Bishop Morgan drew attention to the document "The New Covenant" stating that appeals have been received from native people that the Sunday before the First Minister's Conference be designated a Day of Prayer.
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That this House of Bishops respond to the request of Native leaders for the Churches to name a Day of Prayer to precede the final First Ministers' Conference to be held on March 26-27, by designating Sunday, March 22, as a Day of Prayer for Aboriginal Peoples:
And that we commend the document entitled "A New Covenant" prepared as a Pastoral Statement by leaders of the Christian Churches to be used as a focus for this Day of Prayer. CARRIED
"Written and edited by Ed Bianchi, Maura Hanrahan, Jennifer Henry, Shannon Neufeldt, and Chuck Wright". p. iv.
"The article, 'Understanding Treaty as Covenant', was graciously provided by Stan McKay". -- p. iv.
"'In Peace and Friendship' is a response to those who faith or conscience compels them to understand more deeply the struggles of Aboriginal peoples in Canada. It provides an opportunity, particularly for non-Aboriginal people, to open themselves to a new perspective by exploring a relationship with the original inhabitants of this land that recognizes their unique nationhood. .... [It] is an educational resource for groups of youth or adults, within a congregation, a regional church body or as an open community event. There are five sessions. This resource could be used as a series of weekly workshops for a local group or linked together for a 2-day conference or retreat. The first and fifth sessions assume a Christian perspective". -- p. i.
Contents: [Prefatory Material i.e.] Purpose -- Uses -- Facilitators -- Format -- Before You Begin -- Terminology -- Table of Contents -- A New Relationship: Contextual Article -- Session 1: Renewing the Covenant -- Faithful to God's Covenant: Theological Reflection -- Session 2: Nation to Nation -- A Continent of Nations: Background Article -- Session 3: Collective Rights -- In Common: Background Article -- Session 4: A Case in Point -- Reclaiming Land in Caledonia: Background Article -- Session 5: Churches in Solidarity ? -- The Churches' Role in Recognizing Aboriginal Rights: Background Article.
Archbishop Peers greeted the members of the ACIP and the House of Bishops, following his welcome with a prayer. He reminded those present that the day was theirs, and that it was not meant to be a media event. He welcomed Bishop Charleston once again.
Bishop Charleston spoke about the purpose of the day. He said that in a cross cultural discussion it was important to have two things: 1) a sense of personal humility and 2) a good sense of humour.
Ms. Donna Bomberry, Indigenous Ministries Coordinator and staff to the ACIP introduced the (ACIP) panel members. The bishops and the members of the ACIP introduced each other by giving their name and diocese.
Ms. Bomberry gave a brief history of how the ACIP had come to the point of meeting with the bishops. She spoke about the first Indigenous gathering which was held in 1988 and then the second which was held in 1993. The third gathering was held in 1997 and the fourth is scheduled for August 2000. Ms. Bomberry read the Covenant and then gave the floor to the panel. The members of the ACIP panel then shared with the House of Bishops, their experiences as Anglicans as well as what the Covenant meant to them. The panel consisted of the Rev. Mervin Wolfleg, Diocese of Calgary; Ms. Vi Smith, Diocese of Caledonia; the Rev. Iola Metuq, Diocese of Arctic and Ms. Shirley Johnson, Diocese of Huron.
The joint session broke into discussion groups throughout the day. The session ended with a Communion service held as a circle in the meeting room.
The next day the Primate read a letter of thanks written by Mrs. Smith on behalf of the ACIP to the bishops for the day spent together.
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"That this House of Bishops express its deep appreciation to the Anglican Council of Indigenous Peoples" CARRIED Res. #HB-05-10-99