Record Columnist to Become WCC Worship Consultant
Andrew Donaldson, author of the Record’s online In Song column, has been appointed worship consultant for the World Council of Churches.
The position, which is formally called “missionary (consultant) in the area of spirituality and worship in the context of 21st – century ecumenism,” will involve preparation and worship leadership in a number of areas including chapel services at WCC headquarters in Geneva and at international conferences.
“The idea is: you think globally and you work locally and vice versa. My job is to be invisible in one sense. My job is to get people excited and knowledgeable about ecumenical possibilities, then get them involved in practical ways. Leading worship, writing music, writing liturgies.”
Donaldson has been involved in the Hymn Society for many years, was a member of the Presbyterian Church in Canada task force that created the 1997 Book of Praise, and until late last year served as music director at Trafalgar in Oakville, Ont. His new position is funded by the United Methodist Church (U.S.A.), but he says his Presbyterian background should serve him well.
“Presbyterians love dialogue, and as a Presbyterian I’ll be listening to different voices and trying to give them a place both in worship and planning meetings.”
Donaldson’s final In Song column will appear on pccweb.ca/presbyterianrecord on May 1. ¦ —C.Purvis
LMA Looks for New H&R Staff
A new employee will continue the work of healing and reconciliation animator Lori Ransom after she returns to her position with the federal Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, the Life and Mission Agency agreed at their March meeting.
“We have worked out a budget that is manageable within existing funds,” said Rick Fee, general secretary of the LMA. He stressed that no funding would be needed from Presbyterians Sharing, the national church’s main mission and ministry fund. The full – time contract position, which can extend to a maximum of two years, will draw on funds originally set aside for a number of related purposes including aboriginal dispute resolution and work related to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
The new staffer is expected to begin in August. Ransom, who was hired on a one – year contract in September 2006, had her contract extended for four additional years and plans to return to her position with the government this September.
“It’s a pleasure to work with her and we’re really going to miss her,” said Stephen Allen, associate secretary of Justice Ministries. ¦ —C.Purvis
Rights for Indigenous Peoples
Kairos is asking its partner churches to participate in a banner – making campaign in support of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which was endorsed by Canada in November 2010.
The project is part of Kairos’ 2010 – 2011 campaign called, “The Land, Our Life,” which looks at the impact extractive industries have on indigenous communities in Canada and around the world and ask Canadians to sign a petition encouraging the Government of Canada to implement the UN Declaration. The campaign concludes with a public event on June 20 in Ottawa.
Banners will be carried by train across Canada to Ottawa, and used in the June event. Local Kairos groups and church groups will meet the “Banner Train” as it goes through their communities, and add their banners to the train.
Visit kairoscanada.org for a resource to assist congregations in banner making. ¦ —PCC and Kairos
Nunavut Teens Combat Hunger??
Grade – nine students from Tusarvik School in Repulse Bay, Nunavut, put their baking talents to good use on March 18. The class of 13 students raised nearly $400 for the Canadian Foodgrains Bank by baking and selling cinnamon buns, buns, cupcakes and tarts in their school’s kitchen.
“It is the Inuit way to share,” said Pauline Kridluar, a grade nine student who helped to bake and sell the goods. “Cooking today was like that.”
The students are used to cooking for their community, selling baked goods to raise money for their school’s extra curricular activities, and cooking lunch for the community’s elders. But this year, the students have been learning about people around the world who don’t have enough to eat.
Mary Ellen Cain, the grade – nine teacher, is impressed with her students’ willingness to respond.
“I see how generous the people here are with others in the region, and how they send char and caribou to other communities,” she said. “This bake sale is another reflection of this generosity—they see a need and they respond to it.”
Repulse Bay is a community of about 900 people situated on the Arctic Circle. It is only accessible by air most of the year, and by barge for a short time during the summer. The steep price of food at the community’s two stores is in stark contrast to community attitudes around “country food,” such as caribou, arctic char, whale, and ptarmigan, which neighbours freely share with one another. ¦ —CFGB
New Books Released
Two new books by Presbyterians are available this month. Rev. Dr. William Klempa’s Exploring the Faith will be launched during the convocation celebrations at the Presbyterian College, Montreal on May 10; and Janet Stark’s Final Scenes—Bedside Tales at End of Life is available through the WMS Book Room.
Exploring the Faith is the second volume of the college’s Studies in Theology and Ministry collection. Klempa’s collection of essays spans four decades of theological developments, and provides snapshots on various aspects of the history and theology of the Reformed tradition from a uniquely Canadian perspective.
