The CCC is pleased to share the highlights of its recent governing board meeting, held May 14-16 in Ottawa.
The document, compiled by CCC General Secretary Karen Hamilton and Faith & Public Life Coordinator Joy Kennedy, is available for CCC members and their congregations/constituents to read and distribute with hopes it will encourage understanding of the work of the CCC and its members’ contributions.
Download a PDF copy of the highlights.
Dates for the next two governing board meetings are as follows:
- November 17-21, 2014 (In Mississauga, Ont. at Queen of the Apostles retreat centre)
- May 13-15, 2015 (Ottawa)
Full text of the highlights document:
Highlights and Decisions
The Canadian Council of Churches Governing Board Meeting
May 14-16, 2014 – St. Paul’s University, Ottawa, ON
“Faith and Public Life”
The Canadian Council of Churches is the broadest ecumenical body in Canada. The Governing Board brings together representatives from Anglican; Evangelical; Free Church; Eastern and Oriental Orthodox; Historic Protestant; and Eastern and Roman Catholic member churches to review and coordinate the work of its Committees and Commissions, appoint officers, obtain funds for its work, and determine external relations to other religious and secular organizations and movements. The Canadian Council of Churches was founded in 1944.
*Next Meeting of the Governing Board is scheduled for November 19-21, 2014, as part of the Canadian Council of Churches Assembly and 70th Anniversary beginning on November 17-21, 2014, at Queen of the Apostles, Mississauga, ON.
At this semi-annual meeting of the Governing Board we:
- Visited the Prime Minister’s Office, where members of the Executive and two other Governing Board members met with senior staff.
- Visited nine other Parliamentarians and policy officers, including the leaders of all Opposition parties, for a total of ten delegations to Parliament Hill (see list below). The main discussion topics for all delegations were: human trafficking, climate change, religious freedom, and the Arms Trade Treaty.
- Approved an affiliate member application from Oikocredit Canada (www.oikocredit.ca).
- Approved the Audited Financial Statements for 2013, and Appointed the Auditors for 2014 fiscal year..
- Received the Draft document “Framing Principles for Witness and Action on Climate Justice, Energy and the Economy” from the Commission on Justice and Peace, with the request to member denominations on how they would disseminate and use such a document.
- Held an expert panel presentation on climate justice. The panel was moderated by Rev. Dr. Susan Eagle, V.P. CCC; expert presentations by Dr. John M. R. Stone, IPCC Nobel Laureate, and Clare Demerse, Clean Energy Canada; and three short panel remarks from Kathy Vandergrift, Commission on Justice and Peace; Jacob Liao, student intern, CCC; and Joy Kennedy, Faith and Public Life Coordinator.
- Worshipped, prayed and sang in United Church, Baptist and Roman Catholic traditions.
- Held a Talking Circle, on “Ecumenism and Public Engagement” to debrief the parliamentary visits, reflecting on how to integrate the learnings, build relationships, and in order to better inform our Triennium priorities, as well as mobilize in our denominational contexts.
- Received a visit from the Chaplain General of the Canadian Armed Forces.
- Celebrated the success of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity which saw a 65% increase in uptake and donations, and distributed the kit for next year.
- Discussed the report of the Christian Interfaith Reference Group (CIRG), which highlighted the near completion of an Interfaith Database, and the work on a potential resource on Freedom of Religion and Belief, resulting from discernment of response to the proposed (now on hold) Quebec Values Charter legislation.
- Requested that a list be compiled of all ministerial associations across Canada in order to be able to connect with them.
- Received and discussed the Commission on Justice and Peace and the Commission on Faith and Witness reports.
- Were inspired by the President’s Workshop on Indigenous Peoples in Canada, with guest Ed Bianchi of KAIROS, where a film from the Edmonton Truth and Reconciliation National Hearing was shown, featuring the CCC Expression of Reconciliation, referring to the CCC collected policy document from 1944 to present, heard reflections from members who participated and considered directions forward for the CCC as well as collaboration with partners.
- Affirmed the November 2014 Governing Board meeting plans that will coincide, in an assembly format, with meetings of the Commissions, Reference Groups, Church Leaders, and Working Groups of the Council. The planning committee was commended as it also brings in a focus on our 70th anniversary.
- Heard a Presentation and were lead in prayer by the CCCB, highlighting the ecumenical significance of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II; the ecumenical and general persona of Pope Francis and changes in the Roman Catholic church; made a presentation to the President of a gift of a picture of the General Secretary and the Pope during the Week of Prayer in Rome, accompanied by words of appreciation by the President of the CCCB acknowledging the GS’s contribution to ecumenism globally.
- Received reports from the Personnel Committee, the Nominations Committee and the Constitution Committee.
- Shared updates re past members of the Governing Board.
- Adjourned praying for each other with a sense of encouragement and accomplishment for the 3 days together.
The next meeting of the Governing Board is scheduled for November 19-21, 2014, as part of the CCC Assembly beginning on November 17. * The May 2015 GB meeting will be the 13th – 15th, noon to noon, in Ottawa while Parliament is sitting.
Visit us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/CCC.CCE for more pictures and highlights!
* Delegations visited:
PMO – Howard Anglin, Senior Legal Policy Advisor; and Cynthia Tran, Advisor, Stakeholder Relations and Outreach, Office of the Prime Minister
Thomas Mulcair, Leader of the Official Opposition; and M.P. Charlie Angus, Chair of the NDP Interfaith Caucus
Justin Trudeau, M.P., Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada; and M.P. John McKay, Critic for the Environment
Elizabeth May, M.P., Leader of the Green Party of Canada
Jean-François Fortin, M.P., Leader/Chef intérim du Bloc Québécois
Carolyn Bennett, M.P., Liberal Party of Canada, Critic for Aboriginal Affairs
Monika LeRoy, Senior Policy Advisor and Shuv Majundar, Director of Policy, Office of the Honourable John Baird, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Robin T. Guy, Director of Policy, Office of Minister Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport)
Jillian Andrews, Policy Advisor; and Jonathan Lefebvre, Advisor; Office of Minister Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of the Environment
Nancy Baker, Policy Advisor; and Ken Bednarek, Senior Litigation Advisor, Office of the Honourable Peter Mackay, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada