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Dear friends,
Each edition of United Action for Justice highlights issues related to
justice, human rights, ecology, peace, global partnership, and
ecumenical relations. Links are provided giving concrete ideas for
action as well as more information on The United Church of Canada
website.
This issue has brief updates on:
As our website is currently under redesign, this issue is being sent to
all pastoral charges as an ordinary e-mail. Our usual format includes an
eye-catching bulletin insert-to view past issues or subscribe to future
ones, visit www.united-church.ca/unitedaction/.
Subscribe now by visiting the website and stay up to date on current
issues and actions!
For more information, please contact Sarah Shepherd at
sshepher@united-church.ca.
Forward Dear friends, As we enter a season that for many of us feels like a "new year," it is a good time to ask how we can bring transformation and renewal into our lives. The World Council of Churches’ 2005 AGAPE Statement offers us the following call and challenge: "[The] good news is that in the face of today’s principalities and powers, another world is possible. Christian traditions, together with wisdom in other religions and cultures, can contribute to this vision of life in just relationships realized by God’s Spirit, and can offer inspirational visions for alternatives. "We as churches are called to create spaces for, and become agents of, transformation even as we are entangled in and complicit with the very system we are called to change." (Alternative Globalization Addressing Peoples and Earth, p. 5) What visions can we see of another world? What systems are we entangled in? Below are some ideas about how you can become involved—locally, nationally, and globally! Is using force to intervene for humanitarian purposes ever OK? The Peace Policy Task Group of The United Church of Canada is inviting United Church congregations to participate in a survey designed to help the task group develop a comprehensive peace policy for the church, and this is one of the central questions. The United Church needs to know, as a denomination, whether it has a mandate to urge the Canadian government to use or to support the use of force for humanitarian purposes to protect vulnerable people. Answer a questionnaire, or use a one-session workshop. The deadline for responding is November 30, 2007. » Learn more by visiting the Responsibility to Protect page of our website. The Challenging Empire mission theme, launched with the release of the May 2007 mission theme Mandate, continues with new resources available in October for groups of all ages. Explore how empire affects our lives and communities around the world. Seek ways to resist empire and create alternatives. Challenging Empire: Justice Seeking in Your Faith Community with children's, intergenerational, and adult materials will be available in late October (CH10394, $20.95); Worshipping Faithfully in the Midst of Empire, an Advent and Christmas worship planning book is available as of Oct. 1 (CH10417, $7.95); and a video by and for youth is also in the works. » Visit the Challenging Empire Web page and learn more. What do you think the 2009–2011 mission theme should be? Tell us what you think and invite others, committees, and networks to respond as well. While the current mission theme "Challenging Empire: A Call to Community" was launched in May 2007, and exciting and diverse new resources to animate it will be available next month, we have already begun the process of soliciting input for the next mission theme. The deadline to respond is November 30. » See the mission theme criteria and download a response form. This year's Week to End Poverty is an opportunity to hold a public event in your community, mobilize members of your church, or engage your Member of Parliament around Canadian and global poverty issues. » Read and print the new KAIROS resource with education, worship, and action ideas. KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives will hold five regional meetings in October in Ancaster, Ont., St Boniface/Winnipeg, Man., and Sorrento, B.C. Come together to worship, meet other people working on justice issues from a faith perspective, and become a part of the Canadian churches striving together for global justice and peace in your local communities. » Learn more and contact your regional representative to register. KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives has just launched a new campaign on just energy, the impacts of fossil fuels—and creative alternatives to them. Through Re-energize! Time for a Carbon Sabbath you can order or download exciting new resources for youth and young adults, congregations, and study groups. » Check out the latest KAIROS newsletter for more information. Participate in a visit January 10–22, 2008, where you can dialogue with partner organizations in El Salvador, develop a better understanding of the socio-economic and environmental implications of resource extraction in the global South, experience the meaning of Christian witness in Central America, and see faces and programs that are supported by the M&S Fund. Language interpretation provided. Facilitated by former overseas personnel Heather Fraser. » Find out about this and other overseas visits. For more information on our work, see: www.united-church.ca/justice This newsletter is developed by:
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"Action and Petition: United"
The United Church of Canada has a unique role and mission among the many faith groups with whom we share God's calling. To be true to our open, liberal, and committed identity, we have opportunities to participate in our denomination.
