It is the task of the church to proclaim a hopeful imagination for the world. That was the overriding message of Faith and a Sustainable Economy, a forum held by the Canadian Council of Churches in Ottawa in May. The forum was hosted by the council’s Commission on Justice and Peace, and the day was composed of three panel discussions: community and policy, theology, and churches. There were economic and ecological updates to give context to the discussion of current issues facing the world and the church. There were theological dissections of the role to which the church is called in this time of global uncertainty and transition. And there were challenging reflections from church leaders, grounding change optimistically in spiritual formation, deep biblical reading and an abiding sense of human dignity.
In the spring of 2007, the council made a decision to meet once a year in Ottawa. Rev. Dr. James Christie, outgoing president of the council, said, “Through this Churches’ Week in Ottawa the CCC is strengthening the presence of churches in public life, drawing on a long tradition of engagement in the public square, and contributing to the public dialogue today on matters which affect all people in Canada and the world.”
Several members of Parliament—Rick Dykstra, Pierre Ducasse, John McKay and Yves Lessard—participated in a roundtable at lunchtime. Together they spoke about specific policy concerns which could use the advocacy leadership of religious groups. By and large, they acknowledged that the current economic system is broken and that Canada—and the world—needs inspiration to build better structures grounded in sustainability and justice.
Peter Noteboom, associate secretary of the justice commission, spoke of the necessity for the Canadian Council of Churches—and, by extension, the church at large—to be a “consistent, persistent voice” in the public square and to build mutual relationships. Being the church is not just about being heard; it is also about listening, both compassionately and critically.
The vibrant discussion during the day reaffirmed a strong message: The church can bring moral clarity, spiritual critique and an intercessory voice to the table because we believe people, situations and creation itself are redeemable. Today’s
world is filled with opportunities for fear and despair. Churches, as physical communities of Christ, should be fearless in speaking of the hope that characterizes them. We are a people of hope, and hope is needed in the world today.
