Ecumenical, Interfaith and Government Relations Program Update: September, 2010 March, 2011

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1 By Henriette Thompson, Coordinator for Ecumenical, Interfaith and Government Relations Background and context: Effective November 1, 2010, the Partnerships department was dissolved, my position description underwent significant change; two months later, reduced program budget took effect. Formerly, Partnerships reported to the General Secretary; currently, I report to the Primate as Coordinator for Ecumenical, Interfaith and Government Relations. These intradepartmental shifts have occurred within interdepartmental shifts in the General Synod is a year of transition and my employment in this position ends October 31, My current position description includes four distinct tasks. In addition, I continue to carry out critical PMEJCrooted program commitments formerly under the responsibility of the Ecojustice Networks Coordinator. Summary of Ecumenical, Interfaith and Government Relations Program: Objective 1: Focus on conversations with other churches and ecumenical groups in: Advocacy Human Rights; Peace and Justice Interfaith; Environment. Discern how these conversations can be carried out further ecumenically. Assumptions: There is consensus among ecumenical staff and board members that the current structures and staffing for ecumenical collaboration are not sustainable. There is a critical mass of interest in a renewed vision for ecumenism in Canada and structures that will support that vision. 1. Attend fall 2010 CCC Governing Board meeting. Seek signs of capacity and openness to change in the midst of program and budget reductions. 2. Hold bilateral conversations with ecumenical partners to check assumptions and openness to move toward a more sustainable ecumenism. Participated in February 4, 2011 Blue Ribbon Group discussion concerning long-term sustainability plan for CCC. Five focused conversations with diverse ecumenical partners have been held to date; additional informal conversations held with five ecumenical staff. Presented verbal proposal for convening an ecumenical roundtable to Board of KAIROS on February 23. Internally, continue to work with Eileen Scully, the Primate and the General Secretary on General Synod Councils and Ecumenical Partners mapping project begun in April Convene small working group to draft a prospectus and plan an ecumenical roundtable during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, January 18-25, Convene a small writing group to draft a Three prospective writers found. Next steps: convene a small working group to develop a prospectus for the January event and establish and draft the terms of reference for the

2 discussion paper for the roundtable. writing group. 4. Continue to represent the General Synod on the Board of KAIROS. Wind up role as Chair of the Strategic Planning Working Group in February 2011 with completion of new Strategic Plan. Recruit Anglican/ELCIC representatives for Circles of Ecumenical Collaboration. 5. Establish introductory meetings with Anglican representatives on ecumenical councils and support program and policy priorities arising from the work of these councils. Cameron Gray (ACC) has been appointed to the Sustainability Circle and Margaret Sadler (ELCIC) to Global Partnerships. Recruitment continues for Circles on Dignity and Rights and Movement Building. Charles Bobbish (ACIP) continues on the Indigenous Rights Circle. I regularly brief the Primate on the KAIROS/CIDA situation and helped prepare him for a CBC Politics and Power television interview in February. I met with Christina Guest, Anglican rep to the Church Council on Justice and Corrections on February 21 in Ottawa. Together, we produced Anglican letter under the Primate s signature on Conservative prison building plan. I met with Debbie Grisdale, Anglican rep to Project Ploughshares on February 24 in Ottawa. We discussed PP priorities and how to facilitate PP/diocesan/General Synod support for PP work. 6. Update and establish new distribution lists to better inform and engage Canadian Anglicans in ecumenical and interfaith initiatives. In process 7. Assume external communications responsibility for EIGR work following Jill Cruse s departure on April 1 ACC web site; Anglican Journal; diocesan communicators. Objective 2: Provide leadership in the Church s ongoing work in supporting the mandate of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. (GS Resolution A179 R2) Assumptions: There will be three TRC national events (Inuvik in June; Halifax in October; in BC lower mainland in March 2012) and at least one Equipping Ambassadors of Reconciliation conference (in Halifax in May 2011) to plan and coordinate at ecumenical, national and local levels. 1. Work with TRC Commissioners and staff to plan program for national events. Actively participated in planning discussions at September (Winnipeg), December (Ottawa) and March (Vancouver) All Parties meetings. Working

