Presbyterians across Canada donated more than $345,000 to Presbyterian World Service and Development as of mid-January to help the victims left in the wake of the tsunami that hit southeast Asia. More donations arrive daily from individuals and congregations moved by the plight of millions.
While the HIV/AIDS pandemic is ravaging parts of the world, the folks in the Presbytery of Lanark and Renfrew are doing what they can to help. "There is a sense of closeness and caring," said Rev. Milton Fraser, St. Andrew's, Arnprior. "In terms of the relationship within the congregations and within the community, there is a genuine concern for each other."
As the pace of urbanization quickens across the Canadian landscape, rural churches, like the family farm, are simply disappearing. Cooperating, not competing, is key: "If the church can be seen as a place to come together; to talk and to seek community, to not be there to recruit, and to cooperate with other rural churches," says sociology professor William Ramp, "[the church] will draw people in and contribute to keeping that population."
Moderator Rick Fee is passionate about ending the AIDS crisis. The situation is worsened by the moralistic approach taken by some countries and the churches stuck with the disease. Fee never hesitates to speak up about this deadly approach. "The classic approach of churches has been to follow the letters of the alphabet, where A is for abstinence, B is for be faithful, and C is for condoms," he said. "But the next letter is D, and with this disease, that is known as death."
"The ultimate solution to a resolution of the crisis is to have peace," said Elizabeth Majok, a mother of five from southern Sudan. As a regional representative at the New Sudan Council of Churches (NSCC), Mrs. Majok visited Canada for two weeks in November and December to tell the story of the conflict in Sudan and the women who are working towards peace. "People want peace," she said, "but they don't know where to start."