Street preacher vindicated

Art Pawlowski (right)

Human Rights decision overturned

The Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta has overturned an Alberta Human Rights Tribunal finding that youth pastor Stephen Boissoin had incited hatred against homosexuals in a letter to the editor in the Red Deer Advocate in 2002. University of Calgary professor Darren Lund had brought the case to the Tribunal. In 2008, the Tribunal awarded Lund $5,000 in damages and awarded up to $2,000 to the gay-rights group EGALE Canada for witnessing before the Tribunal; it also ordered Boissoin to publish a letter of apology to Lund and to refrain from publishing "disparaging remarks about gays and homosexuals." However, on December 3, Justice Earl Wilson overturned that decision. He determined that Boissoin 's letter criticizing the "militant homosexual agenda" fell short of hate speech; that there is no evidence that the letter led to any actual discrimination as defined by Alberta human rights legislation; and that the tribunal failed to balance restraint of hate speech against the right to freedom of speech and religion.

They don't Kair

The Canadian government has decided to cancel Canadian International Development Agency Kairos (CIDA) funding to Kairos and its Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives, because Kairos' work "no longer fits CIDA priorities." Kairos, supported by seven mainline Christian denominations, works on a range of social justice issues in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. The coalition has received CIDA funding for the past 35 years; its last contract expired in September, but it received interim funding until a decision on its proposal for funding for four more years was turned down on November 30. CIDA funding covered half of Kairos' annual budget. Two Northern Ontario New Democratic Members of Parliament, Tony Martin of Sault Ste. Marie and John Rafferty of Thunder Bay-Rainy River, have denounced the decision. CIDA is in the midst of restructuring its programs to "increase effectiveness," and the government has indicated it will reduce grants to non-profit organizations as one way to reduce the big deficits recently created to stimulate the economy.

They don't mine advocating for justice

Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Canada, the relief and development arm of Mennonite churches, has launched a Mining Justice Campaign. The initiative is intended to educate Canadians about the cost to people, communities and the environment when mining activity is not adequately regulated. MCC Canada is also supporting private member's Bill C-300, which would make Canadian government support for Canadian mining companies (through Export Development Canada, the Canada Pension Plan, etc.) contingent upon compliance with clearly identified human rights and environmental standards. To launch the effort, MCC Canada brought Francisco Machado to Canada in November. Since 2000, Machado, a Mennonite pastor, has worked for the Association of Non-Government Organizations in Honduras, leading efforts to bring about greater accountability for foreign-owned mining companies. He told MCC audiences that in 1998 a new mining law was passed allowing companies to mine in almost any part of the country, including ecologically sensitive nature preserves, without significantly consulting with affected communities. According to people living in these communities, the mining operations - several of which are Canadian - have displaced people from their homes, contaminated rivers with toxic waste, contributed to health problems and created no jobs. Though the law has been ruled unconstitutional, the mining has continued. Machado and his family are currently living in the U.S., where they fled after he received death threats.

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They Kair about the environment

Kairos, as part of its Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives program, is posting regular updates and commentary on the UN Climate Negotiations in Copenhagen, Denmark. The updates will include messages from Kairos' overseas partners, and a blog by Kairos delegate Ian Thomson

She will speed up fundraising

Olympic speed skater Cindy Klassen has agreed to serve as ambassador for cbm Canada, a Christian non-profit organization based in, Stouffville, Ontario, which meets the needs of children with disabilities in countries around the world. Klassen is appearing in a series of public service announcements running from December 3 (the United Nations International Day for Persons with Disabilities) until March 2010 (the end of the 2010 Winter Olympic/Paralympic Games in Vancouver). In the ads, Klassen talks about coming back from a serious speed skating accident in 2003, with the support of family and friends. She has won six Olympic medals.

Miracles only for young adults

International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ) is hosting its fifth annual Dinner of Miracles Tuesday, December 15, in Toronto. The event is geared to young professionals and university students in their 20s and 30s.Tickets must be purchased in advance: 416-785-1333 or yadvashem@bellnet.ca

Parliament a place of sober second thought

Vince Hartman rode his bicycle from Victoria, B.C. to Ottawa this fall to raise awareness about addiction. In Ottawa, he met with Ed Fast, a Member of Parliament from Abbotsford, B.C., about the possibility of getting a private member's bill passed to establish a national day of sobriety. Along the way, Hartman sold $5 rubber wrist bands to raise money for Union Gospel Mission in Vancouver. The mission helped Hartman, a former member of the Canadian national cycling team, overcome a drug and alcohol addiction.

Pastoral science

Regent College in Vancouver is one of seven institutions chosen to participate in The John Templeton Foundation's Science for Ministry Initiative, which "invites organizations to develop programs that will help ministers and the congregations they serve to move away from simplistic 'solutions' to the tensions between science and faith." With the Templeton Foundation's financial support, Regent College has begun working with groups of pastors across North America, equipping them to understand the deep connections between science and worshipa. The first group of 14 pastors joined Regent College faculty members and scientists this summer, for a time of teaching and discussion. Two additional groups will be gathered over the course of three years, with follow-up meetings for each group to be held at regular intervals. Leading the project are associate professor of mission studies Ross Hastings, dean of students and associate professor of bioethics Jennie McLaurin, Regent student Andrew Dwight, professor of interdisciplinary studies Loren Wilkinson, research associate for the Centre for Studies in Religion and Society Paul Teel, and president of Global Concerns Consulting Paula Rowland. Participants in the project will also help with Regent's 2010 Pastors' Conference, entitled 'The Pastor and the Scientist.'

Holy Fruit Cake

The perfect holiday gift is Holy Land Fruit Cake, says International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ). The fruit cakes are made at a bakery in Nahariya in northern Israel -- and are being exported by Genesis Foods, in cooperation with ICEJ, which receives some of the proceeds. The cakes are made of natural ingredients from the Land, including honey, brown sugar, nuts, cinnamon, fruits and date syrup (the original 'honey' from the Bible phrase "a land flowing with milk and honey"). Genesis Foods is also exporting olive oil, jams and cookies from Israel.

December 9/2009