Strong Public Witness Division Notes

Strong Public Witness Division

Foothills Presbytery

Nov 24, 2009 held at Strathmore United Church

Meeting Notes For Information Only

1.      KAIROS – Ron encouraged us to attend the free social justice film festival held in and around Calgary called Marde Loop Film Festival.  Information and free newsletter available at http://www.justicefilmfestival.ca/   Also, KAIROS is holding an energy focussed regional event in Calgary during February. 

2.      The SPW Donation (Gift Guide) has been printed.  It is available online at http://foothills-justus.blogspot.com/  Folks are encouraged to bring the pamphlets back to their congregations and encourage conversation on how to choose where to spend our charitable donation dollars thru the lens of our faith, and to encourage alternate gift giving for special events and seasons such as Christmas.  All 150 pamphlets were taken home by presbytery representatives.

3.      Handouts:  folks were encouraged to check out the social justice web page on the United Church of Canada site: http://www.united-church.ca/getinvolved/takeaction Also a reminder to sign up as a member of the division blogsite: http://foothills-justus.blogspot.com/   Our national church offers a bulletin sized newsletter four times a year called United Action for Justice produced by the JGER unit.  Individuals and congregations can receive this newsletter by signing up at http://www.united-church/communications/newsletters/uaj

4.      Ed shared information about proposed wetland sustainable development legislation which has been stalled by energy related special interest groups (Canadian Assoc of Petroleum Developers and another group).Motion:  Ed to draft a letter for FH Presbytery to send in support of continuing the sustainable wetland development legislation.  Approved by Foothills Presbytery.

5.       United Nations Copenhagen Conference on Climate Change Dec 7-18.  http://en.cop15.dk/  Past moderator Very Rev Bill Phipps will engage in a prayerful fast during this conference, and will be visiting various locations in a silent witness to his support for international climate change action.  Motion: Paula to draft a letter for FH Presbytery to send to Bill Phipps indicating our support of his fast, and to cc the letter to the locations of his witness vigil in Calgary.  Approved by Foothills Presbytery.

6.      Dave brought forward a request that we extend our prayerful and pastoral support to the Calgary Jewish Congress following the racist graffiti attacks in recent weeks in Calgary.  Motion: Dave to draft a letter for FH Presbytery to send to the Calgary Jewish Congress.  Approved by Foothills Presbytery.

7.      A quick run through of the KAIROS Blanket exercise to increase awareness of the colonization process and impact on First Nations people was undertaken in preparation for offering this exercise to the court after lunch.  Many thanks to Jamie and Ed for providing leadership.  The full script including scrolls is available at http://suchurch.ning.com/profiles/blogs/first-nations-sunday

Respectfully submitted by Paula Ashby, SPW Scribe

PS … now that I am also convenor of the SPW Division -   would someone like to volunteer as SPW scribe???