The following is "United Action for Justice," the newsletter from the
United Church's national Justice, Global and Ecumenical Relations Unit
sent out by e-mail approximately five times a year.
* Honouring the Kelowna Accord to eradicate poverty in Aboriginal
communities
* The upcoming 40th Anniversary of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian
territories
* Overseas visits to Israel/Palestine and El Salvador
* An upcoming training session for overseas trip leaders
* A Peace Study your congregation can participate in
* The strong support for the recent petition for human rights in the
Philippines
* The new Mandate Mission theme edition, focusing on challenging empire
Volume 4, Number 3 • October 2007
In This Issue:
Have Your Say in the Responsibility to Protect Group Study
» Contact Wendy Gichuru for more information and resources.Challenging Empire: New Resources Available Soon
Challenging Empire
» Check out the mission theme May 2007 Mandate.
» E-mail the United Church Resource Distribution centre with an order.Seeking Mission Theme 2009–2011 Proposals
» Visit the current Challenging Empire mission theme page. Take Action against Poverty October 14–21
KAIROS Regional Fall Meetings Coming Soon!
New KAIROS Campaign: Re-energize Your Life!
El Salvador: Unearthing Justice! Visit
» Read about Heather's experience as former Overseas Personnel in El Salvador.
For suggestions on improving United Action for Justice, contact the editor.
Justice, Global & Ecumenical Relations Unit • The United Church of Canada
3250 Bloor St. West, Suite 300, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M8X 2Y4
Tel: 1.800.268.3781 or 416.231.5931 • Voice Mail: 416.231.7680 • Fax: 416.231.3103
Manning Deadwood SM is a member of
Northern Lights Presbytery and sends representatives to meetings in October, February, April and May each year, as well as to the bi-Annual Meeting of The
Alberta and Northwest Conference. This year the Conference Annual Meeting is held in ....
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PWRDF works in partnership with organizations in Canada and throughout the world to support people-centred development that improves the quality of daily life for vulnerable populations, promotes self-reliance, and addresses root causes of poverty and injustice. PWRDF is active in approximately 30 countries, and also accompanies Uprooted People – including victims of disasters, refugees, internally displaced people, and migrant workers. PWRDF partners are drawn from Anglican churches, ecumenical organizations and community-based groups. Partners address the root causes of problems and accompany communities as they move beyond survival into sustainable development. Development Program Select the country that you are interested in and see an example of PWRDF's work in partnership.
El Salvador But in mountain villages, rural plains and urban slums around the world, people are learning how to act together to press for change. And they know they are not alone. -- "We Are the Branches", pg. 32 Early on in our history, PWRDF recognized the need for Anglicans in Canada to be aware of the underlying causes of poverty and injustice in the world and to come together to act for change. PWRDF seeks to be a part of the outreach and social justice ministry of every parish. In cooperation with other churches and with broader social networks, PWRDF is a part of a wide faith-based social justice community that comes together in educational events, analysis and reflection, campaigns, worship and solidarity.
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"Action and Petition: Anglican;"
The Anglican Church of Canada works inter-denominationaly with whom we share God's calling. To be true to our identity as folowers of Christ and to be the Church i the world, we have opportunities to participate in our denomination.
PWRDF: What We Do
Development, Relief and Justice
Emergencies and Refugees Program
Stories by country
2005 Grants List
Partner ProfilesPartner Profiles
Brazil
Hong Kong
South Africa 
Education and Action
More Information
Ready to Use Ideas
Resources and Publications
PWRDF Speakers Bureau
KAIROS Regional Networks
Women's memorial at Ciudad Juárez, Mexico
Read more about PWRDF partners resisting violence against women
in our Story Gallery.
Read stories about individual projects and the personal experiences of those who have benefited and been involved in PWRDF-supported programs around the world.
