Day 2

Another great, full day in Busan, so just a few highlights before my head hits the pillow (total lie - I have more reading to do before I can sleep!):

- Our first Bible study was this morning. It was nice to meet in smaller groups and to have great discussions with people from different areas of the world and from different denominations/confessions.

Photo: World Council of Churches

- The South Korean Prime Minister stopped by for a visit. Very cool. Just for all the #parlnerds out there, he is "His Excellency," and he is not the head of state - that's the President.

- UNAIDS' Michel Sidibé spoke passionately about about successes in the movement to eradicate HIV and AIDS, and implored us to help address the unequal access to treatment across the world. In addition to an issue of resources, he also said that unequal access comes because of discrimination. In many places around the world, those who are homosexual, injection drug users or sex workers must hide and do not seek treatment. He spoke so eloquently, asking the church to offer compassion and support regardless of our beliefs/thoughts on those behaviours.

- In the business plenary, the draft statement on the politicization of religion and rights of religious minorities was discussed. Some countries are mentioned in the statement. Later in the day, Canadian delegates discussed petitioning the assembly to add Canada to the list of countries, given the legislation before the Quebec legislature right now. I am hopeful that we will be included, and that it can be considered by lawmakers in that province.

- We had the first of four small group "ecumenical conversations" today. I am in a group discussing "Economy of life: Overcoming greed to eradicate poverty." Some very interesting discussions about what an economy of life looks like and how greed is a barrier to that.

- As per my earlier post, the North American delegates met together tonight. We talked about the biggest issues facing our region right now, and it was interesting to see the divide between the US and Canada - even though we are so close together. American delegates mentioned violence and migration as issues, and those just aren't as prevalent in Canada, I don't think. Others mentioned were issues facing indigenous people, climate change, and how our actions affect those in the rest of the world.

A personal reflection on the theme

In the evening today, all of the North American delegates met together. There were representatives from the Anglican Church, the Roman Catholic Church, various Protestant and Orthodox churches, and the Society of Friends (Quakers). A Canadian - me - and an American were asked to present our reflections on the theme as an introduction to conversations in small groups. Here is what I said.

Most of you don’t know very much about me. You know that my name is Laura, I’m from Canada, I’m Presbyterian.

So I wanted to start today by telling you something else about me. I figured that would be a good place to begin – we can get to know each other a bit better.

So... I can be a tad indecisive sometimes. Most of the time I’m okay, but if you catch me at the wrong moment, deciding what I’m going to wear today or what I’m going to eat for dinner can be a bit much. Making a big decision always takes a lot of thought and reflection.

As you might expect, I have some strategies I use that help me to make decisions.
- I pray
- I make pros and cons lists
- I think about my priorities and which choice lines up most closely with those
- Sometimes I will try to fool myself into thinking that I’ve picked one of the options for a day just to see how that choice sits with me.
- My now husband even bought me one of those magic 8 balls early on in our relationship.

To be completely honest with you, this is what I thought about when I was reflecting on the theme before us this week. This prayer is another tool for me to consider when making decisions.

God of life, lead me to justice and peace. When I have two (or more) choices before me, God, lead me toward the one that will foster justice and peace in your world.

I thought about other decisions that are made every day too.

For my job with the Government of Canada, I spend much of my days watching parliamentary debates in Canada’s House of Commons and Senate. I wonder how many of our parliamentarians wake up each day thinking about how their decisions for Canada and for the people of Canada could lead us, as a country, toward justice & peace.

And of course, I think of the church. I think of my home congregation, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian in Ottawa. I think of The Presbyterian Church in Canada. I think of Christ’s church around the world. How are we asking God to help us make decisions that lead us to justice and peace?

This is a very concrete, tangible thing for me. I see it as a question of the church’s place in the world.

It is not only how we are seeking God’s help in leading us to justice and peace, but how are we serving as an example for the rest of the world?

The decisions we make as a church – are we demonstrating what the path to justice and peace looks like for those outside of the church?

I think of the relationship in Canada between the church and Canada’s first peoples. After a difficult history of assimilation in residential schools that took Aboriginal children away from their families, churches apologized, asking forgiveness from God and from the Aboriginal people who were so hurt by these policies.

Truth and reconciliation commissions across Canada are being held to hear the important stories of those who were profoundly hurt by the churches’ actions in these schools.

It took us some time to get on the path to peace and justice. We have come a long way in working toward right relationship with Aboriginal people in Canada, but we must continue to pray and to act.

