Cross-cultural ministry

“What do [you Indians] want?”

This was the question a church official asked a group of Indigenous ministers, working in Indigenous communities, over 20 years ago. There was some frustration behind the question since there were a myriad of complaints about unfair treatment of Indigenous ministers. Back in the 90s when this question was posed, the term “Indian” was common and not so politically incorrect.

“We want your hearts! That is all we have ever wanted,” was the unexpected reply by one of the Indigenous ministers.

“We don’t do that. We don’t know how to do that,” was the dumbfounded response. It is during moments of surprise like that that new learning can happen, new doors can open, and new ways can become possible. This exchange opened the door of opportunity for the Canadian churches of the Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA).

In 2000 at a CRCNA cross-cultural forum, Ray Aldred, who related this story, said, “When it comes to cross-cultural ministry, I could give you techniques, but what has made the greatest impact is when we exchanged hearts.” This is the origin of the “Hearts Exchanged” idea that finally became a pilot project in Canada in 2020. Over 400 people across Canada have participated in this eight-month online and in-person engagement around Indigenous history and heart transformation. Participants prepare for their time together by reading, viewing video resources and having a Walk ‘n Talk with group companions, before meeting for monthly sessions to discuss what they’re learning and to consider next steps.

The 2019 Canadian National Gathering featured Indigenous drumming and ceremonial contributions from the Indigenous ministries of the CRCNA in Canada. Church member Marlene Wolters attended that gathering and was emboldened in her Tsʼil Kaz Koh identity when she heard drumming as the sessions began, played by Rev. Harold Rocher, Director of the Edmonton Native Healing Centre, one of three CRCNA Urban Indigenous Ministries. Before this time Marlene did not feel safe in her church communities and did not embrace her Indigenous identity because that was referred to as heathen or pagan. She is now a strong advocate for Indigenous identity and a leader in the CRC’s Indigenous ministries, as the current Chair of the Canadian Indigenous Ministries Committee (CIMC).

Its origins

Hearts Exchanged began as a collaborative effort of CIMC and the Committee for Contact with Government. The pilot was developed and facilitated by Justice Mobilizers Shannon Perez and Cindy Stover, along with Mike Hogeterp, the director of the CRC Centre for Public Dialogue. Priya Andrade was added to the team in the second phase as a reconciliation e-learning manager and helped to adapt Hearts Exchanged for an e-learning platform. Resources from many credible sources touched on colonialism, the Doctrine of Discovery, Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and the historical CRCNA support for Indigenous ministry, justice and reconciliation.

Because of covid the first two phases of the project were delivered online with small groups from various locations meeting virtually. The third Hearts Exchanged iteration in 2022/2023 has continued with virtual groups but has also seen some churches with enough local participants to meet in-person. In the future, Hearts Exchanged will continue with both online and church-based cohorts, and will also focus on leadership development, with cohorts for pastors/leaders, and additional support for groups who have already completed the program to continue their reconciliation journeys.

The impact of Hearts Exchanged centres on the exchange of hearts. Many participants noted they had never heard any of the history of treaties, colonialism, land theft, residential schools and the horrific abuse that happened to Indigenous people. Hearts have melted and now advocates and allies for Indigenous people are multiplying. Those who are interested in participating or hosting the program in their churches can get more information at crcna.org/hearts-exchanged.

A Kairos moment

Discernment following the 2019 Canadian National Gathering (CNG) led to a conviction that the next Canadian National Gathering should address “justice and reconciliation” themes. Since Hearts Exchanged addresses the issue of Indigenous justice and reconciliation in a profoundly moving educational journey, it was featured in this year’s gathering from May 25-28 at Algonquin College in Ottawa. The voices of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Colour) participants were amplified as leaders, and many Hearts Exchanged participants added their voices in group discussions. Other attendees who had not participated in Hearts Exchanged were immersed in the issues and were invited to begin their own work towards right relationships with Indigenous neighbours.

The 160 attendees to the 2023 CNG were provided with a pre-learning journey in advance so that their hearts were prepared to experience the genius and leadership of BIPOC folk in and adjacent to the CRC. Canada is in a kairos moment where choices that are made by the CRC and other churches can bend the arc of the moral universe toward justice. As Pablo Kim Sun, CRCNA Senior Leader for Anti-Racism and Intercultural Conciliation, says, “The soft power from the grassroots can change things.” The 2023 CRC Canadian National Gathering had the potential to change things in a Christ-honoring way.

For anyone who wants to engage in reconciliation in Canada, there is hope. Haudenosaunee people met the Dutch in 1613 in upstate New York. A covenant was made, encoded in the Two Row Wampum belt, sealing a relationship between two very different peoples. This covenant was continually renewed in the Silver Covenant Chain, where the silver of the three links of this chain that tarnish over time are periodically polished bright. I will polish the silver of this covenant agreement, and you are invited to the circle of reconciliation too!