Montreal intern reflection: Ben Stuchbery

The three aspects of my internship this summer have been guided by an understanding of mission that seeks primarily to uphold the sanctity of human life. It is the thread that holds them together. The three aspects are as follows: fair trade, French bible study, and pastoral care. Each of these witnesses to care for human dignity in progressively smaller dimensions, namely: global, local/parish, individual. Yet there is always a dialogue to be had in relating each of these back to the church.

Fair trade as a global movement that seeks to establish supportive partnerships between producers and consumers needs, in the context of Christian concern for upholding human life, a theological framework that articulates the reasons our faith moves us to address this particular issue. That has been part of my role in relation to fair trade. In the course of aiding in creating a fair trade support network within the church in Montreal, I have been exploring the theology of relationship as something fundamental to the Christian vision of life and that the call to right relationship with God, the earth and each other is a call to sustainable and dignified ways of relating. I careful study of the creation narrative is, I think, a good place to start!

Newfoundland’s Anglican-Episcopal Pipeline

Rev. James Pratt of St. Philip's Church was interviewed for this article.
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The Rev. Steven Maki is part of a long tradition of cross-border religious reciprocity. He’s an American Episcopal priest serving in an Anglican parish in Newfoundland.

In fact, the Massachusetts-raised Maki is now ministering in his second parish in the diocese of Western Newfoundland—his first being Flower’s Cove, where he served from 2005 to 2007. For the past 18 months, he’s been priest to the 600-family, three-point parish of Grand Bay, where he hopes to stay for at least four years. Maki is one of three U.S. Episcopal expatriates making up for the scarcity of Anglican clergy in the diocese.

Anglicans Attend General Council of the United Church of Canada

More than three decades ago, the Anglican Church of Canada and the United Church of Canada came close to a full structural merger, the result of which would have been known as the Church of Christ in Canada.

The planned organic union never came about. Yet despite some rough patches in the fallout after the talks, the two churches remain close to this day, as illustrated by the official Anglican presence at the 42nd General Council of the United Church of Canada.

The ‘easy fix’

A few weeks ago I went out for supper with my family, a casual meal at a ‘family’ restaurant. Unfortunately, from food quality to customer service to cleanliness, there were problems. Despite asking our wait staff to address the concerns, little was rectified. The experience was so unpleasant, I later (privately, not social media) contacted the manager, who replied in a timely and polite manner, even offering to mail me a voucher to return to the establishment.

It’s an easy fix. However, it just didn’t work for me. While thankful for the offer, I declined the voucher, and instead suggested that if the manager was truly wanting to make a goodwill gesture, a donation (in cash, not comp voucher) could be made to a local food bank.