God of life, lead us to justice and peace.

I think of the Aboriginal women in Canada who have gone missing or have been murdered. An astonishingly high number. A national disgrace that is not being addressed by those in power.

At a vigil I attended a few weeks ago, on the steps of Canada’s Parliament, the sister of a woman who had been murdered thanked us for being there.

“Thank you for coming,” she said. “Sometimes it feels like no one cares.”

What can the church do in this case? How can we be led to justice and peace, and how can we encourage others to join us on that path?

I pray that our meetings here, that our discussions together, that our worship will invigorate and encourage us so that we continue praying, when we return home to all kinds of circumstances:

God of life, lead us to justice and peace.

 

First day of the Assembly

BEXCO - where we're meeting

A wonderful beginning to the Assembly today.

We started with an orientation session this morning, and then moved into the opening prayer. This was the highlight of the day for me. Some particular poignant moments:

• Worship opened with a gong. Cool.
• The procession in, led by someone holding up a cross, was quite moving. With so many people there (5000!) and a lot of busy-ness around me, it was very moving to see this common, simple symbol that had brought together Christians from across the world. Something we all have in common.
• The time of confession during the service included "cries and hopes" from various regions of the world. This was incredibly powerful. I would love to share them all with you, but I'll just share the North American one so you can get a flavour. It's at the end of this post.
• Beautiful Korean music and instruments.
• Reciting the Lord's Prayer together, but each in our own language. An amazing, diverse, unified chorus.

The opening plenary this afternoon brought greetings from the Korean Host Committee chair, the mayor of Busan, His Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, and Pope Francis. The plenary concluded with a wonderful artistic presentation about the history of Korea and the Korean church. This was also a highlight for me.

Then we moved into the business plenary - reports from the moderator and general secretary, and then referring some other reports to Assembly committees for closer examination.

Ready to get down to business...

One of these reports is dealing with the public statements that the Assembly will make on certain issues. The list is interesting - things like the Christian presence in the Middle East and peace on the Korean peninsula. Delegates brought forward their own issues as well - climate justice and nuclear energy (particularly in light of the disaster in Japan) were a few that were mentioned. It will be interesting to see what statements come out of this work - stay tuned!

Now back at the hotel, getting ready for tomorrow. These are long days! Will try and keep up with the blog, but sleep may call... I'll do my best :).

More bibimbap for lunch today

Cries and Hopes from North America

Lord, have mercy on us,

for we mine the resources of our own lands and those of the south,

leaving in our wake environmental devastation.

Christ, have mercy on us,

for we demand cheap goods,

heedless of the sweatshops and child labour required to serve our selfishness.

Lord, have mercy on us,

for we are addicted to a culture of violence,

numbing ourselves to the increasing number of victims at home and abroad.

Hear our cries.

Grant us hope.

Made it!

After so many months of thinking about Busan, I am finally here!

I fit in one more palace visit this morning in Seoul, as well as a walk to the Canadian embassy. Always nice to see the maple leaf :).

When I arrived in Busan, I met up with some of the other delegates from the Presbyterian Church in Canada, one of whom speaks Korean... this makes going out to eat much easier (although it also takes some of the adventure out of it!). We had a nice meal together. With that, as well as a quick Skype call with my family at home in Ottawa (both man and cat took turns on the webcam) this morning, I have spoken more words today than in the past three or four days combined, I think. Weird.

And now I'm here. Finally. And I'm feeling... overwhelmed. A little intimidated. Excited. The next 10 days will be interesting, that's for sure.

In the meantime, check out this view out my hotel window - not bad, eh? Life is good, friends.

Hey Seoul sister...

I only have one full day in Seoul as part of my trip, and today was it! It was a very full day. I am exhausted now, but I am counting on that to help me deal with my jetlag. It was a bit of a whirlwind, but I had some great experiences:

- a lovely walk along Cheonggyecheon, a restored stream / public recreation area. The area has a bit of a controversial past.

- strolls through markets and shopping areas (with thousands of other people. seriously. thousands.): artsy-craftsy Insadong, regular ol' Namdaemun Market, swanky Myeong-Dong (with some of the same stores we have in Canada).

- a tour around Gyeongbokgung Palace. I cannot get enough of the colours painted on these historic / traditional buildings. Breathtaking.

- a trip to the top of Namsun Mountain in a cable car.

- a tasty Korean lunch - bibimbap - while sitting on a cushion on the floor, and a delicious dinner of tofu and vegetable soup with kimchi on the side.

