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Porto Alegre diaries now on-line

This content was published more than 19 years ago. Some information may no longer be current or accurate.

Published on 
February 16, 2006

To get a feel of what it is like to be among 3,000 people at the World Council of Churches’ 9th Assembly in Porto Alegre, Brazil (Feb 14- 23), assembly participants from the Anglican Church of Canada are sharing experiences, stories and reflections on issues, events, places of interest and the different people they meet on ‘Porto Alegre Diaries’.

The contributors to the diaries are, Rev. Maylanne Maybee, coordinator for Mission and Justice Education, who is attending the assembly as a visitor, Matt Koovisk, diocese of Kootenay, Laura Marie Piotrowicz, diocese of Rupert’s Land and Kendra Hastie representing the dioceses of Huron and Toronto. The last three are youth participants representing the Primates’ World Relief and Development Fund (PWRDF).

The diaries are posted to the anglican.ca website and linked to the PWRDF website.

People can follow the proceedings at the assembly from home by accessing the WCC assembly website. Program documents, prayers, Bible studies, news stories and feature articles are also being posted on the website.

During the assembly itself, video summaries and live webcasts of plenary sessions are also available.

Acknowledging the land and God’s creation

This acknowledgement is crafted in light of the Principles of Reconciliation by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, as we seek to live faithfully in Christ and in right relationship with all. 

We give thanks to the Creator for this land, its waters, forests and all living beings, and for the abiding presence of Christ among us. From coast to coast to coast, these have been cared for and nurtured by First Nations, Inuit and Métis through countless generations. 

We honour the enduring relationship Indigenous Peoples have cultivated with these lands and waters, and the treaties and agreements that reflect these sacred bonds. We acknowledge the harms caused by colonial expansion, through frameworks like the Doctrine of Discovery and structures like the residential school system. We recognize our past failures as a Church, including disruption of connections to the land and suppression of Indigenous spiritualities. 

Guided by the gospel of Jesus Christ, we confess our need for healing. We commit ourselves to seeking truth, pursuing reconciliation and nurturing harmony with all creation. We place our trust in Christ, through whom all things are reconciled to God. 

May God strengthen us to live faithfully as stewards of the Earth. Let us walk in love, justice and reconciliation, joining in God’s work to restore all creation.