Registration is Now Open!

You’ll want to be a part of it! 

Register now at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ElementsofJustice2013.

Elements of Justice is an exciting new way to build an intergenerational movement for social justice.  Experienced and wanna-be-activists (all newbies welcome!) from British Columbia to western Ontario and the territories will gather at the North Vancouver Outdoor School for a three-day weekend of change, Oct 24-27. 

Elements of Justice is an opportunity for young people and seasoned veterans to gain skills and learn from each other about how to build stronger alliances for social change.

Join our facebook site https://www.facebook.com/KairosCanadaGathering] and be among the first to hear about some of the fabulous speakers as they are confirmed.

Registration subsidies are available. Priority will be given to young adults, Indigenous and other racialized peoples, low income people, people with disabilities, families and those from the farthest corners of our regions.  In addition, KAIROS’ three western regions are joining together to create a special fund for travel subsidies.  To make a donation to this fund, or to inquire about travel assistance, please contact Shannon at events@kairoscanada.org.

There are only 150 spots available, so register now at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ElementsofJustice2013.


For more information please contact:
Shannon Neufeldt
Network and Young Adult Coordinator (interim)
sneufeldt@kairoscanada.org
1-877-403-8933 x221

With KAIROS' Africa Partnerships Program Coordinator Jim Davis already in Africa and the launch of the Women of Courage DRC Tour webpage, the KAIROS delegation to the DR Congo in less than two weeks is picking up speed. The delegation will be hosted by long-time friend and partner Chantal Bilulu, the Women and Children’s Program Coordinator of Héritiers de la Justice, whom many of you will know from her previous tours with KAIROS' Women of Courage Program. The delegation to the DRC is an opportunity to bring more focused attention to the human rights and humanitarian crisis there, and to the particularly egregious situation faced by women in a situation where gender-based violence is used as a weapon of war, and as an instrument to control valuable mineral resources. The delegation will not only raise awareness among Canadian church constituencies, the Canadian public and the Canadian government about the human rights situation, violence against women and the impact of resource extraction, it also will make concrete recommendation to Canadians and to the Government of Canada on how to address this egregious situation.

Please visit the KAIROS website for more information on the tour, the delegates, the itinerary, as well as online resources and a map.

For more information please contact:
Jim Davis
Program Coordinator, African Partnerships and Climate Justice/
Équipe de la durabilité -- Coordinateur, Partinariats Afrique et justice climatique
KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives /
Initiatives oécumeniques canadiennes pour la justice
310 Dupont Street, Suite 200
Toronto, ON Canada M5R 1V9
jdavis@kairoscanada.org
Tel: 416 463 5312 ext. 238

Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s work moves West- and you’re invited

Mohawk elder John Cree opens the Truth and Reconciliation Commission

KAIROS was honoured to participate in the most recent national event of the TRC, held this April in Montreal. Have a look at our brief report, and check our Facebook page for a larger photo album.

Now the work of the Commission moves West. Community hearings in BC and Alberta are underway, and Vancouver will host the BC national event, as well as some equally important side events, September 17-22. If you’d like to know more, please check out our ecumenical resource, which includes parish resources and a link to the TRC’s live coverage of survivor testimonies. 

Since we can’t say it too often, we’ll say it again: Everyone is welcome to all hearings, whether you’re Indigenous or not. In fact, your presence is very much needed: every story told by every survivor needs a witness in order for truth to be heard and for reconciliation to begin.

You can be that witness. All events are completely free of charge, no registration is needed, and your presence makes a difference. What you hear will be difficult, courageous, hopeful, and life-changing.

As the TRC enters the final 365 days of its public mandate, your efforts to spread the word are all the more important.


For more information please contact:
Julie Graham
Education and Campaigns Coordinator, Dignity and Rights: jgraham@kairoscanada.org
1 877 403 8933 x233

Middle East Churches and their partners issue statement on Christian presence and witness in the Middle East

From May 21 to 25, KAIROS staff took part in the Middle East Council of Churches and World Council of Churches conference, “Christian presence and witness in the Middle East” in Beirut, Lebanon.

In a joint statement, the conference called the churches and ecumenical partners to commit themselves to support one another in prayers and actions for peace and human rights throughout the Middle East.

The conference engaged over one hundred church leaders and representatives of ecumenical organizations from around the world and in the region, including Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Palestine, Iraq and Iran.

Click here to read the full article.

For more information please contact:
John Lewis
Human Rights Program Coordinator
jlewis@kairoscanada.org
1 877 403 8933 x224

KAIROS, the WCC and the MECC express concern for bishops kidnapped in Syria

In April, Syrian Archbishops (Metropolitans) His Eminence Boulos (Yazigi), from the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch and His Eminence Mor Youhanna Gregorios (Ibrahim) from the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch, were abducted in Aleppo. By all accounts they remain in danger.

KAIROS has asked the Canadian government to use all diplomatic means at its disposal to ensure the release of the Archbishops along with other civilians kidnapped in the country.

Click here to read more on this issue, including the WCC Statement of Solidarity.

For more information on this event please contact:
John Lewis
Human Rights Program Coordinator
jlewis@kairoscanada.org
1 877 403 8933 x224

On May 8, 2013, at the Church of the Redeemer in downtown Toronto, Joe Mihevc and Jennifer Henry stood before an extraordinary cast of attendees representing generations of bold witness to ecumenical social justice, to celebrate KAIROS' 40th anniversary. As Joe said, "Together we found five points of connection, threads of continuity and challenge in the story. We want to gather these threads together, weaving in the wisdom of mentors and elders to help shape our present and our future." These threads were Theological Reflection, Courage and Determination, Voices from the Margins, Balancing Acts and God in the Struggle.

Read the speech Joe and Jennifer gave together to the congregation to commemorate KAIROS' 40th Anniversary.