Pastors gather to discuss racism
more than a hundred pastors and leaders joined a videoconference to hear Ottawa’s Black pastors share their experiences of racism. The July 8 call was organized by three Ottawa ministries.
“Many Black pastors we work with were dealing with the pain their people have been experiencing since George Floyd’s killing,” explains Richard Long, director of Love Ottawa (www. LoveOttawa.ca). “Our society is trying to come to terms with historic racism. We believe God is using this moment to begin a healing process that is long overdue.”
The call featured presentations from Black pastors and leaders, highlighting their experiences and the challenges Black people face in Canada. “This was a very important moment in the life of Ottawa and the Ottawa Church,” says Anthony Bailey, pastor of Parkdale United Church.
On the call Bailey shared how his brother was murdered by white supremacists in Montreal, and how flawed historic perspectives about Black individuals have created major barriers for the Black community.
“My hope was that we could have fellow pastors take some time to listen,” Long states. “I hope our Black colleagues feel we are starting to understand and we are truly learning to love each other.”
Both Bailey and Isaac Gimba, president of the International Pastors and Leaders Forum, are optimistic. They were encouraged by the openness and humility from white pastors seeking to listen and understand. “I really appreciated the pastors who reached out,” Bailey states. “That has been heartening. Now people have to decide what they are going to do.”
Gimba says a first step is “having our white pastors and leaders forming collaborative partnerships with Black pastors, exploring common areas of interests for periodic joint programs.”
Organizers plan an ongoing dialogue among the city’s Christian leaders to explore the way forward.
“It rests on [the Church] to model truth, justice and reconciliation in a world disillusioned by hatred,” Gimba states. “My prayer is that God’s true light will shine on the ills, ignorance and division in the Body of Christ, while fostering brotherhood, love, and reconciliation between the Black and white communities, in Christ Jesus.”
Forest City Community Church in London, Ont., had its parking lot covered in tire marks twice in early May. The gatherings of more than 50 vehicles were reportedly a response to a young motorcycle driver’s death. When police identified some drivers responsible for the damage, the church declined to press charges or ask them to pay damages. Senior pastor Rob Hogendoorn explains, “I just thought I’d reach out to them and find out a little bit about how they’re doing personally. And instead of getting damages and all that, I thought, ‘Maybe we can actually help.’”
With three sites across Edmonton, Beulah Alliance Church came up with a way to stay organized and keep members connected using a social media platform they built called The Hub. Members create personal and family profiles, interact with each other, join small groups, learn about and register for small group or churchwide events, access giving and church records, and even manage their volunteer schedule.
Every spring dozens of churches participate in the Big Give – a day of Christian generosity with no other agenda. Unable to offer the usual free items and events, many churches chose to prepare meals for long-term care facilities’ staff, who were under significant pressure from pandemic outbreaks. Others found creative outlets like putting on a social distance parade while collecting donations for a foodbank. Founded in Ottawa the initiative has strong participation in Ontario, but also includes churches as far away as Sydney, B.C., and the Maritimes.
Emmanuel Church in West Kelowna, B.C., sent members a survey on how Covid-19 has affected their view of church going forward. More than 80 families responded, sharing their opinions on when they would feel comfortable returning to church, what they miss most, how services should change when things open up, and if they intend to continue participating exclusively online. Lead pastor Jeff Bjorgan discussed some of the findings in a weekly video announcement on the church website. www.FaithToday.ca/InspiringIdeas editor@FaithToday.ca.
OF TEENS (13–17) COME ACROSS PORN DAILY OR WEEKLY, WITHOUT SEEKING IT OUT
BARNA 2016