“It is very difficult to go back to that five year old that I left … I know for many years I blamed the church. I blamed the government. I blamed a religion, I blamed all the religions. In fact I even blamed God. But it’s not God. It’s not the religions. It’s not the churches that did this. It’s people. It’s people like you and I who had a different belief about us. People who believed we were less than they were — nothing more than animals — but here we are. Ready to forgive. And live, side by side. And today, I can say to you, and I can say to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, that I’m not only a survivor. I’m a witness to this horrible history.”
— Terry Paul, Chief of the Membertou First Nation and a residential school survivor
“Accept that you may not get forgiveness. We have heard from people all across the country that they aren’t ready to forgive. They may never be ready to forgive. For them, it’s forgiveness of self. Forgiving themselves for believing what they were told about their parents, about their culture, about their ancient spiritual beliefs and the beliefs of our Christian tradition. Don’t get hung up on that point if forgiveness is not forthcoming … Be the one who says it isn’t over now. We need to keep listening until they’re done talking.”
— Marie Wilson, Truth and Reconciliation Commissioner
“There is a need to move away from theology as the realm of experts to something that the common people understand, taking ownership over its transmissibility. It encourages the community to learn discernment so as to pass on the story to subsequent generations.”
— Rev. Terry LeBlanc, founder and chair of the North American Institute for Indigenous Theological Studies and winner of this year’s E. H. Johnson award for cutting-edge mission
“Vilification of persons because of who they are, as opposed to what they have done, is a bright line that separates legitimate speech, which is just about everything, from hate speech. The public interest requires that we denounce true hate speech wherever and whenever we hear it.”
— Eric Vernon, director of government relations and international affairs with the Canadian Jewish Congress
“There is a gift in this moment, it is a refining moment. A moment of change. We are becoming forced to become a Kairos that is clearer than ever of why we’re doing this work. It is God’s work, and requires theological courage. We are in a moment of disaster. We have to be passionate.”
— Mary Corkery, executive director of Kairos: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives
“It is not a natural disaster in Gaza, but a human-made disaster, dependent on the demonization of the people there … Gaza is the world’s largest prison, hemmed in all sides. People there are denied the very necessities of life…
“Any desire for an exclusive possession of the land will always ensure a conflict will ensue … It is God’s land, and therefore it must be a land of reconciliation, peace and love. God gives us the capacity, if we have the will, to live within in it, to establish justice and peace, and make it, in reality, God’s land.”
— Rev. Robert Assaly, Canadian Friends of Sabeel
“It’s about building disciples not only to serve within the church, but also in the community, at home and abroad. How should the church combat the ever-competitive secular world? How do we promote better discipleship and stewardship?”
— Wendy MacWilliams, student representative from Presbyterian College, Montreal
“The more I study our God and His holy word, and the more I observe the reign of God through the work of the church, the more I realize it’s not about me. It’s about God. It’s about the other … Thus, I have been encouraged by you, inspired by God, to see how, although we are all different, we are willing to go forward on the same boat … I have been strengthened by you, inspired by God, to see how, although we have different expertise and gifts and talents, yet we are willing to gather our thoughts, wisdom and resources to make our sailing on the boat adventurous and miraculous.”
— John Hyunjoon Park, student representative from Knox College, Toronto
“I learned from one of the bus drivers here that most of the fishermen in Cape Breton don’t know how to swim. I don’t know how to swim, but I don’t think I’ll fall overboard because God is guiding us with that sail. God is carrying us forward.”
— Leah Yoo, student representative from the Vancouver School of Theology
