2012 LENTEN NOONDAY FORUM

The Church of St. John the Divine

1611 Quadra Street, Victoria, BC

Tel: 250-383-7169   www.stjohnthedivine.bc.ca

12.00 – 1.00 p.m.Wednesdays  February 22 through March 28, 2012

Bring a bag lunch – coffee and tea available

JOURNEYS ALONG THE EDGES

Just as the fabric of the planet is composed of great tectonic plates that interface , press on one another at their edges, and sometimes collide with disastrous results

So human society has such edges where things interface, press upon one another and even collide.

Whether it is the interfacing of human life and the natural environment,

Or that of aboriginal cultures with the predominant white culture,

Or that of the great historic religions with one another,

Or those suffering from mental illness or handicap with those who are deemed mentally healthy,

Or even that of different generations and genders with one another;

To explore these edges where the infinitely varied understandings, assumptions and visions of humanity meet is to find rich experience, learning and new directions.

February 22 — Herbert O’Driscoll — A widely read writer and speaker, whose stimulating reflections about faith in our time have offered to many a new and rich experience of learning

February 29 — Richard Leblanc —  Director of Woodwyn Farm. Following work on  the Youth Employment Project (YEP), Richard has begun to develop Woodwyn Farm as a Therapeutic Farm Community. In this model, each participant is supported as a “whole person” and develops confidence, a positive value system and a career plan to help ensure personal and employment stability throughout his life. Richard’s dream is to apply this model to help the many people who now call the streets of Victoria “home”.

March 7 — Peter Hamel — Formerly Staff Officer for the National Public Social Responsibility Unit of the Anglican Church of Canada, and for many years has lived at the edges of our province – Haida Gwai, His life continues to be committed to responsible environmental relationships.

March 14 — Mohammed Sadek —   President of the Quran Study Centre, and dedicated  to in-depth study of the Quran, and a vision of Islam true to its letter and spirit, and true to the values of democracy and human rights embedded in it. One of his goals is to encourage inter-religious dialogue with all who seek to create societies based upon tolerance and justice.

March 21 — Robert Morales — Tl'ul'thut , dynamic Chief Negotiator, as well as Legal Counsel for the six First Nations of the Hul'qumi'num Treaty Group on Vancouver Island, recently returned with his team from Washington D.C., USA, where they addressed the Inter American Commission on Human Rights under the mandate of the Organization of American States. This was an historical event in bringing forward the issue of human rights for the First People of our country, and should result in radical change."

March 28 —   Marion Little — MA Dispute Resolution,  is the Executive Director for PEERS Victoria (Prostitutes Empowerment, Education & Resource Society) and Canon Pastor for the Diocese of BC, administering the Sexual Misconduct Policy and Abuse Prevention efforts for 48 Anglican Churches.  Marion also represented the Anglican Church of Canada as an accredited observer to the UN Commission for the Status of Women in 2011