, Presbyterian Church in Canada, Truth and Reconciliation Commission Transmis : 29 janv. 2015 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=8013
Catégorie : Documents • Dans cet article : Indigenous peoples, Presbyterian Church in Canada, Truth and Reconciliation Commission

Montréal Presbyterians respond to Québec Charter of Values

The Presbyterian Church in Canada’s Presbytery of Montreal has adopted a response to Bill 60 – the Québec Charter of Values.

“We acknowledge and celebrate the unique identity of Quebec as a Francophone nation and province within Canada, and acknowledge the particular religious and cultural history that has shaped its values, laws, and social fabric. We also acknowledge and celebrate the presence of other linguistic and cultural communities within Quebec – including a large Anglophone minority – and celebrate the contributions such communities have made to the history, identity, and success of Quebec as a liberal democratic polity. We believe that Quebec has been enriched by this diversity.”
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Posted: Feb. 7, 2014 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=7253
Categories: News • In this article: Presbyterian Church in Canada, Québec, religious freedom Transmis : 7 févr. 2014 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=7253
Catégorie : News • Dans cet article : Presbyterian Church in Canada, Québec, religious freedom

Working to be One

In the first century, when the Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian Christians about the Church as “one body with many members,” he had no idea of the differences and divisions that would come to fragment the Church so many centuries later. Paul wrote to address the particular concerns that were plaguing the early Christian communities. He pointed out that “there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.”

It’s not difficult for us to apply the metaphor of the Church as the body to our congregations. We recognize the different gifts that are shared within our church communities – preaching, teaching, administration, music, hospitality, prayer, evangelism, and more – and we learn to value the different gifts and to acknowledge their importance for the healthy functioning of the church as a whole, as one body.

But what if this metaphor is meant to apply not only to the local congregation, but to the whole Church throughout the world? John’s Gospel indicates that it was Jesus himself who first prayed for the unity of the Church: “I ask … on behalf of those who will believe in me … that they may all be one … so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” (John 17:20-21)
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Posted: Dec. 1, 2011 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=2187
Categories: Opinion • In this article: Christian unity, ecumenism, Presbyterian Church in Canada Transmis : 1 déc. 2011 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=2187
Catégorie : Opinion • Dans cet article : Christian unity, ecumenism, Presbyterian Church in Canada

Ecumenical Effort Reaping Rewards

The Christian Reformed Church in North America and the Presbyterian Church in Canada are celebrating an “Affirmation of Relationship” approved and endorsed by the CRC Synod of 2010 and the General Assembly of the PCC.

Under this affirmation, the PCC becomes one of only a few “Churches in Dialogue” with the CRCNA. With the agreement, the denominations pledge to work even more closely together in the future than they have in the past. “The Christian Reformed Church and the Presbyterian Church in Canada have been neighbors and friends for many years,” says Rev. Bruce Adema, director of the CRC in Canada.

“The ‘Affirmation of the Relationship’ document outlines how our churches can demonstrate Christian affection and work together to reveal the Kingdom of God. We want to celebrate our unity as brothers and sisters in Christ.”

For several years the Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations Committee of the CRCNA has had a subcommittee that met with representatives of the PCC. “The Affirmation of the Relationship is the fruit of that,” said Adema.
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Posted: Mar. 1, 2011 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=9634
Categories: Dialogue, News • In this article: Christian Reformed Church in North America, dialogue, Presbyterian Church in Canada Transmis : 1 mars 2011 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=9634
Catégorie : Dialogue, News • Dans cet article : Christian Reformed Church in North America, dialogue, Presbyterian Church in Canada

Special needs met in a special place

Special needs met in a special place; Former Presbyterian church becomes resource for the mentally challenged Several decades ago, five lots of city land on McKercher Drive were donated to the Presbyterian Church in Canada by the McKercher family, long-time members of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church. A plan was eventually put together to develop a
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Posted: Oct. 30, 2010 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=6091
Categories: News • In this article: Presbyterian Church in Canada, Saskatoon Transmis : 30 oct. 2010 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=6091
Catégorie : News • Dans cet article : Presbyterian Church in Canada, Saskatoon

Presbyterians and Christian Reformed engage in dialogue

The Presbyterian Church in Canada (PCC) and the Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRC) have begun a “bilateral conversation” at the invitation of the CRC. The PCC Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations committee reported to this summer’s General Assembly that the CRC have issued an invitation to “bilateral conversation, or dialogue, about issues of common
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Posted: July 21, 2005 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=150
Categories: Dialogue, News • In this article: Christian Reformed Church in North America, Presbyterian Church in Canada Transmis : 21 juil. 2005 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=150
Catégorie : Dialogue, News • Dans cet article : Christian Reformed Church in North America, Presbyterian Church in Canada

Same God, only different names: Minister welcomes cultural challenge

Rev. Seung Kim’s faith journey has been circuitous. It began in his homeland of Korea, and two years ago, brought him to Saskatoon, where he is pastor of Calvin-Goforth Presbyterian Church on Sommerfeld Avenue. Kim was brought up in the Presbyterian church in Korea. “My grandfather was a Presbyterian minister. He was the first Christian
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Posted: May 31, 2003 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=6117
Categories: News • In this article: Presbyterian Church in Canada, Saskatoon Transmis : 31 mai 2003 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=6117
Catégorie : News • Dans cet article : Presbyterian Church in Canada, Saskatoon