New Models of Mission
The way the church has done mission with indigenous peoples in the past has to change, said Mary Fontaine, a Canadian Presbyterian minister and member of the Cree nation.
“I welcome the commitment of the World Communion of Reformed Churches to enter into dialogue with the world’s indigenous Christians on how to create new models for mission,” said Fontaine.
The first indigenous person elected to a senior post in a global organization of Reformed churches, Fontaine serves as vice – president of the North American region of the WCRC. She was speaking in an interview while in Switzerland for meetings of the organization’s executive committee in May.
Discussions focused on adopting a strategic plan for the coming seven years. Programs in mission, theology and justice linked to indigenous issues were on the agenda.
At its founding meeting in June 2010, WCRC—a network of churches in 108 countries—announced plans to work towards reconciliation and healing with indigenous peoples.
“To do this work, churches need to step out of the box in unique ways,” said Fontaine.
She said new models of mission are emerging. In ministries with indigenous peoples that seek to incorporate traditional music, dance, ceremony and art, leaders are gathering intergenerational and intercultural groups for positive experiences in churches.
As founder and director of Hummingbird Ministries in Richmond, B.C., Fontaine has initiated church events that incorporate ceremonies such as the ritualistic entry of tribal leaders carrying the cross, accompanied by traditional dancers.
“Some people say this is the first time they have been in a church since they left residential schools,” Fontaine reported. “They are amazed to see such ceremonies as part of a church gathering.” —WCRC
Indian Churches Challenged to Address Caste Discrimination
Churches in India were called upon to tackle “institutional casteism” at a conference in May organized by the World Council of Churches and Indian churches and groups.
“Institutional casteism has not been properly discussed in India … and the colloquium has drawn attention to the need for addressing the issue at all levels,” said a statement released at the end of the Caste, Religion and Culture conference.
Under the rigid social hierarchy of the caste system in India, dalits—literally meaning “trampled upon” in Sanskrit—lie at the bottom of society. Dalits often survive by scavenging and doing menial jobs while living apart from upper castes such as Brahmans. Though dalits account for nearly two thirds of the 28 million Christians in India, they face discrimination even in churches and Christian institutions as upper castes hold positions of power.
University professor Rajkumar Hans said the deadwood of “oppressive caste hegemony” in India has gone deep into egalitarian religions like Buddhism, Sikhism and Christianity. “Caste cannot be annihilated by good intentions and theological rhetoric. What we need is bold steps,” said Hans, a Methodist.
“The hypocrisy between the proclamation of the church as an egalitarian community and practice of caste must end,” said Rev. Philip Vinod Peacock, a professor in Kolkata. “Churches have to choose between Christ and caste.” – ENI