Most of the essays were written while Klempa served as principal of the college between 1978 and 1998. The book is available through the college.
The 80 short and true stories in Final Scenes by Janet Stark were composed though years of pastoral care given to those dealing with serious illnesses. The stories are about comfort, hope and healing.
Stark is the spiritual care director and chaplain at the Brockville General Hospital, and an elder at St. Paul’s, Kemptville, Ont. She hopes the book will be a resource to healthcare chaplains, healthcare professionals, clergy, and pastoral care volunteers.
And her book has garnered praise from Klempa. In an official endorsement, Klempa said, “Final Scenes is a valuable teaching tool for professionals and equally instructive for family members and friends who seek to comfort, help and minister to the dying.”
In addition to the WMS Book Room, the book is available through the author for $15. Email jstark9@cogeco.ca ¦ —Joel Coppieters and AM
Trio Prepare for Bike Trip
In the name of peace in Israel – Palestine, three young women from Kitchener – Waterloo are planning to don bike helmets and embark on a cross – Canada speaking tour this summer.
Although the idea of a cross – country trip came from Julia Heyens, the cause that will drive it is one that has been important to her fellow biker, Hannah Carter, since she attended the Sabeel Centre youth conference in Jerusalem.
“It totally changed my life,” said the photographer and member of Knox, Waterloo. After attending the 2009 conference with funding from the Presbyterian Church in Canada, Carter returned impassioned to raise awareness about the plight of Palestinians in Israel. That Christmas, she headed to Cairo to join the Gaza Freedom March, which brought together 1,300 people from 40 countries in an unsuccessful attempt to walk into Gaza.
Carolyn Gray, the third member of the team, will not be cycling but blogging about the journey. She attended a conference at the Sabeel Centre from Feb. 23 – 28.
The journey, which is planned to begin June 1, aims to raise enough money to sponsor two homes to be built by the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions, and to encourage Canadians to learn more about Israel – Palestine and grassroots peace efforts.
The team plans to make presentations in cities along the route, and is hoping to billet with members of local churches and receive help from volunteer drivers. For more information about the trip, booking a speaking engagement or assisting the team, visit becausewecan.ca or email because.we.can@live.ca. ¦ —C.Purvis
No Strike for AST Faculty
Although full – time faculty and librarians at the Atlantic School of Theology were poised to strike in late March, an 11th hour agreement reached on March 21 kept them from the picket lines.
The faculty association, which had been recognized as a union in 2010, had been negotiating their first collective agreement with the Halifax university’s board of governors since April of the same year. Salaries proved to be the main stumbling block in negotiations.
An agreement was endorsed by 70 per cent of unionized staff, and ratified on March 23.
The ecumenical university employs eight full – time faculty and three professional librarians, and has about 150 students registered in its degree and certificate programs. ¦ —C.Purvis
Ribbon – cutting at Crieff Hills
“The Pines” at Crieff Hills Retreat and Conference Centre will officially open on May 14. The special day will feature a demonstration on bird banding, guided nature walks, a high ropes challenge and refreshments. The day will culminate with a ribbon – cutting ceremony at 2:00.
The new building is part of Crieff’s renovation and expansion project, made possible through donations. Visit crieffhills.com for more. ¦ —AM
Undies for Evangelism
Trafalgar Presbyterian in Oakville, Ont., held a slightly different sort of fundraiser in March, asking for donations of undergarments for Toronto’s Evangel Hall Mission.
The congregation responded with “an avalanche” of underwear, according to Rev. Kristine O’Brien, which was collected during a special service. The church’s confirmation class of grade seven and eight students then went on a trip to Evangel Hall to deliver the items.
“The response from the congregation was really great—both fun and generous. And Evangel Hall thought this was a good item to have lots of,” said O’Brien.
Missions like Evangel Hall are often in need of undergarments, as donors rarely think of these items when donating clothing. Donations must be new and in original packaging. ¦ —AM
No Funding Gap for PWS&D
The Canadian International Development Agency is providing a six – month extension in funding for the church’s relief and development arm, ensuring there will be no gap in government funding between the end of one five – year agreement and the assessment of a new application.
Following the rejection of one proposal in December 2010, Presbyterian World Service and Development crafted a new application and submitted it at the end of March. If accepted by CIDA, the new program should begin October 1. In the interim, CIDA will continue to fund PWS&D’s programs in El Salvador, Nicaragua, Malawi, Tanzania and India. ?¦ —C.Purvis
