Brechin 4 ACTION (B4A): History and Impact
Our Evolution
Initially, Brechin 4 ACTION was called Mission & Outreach, but a growing realization of the negative implications of the word mission led to changing the name. The number 4 acknowledges our team’s four main focus areas: social, racial, environmental, and economic justice.
After the 1990s, things gradually morphed into how the team is now, with a focus more on local community needs such as reconciliation, climate action, poverty, and social justice. (Prior to the 1990s, the focus was more outside Canada.)
A definite highlight for B4A and the Brechin congregation was the receiving of Affirming Ministry Designation in 2015 after two years of hard work. We also encouraged and supported the formation of the Reaching Out group (for LGBTQ2+ and allies), in addition to ROAR (Reaching Out Assisting Refugees), and we continue our support. One of our team members established a local group of Pflag. (Pflag is a national organization founded by parents who wished to help themselves and their family members understand and accept their non-heterosexual children.)
Also in 2015, after the Syrian Refugee Crisis began, our team leader at the time, Anne Manikel, was instrumental in creating a cooperative umbrella under which more refugee families would be welcomed to Nanaimo. It was called Nanaimo Community Refugee Sponsorship (NCRS) and grew to encompass 12 different faith groups preparing to welcome at least six refugee families early in 2016. This group is still active. Around the same time, we began working on connecting with Indigenous People in the greater Nanaimo area by sponsoring excellent reconciliation-focused events.
Reconciliation
In 2018, we connected/partnered with Tillicum Lelum Aboriginal Friendship Centre to start hosting Kathi Camilleri’s reconciliation workshops. Although we only partnered with Tillicum Lelum for 2018–2019, we continue to provide Kathi’s important workshops. We have held two other Indigenous-led workshops by Dave Bodaly and Patrick Aleck. We continue to work with the Circle of Friends, a group consisting of members from four or five local faith groups and United Way BC, whose mission is to assist the building of relations with Indigenous People. The Circle of Friends was precipitated by Kathi Camilleri’s Fall 2023 Paddling Together workshop. This same workshop also led to the formation of the Nanaimo Reconciliation Roundtable, on which our B4A team is represented.
Social Justice
Another focus has been child and family poverty. Although things slowed down with COVID, we became involved with a local warm clothing and bedding drive with Nanaimo Street Initiatives and held several excellent workshops on Zoom. We currently support Brechin adherent Mark Jarvis in his warm clothing and bedding drives, held at least twice a year. We also tried, and still try, to raise local awareness of the increased conflict between Palestine and Israel.
Climate Action
The Climate Action sub-group started to become quite active toward the end of 2019. It was instrumental in the development of the Nanaimo Climate Action Hub, drafting a Brechin Climate Action Plan that was accepted and endorsed at Brechin’s 2022 AGM, and one member initiated the Nanaimo Green Faith Circle, part of a worldwide multi-faith climate and environmental movement. (This was active for 2–3 years but now, currently in late 2024, needs someone to take on the leadership.) From 2022 through 2024, we held a heat pump webinar and several Climate Action workshops.
Labyrinth Ministries
Labyrinth (in-person and Zoom) groups continue at Brechin on a regular basis.
How to Stay Updated
Current information is available on the Brechin website under “Ministries” and on the bulletin board near the kitchen at Brechin Church.
Our Gratitude
We honor all who have contributed to Brechin 4 ACTION’s journey. Together, we remain committed to building a just, inclusive, and sustainable community.