A truly wonderful day. I may have time for a few more things tomorrow morning, and then it's off to Busan.

On my way to Busan

We have a word in our house for the feeling you get when doing something like preparing for a big trip - terri-citement. Half terrified, half excited. I'm not sure I was ever really terrified this week, but there was definitely a lot of anxiety. Worrying about my connecting flight, getting from the airport to my hotel in a city I don't know at all, finding vegetarian meals when I'm surrounded by a language I don't speak. I know it's all going to be fine, but these worries add up!

And so I have tried over the past few days to find a little internal calm, for peace within me. God of life, lead me to (justice and) peace. Those around me have helped. An email from my brother telling me what's fun to do in Seoul. A delicious meal last night with the love of my life at my favourite restaurant. A quick call with my parents after that, reminding me to enjoy myself in the midst of everything. A (very!) early morning ride to the airport from a dear friend. Guest passes to Air Canada lounges from another dear friend to make my long journey a bit more comfortable.

I am very thankful for the peace that comes from a few deep breaths and from being surrounded by love.

Flight #1 is already behind me, and I am hanging out (in the Air Canada lounge!) in the Vancouver Airport. The excitement is starting to drown out the anxiety.

Next stop - Seoul!

A commissioning

Six more sleeps until my long journey to South Korea begins! Emergency granola bars and skittles have been purchased, I've started to think about starting to pack, and I have some South Korean wan in my possession.

As another part of my preparation, my church family at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Ottawa had a short commissioning for me during worship this morning:

Leader: St. Andrew's, do you promise to accompany Laura and other representatives to the Assembly of the World Council of Churches with your prayers?

Congregation: We are on the way with one another and with the God of life sensing a clear purpose. Jesus asked us to be the church together. We don't just look to ourselves, but to those who need the church to be a just and inclusive community, offering a witness about Christ, showing courage, and giving hope. As the congregation of St. Andrew's, we promise to be the church that Jesus prayed we be: caring for all life which is threatened by injustices. We recognize the significance of churches to "be together" on this journey towards peace, and we support you, Laura, with our prayers, as you travel on our behalf.

Leader: Representatives of churches will engage in open and accountable conversations about issues important to the church today such as mission and evangelism, faith and order, justice, peace and unity. Laura, we send you with the church's blessing that you may participate in these conversations on our behalf. Justice and peace are not reached overnight; they need to be worked on, moved toward. You represent us as our part on this pilgrimage, an image which offers a link between spirituality and work that is urgently need in the world today. Laura, do you agree to be our pilgrim and travel to Korea - Busan, to attend the Assembly and engage with other Christians in prayer and dialogue; and do you promise to engage all of us when you return from this pilgrimage of justice and peace?

Laura: I do, God be my helper. 

Prayers and travelling mercies for all those who have already arrived in Busan, or who will be journeying this week.

Giving thanks

In honour of (Canadian) Thanksgiving...

We are thankful for these and all the good things of life. We recognize that they are a part of our common heritage and come to us through the efforts of our brothers and sisters the world over. What we desire for ourselves, we wish for all. To this end, may we take our share in the world's work and the world's struggles.

- JS Woodsworth

Now that I look at it, this seems a wonderful prayer as Christians from around the world prepare to meet in Busan to consider how we might take our share in the world's work and struggles.

Experiencing Busan... from your couch (or pew)

My dad - ever the conscientious father - texted me this week to inform me that The Presbyterian Church in Canada's website now included some of my thoughts on going to Busan, as well as the address to this blog. So, welcome Canadian Presbyterians! Thanks for stopping by.

I was happy to provide a short paragraph to church offices about how I'm feeling at this point in my preparations for Busan. One of the biggest challenges in going, I think, will be to communicate with churches here at home about the experience before, during and after. That's how we, as the PCC, as congregations and as individuals, become more engaged in the work of the World Council of Churches, right? And how we, even from our little corner of the world, can work for Christian unity. I guess that's part of the point of this blog - so that you can share in my preparations and experiences.

The WCC has also prepared a resource for congregations, which I would highly recommend to you and your churches. Pilgrimage to Busan is a six-part study that includes guides for leaders and participants that, "explores themes of Christian unity, justice and peace..." Guides for leaders and participants are included - so much of the work is already done for you! Check it out and let me know what you think. The WCC has also put together songs, prayers and other resources that you can use in worship or study. Take this opportunity to engage as much as you can with this exciting event... and avoid the jet lag! :)