A Necessary Response
Dear Church,

"All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation"
2 Corinthians 5:18

Today’s reflection comes from Andrew Mills, lead pastor of Bethany Community Church. World Partners is grateful for his contribution, in sharing his own learning experience and the steps that Bethany has taken corporately in a path toward reconciliation. 

May you receive both the invitation and challenge in his words, as you consider what walking this path looks like personally and within your community of followers of Jesus. 
Thanks for being on the journey together,
Director, World Partners
Reflections from Andrew Mills, Lead Pastor at Bethany Community Church.

[5 minute read]

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is an important day for us to recognize and honor as followers of Christ. Key themes of justice, reconciliation, and repentance run throughout the Scriptures. We see this in Amos calling for a flood of justice and rivers of righteous living (Amos 5:24). We see this in Paul calling us to ministers of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18). We see this in Jesus calling us to leave our dead-end ways of living to accept him as the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6).

And yet as often as the Scriptures speak about justice, reconciliation and repentance far too often the church is passive in acting out justice, reconciliation, and repentance. This is especially highlighted in our treatment and lack of action with those who are Indigenous. This is something that I now see very strongly and clearly, although that wasn’t always the case.

If 5 years ago you had asked me about Indigenous rights and reconciliation, I would have said these were issues of the past. I would have shared what happened was awful but unrelated to today. I would not have advocated for any action other than perhaps to feel pity for those who are Indigenous. At that point I had no awareness of what residential schools were, of the 60’s scoop, of what was happening today to those who are Indigenous. And even though I was a pastor I certainly had no idea of the complicity of churches in the harm and trauma of Indigenous people. 

Slowly that reality began to change as I heard more and more stories from Indigenous people. I read books by Indigenous people like, Saving the Gospel from the Cowboys by Richard Twiss, and 21 Things You Didn’t Know About the Indian Act. And I can remember my heart breaking as I started to read stories like Seven Fallen Feathers and the accounts of trauma today. I started attending sharing circles, and learning experiences to hear and listen deeper directly from those who are Indigenous. 

What reading, listening, and connecting did for me was to force me to choose. To choose to respond, or ignore the lives, stories, and cries of people. But I believe that to be a Chrisitan is to seek to follow the example of God, whom Exodus clearly tells us is one who hears the cries of the hurting and oppressed.

Responding can be difficult at first as it can cause feelings of discomfort, uncertainty, or even shame and guilt. But I believe that responding is necessary for Christians. We are not only as Christians individually responsible for what we do, we are also responsible for what we corporately have done. That as Nikki Sanchez writes, “This history is not your fault, but it is absolutely your responsibility.” It is our responsibility as Christians to seek to listen, learn, and make amends.

As I was learning I also realized this was important for our larger church family to engage in. We began to take some small but important first steps by having an Indigenous pastor come and speak, purchasing materials for people to read and engage, promoting events and opportunities to learn directly from Indigenous voices, and having Indigenous trainers speak and share with our staff. While we have taken a few steps we both corporately and individually have much yet to do on this journey. But it is a journey we are committed to, because it is the journey that I believe Christ calls us too.

I am not sure where you may be on your journey with listening, learning and responding to the reality of Indigenous people today. But if I can encourage you with anything it is that listening, learning, and acting with repentance isn’t a good idea - but a necessary one. We as Christians need to take responsibility, and seek to build relationships. This is a part of the very fabric of our faith.
And if today you are interested in taking a next step here are a few steps you could take:

2) Visit Karios.ca and sign up for a course to listen and learn from those who are Indigenous.
3) Find out whose traditional territory you live on -  Native Land website.
4) Sign up for Indigenous Canada. A free Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) from the Faculty of Native Studies at the University of Alberta that explores Indigenous histories and contemporary issues in Canada.
5) Or better yet write a letter to your local friendship centre sharing that you support them and perhaps include a small donation.

These are all small steps, but steps that we need to take on this journey of following Christ, because as Christians justice, reconciliation, and redemption are not good ideas but needed actions.
Links to Learn More




Click on the photo to visit the EMCC Orange Shirt Day's webpage for a collection of resources and reflections from this week and last year.

Click on the photo to download the Land Acknowledgement Template, prepared by Theresa Paplinkskie

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