Brechin 4 Action Team
The purpose of this Leadership Team is to increase the congregation’s awareness of Social, Racial, Environmental and Economic issues - local, provincial, national, and international, and take appropriate action when possible.
Responsibilities:·
- To increase awareness of Social, Racial, Environmental & Economic issues
- To care for Creation and work as a community of faith to address climate change through education and action
- To recommend individual and/or congregational action on these issues.
- To promote the Mission and Service Fund within the congregation.
- To seek ways of co-operation with social agencies to meet the needs in our community.
- To develop a liaison with other churches and the broader community in Nanaimo, around joint outreach possibilities and programs.
To reach out with love and justice to the wider local community and to the world is a core value at Brechin United Church. The Brechin 4 ACTION Leadership Team meets regularly to assess social justice issues and how we, as a community of faith can best respond. Three areas of opportunity are facilitated: information, education, and action.
The Brechin 4 ACTION team has assisted in bringing to life the Affirming Ministry Action Plan. The team continues to support and encourage the "Reaching Out" group (2SLGBTQIA+ and Allies), and Brechin's participation in the annual Pride Parade.
Another primary focus is "connecting with First Nations in Nanaimo and district to explore together recommendations of the Truth & Reconciliation Commission and our living them out as a community of faith". Since the fall of 2018, our team has been planning and implementing Reconciliation workshops facilitated by Kathi Camilleri (villageworkshopseries.com) of Campbell River on V.I. Kathi is Indigenous and has been providing very helpful, relevant Reconciliation workshops for over 25 years. During the workshops, there is always emotional support (from FN Elders) for any who need this. Often this includes helpful ceremonial cedar “brushing” during and after the workshops. There are 2 workshops in a series: Building Bridges Through Understanding the Village followed by Paddling Together for Community: both are powerful and informative. For our first year offering these workshops, we partnered with Tillicum Lelum Aboriginal Friendship Centre. Early 2020, although we were all very happy working together, Tillicum Lelum no longer had time to share hosting these events so our team took on the task of continuing to offer these important workshops. During Covid, some workshops had to be cancelled but were started up again in the spring of 2022.
In addition, the Brechin 4 ACTION team generates awareness of the ministries supported by the United Church's Mission & Service Fund with the regular Minute for Mission read in person usually every 3rd Sunday of each month.
The team also coordinates awareness and opportunity to support local outreach initiatives such as the Island Crisis Centre, Haven House, Loaves & Fishes, and other community service groups as need is identified. Globally, the team provides information on the United Church's Emergency Relief Fund and other appeals for support and/or active response by offering information and invitations to participate in social justice campaigns, climate change issues/concerns or petitions, etc. For more information, contact the church office (250-754-9212) and you will be directed to the chair of the Brechin 4 ACTION Leadership Team.