Church Adopts UN Declaration as Framework for Reconciliation

You are invited to be part of an important moment in the church’s journey of reconciliation.

On March 30 and 31, 2016, The United Church of Canada will participate in events marking our commitment—as a denomination and as part of the ecumenical community—to adopt the principles, norms, and standards of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples [PDF on un.org] as the framework for reconciliation. We do this in response to Call to Action #48 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. And we invite all United Church people to be a part of this important moment in the church’s journey.

How can you participate?

On Wednesday, March 30, Moderator Jordan Cantwell will join with other church leaders in Ottawa to release an ecumenical statement of commitment to this Call to Action. This group includes not just those churches and religious entities that ran the schools, but many more churches and organizations in the Canadian ecumenical community.

Please take the time to read and reflect on the statement, which will be posted on the United Church website, and visit our ecumenical partner KAIROS’s site for footage of the event later in the week.

On Thursday, March 31, the United Church will release its own statement on the UN Declaration. Moderator Jordan Cantwell and representatives from the Aboriginal Ministries Council will deliver the statement at the opening of the Aboriginal Ministries Consultation, taking place in Alliston March 31–April 3.

The statement will be released beginning at 3:30 p.m. (Eastern), and will be live-streamed on the United Church YouTube channel. Please join us in this moment of witness and commitment that we hope will help guide us toward a transformed relationship.

Learn more at:  http://www.united-church.ca/social-action/justice-initiatives/reconciliation-and-indigenous-justice