Place of Meeting October 2015

Place of Meeting

Sweet service If it’s September, it must be rosettes time. TUMCers were at Black Creek Pioneer Village on Saturday, Sept. 19 to help raise $38,000 for the relief, development and peacemaking work of Mennonite Central Committee. During the month, we also heard from Dann and Joji Pantoja about their peace-building efforts in the Philippines, spent a Sunday thinking about peace in contrast to fear, and continued work toward opening Aurora House, a haven for people who have been the victims of human trafficking. More inside ...

Toronto United Mennonite Church October 2015

Place of Meeting is the meaning of the Huron word “toronton,” from which our city gets its name. Fittingly, it can also mean “plenty” or “abundance.”

Place of Meeting is also the monthly newsletter of Toronto United Mennonite Church. May you find plenty here to enjoy and ponder. Opinions expressed are those of the writers and not necessarily of the congregation as a whole.

Contributions of all kinds are enthusiastically received, through the mail folder in the lobby or at dmartens@pathcom.com Next deadline: Oct. 27 Have you discovered the all-colour online version of Place of Meeting, complete with live weblinks? Check this month’s issue out here: issuu.com/pomeditor/docs/ pom_oct_2015l NOTE: New address for submissions: dmartens4@cogeco.ca Editor: Doreen Martens

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Scene around TUMC Brad Lepp makes a point about fear with the children during the Peace Sunday observance on Sept.

20; instrumentalists share the joy on Gathering Sunday (Sept. 13) and during Communion on World Communion Sunday (Oct. 4).

Aurora House aims for January opening

T

he Aurora House board and volunteer groups have been very busy! A lot of work has been done and all 100% volunteer based! We are working towards a January 2016 opening.

Fundraising: Our team of volunteers has been very active creating web-sites, looking for sponsorship and planning the following fundraising initiatives that have raised over $13,000. Special thanks goes to the TUMCers involved: Leanne Buck, Jane and Doug Pritchard, Mary Klein, Lisa Horrocks, and Ryan Janzen. Our main fundraising initiative is our Forgo Freedom campaign. (See a brief explanation at left, and visit www.forgofreedom.com) Grants: Earlier this year we submitted a request to the Catherine Donnelly Foundation but were not invited to apply for one of their grants. We currently have proposals into the following groups and should hear back from all three before the end of the year: • Mustard Seed Foundation • Canadian Women’s Foundation • Shantz Mennonite Church Bequest Earnings Disbursement Fund We are working on two other large grants and will continue to seek opportunities for funding on an ongoing basis as needed.

Special thanks to our TUMCers in this effort: Doug Blair, Bruce Burgetz, Crystal Penner, Brad Lepp, Mary Klein and Christy Langschmidt.

Financial Report: The Aurora House board has decided to open our doors once we have raised or secured $200,000 for our first year of operations. We have raised over $40,000.

The next few months will be spent furnishing, finalizing our policies and procedures and starting the hiring process for staff.

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Aurora House aims for January opening

Furnishing: Jana Lepp, Shauna Heide and Shelley Lepp have taken on the huge task of furnishing the house. If you have anything you’d like to donate, please let one of them know.

We are currently seeking volunteers to help with moving (furniture), social media and putting up flyers.

Please contact christy@aurorahouse.ca.

Once we open we will post an updated list of volunteer opportunities.

Check out the new Aurora House video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7Iz3MbxlkA Aurora House also has a Facebook page and a website: aurorahouse.ca

Coming Events October 4 - World Communion Sunday, with communion October 11 - Thanksgiving – no Sunday school October 25 - guest speaker Aylish Chandler, street pastor with Lazarus Rising November 1 - guest speaker Susan Schultz Huxman, president of Conrad Grebel University College November 1 - Taize service, 7p.m.

November 8 - Peace Sunday November 22 - Eternity Sunday November 29 - Advent I – communion December 6 - Advent II December 6 - Taize service, 7 p.m.

December 13 - Advent III December 20 - Advent IV December 24 - Christmas Eve service at 7 p.m.

December 25 - Christmas Day – no service at TUMC

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Mennonite Church Canada: A report from BFC

being

a faithful

church6.1 2015

General Board Mennonite Church Canada

BFC 6.1: Summary and Analysis of BFC 6 Responses1

1. Introduction 1

Key common threads.

