In the past few weeks, many have expressed concern about the Uyghurs of China, appropriately describing the Chinese government’s actions as genocide. Although I feel too little attention has been paid to this horrendous crime, it has eclipsed—along with truckers, Ukraine, and the latest celebrity shenanigans—the 54 potential grave sites found on Keeseekoose First Nation.
This is written as we are learning of the discovery of 93 potential burial sites associated with the St. Joseph’s Mission Residential School that operated at Williams Lake First Nation, B.C., from 1886 to 1981. Many of us feel a grief painfully amplified by the gradual but noticeable disappearance of residential school grave discoveries from public consideration and conversation.
National Indigenous Archbishop Mark MacDonald on the two foundational documents of the Indigenous Anglican church.
“Multitudes [upon] multitudes in the valley of decision, for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.” (Joel 3:14) Whatever the original context of Joel’s prophecy, our time fits these words like no other.
“How are you doing in these strange times?” I hear it often. The word “strange” suggests we are in a time that is out of ordinary and hard to interpret. I would suggest, however, that this is a time that reveals something we have forgotten.
For many years, I have been troubled by the inability of non-Indigenous people and institutions to receive and grasp the full reality of the pain and challenges of Indigenous life in this land. Statistics and stories are acknowledged with sympathy, but the realization of what this might mean seems completely elusive.
When the early followers of Jesus proclaimed he was ruler of all things (“Jesus is Lord!”) they pointed towards an understanding of authority and power which seems far from the world we live in today—so far that some wonder if describing Jesus as the sovereign above all else is a contradiction of the character of his life and teaching.
There are many things that can be said about the involvement of the colonial churches in the residential schools. Most clearly, that involvement was not as sheep among wolves.
If one does justice to the poor and destitute, then it is good; is this not knowing me?—the Word of the Lord. (Jeremiah 22:16) Since
A wise and sensitive co-worker once approached me with a troubled look. She wondered why Indigenous elders who were so wise, tolerant and compassionate talked
“For in his power are the hidden mysteries of earth.” This translation by Rabbi Hillel Danziger of the first part of Verse 4 of Psalm 95 reveals a rabbinic insight about the presence of God’s energies and power in Creation.
The apostle Paul says that “enemies of blood and flesh” (Ephesians 6:12) are not our greatest challenge in life.
Four-directional thinking is quite widespread among Indigenous elders.
The first request of the Lord’s Prayer, directed towards God, also points towards your heart and our communal experience and practice of Christian faith.
A Eucharist that embraces a pandemic The pandemic has delivered uncomfortable restraints on the central act of our faith: the ceremony Jesus gave so that
There are many things that make the Four Corners area of the southwestern United States a wonderful place. Among the most powerful is the constant
Jesus said these words in the context of his encounter with a Samaritan woman.
When it comes to the life of the church, the love that the Holy Spirit moves in our hearts can be clearly identified in four
Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.
Our descent into the reality of living in a pandemic has brought to my mind an early 1980s audio recording of a lecture by lay theologian William Stringfellow.
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