see also Social Justice Committee
Social Justice Report to May 2007 Congregational Meeting
The work of the Social Justice Committee is inspired by the third of the 5 Goals adopted by our Congregation in 1995.To renew our commitment to engage in faithful and courageous action beyond our congregation by:
- Faithful and Courageous Action
BSUC has a long tradition of sponsoring outreach projects in partnership with neighbouring churches. The best-known recent example is Out of the Cold. This past winter was our last for participating in this program. Recently in co-operation with Trinity St. Paul’s we have also supported the Homelessness Action Group, and in future we will work through the HAG and other means to help address poverty and homelessness issues. Our congregation directly operates or supports a number of other outreach projects. The Refugee Outreach Project and Jeremiah’s Field work with refugees in our community. Africa Files promotes human rights and economic justice in Africa. The recently formed ToGoGo Grannies seeks to raise awareness and support for Africa’s grandmothers. Each of these groups has submitted a separate report on its activities. Through the GEM Fund, we provide loans to individuals and families at risk of losing their housing Education is an important part of our Committee’s work. This past year we sponsored after-church seminars on a number of topics including the health consequences of nuclear radiation; the conduct of Canadian multi-national mining corporations and the need for corporate codes of conduct; and the work of Canadian Physicians for Aid and Relief in Tanzania. We appreciates receiving suggestions for topics of interest to the congregation. In addition to seminars, we also provided information and opportunities for action at our social justice table in coffee hour. Reaching beyond our congregation, this year our film and discussion series Reel Activism had well-attended sessions on a number of topics, including media bias, civil disobedience, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and censorship in Canada. In the area of advocacy, our committee passed resolutions that were subsequently adopted by Church Council or the congregation. The first, on Equal Political Representation for Women, was forwarded to Presbytery; the second, demanding a fair trial or release for Omar Kadr, was forwarded to the General Council office.
- forming partnerships with one or more churches or community agencies in our city to further the congregation’s commitment to faith that issues in action;
- sponsoring outreach projects and mission;
- taking a leadership role in advocating social justice issues within and outside Canada.
The situation in Middle East continues to be an area of special concern for our Committee. Last spring six members of our congregation, including two from our Committee, were privileged to visit Israel and Palestine. While the visit was a short three weeks, the intense schedule of activities was planned in consultation with Chris and Susan Ferguson who were then living in East Jerusalem where Chris represented the World Council of Churches. Since that trip, our Committee has continued our efforts to advocate on behalf of the Palestinians. We sponsored the May 3rd service in which Vicki Obedkoff assisted by Mark Sanagan was our guest preacher during the service and also shared their experiences in the Middle East during the after-service lunch. Most recently we were gratified to learn that our United Church Moderator, the Right Rev. David Giuliano, on returning from a similar recent trip to the Middle East, identified the creation of the Palestinian Unity Government and the Saudi Initiative as positive steps towards peace that should be supported by the international community, and urged the Canadian Government to immediately resume financial support to the Palestinian Unity Government.
REFUGEE OUTREACH PROJECT
The journey of refugee claimants in Canada is often hard, and people’s futures can be unknown for long periods. The Refugee Outreach Project (ROP) is currently helping families whose status has been uncertain for 3 or 4 or more years.
Sometimes the end result of the waiting is not what families were hoping for. Francisco recently received a phone call of thanks from a family that had been refused status in Canada. The family members had been separated from each other, and over a year ago, Francisco had helped gather financial support to enable the children who were left behind to continue to live in the family home. When the mother and other children eventually were turned down as refugee claimants and had to return to Costa Rica, there was a place for them to return to: they were not homeless. The family extends their thanks to Francisco, Bloor Street United and all the individuals who helped in a small or big way to make their time in Canada easier and their unintended return to Costa Rica less dangerous. As a result of this help, the family is able to stay together and make a new start.
If you want to participate in the ROP work, speak with Sue Kaiser or Francisco Venegas. We are looking for lots of ideas and skills – people to join the committee, plan the “Cookies and Carols” party on Saturday, December 16th, help with fundraising or accompany a family.JEREMIAH’S FIELD
This is a no-interest loan fund set up by this congregation in 2003. Its purpose is to assist refugees through a difficult financial time or to provide funding for a course or equipment that would greatly help refugees in getting on with their lives at a time when other sources of funding are not available to them.
We welcome all applications. We treat every individual with respect and confidentiality. We provide a community that will share the applicant’s hopes and we support the loan recipient through the repayment of their loan.
Jeremiah’s Field takes its name from the prophet Jeremiah who lived 2,500 years ago. Jeremiah, against all odds, believed there was a future for his people. Jeremiah’s Field is based on hope and faith in the future after hard times
Since the initial $20,000 loan in January 2003, Jeremiah's Field has made 59 loans for a total of $60,147 to refugees from more than 23 countries: Angola Argentina, Burundi, Columbia, Congo, Costa Rica, Eritrea, Honduras, Hungary, Iran, Kenya, Mexico, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Rwanda, St. Vincent Somalia, Tanzania, Turkey, Uganda and Zimbabwe. Most of the loans are used to pay the processing fee the federal government requires for a refugee to apply to become a permanent resident - $550 for each adult and $150 for a dependant child - to be paid within 6 months. That can be a lot of money for someone newly arrived in this country with nothing, fleeing for their physical safety. We also have lent money for family reunification, to start a small business and to help with education expenses. The loans are repaid monthly, at a rate as low as $25 a month and as high as $150 - depending on the individual circumstance and situation.
When a refugee is approved for a loan, they are matched with someone in the congregation who acts as a 'companion'. The 'companion' meets with the refugee once a month to receive their repayment, issue a receipt and, hopefully, establish a relationship. Jeremiah's Field would not be the success it is if it were not for all of the people who act as 'companions'.
On behalf of all the refugees who have benefited from this project, we thank the congregation for their generous support of Jeremiah's Field.
