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Bishop Logan Writes 

This article also appears in the November, 2017 issue of the Diocesan Post.

 In our diocese we have been on a journey we are calling the Year of Reconciliation.  We have only begun to learn what reconciliation means and how it will be part of our vision to become a Renewed People with Renewed Hearts and Spirits. 

God was in Christ bringing reconciliation to the world and has given us this ministry of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5)  

The first thing learned is that reconciliation is the gospel.  Reconciliation, as Justin Trudeau said, “... is a choice we make not because of what we did, or who we were, but because of who we are.”   We are “reconciliation” and are called to live it as Christians in every part of our lives. We therefore chose to be ambassadors of Christ and ministers of reconciliation.   

Our Year of Reconciliation is almost over.  For many of us, it been a year of learning about reconciliation, what it means and how we live into it.  At many levels, we continue to learn the meaning of reconciliation. Below are some projects that have taken place or are ongoing in our diocese:

  • Corrymeela Community Visit
  • Dialogue towards Peaceful Change for laity led by Corrymeela Community -facilitators -
  • Clergy Conference led by Corrymeela Community facilitators -T
  • The book Reconciliation by John Paul Lederach given to each of the clergy/parish 
  • Membership in the Community of the Cross of Nails
  • Diocesan Council meeting with ’Namgis Chief and Elders in Alert Bay
  • We Together Conference
  • Cowichan Camino Pilgrimage
  • rinity Time in the Parish of Holy Trinity, N. Saanich, an ongoing and very important ministry.
  • 13 Moon Project on Pender Island
  • Sacred Journey Part 2 Port McNeill to Port Hardy Cathedral Grove to Port Alberni Royal Roads to Sooke 

We have also built upon the Sacred Journey in Qualicum, Komox, Tsawout, Songhees, Fort Rupert and many other communities on these islands and inlets.    

I have been encouraged to keep the focus on reconciliation in the diocese until Synod April 2018.  I have agreed to do that. We will continue at a diocesan level, a regional level, and a parish level to learn as much as we can about reconciliation up to and including Synod on April 20-22, 2018.  

At the start of our Year of Reconciliation I said that we were looking at learning, at multiple levels, what reconciliation looks like and means—reconciliation with the First Nations, in our homes, in our parishes, in our neighborhoods and in ourselves.  

Reconciliation is a sacred journey that we take together with the promise that we will meet God at every crossroad.