3 with lead TRC Commissioner Marie Wilson and TRC Exec Director, Kim Murray to plan and coordinate the Inuvik event. Tentative meeting with TRC staff and church partners at Church House planned for April 6. Attended 3-day TRC National Research Centre Forum in Vancouver in March. Lots of learning, networking. 2. Coordinate with local Anglican or ecumenical partners in program design and implementation of two national events Northern (Inuvik) and Atlantic (Halifax) In November 2010, began contact with +Andrew Atagotaaluk, Bishop of the Arctic, and with the Rev. David Parsons in Inuvik. Regular conversations with +Mark Macdonald. In March, have begun to coordinate ACC/Roman Catholic plans with Gerry Kelly. In regular communication with Nancy Hurn, GS Archivist, re. document production for Research Centre and for exhibits for national events. Communication with Michael Pollesel re. All Parties finance and legal matters. Initial communications with Bishop Sue Moxley re. Atlantic national event end of October. 3. Actively participate in planning and convening of 3-day Equipping Ambassadors conference in Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia, May Implement TRC Communications Plan in ACC. I actively participate on a 6-person Ecumenical Planning Team and host regular meetings/conf calls at 80 Hayden. Coordination with Esther Wesley. Have implemented a communications and outreach plan to Anglicans (via bishops and diocesan social justice people) in Atlantic Canada and with General Synod communicators. Regular communications with Ali Symons (web) and Tess Sison (Anglican Journal). Upcoming work with Ali Symons on It matters to me campaign 5. Integrate TRC work with KAIROS and ACC work on the UN Declaration. Serve as KAIROS Board Liaison on the KAIROS Indigenous Rights Circle (KIRC); as General Synod rep to KAIROS board; liaise with ACIP rep to KIRC, +Mark Macdonald, Donna Bomberry, and Esther Wesley.

4 6. Convene regular IGRS meetings to coordinate Church House support for the TRC. I convene, chair and record notes for monthly meetings of 10 staff across all departments and Ottawa diocesan rep for healing and reconciliation. Objective 3: Convene and staff a focused conversation with respect to Vision 2019 and the Government Relations office. Assumptions: That the decision to establish a government relations presence will be based on research findings and recommendations. 1. Develop a plan for holding the conversation Fourteen focused conversations of 1 to 2 hours in length have been held and documented. Interlocutors have included Church House staff; diocesan and provincial bishops, staff and advisors; ecumenical partners engaging in government relations. Approximately ten more conversations to be scheduled by June Research policies and practices of ecumenical partners Data collection is ongoing. 3. Report to PMEJC and CoGS on progress in March Analyze qualitative data. Have had initial discussion with Brian Bukowski re. use of qualitative analysis software purchased by General Synod for Vision Draft report outline by June Produce a report with recommendations by September 30, Objective 4: Staff a focused conversation between the General Synod and PWRDF that will examine how the relief and development work of the Church can be done in new and better ways. Consult with Primate on expected outcomes to November Done between December and February. Ongoing. Schedule meetings of PWRDF and Relationships staff and board members and the Primate. First meeting was held on March 7. Next meeting is scheduled for April 5. Members are: Primate, +Michael Ingham, Cynthia Haines-Turner, Henriette Thompson, Andrea Mann, Adele Finney, +Tom Morgan, Laura Marie Piotrowicz.

