2021-24 Program Priorities
The program priorities have been discerned by member churches through the Program Committees of the Council. The proposed 2021-24 Program Priorities are:
- Finding hope in disruptive times and catastrophic situations, with emphasis on racism, or Ecclesiology, sacraments, and ministry in a digital age – the church after the pandemic.
- Ecumenical theological education.
- Public events and monitoring Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) and end-of-life care.
- Ending racism, including Indigenous/non-Indigenous Reconciliation.
- Healing Poverty.
- Public advocacy, action and monitoring of issues related to all forms of sexual exploitation including pornography, prostitution, and human trafficking.
- Theological reflection on the roots of sexual exploitation.
- Furthering our analysis of and commitment to addressing the systemic nature of racism in the sex industry.
- Gene editing and varieties of bio-enhancement of the human and non-human world.
- Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning, robotization, brain-to-computer interface and human enhancement.
- Indigenous spiritualities in Canada: A contribution to reconciliation.
- The sin of racism: Diverse religious and theological responses (if/as capacity allows).
- Continuing Priority: Christian-Muslim online resource; Relationships with Jewish communities.
- Offer the core FILL “Engage Difference! Deepening Understanding or Intercultural Ministry” program.
- Develop a cross-Canada network of Intercultural Ministry workshop and conversation designers, facilitators, and consultants.
- Invite and resource dialogue and reflection on Interculturality in the bodies of the CCC and in other Canadian church institutions and organizations.
- Networking: Be a space where Canadian intercultural ministry and racial justice practitioners gather to support each other, learn from each other, and resource the wider Canadian church.
- Possibility (Puede): Openness to the needs and changes of the Canadian context.
- Naming and addressing anti-Black racism in Canadian churches and Canadian Society.
- Encourage vocal and active Canadian support for the elimination of nuclear weapons.
- Contribute, through work with likeminded organizations, in Canada and abroad, to international policies that support a more efficient and effective nuclear non-proliferation regime.
- Engage with other civil society organizations to encourage the Canadian government to support policies that prevent the weaponization of space.
- Raise awareness of the challenges facing outer space security.
- Project Ploughshares has joined the Campaign to Stop Killer Robots, a growing coalition of 142 organizations in 62 countries working to pre-emptively ban weapons systems that, once activated, would select and attack targets without human intervention.
- To achieve a core purpose of “reducing human suffering,” the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) sets common global standards for the national control of shipments of conventional weapons across international borders.