The Commission on Justice and Peace

Peace is a dynamic state of well-being and harmony—right relationships among people and nature where there is no fear. Nothing and no one is excluded from God’s vision of peace; it includes all nations, cultures, and peoples, the whole inhabited Earth, indeed the whole cosmos. The quest for peace is at the heart of ecumenism and the shared path of reconciliation, of walking one another home.

Principles of Peace (May 2018)

Our Purpose

The Commission on Justice and Peace (CJP) serves as a collaborative ecumenical forum where Christian churches come together to deepen their shared commitment to peace and social justice in Canada and around the world. Rooted in biblical and theological reflection, the Commission provides space for sharing information, insights, and concerns among those engaged in this work. We foster cooperation across traditions to address pressing justice and peace issues and support the Council and its member churches in advancing their advocacy efforts.

Current Program Priorities (2024-27)

Racism, Reconciliation and Antiracism Priority Group

The CJP is committed to helping churches confront the enduring realities of racism—both in Canadian society and within our Christian communities. To support this journey, the CJP has published Journeys to the Well: An Ecumenical Devotional Towards Anti-Racism, a powerful resource that brings together a compilation of devotionals written by contributors—many of whom are Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour. Churches and individuals are encouraged to use Journeys to the Well for personal reflection, small-group studies, worship planning, or congregational conversations. By praying, learning, and acting together, we take meaningful steps toward reconciliation and racial justice.

Poverty Priority Group

The CJP affirms that responding to poverty is at the heart of Christian mission and ministry. The CJP’s Poverty Working Group is focusing on three areas: identifying shared commitments and differences across member churches’ work on poverty, reflecting on past advocacy efforts to discern new opportunities for meaningful action, and most importantly, creating spaces to hear directly from those with lived experience of poverty. By listening to those with lived experience, we seek to shape more compassionate and practical responses that reflect the gospel’s call to justice. Our hope is that this work will lead to deeper collaboration among churches and concrete steps that can reduce poverty and improve the lives of individuals, families, and communities across Canada.

Monitoring Other Issues

The CJP recognizes that the call to seek justice and peace extends across many urgent issues facing our world today. The Commission monitors the work of other ecumenical tables, church groups, and advocacy networks to identify opportunities for collaboration, mutual support, and shared learning. This ongoing work includes paying close attention to critical concerns such as:

peace in the Middle East,
the rise of militarism,
climate change,
the Safe Third Country Agreement and refugee and migrant rights
the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), and
other emerging issues that call for a faithful response.

CJP Working Groups

The CJP convenes working groups to engage timely and important matters related to social justice and peace. We currently have two working groups – the Sexual Exploitation Working Group and the Restorative Justice Working Group.

The Ending Sexual Exploitation Working Group

This Working Group aims to raise awareness, engage churches in education andprevention efforts, and mobilize faith communities to respond to sexual exploitation within Canada and seek

justice for survivors.

Learn more about their current program priorities here!

The Restorative Justice Working Group

This Working Group carries forward the legacy of The Church Council on Justice and Corrections, now integrated into CJP, to build healthier, safer communities through collective action and faith-based advocacy.

Learn more about their current program priorities here!

The Justice and Peace Archives

The Justice and Peace Archives is a digital library maintained by the Commission on Justice and Peace of the Canadian Council of Churches. It houses more than 25 years of ecumenical resources — including theological reflections, position statements, advocacy letters, briefing notes, and other materials — across themes such as racism, poverty, climate justice, reconciliation, peace and disarmament, refugees, healthcare, and more.

The site is designed to be a companion for churches, scholars, and individuals seeking to inform their faith-based engagement in issues of justice and peace. Check out the archive here: justiceandpeace.ca

Publications of the CJP

2018

2019

2025

Sexual Exploitation in Canada: A Leadership and Learning Kit for Churches

In 2016, the Working Group refocused its attention from human trafficking to include the broader issues of sexual exploitation. This resource builds on the earlier 2013 leadership and learning kit for churches on human trafficking and updates the resources to facilitate a broader reflection and work on sexual exploitation.

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Principles of Peace

These Principles of Peace articulate the shared witness and testimony of The Canadian Council of Churches. Peace is core to the mission and identity of all member churches and the heart of ecumenism.

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Healing Poverty

Poverty has been a focus of the Commission on Justice and Peace of The Canadian Council of Churches for decades. As the Government of Canada consulted on a Canadian Poverty Reduction Strategy, the Commission engaged in its own conversations over several meetings. We now offer this reflection as one way for communities of faith to engage in dialogue and action for a faithful response to overcoming the poverty that is all too widespread in Canada.

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Journeys to the Well: An Ecumenical Devotional Towards Anti-Racism

This ecumenical devotional, created by the Commission on Justice and Peace, addresses racism as a central issue for the church. The contributors, most of whom are Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour, and from diverse denominations, ages, and locations across Canada, were invited to reflect on self-selected scriptures and their personal experiences. A minimal editing approach was taken to centre the authors’ authentic voices. The devotional aims to connect faith with anti-racism action, encouraging readers to engage with scripture and prayer as a foundation for working towards racial justice. It is intended for flexible use, allowing readers to engage with the reflections whatever way resonates with them.

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Federal Election Guide

“The Canadian Council of Churches is pleased to release the 2025 Federal Election Guide. While issues such as relations with the United States and affordability dominate the ballot, it is important to be reminded of the justice issues that Canadian churches have been addressing together. May the call for “elbows up” be complemented by a determination to link arms in solidarity. As we discern the path ahead for Canada and vote accordingly, may we practice deep listening and empathy with all people in Canada.”

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Current Members

CJP Members

Anglican Church of Canada: Ryan Weston
Archdiocese of Canada of the Orthodox Church in America: Colin Grimmond
Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec: Joshua Heath
Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops: Laura Leraci, Sr Donna Geernaert, Rev. Mr. Richard Chau
The Coptic Orthodox Church of Canada Mariz El Rashidy
Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church of Canada: Alemayehu Zenebe
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada: Paul Gehrs
Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Toronto (Canada): Peter Avgeropoulos
The Mar Thoma Syrian Church: Anil M Varghese, Nithin Jacob Thonichalil, Preethi Susan Kuruvila
Mennonite Church Canada: Derek Cook
The Presbyterian Church in Canada: Allyson Carr
The Salvation Army: Estee Lau, Jim Champ
Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada: Walter Makarenko
The United Church of Canada: Beth Baskin, Karen Orlandi

Associate Members

British Methodist Episcopal Church of Canada
Polish National Catholic Church of Canada

Affiliates

Citizens for Public Justice: Natalie Appleyard, Willard Metzger

Observer Churches

The Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada
Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada
Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada
Be in Christ Church Canada
Community of Christ
Moravian Church in Canada
Baptist General Conference of Canada
Association of Christian Evangelical Ministries

Canadian Council of Churches

Vice-President: Canadian Council of Churches, Emily Savage
General Secretary: Canadian Council of Churches, Peter Noteboom
Canadian Council of Churches: Rev. Karen Puddicombe
Canadian Council of Churches: Roshney Kurian
CCC – Project Ploughshares, Kelsey Gallagher
Last update: October 2025

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