Archive for 2013

Destined for Adoption – by Rev. Desmond Jagger-Parsons

December 31, 2013

“God destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ….” Our new Board Chair, Rev. Desmond Jagger-Parsons (UCC), reflects from his own perspective as an adoptive parent on this week’s scripture lessons and our joint destiny as adopted children…

Post filed in: Spirited Reflections

Joint Review Panel report on proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline Project downplays Indigenous and ecological concerns

December 24, 2013

Despite overwhelming opposition from First Nations and their allies, the Joint Review Panel has given the Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline project conditional approval.

Post filed in: Ecological Justice, Indigenous Rights, UNDRIP Blog Updates

Christmas Reflection from the Chair of our Board

December 24, 2013

This week the Rev. Paul Gehrs of the ELCIC offers our Christmas Spirited Reflection as he completes four years as our KAIROS Board Chair. He reflects on the flight of the Holy Family to Egypt, the road KAIROS has been…

Post filed in: Spirited Reflections

KAIROS Times: December 2013

December 20, 2013

Read the December 2013 issue.

Post filed in: KAIROS Times E-Newsletter

Advent, Human Rights and International Migrants Day

December 18, 2013

Alfredo Barahona, KAIROS’ Migrant Relations Coordinator, reflects on Advent and International Migrants Day from the perspective of his own personal experiences as a migrant to Canada from El Salvador, and his recent visit to Quito.

Post filed in: Latin America, Migrant Justice

Reconciliation in the Watershed

December 18, 2013

In this homily given at Toronto’s Church of the Holy Trinity on December 15,  KAIROS Member Relations  and Campaigns Coordinator Sara Stratton reflects on the connections between the Truth and Reconciliation commission and the pursuit of Watershed Discipleship. What will…

Post filed in: Ecological Justice, Indigenous Rights, Spirited Reflections

The Call to Justice Discipleship

December 16, 2013

In this, the final week of Advent, Michiko Bown-KAI explores the essential question of justice discipleship.

Post filed in: Spirited Reflections

Dusty Shoes or Golden Slippers

December 11, 2013

by Ellen Wood Ellen Wood is a grain, cattle and apple orchard farmer as well as an ordained  United Church minister, now semi-retired.   She has worked on many social justice causes, most recently the tar sands and the nuclear…

Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage, Indigenous Rights, Latin America

Compassion for Creation

December 9, 2013

What if Creation had rights, just as human beings do? Pepe Elwert considers our call to be in right relationship with all of creation, and imagines what that could look like in this 3rd Advent Spirited Reflection

Post filed in: Ecological Justice, Spirited Reflections

West Hill United Church Goes To Ottawa

December 4, 2013

On November 28, a delegation from West Hill United Church in Scarborough, Ontario delivered a petition to the House of Commons calling on the federal government to end the disparities between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada. Steve Watson’s article,…

Post filed in: Indigenous Rights

Bringing a Message of Hope for DR Congo to Parliament Hill

December 3, 2013

With recent talk of peace returning to the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, KAIROS is hopeful peace-building efforts will continue at all levels – from international diplomacy between DRC and its neighbours, down to the grassroots level at which our…

Post filed in: Africa, Gender Justice/Women of Courage

Til The Moon Be No More

December 3, 2013

“In his days the righteous may flourish, and peace abound, till the moon be no more!” In this reflection for Advent 2, Pepe Elwert explores the connections between Scripture and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Post filed in: Spirited Reflections

You Are Not Alone

December 1, 2013

Barbara Fullerton, a United Church minister from Paris, Ontario recounts her experience with members of the El Estor human rights defender work team, and reminds us that we are all in this together.

Post filed in: Indigenous Rights, Latin America

What mine eyes have seen….

November 30, 2013

As the Guatemala study tour draws to a close, KAIROS BC/Yukon regional representative Janet Gray, one of the group’s photographers, talks about the pictures in her camera and those in her mind.

Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage, Latin America

Gendered Violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo

November 27, 2013

Michiko Bown-KAI reflects on where we can find hope in the context of gender-based violence and a war over mineral wealth in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Post filed in: Africa, Gender Justice/Women of Courage

Reflection on the International Day to End Violence Against Women

November 27, 2013

On the International Day to End Violence Against Women, we remember and support victims and survivors of all forms of violence against women, and express solidarity with all those working to end this violence. In this post, Helen Knott, a…

Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage, Latin America

A Day of Spectacular Beauty

November 27, 2013

Emma Hebb is a member of Wesley United in St. Andrew’s, New Brunswick. After a swim in beautiful Lake Izabal near El Estor, she reflects on society’s seemingly insatiable appetite for natural resources, and the all people who care about…

Post filed in: Ecological Justice, Gender Justice/Women of Courage, Latin America

KAIROS presses Canada to be ‘Open for Justice’

November 26, 2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 26, 2013 Toronto, ON – KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives joins 23 Canadian organizations and global partners in calling on Canada to be Open for Justice by ensuring that those whose rights have been violated by…

Post filed in: Media Releases

Faith, Economy, Migration: Exploring the Connections

November 26, 2013

Alfredo Barahona is representing KAIROS at the Ecumenical Dialogue of the Americas on Faith, Economy and Migrations in Quito, Ecuador from November 27 to December 1. Organized and hosted by the Latin American Council of Churches (CLAI), one of KAIROS’…

Post filed in: Ecological Justice, Migrant Justice

UN Climate Talks Move Backwards: Developed States Refuse Meaningful Action

November 26, 2013

Once again a UN conference on climate change has failed to take meaningful action despite the devastation wrought by typhoon Haiyan. Youth attending the conference in Warsaw singled out Canada and Australia for refusing to hear the urgent pleas for…

Post filed in: Ecological Justice

A Beauty that Hurts

November 25, 2013

During a “day off” in Antigua, Wilf Bean, former director of the Tatamagouche Centre, wrestles with the contradictions and questions he faces as a Canadian on this tour studying the impact of Canadian mining companies.

Post filed in: Ecological Justice, Indigenous Rights, Latin America

Where is Your Brother?

November 24, 2013

Georgina Baisley from Miramichi Presbytery of the United Church relates stories of resistance to mining’s impacts on water and human rights in Guatemala.

Post filed in: Ecological Justice, Indigenous Rights, Latin America

Voices Amplified

November 23, 2013

The struggle of Indigenous people in Guatemala to defend the land and a way of life resonates with Helen Knott, a Dane’zaa and Cree woman from Treaty 8 territory in northeastern British Columbia.

Post filed in: Ecological Justice, Indigenous Rights, Latin America

Day 3 – Circle of Life

November 22, 2013

On Day 3 of the Guatemala Study Tour, United Church diaconal minister Elaine Kellogg describes a meeting with the Committee in Defense of Mother Earth in San Miguel Ixtahuacan.

Post filed in: Ecological Justice, Indigenous Rights, Latin America

The Road to San Marcos

November 21, 2013

In her first blog from Guatemala, Tanis Desjarlais from Kawacatoose First Nation in Saskatchewan explains how she found hope and inspiration on the road to San Marcos.

Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage, Latin America

Day One in Guatemala!

November 20, 2013

Lynn Hamilton, United Church clergy, writes a guest post on Day One of the Guatemala Study Tour. “Tuesday. Our first full day together as a group. Folks from Victoria, the Miramachi, and 12 points in between begin a day of…

Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage, Latin America

Press Release: National Council of Churches in the Philippines Commemorates Jubilee in Somber Mood, Intensifies Aid

November 19, 2013

The National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP), the country’s biggest coalition of mainline Protestant and Non-Roman Catholic churches, commemorates the 50th year of its founding on November 15 in a somber mood brought about by the destruction wrought…

Post filed in: Asia-Pacific, Media Releases

Getting ready for the delegates…

November 18, 2013

Rachel Warden writes on the purpose and prospects of the Guatemala mining study tour with the United Church of Canada. It will include visits to Canadian owned mining projects, and conversations with the communities where these projects are located.

Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage, Latin America