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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1994-02-06, Page 5Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, February 16, 1994 - Page United Church moderator visits area will Women's role In churchchange by Mona Irwin„ Women's changing role in society will, be mirrored in their changing role in the United Church of Canada, says "the Right Rev. Stan McKay, moderator of the United Church of Canada. McKay, the first native moderator, visited Goderich last week as part of a cross-country tour in connection with the Ecumenical Decade of Churches in Solidarity with Women. McKay, who was raised on the Fisher River Reserve in Manitoba, is approximately three-quarters of the way through his two-year term as moderator. "Most certainly, the heritage of the United Church Women will live on," he told the approxir`ately 100 people at a United Church luncheon Thursday. ."But the movement of the UCW is going to become radically different in the next cen- tury. He declined to speculate on what form those changes would take, saying the changes would be part of a "grassroots movement" that would come from the women -themselves. UCW membership is decreasing, he said in a' later interview, and UCW chapters across the country sec the need to involve younger women. • "And the needs of this generation are different than they were 30 years ago," he added. "Within this region, some of the women . are saying 'We're no longer going to simply be fund-raisers . for the church. We want to be involved in other ways as well.' • "So_ that in itself is' a change in direction, giving the church notice that women of the church, as working and professional women, have contributions to make in many, many ways." McKay said he often compares his own style of leadership with that taught to him by women in his own family and in his community - a style that is "often challenging, but also nurturing and life-giving. "I remember as a, child, my grandmother and the other members of the women's auxiliary were very much the caregivers of the com- munity - and .the leaders. They cared for body, mind and spirit. They had a deep sense of the needs of the community for fun, for food and for fellowship. . "I think that challenges us in a decade which believes that leaders are aggressive, obvious, visible people. We've taken, as a society and without question, the historic oppressive style of leadership." As moderator and as a First Nations person, McKay said he has faced two distinct challenges in connection with the Ecumenical Decade. "I've been inviting worricn of the church, and members generally; to move to an area of trust in our system. And having made that statement, the greatest struggle. I've had is that Igrecognize some women in our society have experienced abuse in the life of the church arid in the life of their families;' and now find it difficult • to trust anybody." The second issue particularly relates to aboriginal culture, he said. "I've had many women friends who have found strength in the feminist movement. But they've also found frustration ' because Stan McKay worsen have been so oppressed in our society that, in order to make changes, they've had to become aggressive and organized and chal- lenge men. "Those women that I've talked to often have difficulty with that. And I too have problems with that because I. too want to work" on the side of gentleness and healing, and not on confrontation. "So there are two 'areas here: one is the history of pain and suffering that women have had in our society and it's ongoing - and how to deal with that; and also the cultural issue, of how you make changes. without taking on the style, of the oppressor." He also talked about the apology the United Church made at Sudbury in 1986 to the aboriginal peoples. McKay said in a later interview he considers the verbtl apology suf- ficient. "When the apology was made, the native community said we would acknowledge it and would want to work with the church towards fulfil- ling the spirit of the apology," he said. "We're still working on what it means, eight years later." Part of •what it means is validating aboriginal beliefs and ceremonies. "'I think some of us are searching for what it means to be a Christian who is an aboriginal - what that means to our language, our culture and our spiritual teachings, and relating them to our understanding of the Biblical teaching." That doesn't mean putting a veneer of Christianity• over native beliefs, he°Explains. What it means is giving native beliefs .and. prac- tices legitimacy in their own right. "I don't think many of us plan to take the ceremonies or the teachings and place them in the church," he said. "But we certainly want to , understand them and then help our people overcome the fear that many of them have in our own com- munities about our culture and our language." McKay said he hopes his term as moderator has helped non - aboriginals better understand "some of the teachings of our way of life, of our culture, that 1 think is relevant to the whole Christian family. I've offered some teachings of our people; I've shared some stories and I've just invited the members of our church to hear thein and to use them if they are relevant." The response to • this has been remarkable, he said. "1 have found, to 'my surprise, much more interest than, I would have imagined. I have found that many people had questions about aboriginal teachings and culture and spirituality, -that people are thinking about it, and I've been amazed by how much of that is true across the church." Get set for Homecoming! Dear editor, Wingham Homecoming '94 is fast approaching and the back -to -school committee is working hard to see that everyone gets an invitation to this special event which will be held_ Saturday, July 2, 1994 at F.E.Madill Secondary School. All , former students will be welcomed at the school from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.. If you know the whereabouts of any former student(s), former business or bank employees, and LLOYA' S DOLLS PLUS -528-2446- 's �Our 2nd inniversar Friday and Saturday, February 18th and 19th Fabrics. G�� off D.M.C. Floss 55' skein. Acrylic Paints 1.99 Now In Stock Spinrite Yarns and Supplies 0 off Inquire about our Knitting Courses starting March 1, 1994 for beginners and experienced knitters Many, Many More In -Store Specials SEARS Catalogue Sales Merchant -528-3020 634 Campbell Street Lucknow 528-2446 you have not already sent their names into the committee, please rush the information formation to theback-to- school comittee so we can give everyone a special invitation. Let's not forget anyone. Forward information to Back -To - School Committee, Box 107, Wingham4 Ontario NOG 2W0. P.S. Volunteers are needed to assist at the school July 2. If you can pe1p, please call , Elayne Rintoul, 357-2628 or 357-3225. 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