The SERVING THE DIOCESE Diocesan post OF BRITISH COLUMBIA A SECTION OF THE ANGLICAN JOURNAL OCTOBER 2015 Thanksgiving? In planning the layout of this issue of The need is overwhelming. By June of the situation for refugees is awful but the the Post, I intended to use a picture of this year the UNHCR said that the number situation for the much larger numbers who the Ceramic Mural that is in the Chapel is 59.5 million people. have not left and cannot leave is of course of the Sturgeon Hospital in St. Albert, Al- “That” picture. Because as much as much worse and that has no happy ending. berta. It was placed there when the chapel there is about the picture of 3-year-old He continued that the fundamental issue is was opened in 1993 and I was chair of Aylan Kurdi, there are hundreds more just injustice of our security and privilege and the Pastoral Care Committee at the time. like him around the world every day. Chil- exclusion of those outside of imaginary po- The mural reminds me of the verse from dren die needlessly, let alone the men and litical boundaries. I am inclined to agree. the Benedicite, Omnia Opera (BCP page women who also die, as a result of being In one sense, I don’t care what party 26): “O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye displaced. ends up in power after the upcoming elec- the Lord: praise him, and magnify him for A couple of years ago, the UN had a slo- tion. What I want the politicians to do is ever.” At Thanksgiving we are called to gan for World Refugee Day – One Refugee to care. I want them to have big bleeding give thanks for all of creation and espe- without Hope is too many. In my heart and hearts that will see them do the impossi- cially how we are personally blessed as we mind, that holds true. ble—or what they think is the impossible. live in this part of God’s creation. What can we do as individuals? Lots. In reality, the refugee portfolio is the small- However I have just read the blog that Photo: twitter You don’t have to feel helpless about this. est in the Ministry of Citizenship and Im- the Rev. Scott McLeod recently posted on Aylan and Galip Kurdi who were drowned There are all kinds of donations to be made migration Canada, but it responds to some the Community page of the website of the with their mother as they tried to flee to good organizations doing good work. of the most desperate and some of those Anglican Church of Canada. It has left me, Syria. We have not used the picture of You can find out about how to be involved most in need in the world in a way that no as a Canadian and an involved Christian the soldier carrying Aylan’s body out of with sponsoring and resettling refugees other does. I want whoever is the next gov- asking the question, what are we doing to respect and at the request of the family. through the Anglican Church (Hint: it’s not ernment and whoever is the next minister help alleviate the world Refugee Crisis that around the world. cheap. It’s time consuming. It is challeng- to allow the very good people who work at is growing day by day? The United Nations refugee agency— ing in every possible way, and it is but one CIC to do their jobs. I want them to work Scott’s article hit home when I realized the UNHCR (United Nations High Com- of the most worthwhile things you could with the many, many people across our that the Aunt of the young child is living in missioner for Refugees) says that there are possibly do). country who want to help, and to make it Coquitlam and had been doing her best to almost 60 million people displaced—read If you don’t want to do that, then ad- happen. help get the family to Canada. This really on the run—because of conflict in the vocate and work for policy change that Its time to pray, and let God back in our put a face to the tragedy. world. That is refugees who have fled their would allow and facilitate our government hearts, and change our hearts of stone back While we give thanks for the many country (almost 4 million Syrians, 3 mil- to help more people. If you don’t want to in to living hearts of flesh and blood. It is blessings that we, as Canadians, receive, lion Afghans, over 5 million Palestinians, do that, then use your what are we doing to help the less fortunate and on and on) and Internally Displaced God given faculties to people in the world? People (IDPs) within their countries (al- figure out other good Ed Lewis most 1 million Ukrainians, 9 million Syr- and creative ways to Editor ian, 3 million Iraqi, and on and on). 30,000 build up the Kingdom people a day have to flee, according to the of God proclaiming The refugee crisis and that picture UNHCR. by word and example It is not slowing down, the pace is pick- the good news of God Posted on the website of the Anglican ing up. Seriously—there is almost no peace in Christ. and seeking Church of Canada, September 3, 2015 anywhere. Everyone is rightly focused on and serving Christ in by Scott McLeod the Middle East right now, especially Syria all persons, loving your and Iraq, but there are equally, countless neighbour as yourself. I will admit it. I am, literally, in tears as other conflicts and situations all around the If you don’t want to I write this. The picture. Yes—that picture world - too many. I cannot wrap my head do that, then sit down that started circulating yesterday of the around it—it is overwhelming. and shut up. three-year old boy washed up on the beach My heart bleeds; my eyes stream with Seriously. in Turkey. He and his family were trying tears when I think about it too long, and If you think that it to come here—to Canada. The heartstrings when I am sitting there feeling totally help- is too expensive, too The Mural in the chapel of the hospital at St. Albert, Alberta are pulled. less, my internal monologue consists of a complicated, too anything, then look at time to repent, act and do more than we My son is three. Trying to think through sustained scream. What is wrong with the the picture of three year old Aylan Kurdi think we are able or have the capacity to everything that led to that picture is too world? What is wrong with us? What, in again, and think about writing a letter to do. Every time we think we can’t do it, God much; the conflict in Syria; the danger the name of God, is going on? his parents explaining all of the reasons usually proves us wrong. and difficulty of travel, and not being able I have been involved with sponsoring why there is no room in Canada for them, One of God’s children without hope is to find a safe place. The difficult choices and resettling refugees through our church why they don’t belong here, how we are too many, and every refugee on this God that get made by people under tremendous since 2008. I know what it means to try and too busy, and the life of their son was too given earth is one of God’s children. pressure, faced with bad choices and even do something—I have met “those people.” expensive for us, why there isn’t a faster, In our Diocese we can find out more worse alternatives—and I don’t mean the In the most humbling moments of my life better system for Canada to respond to the about how we can help solve the refugee refugees fleeing. I have been called “brother” and “son” and refugee crisis in the world—be my guest. situation by contacting the Rev. Canon I mean the civil servants and state agents “uncle” and other equally undeserved ac- But don’t delude yourself that you can’t do Bruce Bryant-Scott who is the chair of the enforcing policies and laws that were nev- colades. At the same time, I hate myself for anything. Don’t compare refugee resettle- Diocesan Refugee Committee and Incum- er designed to even start dealing with the having been on the phone with people call- ment to any other form of outreach. It’s not bent of the parish of St. Matthias, Victo- kinds of need we are now seeing in the ing from Libya, and Indonesia, and Brazil about whether helping refugees is more ria. He can be reached at bbryantscott@ world. Those policies and laws that need- and other places and telling them that I important than dealing with homelessness, bc.anglican.ca or [email protected]. lessly put the lives of innocents in danger, can’t help them. or addressing the systemic racism towards ca. and make it safer to board an un-sea-wor- I am not just sitting in a corner crying First Nations in our country because it’s The Rev. Scott McLeod serves as Asso- thy vessel in hopes of reaching a distant and wringing my hands. I do that too, but not.