We are grateful to God for the time dedicated by congregations and individuals in responding to the Being a Faithful Church 6 (BFC 6) discernment request in 2014/2015. We received about 100 pages of thoughtful and helpful responses for BFC 6 from more than 50 congregations and about 25 individuals and groups. There were many expressions of appreciation for the opportunities provided for congregational discernment. There were also testimonies indicating that the congregational conversations were helpful and that interest was very high.

a)

Discernment on how to respond to committed same-sex relationships is best exercised in the context of congregational life.

b)

We have not disagreed well in the past; that is, we have not dealt well with conflict in our congregations, and we do not have good models for stepping into disagreements or disputes.

c)

The tone and content of the responses indicated that there was a deep level of engagement in the discussion around BFC 6.

We begin by thanking each group, congregation, and individual for your insightful and helpful responses.

d)

Responses indicated a strong sense of the need for hospitality toward those with whom we disagree. Some of the phrases/words used to indicate this were: “safe place,” “listening,” “respect/respectful.”

e)

2. BFC6 Summary: What did we ask?

And what did we hear?

There was a call for engaging (listening to/hearing) more stories from the LGBTQ community.

f)

The responses indicated a continuing desire for unity in the Body and a hope that fragmentation or splintering would be avoided.

BFC 6 asked for feedback on three questions:

g)

Relationships make a difference. Congregations that have first-hand experience with same-sex attracted people in their midst are more ready to engage in the conversation.

h)

There was a call to provide room for disagreement. There was an additional call to provide “space” for those congregations who have discerned that God has called them to greater acceptance of committed same-sex relationships.

It has been our privilege to read the reports, reflect on them, and utilize them for further recommendations.

1.

How shall we maintain our unity in Christ as congregations, Area Church/National Church while understanding matters of committed same-sex relationships differently?

2.

How will your congregation strengthen Christ’s love to those who are same-sex oriented?

3.

What additional counsel do you have for the Area/National Church?

i)

As a Task Force we have worked hard at reading, understanding, and charting the responses. In this report we wish to identify the key common threads that we saw in the responses. We also want to identify some of the “shorter” threads: important perspectives expressed, but less often.2

There was recognition that unity is not simply a matter of agreement. It is a deeper commitment to each other and to the Body, even where there is disagreement.

j)

Some suggested that the first priority must be agreement on “truth” and “faithfulness” and the concern for unity must be secondary.

In the same vein, others suggested that unity in Christ and organizational unity are not the same thing. (Both short threads.)

1

k)

The BFC 6 responses indicated an increased number over BFC5 and earlier BFC feedback of congregations and individuals with a desire/intention to move towards greater inclusiveness.

l)

Responses mentioned the important role of the Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective as a guide. Others viewed it as a basis for discipline (shorter thread). Still, others called for it to be changed (shorter thread).

2

We refer to the “Discernment Guide” that went to the congregations in October/2014 - together with the responses from congregations - as BFC 6.

We refer to the analysis and summary of the responses by the Task Force as BFC 6.1.

The narrative nature of the responses received does not allow for quantitative numbers or percentages to be assigned, but ‘key common threads’ reflect unanimous, independently arrived at, conclusions of Task Force members.

BFC6.1:1

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Mennonite Church Canada: A report from BFC

m) Responses received from individuals tended to be more definitive in tone than the responses from congregations. Many of the “congregational” responses indicated that they did not represent the entire congregation, but only a particular group within it, like the Council, Sunday School class or special discussion group. n)

Responses indicated that ongoing biblical study is required and that discernment is not yet finished.

o)

Responses indicated a reluctance to discipline others, either by excommunication or removal of credentials. A shorter thread, however, did call for discipline to be exercised by the Area or National Churches against churches or pastors at variance with the Confession of Faith from a Mennonite Perspective.

p)

Responses indicated a desire for the National Church to lead in providing resources for worship, study, and inspiration.

q)

Responses indicated that it is more important to remain focused on core matters of faithfulness and ministry than on matters of disagreement.

r)

Responses indicated that Christ calls us to love all people despite our differences.

Three Key Elements from BFC6 Three key elements in the responses should be noted: a)

There is a deep yearning for unity among us – unity of the Spirit which is also manifested in unity of ministry, organization, and structure.

b)

Prayerful discernment about how to respond to same-sex realities in our congregations has led us to divergent understandings.

c)

Because the yearning for unity is linked to the reality of difference in discernment, space for difference/diversity is needed.

How do we understand these key elements? Some point to the biblical teaching about forbearance to describe the need to maintain the unity of the Spirit in spite of differences among us. Others point to the necessary role of the prophetic voice calling God’s people to faithfulness, with the understanding that the Body of Christ must constantly engage in “testing the spirits” to see if they are of God. Still others point to the critical role that personal conscience has played in Anabaptist history.

We are grateful for the responses received, and these, along with the previous rounds of discussion and feed-back, will provide the basis for recommending future steps.

