Truth and Reconciliation: A Spiritual Movement
National Indigenous Anglican Bishop Mark MacDonald reflects on the second leg of the Remembering the Children tour
There was much to move us as we gathered in Vancouver for the second session of the Aboriginal and Church leaders' tour, promoting the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. We witnessed sad and frightening revelations of childhoods lost in the Indian Residential Schools (IRS). The portrayal of the IRS was broad—many mentioning the need to tell the full story, good and bad. But, there was complete honesty about the systemic evil that overshadowed all considerations: the colonialists’ disregard for the full humanity of the indigenous peoples of the Americas.
Those who spoke, especially the elders, spoke with compassion, understanding, and forgiveness. Many were survivors. The spiritual connections that were made between survivors and church leaders were, by the end of the evening, wonderfully manifest. The connections were clearly the fruit of forgiveness, hope, and a growing awareness that our future is bound up with each other.
Those present could sense that something great was happening, something beyond words to describe or predict. The Spirit of a loving Creator was calling us to a surprising new reality and transformation. Pain, regret, sadness, mixed with hope and joy—few moments in life are just like it. It was not just a well-staged media event; we were witnessing the beginnings of a spiritual movement.
There was much to move us as we gathered in Vancouver for the second session of the Aboriginal and Church leaders' tour, promoting the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. We witnessed sad and frightening revelations of childhoods lost in the Indian Residential Schools (IRS). The portrayal of the IRS was broad—many mentioning the need to tell the full story, good and bad. But, there was complete honesty about the systemic evil that overshadowed all considerations: the colonialists’ disregard for the full humanity of the indigenous peoples of the Americas.
Those who spoke, especially the elders, spoke with compassion, understanding, and forgiveness. Many were survivors. The spiritual connections that were made between survivors and church leaders were, by the end of the evening, wonderfully manifest. The connections were clearly the fruit of forgiveness, hope, and a growing awareness that our future is bound up with each other.
Those present could sense that something great was happening, something beyond words to describe or predict. The Spirit of a loving Creator was calling us to a surprising new reality and transformation. Pain, regret, sadness, mixed with hope and joy—few moments in life are just like it. It was not just a well-staged media event; we were witnessing the beginnings of a spiritual movement.
More from the event
- View photo highlights from the Vancouver event.
Posted at 12:55 PM -
2 Comments:
I hope in Remembering the Children that the sun will rise again for the first nations people and by great faith the nation of Canada will be whole Amen Chris
Yesterday in worship we remembered the Church Leaders Tour, in the Children's Time, and in our prayers. May God bless you in your listening in Winnipeg today.
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