The Commission on Faith and Witness
Contents
Why be a Christian? To bear witness to the communion with God that God has made possible in Christ, through the reconciling power of the Gospel and the Cross, confirmed by the Father at Easter and claiming all of history through the life-giving power of the Spirit.
About the CFW
The Commission on Faith and Witness (CFW) engages churches in theological reflection to foster greater understanding of the faith we hold in common and to provide an ecumenical witness to Christ’s mission in the world. The CFW is a meeting place, a lively and fertile ground for reflection and work, among Christians of different families. Together, we identify and explore theological questions of mutual concern, develop and share resources for dialogue and common understanding, and reflect theologically on the direction of ecumenism.
The CFW also convenes and gives direction to its Working Group, the Canadian Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Writing and Animation Team.
Current Program Priorities (2024-27)
Recommended Resources Developed by the Commission on Faith and Witness
Towards Wellbeing: Mental Wholeness in Church, Person, and Community
This resource offers ecumenical theological reflections on how we, as people of faith, might ground our understanding of mental health, wellbeing, and wholeness – and our practical and pastoral care – in our theology of the human person. In this study guide you will find theological reflections accompanied by scriptural references, pastoral insights, and discussion questions. We hope that it will be useful for discussion groups in your parishes and congregations, for personal reflection, and for pastors, chaplains, and caregivers. This study guide is the fruit of the CFW’s ecumenical theological dialogue in 2018-21.
Religious Diversity
In 2012-18, the CFW considered theological questions arising from religious diversity. A common introductory statement and other resources on this topic can be found on www.faithandwitness.ca.
Suffering and Hope
Suffering is a universal characteristic of the human condition. Christianity’s response to suffering is both the hope offered in and by Jesus Christ and concrete action to relieve suffering. The Commission explored Christian perspectives on suffering and hope, which resulted in the personal and pastoral resource, The Bruised Reed: A Christian Reflection on Suffering and Hope. You can also download the working papers prepared by Commission members.
The Margaret O’Gara Ecumenical Dialogue Collection
Developed by its current curator and editor, Nicholas Jesson, with the support and oversight of the CFW, The Margaret O’Gara Ecumenical Dialogue Collection gathers the published reports and other materials from over 40 years of bilateral ecumenical dialogue in Canada. Named for the late Dr. Margaret O’Gara, a renowned Canadian and global ecumenical leader, the O’Gara Collection aims to be an online resource centre and repository for the work of Canadian dialogues, as well as a site for thoughtful commentary upon these dialogues’ contributions to the work of Christian unity. A great resource for academics, dialogue members, and anyone interested in the history and current work of Canadian dialogues!
Salvation
The Commission has examined the notion of salvation and related themes such as redemption, justification and union with God, in the context of modern secularism and widespread indifference to spiritual concerns and religion. It is hoped that the Commission’s work in this area, focused in part on the question “Why be a Christian?”, will assist in making the essential Christian message more relevant in contemporary context. Find short reflections, videos and podcasts, and discussion papers on this topic on www.faithandwitness.ca.
Palliative Care
The Statement of Support for Universal Access to Palliative Care in Canada (October 2016) is a consensus statement of all the delegates of the thirteen churches which comprised the membership of CFW in 2015-2016. This Statement is the outcome of a long and profound discussion among CFW members. This discussion was prompted at first by the issue of legalizing physician-assisted death in Canada, but broadened into a wide reflection on life and death as the bedrock of Christian anthropology.
CFW Members
- Anglican Church of Canada – Dr. Walter Hannam; Rev. Canon Dr. Scott Sharman; Rev. Donald Shields
- Canadian Baptists of Western Canada – Setri Dzivenu
- Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops – Catherine Clifford; Sr. Gill Goulding, C.J., PhD; Nicholas Jesson
- Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Canada – Rev. Janet Anstead
- Coptic Orthodox Church of Canada – Fr. Theodore Rizkalla
- Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church of Canada – Fr. Mebratu K. Gebru, PhD
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada – Rev. Dr. Ali Tote
- Mar Thoma Syrian Church – Mabin Biju Mathew; Mathew Varghese
- Mennonite Church Canada – Rev. Roberson Mbayamvula; Tim Reimer (CFW Chair)
- Orthodox Church in America, Archdiocese of Canada – Paul Ladouceur; Very Rev. Dr. Geoffrey Ready
- Presbyterian Church in Canada – Dr. Will Ingram
- The Salvation Army in Canada – Major Steven Cameron; Lt. Col. Jim Champ
- Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada – Dr. Timothy Chrapko
- United Church of Canada – Rev. Angelika Piché
CFW Steering Committee
- Rev. Janet Anstead – Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Canada
- Sr. Gill Goulding, C.J., PhD – Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops
- Dr. Paul Ladouceur – Orthodox Church in America, Archdiocese of Canada
- Rev. Angelika Piché – United Church of Canada
- Tim Reimer – CFW Chair, Mennonite Church Canada
CCC Executive Liaison to CFW
- Fr. Anthony Mourad – CCC Vice-President, Coptic Orthodox Church of Canada
CFW Staff
- Bailey Bjolin – O’Gara CFW Program and Research Assistant
- Marina Fanous – Program Coordinator, Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
- Dr. Maria Simakova, Associate General Secretary