Let Us Walk Together
Racial Justice Resource 2009
A new resource from the Canadian Ecumenical Anti-Racism Network designed to help Canadians to engage with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission on Indian Residential Schools and to better understand the legacies of colonization that Aboriginal peoples live with today.

Origin of the day: On March 21, 1960, police in Sharpeville, South Africa, opened fire on a peaceful group of young students demonstrating against the apartheid laws, killing 69 people. In 1966, the General Assembly of the United Nations proclaimed that date to be the "International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination." In proclaiming the Day, the United Nations condemned "all policies and practices of apartheid, racial discrimination and segregation, including the practices of discrimination inherent in colonialism."

Canadian involvement: In Canada, the Day has been recognized annually since 1989, supported by the federal Department of Canadian Heritage. The government of Canada has released an Action Plan Against Racism and participated, along with Canadian churches, in the United Nations' World Conference Against Racism held in Durban, South Africa, in 2001. A follow-up world conference, Durban II, is being planned this year (2009) to review the actions governments put in place then. It is good for Canadians to remember this as we acknowledge the ongoing impact of Canada's heritage of colonialism.

Invitation: We invite Canadian churches everywhere to mark March 21 by making use of (a) the following prayer and hymn on one of the Sundays close to March 21, this year, and (b) the theological principles for engaging in anti-racism work in your own community and ministry context. The prayer is especially appropriate as 2009 has been designated "Year of Indigenous Peoples" by the United Nations.

Leader	There are gifts from each of the peoples in the four directions of the world. The winds of the different directions remind us of these gifts. We invite participants to stand and face the four directions, honouring the wholeness of humanity and God's creation.
Leader	Let us turn now to the East. We give thanks for the peoples of the East. This direction symbolizes new life on the earth and reminds us of our connectedness to each other and to creation. The sun rises in the east and each day is a gift. Life itself is a gift.
All	Come Holy Spirit, come.
Leader	And we offer our prayers for God's church: May God open our eyes each morning to the gift of God's reconciliation with us through Jesus, and the call to be ministers of reconciliation. We pray for our leaders and for renewal for all who nurture the church in Christ's ministry of healing and transforming the world.
Leader	We turn to face South. We give thanks for the peoples of the South. The South represents warmth and growth. Give us your strength and courage to be open to new learning and to grow in our witness and care for the world, we pray.
All	Come Holy Spirit, come.
Leader	And we offer our prayers for God's world, praying especially for those who suffer from the violence of racism, poverty and war; and from the legacies of colonialism and slavery. May God's strength be with all who suffer and with all who work for justice, peace and the healing of relationships amongst peoples.
Leader	We turn to face West. We give thanks for the peoples of the West. The West represents the gift of rest, the passing of time and of those who have gone before. Give us the wisdom and grace to use your gifts of time and leisure well; give comfort to those who mourn, and rest to those who have passed into your care, we pray.
All	Come Holy Spirit, come.
Leader	And we offer our prayers for all in need: May God's peace and healing presence be with all who suffer and those who are weary and in need of rest.
Leader	We turn to face North. We give thanks for the peoples of the North. A gift of this direction is clarity of vision and a sense of the strength we need to live each day. Help us to see more clearly your role for us, especially in the healing and care of Mother Earth, we pray.
All	Come Holy Spirit, come.
Leader	And we offer our prayers for the wisdom of discernment: May God open our hearts to the grace of God's holy presence with us and around us, that we might truly behold the earth and each other as beloved by God.
Leader	We turn to complete the circle and to look: to God who cleanses our Earth with snow, wind, fire and rain; to Jesus Christ who fills us with the wideness of mercy and lovingly embraces us all, And to the Holy Spirit who inspires us.
All	Amen.

Words by G. A. Wenh-In Ng Tune Winchester New:: 8888

1. In Sharpeville streets this day in March apartheid's evils to defy, young blood was shed, young lives were lost a shame the world cannot deny.
   
   
2. O God of justice bid us cry "No more shall be such sacrifice: no more shall humans thus oppress in this our land or anywhere."
   
   
3. Rise up then sisters, brothers, all give heed to this day's urgent call to end all racial injustice, to march on in the light of God.

The Canadian Ecumenical Anti-Racism Network (CEARN) is under the umbrella of the Canadian Council of Churches. The network is an expression of Canadian churches working together to support anti-racism programs and educators who are working in member churches, sharing resources and learning, and supporting long-term change in Canadian churches and church organizations. For more information about CEARN or additional downloadable resources on anti-racism for congregational use, visit www.ccc-cce.ca/english/justice/racism.

---

THE CANADIAN ECUMENICAL ANTI-RACISM NETWORK (CEARN)

This network is an expression of Canadian churches working together to support anti-racism programs and educators who are working in member churches, sharing resources and learning among anti-racism educators, and supporting long-term change in Canadian churches and church organizations. The CEARN Steering Committee is made up of representatives from various Christian denominations, and also benefits from the active participation and leadership of staff from sister ecumenical organizations, the Women's Inter-Church Council of Canada (WICC) and KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives. Steering Committee Members

---

2007 RACIAL JUSTICE RESOURCE

Last year we designated a Week for Racial Justice. Churches requested more time to address the issue, so in 2007 we invite you to join this journey of learning and transformation throughout the year.
From Chains to Freedom: Journeying Towards Reconciliation -- a packet of materials for parishes, congregations and study groups, is now available including worship materials, biblical reflection, educational materials on the slave trade, and the practice of slavery in Canada, children's resources and much more.

