The Assembly Council met in November, and Aboriginal issues were discussed in various ways. Lisbeth Duncan, convener, and former moderator Wilma Welsh reported on a trip to the Medicine Eagle Retreat and Healing Place in Manitoba. They were invited along with the PCC's Healing and Reconciliation Animator, Lori Ransom, and staff from Winnipeg Inner City Mission, to talk, forge friendships, and learn about life on the reserve.
Laura Robinson, a journalist who has reported on Aboriginal issues for 17 years, presented her short film, Front Runners. The movie chronicles the lives of two boys who attended Birtle Residential School (a PCC school that was located in Manitoba), and their experiences on the school's famed running team. Council agreed to officially endorse the film.
It was also noted that as General Assembly decided in 2006, funds saved from the church's reduced liability cap (from $2.1 to 1.32 million) from the now-finalized residential schools settlement will be used for healing and reconciliation purposes.
The long-range planning committee presented its interim plans for a new church vision. “Meaningful Mission and Ministry for Today and Tomorrow” will be the overarching topic at about 15 three-day meetings to be held among variously grouped presbyteries, in consultation with synod executives, led by a to-be-hired staff person. Information gathered will help create a vision for the work of the church. The process is expected to take about 12 to 18 months and will be supported by about $200,000 already set aside from undesignated bequests.
Other business included:
The finance committee decided to grant Trinity, Oro, a bridging loan of just over $236,000 that will be used to retire the mortgage on its building with Royal Bank. The first two years of the loan will be interest-free, and the loan is expected to be paid in full in five years.
The Vine Helpline is the official name of the new two-year pilot project that brings together the departments of Worship and Evangelism, Education in Faith, and Ministry with Children and Youth. The program launched in early 2008, and will operate through staff, volunteers, and leadership.
The Policy on Racial Harassment and Racial Diversity was further revised. A vision was adopted to signal the PCC's future directions toward racial and ethnic diversity at the national level of leadership in the church. Ethnic and racial diversity will be highlighted in any future hiring of national staff, appointments to presbytery committees and boards, recommendations to national standing committees, and the selection of candidates for presbytery and synod staff positions and committees.
Three new Mission Priority Funds have been created and will be handled by the Planned Giving office. Though monies will come from undesignated bequests (up to a maximum of $1 million per fund), it is hoped that individual donors will contribute. The three funds are: Creative Children and Youth Ministries, Mission Connections, and New Church Development Assistance Fund.
Discussions about creating a moderatorial stole, the prospect of which had been sent to the Assembly Council executive at last year's General Assembly, will cease. The executive noted that “recognizing that it has been before the church for a number of years, and has caused considerable debate and even some concern … this may not be the time to move in this direction.”