5 Recruit a facilitator and work with facilitator to implement 2011 consultation meetings. The Rev. Barbara Liotscos has graciously offered to facilitate. After April, we will reassess need for external facilitation. Objective 5: Provide staff support to PMEJC as it commits to GS 2010 Resolutions and related ecojustice initiatives. Where possible, liaise with the Rev. Paul Gehrs, Assistant to the ELCIC National Bishop on issues of mutual concern to our churches. Assumptions: That PMEJC effectively adjusts its mandate according to staff, budget and program realities post-november 1, GS Resolution A176 R1: UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples June 9, 2010 church leaders letter under KAIROS to four federal Ministers urging Canada to endorse UNDRIP. November 12, 2010 KAIROS letter on behalf of its Members commending government for endorsing UNDRIP. Letter urges commitment to implementation. GS Resolution A178: National Strategies to Address Poverty and Homelessness January 4, 2010 letter to PM in last triennium on Bill C304 on affordable housing. Signed by the Primate and four bishops. Facilitated production of a joint letter on January 20, 2011 from the Primate and ELCIC National Bishop to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development concerning the HUMA report recommendations for poverty reduction. GS Resolution A180 R1: Climate Change Provide staff support to the Greening Anglican Spaces Task Group (GASTG), especially its chair, the Rev. Ken Gray (also ACC rep to the Anglican Communion Environmental Network) and consultant Ted Reeve. GS Resolution A181 R1 Toward a World Free of Nuclear Weapons GS Resolution A182 R2 General Synod Youth Secretariat Resolution points: 3. Have convened meetings between Ken, Ted, and diocesan environmental working group leaders in Toronto and Ottawa diocese. 4. Above conversations to support diocesan collaboration with Greening Anglican Spaces. Other resolution points to be addressed in time over this triennium. pending October 10, 2010 meeting convened by the General Secretary. We reviewed recent history of youth initiatives, and discussed: terms of reference for a Secretariat and relations with close

6 Ecumenical Mining Conference, May 1 3, 2011 partners such as ELCIC and ACIP; funding sources; location in GS structure. Since November 2010, staff members from General Synod PWRDF, Indigenous Ministries, and Relationships -- have been planning the Anglican Church s participation in the Ecumenical Conference on Mining. The Anglican delegation will include representatives of Indigenous communities in northern Ontario and Alaska; church leadership from Saskatchewan and Tanzania; National Indigenous Anglican Bishop Mark Macdonald, and staff (myself included). Public statements of the May Conference will be communicated to CoGS and the Anglican Church. Anti-Racism Working Group In March 2004, a resolution was carried concerning anti-racism work in the church. An Anti-Racism Working Group was formed and subsequently was supported by Partnerships staff members, Esther Wesley, Maylanne Maybee, and Henriette Thompson. Structurally, however, changes to the Partnerships department and new reporting lines generate questions about how to carry on anti-racism training in this triennium. Interfaith Partnership. Convened by the Canadian Council of Churches n 2008, I have represented Partnerships and PWRDF at this table from 2009 onward. The initial project included designing and coordinating a public engagement campaign on the Millennium Development Goals for spring 2010, and planning and coordinating the 2010 In October, 2010, the Primate requested each member of the CoGS to sign a form of commitment to the Charter for Racial Justice. December 9 to 11, 2010, the Anti-Racism Working Group met at the Queen of the Apostles retreat centre to discuss how to carry out this work in the midst of change. On Feb 16, Peter Fenty (ARWG chair), Michael Pollesel and Henriette Thompson met (Esther Wesley not available) to discuss options for carrying forward this work and budget resources to do it. Matter referred to PMEJC for consideration and input in March Post-2010, the Interfaith Partnership has taken its 2010 Statement (reduce poverty, care for creation, investment in peace) into meetings with MPs and to public events in Ottawa on March 7 and 8, Four groups collaborated on the Ottawa event the Canadian Council of Churches; the Canadian Interfaith Delegation; the Evangelical Fellowship of

7 Interfaith Leaders Summit in Winnipeg ahead of the G8/20 meetings in Toronto. The Primate was invited to head the Canadian delegation to the Leaders Summit. Canada; and, Dignity for All: the campaign for a poverty-free Canada. A public statement was drawn and published -- A follow-up meeting with Liberal leader, Michael Ignatieff is planned for March 20; the Primate will participate in this meeting. I continue to participate as the Anglican rep in the Interfaith Partnership and brief the Primate on this work. I am in the process of increasing coordination with Ottawa Anglicans and Lutherans re. our joint work in these events. The Rev. Norinne Gullons (ELCIC) represented us at this event and reported back. Objective 6: Carry out work arising from Leadership Circle or Management Team Assumptions: Management of relationships, communications and contributing to strategic initiatives of the General Synod absorb significant time and energy. Strengthen ways of supporting the work of PMEJC Performance Management Review and Implementation IT Audit Meeting planning; information sharing; consultation As a member of a working group convened by the HR Manager, follow through on implementation in Have participated in an interview with the Consultant. Continue to study the interim report and contribute to LC discussion. Respectfully submitted, Henriette Thompson, March 16, 2011