From Chains to Freedom 2007 Racial Justice Resource PDF version (in sections)
Part 1 Introduction

Part 2 From Chains to Freedom

Part 3 Worship Resources

Part 4 Journeying Towards Reconcilliation

Part 5 Resources for Children

Part 6 Resources for Further Learning

Resource Flyer - includes order form
Racial Justice Week Flyer High Resolution for print

Racial Justice Week Flyer Low Resolution for e-mail

Racial Justice Week Flyer French Version

---

2006 RACIAL JUSTICE RESOURCE

For God So Loved the People of the World This kit is the fruit of five years of learning, reflecting and acting together in the Canadian Ecumenical Anti-Racism Network, representing our first attempt to jointly lift up the importance of anti-racism ministry in the member churches of the Canadian Council of Churches. The contributors to this resource kit come from a variety of traditions; each of them has worked from the heart, offering the best of what they know now of the topic at hand.


The title of this resource, For God so loved the people of the world, comes from one of the lectionary texts, John 3:16. As we compared versions and translations of the text, we settled on this phrase from the Chinese Kuo-yu Bible, an ecumenical translation done in the 1930s and still in use in most Chinese congregations.

Download the full version of this resource (37 pages)
God so loved the people of the world - Full Version.

Or see the Table of Contents to download one or more chapters separately.
God so loved the people of the world --Table of Contents

Should you need assistance downloading this document, or if you wish to receive a copy by post or by e-mail, please contact Peter Noteboom at noteboom@ccc-cce.ca or by phone: 416-972-9494 x 26.

---

ANTI-RACISM LINKS TO MEMBER CHURCHES

Anti-racism is not an end point, or a destination, it's a journey and education is ongoing. Here are more links to member church Anti-racism resources.

Anglican Church of Canada
A Charter for Racial Justice A working document used as a basis for further education with the committees, councils, and boards of the General Synod.

Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops
Eliminate Racialand Religious Discrimination: See Every Person as My Sister or Brother. 2004 Pastoral Message by the Episcopal Commission for Social Affairs and the Episcopal Commission for Interfaith Dialogue.

Christian Reformed Church
Ministry of Race Relations This ministry is mandated by synod to design, organize, and implement programs that will assist the denomination, churches, and members in eliminating the causes and effects of racism.

Mennonite Church Canada Resource Centre
Search the on-line catalogue at the Resource Centre to find videos and print material for use with congregations, including resources for children and youth.

Primate's World Relief and Development Fund, Anglican Church of Canada
Stories of inclusion and racial justice.

United Church of Canada
2005-2007 Mission Theme: Living in Right Relationship includes resources and policy statements for congregations, including youth and children. A key resource in this area is That All May Be One: A Resource for Educating toward Racial Justice. This 2004 handbook provides material for reflection, education and action to help individuals and congregations recognize, resist and eliminate racism. Find it at the Resource Distribution Centre.

Women's Inter-Church Council of Canada
2004 Naming Racism: Speaking Truth to Power, Making Waves Volume 4:2 A hands-on resource for congregations that provides: a historical look at Canadian churches' history of racism; Bible studies and liturgical resources; systemic racism and change exercises; stories of how to be an ally and an outline of anti-racism policies of Canadian religious organizations. $6 plus handling charges. Order by E-mail.

World Council of Churches
Transformative Justice: Being Church and Overcoming Racism A study guide that explores the sin of racism and identifies signposts to building communities of transformative justice.

---

CANADIAN ECUMENICAL ANTI-RACISM NETWORK (CEARN)STEERING COMMITTEE

The members of the CEARN Steering Committee in 2009 are:

• Esther Wesley The Anglican Church of Canada
• Jose Zarate The Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund, ACC (PWRDF)
• Ani Shalvardjian The Armenian Holy Apostolic Church
• Alice Schuda The Canadian Churches’ Forum on Global Ministries
• Hazel Campayne The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops
• Peter Noteboom (secretary) The Canadian Council of Churches
• Steve Kabetu (co-chair) The Christian Reformed Church in North America
• Adiat Junaid KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives
• Sue Eagle The Mennonite Church of Canada
• Paul Kang The Presbyterian Church of Canada
• Kim Uyede-Kai The United Church of Canada
• Wenh-In Ng (co-chair) The United Church of Canada, (Toronto Conf.)

Over the last few decades there have been many efforts by Canadian Christian denominations to bridge the all-too-visible social gap between dominant Canadian society and folks of Native ancestry. Most of these efforts have been written from the perspective, style and format recognizable and comfortable to dominant, white Canadians. The following resource attempts to utilize more of an Indigenous People's perspective. What follows is two-fold: first, you will hear Our Voices as Native Peoples of this land about the effects of racism and oppression on us, and our communities, and thoughts on paths of healing and being anti-racist. Secondly, we felt it was important to present our voices within a process that is more in keeping with the Native worldview. We looked to the Medicine Wheel or Circle process.

Introduction
Spiritual Quadrant
Emotional Quadrant
Physical Quadrant
Intellectual Quadrant
Resources