Christ has given us a ministry of reconciliation ... so we are ambassadors for Christ

II Cor 5:18-20

Does September 11 change things for Jesus' ambassadors of reconciliation? How do we answer our society's new questions about war and peace, about media violence and family nurture? Does September 11 suggest that it's time for a new look at interfaith dialogue or ecumenical relations? And what about reconciliation with Native peoples, people of colour, and Jewish community?

This year's Annual ICS Summer Conferences, both in Alberta and Ontario, "Ambassadors of Reconciliation" explored these and other timely questions. The Ontario conference ran August 16 - 18 at Redeemer University College, Ancaster, and was co-hosted this year by The Banner, the official publication of the Christian Reformed Church. For the 44th time, this annual conference featured a weekend of social interaction, keynote speakers, workshops and entertainment.

In the first keynote of the weekend, John Suk, editor of the Banner, explored the subject of "Reconciliation and Contemporary Culture". Asking why our culture craves bigger than life themes and heroes of the sort we find in everything from the "Left Behind" series of books to the "Lord of the Rings" and "Harry Potter" phenomena, Suk suggested imaginative Biblical resources for the construction of a Christian cultural response which upholds "reconciliation" with our culture as a primary concern. Arguing that we live in a "secondary oral" culture -- a largely "conservative" culture that has been co-opted by the dominant structures to "go along for the ride", Suk suggested some possible strategies for Christians that included the need to be more literate, to access alternative points of view, to understand the importance of pulpit sermons in the light of our culture's secondary oral skills, and to make our lives and presentations full of beauty and aesthetic delight. Suk also gave the Sunday morning sermon - an extended allegory which expounded on 2 Corinthians 5 through the fantasy world and characters of J.R.R Tolkein's Middle Earth.

In the second keynote talk, George Vandervelde, ICS Senior Member in Systematic Theology, argued that the unity of the church is not an extra but its very heartbeat and its mission. Arguing against the "lowest common denominator" view of ecumenical relations in which unity is perceived as homogeneity and like-mindedness, George emphasized the importance of a Christo-centric ecumenicism. This unity, he emphasized, will display the ragged edges of diversity - a unity that is forged by costly reconciliation. Beginning with a scriptural justification for church unity, Vandervelde concluded the talk by suggesting practical steps for encouraging everyday ecumenism with other churches and faith communities.

The conference theme was further supported by 13 workshops exploring the many facets of our call to be Christ's ambassadors of reconciliation. Jennifer Parker, former contributing editor to the Banner, provided a Christian perspective on responding to cinematic depictions of violence; Lou Tamminga, former CRC denominational Director of Pastor-Church Relationship, examined broken relationships within our churches; Jim Olthuis, therapist and ICS professor, looked at broken personal relationships from a therapeutic perspective; Bill Chu, founder of Canadians For Reconciliation, shared personal stories of his work with the Aboriginal community in Vancouver; Christiana deGroot of Calvin College examined gender relationships; John Wood of King's University College looked at our relationship with the environment; and Hugh Cook of Redeemer College asked what the role of the arts should be to an event like 9/11. Other workshops included a session on relationships with the French and First Nations peoples in Canada by Michael la Fleur, Executive Director of "Transformation Prayer Ministries"; an exploration of race-related issues in the context of churches, such as the CRC, in which ethnicity traditionally contributes to identity, by CRC Director of Black and Urban Ministry Robert Price; a hands-on look at reconciliation as a theme for creative movement in worship by dancer Belma Vardy; a session looking at the "reconciliation" theme in scripture by Pastor Michael Blaire; an examination of reconciliation amongst religious traditions by Jim Payton of Redeemer College; and a session on teaching justice and reconciliation to children by Carol Veldman Rudie. On Saturday afternoon, conference attendees engaged panelists Jonathon Chaplin (ICS), David Koyzis and Timothy Epp (both from Redeemer College) on the subject of "just war" in the shadow of September 11.

In addition to these lectures and workshops the conference was further enhanced by the strong worship leadership of Colleen Reinders and Grace Moes; a Children's Program led by Jocelyn Paas and Lee-Anne Dryfhout; and a Teen Program led by Ken Dryfhout. Entertainment included a poetry-photography performance by ICS alumnus Hamish Robertson, a Piano Concert by Mark Chiang, a film discussion led by ICS alumna Fran Wong, and a concert by folk-musician Glen Soderholm and band.

The Alberta Family Conference was once again held in Deer Valley Meadows, Alberta, and ran from August 2-5. John Suk was also the featured keynote speaker at this conference based on the "Ambassadors of Reconciliation" theme as well. In addition Suk's keynotes, which were an extended two-part version of the talk which he delivered at the Ontario Summer Conference, the theme was explored in 3 workshop sessions. Mel Huizinga, a mediation expert, spoke on mediation as a healing alternative; Jeffrey Dudiak, ICS alumnus and professor of Philosophy at King's College presented some alternatives for reforming the prison system, and Harry Van Belle, emeritus professor of Psychology at King's spoke on reconciliation within families. ICS President Harry Fernhout delivered the Sunday morning message, and the worship team from St. Albert's Christian Reformed Church led conferees in praising God in music.

We look forward to next year's Alberta and Ontario ICS conferences where we will meet again to be challenged with new ideas from a Christian perspective, and celebrate God's faithfulness to ICS and its supporters.