Report From Maritime Conference
The 84th annual meeting of Maritime conference took place in Sackville, NewBrunswick on May 28th to 31st. The theme was "Gospel and Empire: What about Us?"
About 400 delegates attended from throughout the Maritimes as well as Bermuda to celebrate, renew acquaintances and attend to the business of the Church especially in relation to the upcoming General Council in Kelowna British Columbia August 9th to 15th.
“Empire" is a metaphor for interconnected systems of domination that affect all levels of human relationships and in which all people participate in some way. Empire-like behaviour can be found in relations between states, international trade agreements, forms of institutional governance, including within the church, interpersonal relationships including families. The common thread is the unjust use of power by someone resulting in the disempowerment, abuse or destruction of others.”
This definition is by Gary Kenny, the United Church Program coordinator for Southern Africa/Emergency Response.Conference opened with a First Nations sweetgrass smudging ceremony by Spiritual Leader Raymond Solomon who works with aboriginals in prison who are spiritually broken. Ray, whose family is Ojibwa, has been in the Maritimes for the past 45 years. His mom and dad were educated in the residential school system and, though they weren’t physically abused, they suffered the loss of being away from their families for long periods.
He thanked the United Church of Canada for being one of the first to recognize the injustice that was done with regard to the residential school system and the apology that accompanied that recognition.
In the smudging ceremony, before a person can be healed or heal another, one must be cleansed of any bad feelings or negative thoughts, bad spirits or negative energy, both physically and spiritually. This helps healing come through in a clear way without being distorted or sidetracked by negativity in the client or the healer. The elders say that all ceremonies either public or private must be entered into with a good heart so that we can pray, walk and sing in a sacred manner. Native people throughout the world use herbs to accomplish this. Herbs are burned and the smoke is rubbed or brushed over the body to signify cleansing.
The delegates were seated in table groups which were designed to facilitate discussion. Each morning and at the beginning of each session there was a time of singing and music. Midway through the deliberations as old bones and muscles stiffened up, there was a short period of Korean Yoga with yoga master Sungmin Jung.
There was much work to be done in the way of discussing proposals, electing commissioners to General Council, reading reports and viewing presentations.
One presentation involved the display of Mission and Service story telling shawls in all their colour and vibrance.
Another presentation focused on the destruction of communities that are the direct result of mining in such places as Central America and the Philippines. International companies (including Canadian ones) move in and begin mining operations against the wishes of the people but there is little that the locals can do. The land is destroyed as well as water supplies. Money talks and the local inhabitants come to know the oppression of “empire” very well.
Then there was the electric presence of all the young people together dancing, laughing, running and raucously celebrating God’s presence amid the more sedate elders. What a contrast!
The music throughout was super. Linnea Good is a singer-songwriter from British Columbia whose primary work is to help individuals and churches express their souls through music. She is a leader in the fields of music in worship and all-ages worshipping. Her background includes a BA in French Literature, a Master of Religious Education with a specialty in music as an educational tool.
Her latest CD “Swimmin’ Like A Bird,” was nominated three times for major awards.She offers an internet subscription for worship and music leaders called the “Psalm-body’s Prayin’ Group”. She performs with her husband and drummer, David and she has a web-site:
www.LinneaGoode.com As well, the musical group “The Message” provided wonderful celebratory offerings and great harmony.
The event finished up with the election of a new president, Rev. Robert Johnson of Atlantic School of Theology who, earlier in the meeting, gave a short presentation on why churches should support AST. He posed the question whether or not churches appreciate having a minister and, with the answer being in the affirmative, he then asked the question, “Well, where do you think ministers come from?” Ministers are graduates of theological seminaries and schools, and if we are to continue the work of educating people to become ministers. then we have to support those educational facilities.
As the United Church of Canada, we are called “to seek justice and resist evil” and “to live with respect in creation.” We must respond to that call as individuals and as churches. In Maritime Conference the Church In Action committee has the mandate to raise awareness of justice issues.
There is abuse of power all around us: in our own communities, in our own churches, in our families and in our country and in the world. What we profess to believe is not merely words, but a call to action. We act out of who we are, and we are people in relationship with God.
The meeting received the report of the Education and Students committee in which candidates for commissioning and ordination to the Order of Ministry were recommended.
•Annika Lynn Sangster was commissioned into the Order of ministry.
•Rosemary Godin, Christine Johnson, Wendy Louise Kean and Tara-Ann Burton Wilson were ordained into the Order of Ministry.
•Wayne Glenwood Smith was admitted from the Presbyterian Church.
•Those recognized as Designated Lay Ministers are Marilyn Dale Crawford, William Neil Drysdale, Norma Manship Mills and Simpson Archibald Rushton.
Maritime conference concluded with a worship service of celebration, communion by intinction, and joyous music. Another year’s work finished, another begun.
Rev. Sheldon LeGrow
