Centre for Public Dialogue
Political Meetings
This year has been filled with meetings for justice! The Centre for Public Dialogue team met with Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship to advocate for refugees approved to come to Canada whose arrival was delayed by travel restrictions.
We joined with the Canadian Council of Churches in a conversation with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about the contributions the faith community has made during the pandemic. Also, significant meetings were held with the Truth and Reconciliation Commissioners to push for the finalization of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples legislation, which passed, thanks in part to your advocacy with us! We look forward to more opportunities to connect with our legislators to seek justice and speak hope.
To learn more about the Centre for Public Dialogue or to see financial information from several congregational service ministries, please read the PDF report.
We joined with the Canadian Council of Churches in a conversation with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about the contributions the faith community has made during the pandemic. Also, significant meetings were held with the Truth and Reconciliation Commissioners to push for the finalization of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples legislation, which passed, thanks in part to your advocacy with us! We look forward to more opportunities to connect with our legislators to seek justice and speak hope.
To learn more about the Centre for Public Dialogue or to see financial information from several congregational service ministries, please read the PDF report.
Disability Concerns
40 Years in Ministry
Next year Disability Concerns will celebrate 40 years in ministry. We are continually encouraged by individuals and families who have invested in the lives of their loved ones living with disabilities.
This year we had the pleasure of hearing from John Brouwer’s mom as she shared her son’s progress in response to a Breaking Barriers issue focused on creativity (bit.ly/bbsummer2021). John first appeared in our newsletter in 1996 when he was a little toddler full of energy; the article featured excerpts from his mother Grace’s diary about raising him. Now John focuses his energy on painting.
We are so thankful for families that share their lives with us and continue to encourage us in the work we do as a ministry.
To learn more about Disability Concerns or to review financial information from several congregational service ministries, please read the PDF report.
This year we had the pleasure of hearing from John Brouwer’s mom as she shared her son’s progress in response to a Breaking Barriers issue focused on creativity (bit.ly/bbsummer2021). John first appeared in our newsletter in 1996 when he was a little toddler full of energy; the article featured excerpts from his mother Grace’s diary about raising him. Now John focuses his energy on painting.
We are so thankful for families that share their lives with us and continue to encourage us in the work we do as a ministry.
To learn more about Disability Concerns or to review financial information from several congregational service ministries, please read the PDF report.
Indigenous Ministry
Hearts Exchanged Program
This year has included many reconciliation reckonings for Canadian Christians. And people across the country responded by digging deeply into reconciliation journeys.
Many people advocated for the passage of Bill C-15 to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The passage of this bill was a significant step in Canadian legislation.
People across the country also participated in Hearts Exchanged, a learning and action journey designed to equip Reformed Christians to engage with Indigenous people as neighbors and fellow image bearers of God.
To learn more about the CRCNA's Indigenous Ministry or to review financial information from several congregational service ministries, please read the PDF report.
Many people advocated for the passage of Bill C-15 to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The passage of this bill was a significant step in Canadian legislation.
People across the country also participated in Hearts Exchanged, a learning and action journey designed to equip Reformed Christians to engage with Indigenous people as neighbors and fellow image bearers of God.
To learn more about the CRCNA's Indigenous Ministry or to review financial information from several congregational service ministries, please read the PDF report.
Office of Social Justice
Advocacy during an Election
The U.S. election provided a moment for each of us to show our commitment to justice! In particular, the Office of Social Justice encouraged the church to consider how to speak in ways that reflect the economic, social, and spiritual blessings that immigrants bring to the U.S.
As rhetoric can get heated especially around elections, the Office of Social Justice encouraged people to share the message “Immigrants are a Blessing, not a Burden.” Many church members took the step of setting up a yard sign, wearing a fair-trade t-shirt, and taking up advocacy opportunities for immigration reform.
To learn more about the Office of Social Justice or to see financial information from several congregational service ministries, please read the PDF report.
As rhetoric can get heated especially around elections, the Office of Social Justice encouraged people to share the message “Immigrants are a Blessing, not a Burden.” Many church members took the step of setting up a yard sign, wearing a fair-trade t-shirt, and taking up advocacy opportunities for immigration reform.
To learn more about the Office of Social Justice or to see financial information from several congregational service ministries, please read the PDF report.
Safe Church Ministry
Equipping Safe Church Teams
Safe Church policies play an important role in abuse prevention and response. They communicate the commitments that staff, volunteers, and church leaders make to provide a safe and healthy environment free from abuse for those who participate in the ministries of the church. Policies work best when they are living documents, reviewed and updated regularly.
In response to the many revelations of abuse in recent years in the larger Christian community, a growing number of CRC congregations are revisiting their policies to include stipulations for staff and volunteers around the use of social media, the use of technology, and provisions to be followed when meeting alone with children, youth, or adults.
In the photo above, Safe Church Ministry Consultant Rev. Eric Kas is meeting with Pastor James Jones and youth director Sammy Beuker of Oakdale Park Christian Reformed Church, discussing ways to strengthen their policy in abuse prevention and response.
To learn more about Safe Church Ministry or to review financial information from several congregational service ministries, please read the PDF report.
In response to the many revelations of abuse in recent years in the larger Christian community, a growing number of CRC congregations are revisiting their policies to include stipulations for staff and volunteers around the use of social media, the use of technology, and provisions to be followed when meeting alone with children, youth, or adults.
In the photo above, Safe Church Ministry Consultant Rev. Eric Kas is meeting with Pastor James Jones and youth director Sammy Beuker of Oakdale Park Christian Reformed Church, discussing ways to strengthen their policy in abuse prevention and response.
To learn more about Safe Church Ministry or to review financial information from several congregational service ministries, please read the PDF report.
World Renew
Gender Equality in Uganda
Gladys Afoyorwoth is a wife and mother of six children in northern Uganda. When World Renew began working in Gladys’s community through the Pentecostal Assemblies of God Church (PAG), 80 percent of household work in homes like Gladys’s was done by women. Half of all couples reported inequitable, sometimes violent, relationships. World Renew and PAG focused on food security, savings groups, and gender equality by developing a church-based curriculum called “Going Deeper for Gender Equity.” Gladys and her husband joined in.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Uganda locked down, and food became more scarce than before. In northern Uganda, World Renew distributed 11,000 kg of bean and maize seeds to help families grow food. Despite COVID-19 setbacks, Gladys reports that today she and her husband are sharing the work and decision-making in their household. They improved their farming methods and qualified for small loans to build a sturdy home.
Gladys is a gender champion, and together the couple counsels others in their church in developing good communication and relationships.
To learn more about or to review financial information from World Renew, please read the PDF report.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Uganda locked down, and food became more scarce than before. In northern Uganda, World Renew distributed 11,000 kg of bean and maize seeds to help families grow food. Despite COVID-19 setbacks, Gladys reports that today she and her husband are sharing the work and decision-making in their household. They improved their farming methods and qualified for small loans to build a sturdy home.
Gladys is a gender champion, and together the couple counsels others in their church in developing good communication and relationships.
To learn more about or to review financial information from World Renew, please read the PDF report.