Mennonite Church Canada 2021 annual report to come The annual report from Mennonite Church Canada will be available through CommonWord on Jan. 15, 2021.
A thank you to donors, from Executive Minister Doug Klassen A big thank you to those who made giving to Mennonite Church Canada programs and ministries a priority over the past year. Despite continued uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic and ever-increasing climate disasters, our program directors, staff and affiliated partners remain dedicated to their areas of service and resourcing and grateful for the financial support shown across our nationwide community of faith. God’s blessing of grace and peace be with you.
INDIGENOUS-SETTLER RELATIONS
Conflict at Wet’suwet’en continues Please pray for Wet’suwet’en water protectors who are currently asserting their sovereignty in the face of yet another large-scale mobilization of militarized police. On Jan. 4, Wet’suwet’en water protectors executed a nonviolent, strategic retreat to avoid arrest and violence at the hands of dozens of militarized RCMP. Take action by following Gidimt’en Checkpoint on social media and watching a recent Mennonite Church Canada webinar about solidarity with Wet’suwet’en.
Creator’s Call in a Climate Emergency: a Mennonite Church Canada community learning series Thursdays at 7 p.m. (CST), Jan. 20 to March 17, 2022 Register: https://www.mennonitechurch.ca/community-learning-series Join Mennonite Church Canada Indigenous-Settler Relations and the Sustainability Leadership Group for a spirited eight-week conversation exploring the two paths of decarbonization and decolonization. Participants discuss Seth Klein’s A Good War: Mobilizing Canada for the Climate Emergency (2020) and listen to Indigenous activists and climate action leaders in real-time conversation.
The Cost of Colonialism / The Joy of Jubilee weekend retreat Feb. 11-13, 2022, at Star of the North Retrate Centre, St. Albert, Alta. (in person and online) Register: https://www.starofthenorth.ca/jubilee How does Canada as a settler colonial society shape Christian understanding and vocation? If dispossession is the fundamental breach of the Indigenous-settler relationship, what biblical resources can address that? Join Steve Heinrichs, director of Indigenous-Settler Relations, in a weekend retreat to discuss these important questions.
A big thank you from ISR director Steve Heinrichs In the midst of great sorrow and violence—unmarked graves found at Indian Residential School sites, assaults on land defenders in unceded Wet’suwet’en territory— this past year, ISR celebrated the legislative passing of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, a remarkable achievement accomplished by the linking of arms between Indigenous peoples, faith communities, activists and federal government officials. I want to express my sincere thanks to our Mennonite Church family, for supporting the work of reconciliation and reparations. It isn’t easy—trying to “carry each other’s burdens” —but we are doing our part and helping make a difference. Thank you for your persistent prayers, the local learning and advocacy that you do and for your financial support. I lift my hands and heart to you!