Dean's Message, May 6, 2013, Re: Provincial Election
Dear Friends,
Those of you who were at either of the morning services on Sunday, May 5th will have heard me refer briefly to the upcoming provincial election. I mentioned then that, since I will be away at Sorrento for this last week while all of us are reflecting on the choices we are called upon to make on election day, I am using this special edition of the Dean’s page to share a few thoughts with you.
I want to emphasize that my comments flow from faith-based principles, not partisan politics. I am certainly not advocating one particular party or candidate over another. However, I do believe it is important for us to consider this (or any) election in the light of our identity as Christians. There is a spiritual component to holding public office, and there is a spiritual component to exercising our franchise. Those who find their spiritual home in synagogue, temple or church – and those of a non-religious but spiritual formation – cannot separate their faith life from their civic duty.
What are the important issues for us as people of faith? Over the last couple of years, representatives of the diverse faith communities here in Greater Victoria have asked ourselves what is the one thing that would represent all of us, that we could all share? In the end, we named compassion as a common value for every faith community. For us specifically as Christians, we take our lead from the One who shows us the compassion and love of God. We are people of the New Commandment, to love one another. We have struggled, and continue to struggle, to live up to this commandment, but we must never give up. For us, any political party that seeks to govern must demonstrate a commitment to compassion at the very heart of who they are and how they act.
And so, I would say to you, my friends, that my hope and my prayer is that on May 14th, we will elect a compassionate government.
A compassionate government must commit itself to removing bullying, harassment and intimidation from our schools and all other places of public assembly, both physical and virtual. And yes, that includes the tone of the Legislative Assembly itself.
Compassion must be extended to those who are least powerful and most marginalized in our society. A compassionate government will recognize that homelessness and poverty are human rights issues. It will address the underlying institutional and structural causes of those issues in our province, moving from blame to understanding, and from reliance on charitable handouts to incorporation of justice principles.
A compassionate government will come to a new understanding of the issues facing our First Peoples. Through conversation and consultation, it will bring this province to a place where First Peoples can regain their spirituality, culture and governance. It will listen to, participate in and trust the process of truth and reconciliation.
A compassionate government will understand that if there is injustice and oppression in one person’s life, then there is injustice and oppression for all British Columbians – and that is not acceptable.
Finally, perhaps the most important area where we need to show and incorporate compassion is in our relationship with the environment. A compassionate government will give priority to policies that keep our environment healthy and whole, rather than exploiting it for short-term economic gain. It will move us away from reliance on fossil fuels. A compassionate government will recognize that what we do to the land and the creatures that live on it is a spiritual issue. Our own health and wellbeing is intrinsically connected to the health and wellbeing of all people and all of creation.
Please vote this coming election. Please vote wisely. Please vote for compassion.
Dean's Message: April 14, 2013
Mrs. McCorkindale had much to say about many things that happened on the street. She never, however, commented much on the drinking that took place among the men at the Pub or, at some level, during their working hours. Similarly, she never commented on the alcohol consumed by the women in secret in the kitchen or on the weekends. This led to many to ask the question as to whether they had seen Mrs.McCorkindale ever having a drink or not. Some had said “och aye” we had seen her before having a “hawf” Others would say: “no, she would not allow the stuff to touch her lips”. In a culture where many sought solace in a bottle, there was much to be said about what Mrs. McCorrkindale thought about drinking.
Mrs. McCorkindale remained silent on the subject of alcohol. However, she had much to say about the structures and institutions that took the heart from men and women. She had a great deal to say about the industry and commerce that treated people as commodities to be used when times were good and to be called “surplus to needs” when things got bad. When Mrs. McCorkindale helped Joe McCluskey home to his house from the Pub in the wee hours of the morning, she did it with a care and compassion that would touch the hardest of hearts. When she went to visit Jeanie McDuff at home and cared for her weans as she nursed Jeanie back from an alcohol-induced stupor, she did so with a gentleness and love that was beyond human imagination. However, when Mrs. McCorkindale spoke of the injustices in society that took the hearts from men and women, she did so with an indignation that would make industry and banks shake to their core.
How are we part of an injustice system? In what ways do we, as the church or as individuals, perpetuate unjust systems and structures within our society. When shall we speak out?
Dean's Message: April 7, 2013
Mrs. McCorkindale had much to say about many things that happened on the street. She never, however, commented much on the drinking that took place among the men at the Pub or, at some level, during their working hours. Similarly, she never commented on the alcohol consumed by the women in secret in the kitchen or on the weekends. This led to many to ask the question as to whether they had seen Mrs.McCorkindale ever having a drink or not. Some had said “och aye” we had seen her before having a “hawf” Others would say: “no, she would not allow the stuff to touch her lips”. In a culture where many sought solace in a bottle, there was much to be said about what Mrs. McCorrkindale thought about drinking.
Mrs. McCorkindale remained silent on the subject of alcohol. However, she had much to say about the structures and institutions that took the heart from men and women. She had a great deal to say about the industry and commerce that treated people as commodities to be used when times were good and to be called “surplus to needs” when things got bad. When Mrs. McCorkindale helped Joe McCluskey home to his house from the Pub in the wee hours of the morning, she did it with a care and compassion that would touch the hardest of hearts. When she went to visit Jeanie McDuff at home and cared for her weans as she nursed Jeanie back from an alcohol-induced stupor, she did so with a gentleness and love that was beyond human imagination. However, when Mrs. McCorkindale spoke of the injustices in society that took the hearts from men and women, she did so with an indignation that would make industry and banks shake to their core.
