After several years of planning, studying, researching and debating, Assembly Council adopted several recommendations from the Healing and Reconciliation Design Team to establish a national Healing and Reconciliation initiative called Walking Together. The new commitments are as follows:
- The PCC will collaborate with the leaders of the United Church, Anglican Church and Roman Catholic entities to embark upon a Ten Days tour across Canada to share a desire for healing and reconciliation with church members at large, the aboriginal community and civil society, and to encourage and inspire local churches to walk together with their aboriginal neighbours.
- A full-time animateur will be contracted by the Life and Mission Agency for an initial period of one year to work with local church groups and congregations, national staff, the courts of the church, ecumenical partners and aboriginal organizations to further the aims and objectives of the initiative.
- A healing and reconciliation consultative committee will be established by LMA and will be responsible for supporting Walking Together; consulting with national staff, regional personnel, interested persons and ecumenical partners; planning, promoting and finding ways to implement programs and activities; providing direction and support to a team of volunteers selected and trained to support the elements of this plan; and supporting the work of the national animateur and the work of the LMA after the animateur's term has ended.
- In 2003, General Assembly set aside $500,000 for healing and reconciliation purpose. To date, about $100,000 has been spent, and the council decided the remaining funds should be used by allocating 75 per cent to program expenses such as the Ten Days tour, healing and reconciliation initiatives involving youth, developing resources and distributing to congregations, establishing and supporting a resource team to support the program and for seed funding for local initiatives. The remaining 25 per cent would be used to pay for an animateur and establishing the healing and reconciliation consultative committee.
- The council will recommend to the General Assembly that the PCC recognize the National Day of Healing and Reconciliation (May 26) by designating the Sunday in the church year before this day as Healing and Reconciliation Sunday.
The possibility of starting a new program was met with criticism at last year's General Assembly, when leaders of the church's existing native ministries argued that there was no need to reinvent the wheel, and any available funds should be used to support and strengthen the programs already in place. Proponents of the new program said while the existing ministries are worthy and required, they focus on healing aboriginals only (through counselling, food banks, shelters, etc). The new program will focus on the relationship between aboriginals and non-aboriginals, making it something for the entire church to get involved with and to inspire action.
“I thank you for the opportunity to serve,” said Lew Ford, who sat on the design team from the beginning and was just released of his duties, along with the rest of the team. “What you've approved today will make a difference — and I'm counting on it.”– AM