September , 2015

A treasurer’s update

BFC6.1:2

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Reconciliation: It’s up to you and me Heritage Club explores the response to TRC “Truth and reconciliation is not a spectator sport. It requires the full contact of heart, mind and spirit.It requires the participation of all Canadians.”

-Marie Wilson, Commissioner of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC)

O

n Sept. 16, Shannon Neufeldt, National and Young Adult Coordinator for Kairos, spoke to the Heritage Club about the role we can play in building just relationships with our indigenous neighbours.

Shannon, whose ancestors came to Saskatchewan from Russia, settling in a farming community on land that had been a reserve of the Chipewayan peoples, told us she was unaware of how that land was acquired for Mennonite settlement, and had no knowledge of the abuses happening to native children in residential schools as she was growing up. In 2012, she attended meetings of TRC sessions in Toronto, and was shocked to hear their stories, marveled at their courage and their community support, and watched as their tears were collected to be burned in the sacred fire.

Shannon gave us a short summary of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples(RECAP), which developed a 20-year plan in 1996. In a 4000-page report, four principles for renewed relationships –– recognition, respect, sharing responsibility and accountability –– were outlined.

UNDRIP, the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, was adopted in 2007 by all but four nations: Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the U.S. Canada accepted the declaration as “an aspirational document.”

The “heart garden” planted by TUMC children in our front flowerbed this spring as part of a nationwide commemoration of the completion of the Truth and Reconciliation process.

The TRC report has 94 Calls to Action (www.trc.ca).

Diem Lafortune, who opened the evening with two of her own songs, answered a question about potlatches.

Anne Konrad commented that some residential school participants appreciated their schooling, and didn’t experience abuse. Although the schools were created to “take the Indian out of the child,” there were exceptions.

Another question was: Did Mennonites participate in residential schools?” Some recalled the Poplar Hill schools run by Mennonites from the U.S. To fully answer that question, may I refer you to the Canadian Mennonite article of Aug.26, 2010,Vol 18, #16, titled “How Complicit are Mennonites in Residential School Abuse?”

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Reconciliation: It’s up to you and me Shannon Neufeldt and Diem LaFortune help TUMC kids plant their handmade hearts as a public witness to the desire for reconciliation with First Nations people.

Janet Plenert,executive Secretary of Mennonite Church Canada, Christian Witness, commented: “Why should Mennonites care? We cannot remove ourselves from the sweeping failure of the church to be the church.We (as Christians) allowed the government to consider Aboriginal Peoples to be second class, and like savages.”

Diem further suggested there should be a Healing Fund, so that people can complete their grief work. She also commented on how many infants are being taken from their aboriginal mothers every day.

How do we begin the work of reconciliation?

Shannon distributed a booklet,titled “Strength for Climbing: Steps on the journey of Reconciliation.”This resource is an adaptation by Kairos :Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives,of a guide written by Steve Heinrichs.Its original title ,published by Mennonite Church Canada ,is”Paths for Peacemaking with Host Peoples”,available at www.commonword.ca/go/91.

Watch for workshops featuring the Blanket Exercise,which will be coming to TUMC. “We have described for you a mountain. We have shown you the path to the top.We call upon you to do the climbing” –– Justice Murray Sinclair Editor’s note: For more on this subject, particularly Shannon’s own family connection to the issue of reconciliation with First Nations, listen to her April sermon at TUMC, “We Are All Treaty People.”

You’ll find it at http://bit.ly/1Zjbtt2.

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Milestones We welcomed Hamish Gilbert Blair and congratulated his parents, Alison and Doug, with a baby shower lunch and quilt presentation on Sept. 20. (Did you know? Hamish is the Scottish version of James.)

Below: Gathering Sunday brought another visit from our earnest if slightly dim puppet pal, as well as an eagerly awaited moment for kids entering Grade 3: the presentation of their own Bibles by associate pastor Michele Rizoli. (Note the kids already leafing through theirs while the presentations continue!)

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Our ambassadors for peace in Philippines On Sept. 27, we were graced with a visit from Dann and Joji Pantoja, who filled us in on their amazing work at building peace in the restive Philippines region of Mindanao.

The morning also featured a presentation from Mennonite Church Canada and ended with a potluck lunch with our guests, who came wearing the traditional dress of one of the Muslim communities with whom they work. TUMC is a partner with Mennonite Church Canada Witness in sponsoring the Pantojas’ work.

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Sweet work helping others in need

The Toronto Mennonite Festival raised about $38,000 this year, with TUMCers of all ages working together to fry, sugar and sell rosettes topped with ice cream and strawberry sauce and contributing to other parts of the event, including music! Thanks to Tim Schmucker and Edna Mayren Bejarano for the photos. Visit the Facebook page to see more!

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