How are we part of an injustice system? In what ways do we, as the church or as individuals, perpetuate unjust systems and structures within our society. When shall we speak out?
Dean's Message: Easter Sunday, March 31, 2013
Finding the resurrection in the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
It was the Saturday afternoon of the Easter weekend on the Gallowgate in Glasgow and the usual Saturday afternoon shopping crowd had swelled with folk making the last-minute dash to the shops. Jeannie Donaldson had said she would meet Mrs. McCorkindale outside the Bank of Scotland at Glasgow Cross; they were going to go to the Criterion Cafe for lunch. Jeannie stood there looking and waiting for Mrs. McCorkindale for what seemed like hours. There were lots of people but she just couldn’t see her anywhere; although she peered into the crowd she just couldn’t she her.
What would she do now? She was beginning to panic. Would she wait longer or go home? Her frustration was beginning to show on her face. How much time would it take for her to arrive? She was beginning to disappear inside herself because she had no answer to where and why Mrs. McCorkindale had not arrived. Jeannie was standing in the midst of all this humanity watching the world go past. She was being pushed here and there by the folk passing by. Suddenly she felt a tap on her shoulder. How did she know the person behind her was Mrs. McCorkindale? She just knew. Even in the midst of the business of Glasgow on a Saturday afternoon, she knew that tap on her shoulder was from Mrs. McCorkindale. She turned around and was face to face with Mrs. McCorkindale, who said “I’m here!” Everything about Jeannie suddenly changed.
It might be easy in an Easter Sunday service to believe in the resurrection. It may be possible for us to see God in the glory of today’s worship. Will we, however, be able to experience God the same way next week or the week after? Will we find God in the midst of humanity and the hustle and bustle of life? If we are patient and we wait and we long for God to meet us, then God will tap us on the shoulder and say I’m here, and everything about us will change. May you, in the midst of life, discover God and the reality of the resurrection.
Dean's Message: Palm Sunday, March 24, 2013
On the journey you take by yourself.
It was a typical Sunday morning in Glasgow. The weather was cloudy with light rain. As the parade wound its way down the street through Mrs. McCorkindale’s neighbourhood, it began to draw quite a large crowd. Mrs. McCorkindale watched from the side of the road as the folk passed along the route. In the parade there were clowns, Goths and giant puppets, left wing politicians and union leaders, older couples who looked like they were veteran protestors, representation from various church groups, and children and babes in prams. As the group chanted its way down the street, Mrs. McCorkindale wondered if there might be another way for this group to bring change in their world. Some of the protestors looked as if they were there for a day at the beach while, on the faces of others, there was a deep indignation. Mrs. McCorkindale had a profound compassion on them all. She knew that they all had a real desire to make the world a better place, to save it from self-destruction.
As the parade made its way through the neighbourhood, folk on the side of the street –young and old - looked to each other with nods of agreement. They believed that those in the parade had something important to say. Some even joined in the parade and walked all the way to George Square to hear the speakers. Others, however, jumped in their cars or on the bus and went straight to the parade’s end. In George’s Square there were vendors with food, T-shirts, flags and balloons. As the parade move into the square, the police presence was noticeable on the edges of the parade. Some of the people stayed to listen to the events when other went to the shops. Mrs. McCorkindale couldn’t help but wonder how many would continue to live a life committed to changing the world. After the parade was over, would they go back to living their lives unaffected by the events of this day?
We begin today the journey of Holy Week with a parade – a parade that will take us through the events of the last supper Jesus had with his friends (Maundy Thursday). We walk by the cruel death of Jesus on a Roman Cross (Good Friday) We wait in prayer and remembrance on Holy Saturday (Easter Vigil) and we gather on the Sunday to celebrate the mighty acts of God as sin and death are defeated in the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. What will your commitment be to the journey from the palms to the empty tomb? Will you journey the easy way or will you have the courage to journey the whole route? Will you have the commitment to every stage on the journey? Each step in the journey is important because it offers to us an opportunity for transformation. Will you allow yourself to be transformed by this parade of Holy Week?
Dean's Message, Mar 17, 2013
You always have the poor with you…
At the recent Nurturing Healthy Communities Conference at the Cathedral, Elizabeth May, the MP for Saanich and the Islands, gave an interesting interpretation of this passage of scripture. After outing herself early on in the panel discussion as an Anglican, and theologically trained, she spoke about the passage.
Elizabeth said she had done quite a bit of reflection on the passage that had always disturbed her and I really liked her interpretation. She said that the poor in the passage are Jesus and his followers. These poor will always be with us to call attention to the ways of God. The passage should not be read as there will always poor in our society. The Church is called in each generation to be the poor.
As we travel through this Lent what will we leave behind? What do we need to remove from our lives so that we may be the poor? The more we carry the less effective we are as Christians. Jesus instructs his followers to take nothing extra with them on the journey. It was to make their load, and therefore their journey through this world, light that he gave this instruction.
During this Lent how have you and I lightened our loads so we may serve Jesus more fully? How have we lightened our loads so we may draw closer to the one who, for our sakes, became poor? To fully engage and become a follower - a disciple - of Jesus, how should we deal with poverty? The poor will always be with us – we are part of the poor.
