Coalitions live on.Dear editor,Many of the obituaries for Archbishop Ted Scott
Edward (Ted) Scott, CC (April 30 1919 - June 21 2004) was a Canadian clergyman. mention the recently released biography Radical Compassion compassion, n a profound awareness of another's suffering coupled with a desire to alleviate that suffering. . Wonderful as the book is, I wish to address a critical error in it. Archbishop Scott is quoted as saying: "Some think the coalitions may have become victims of their own success ... And movements die, unfortunately I don't think any of the coalitions exist now." In fact, a lot has happened since the end of the 1990s with the very successful Canadian Ecumenical Jubilee jubilee (j  `bĭlē), in the Bible, a year when alienated property and land were restored, slaves were manumitted, debts were forgiven, and a general sabbatical year was observed in Initiative, which saw
unprecedented collaboration among the denominations and the still
vibrant ecumenical social justice coalitions. This was followed, for
financial and practical reasons, by the eventual merger in 2001 of 10
coalitions into one body.
The organization that was formed to carry on the rich legacy of the past 40-plus years of justice work is called Kairos--Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives. The name Kairos Kairos (καιρός) is an ancient Greek word meaning the "right or opportune moment". The ancient Greeks had two words for time, chronos and kairos. means a "moment for action," and Kairos is dedicated to promoting human rights, justice and peace, ecological ecological emanating from or pertaining to ecology. ecological biome see biome. ecological climax the state of balance in an ecosystem when its inhabitants have established their permanent relationships with each justice, viable human development and solidarity among the peoples of the Earth. Ecumenism ecumenism Movement toward unity or cooperation among the Christian churches. The first major step in the direction of ecumenism was the International Missionary Conference of 1910, a gathering of Protestants. is definitely alive, and we who stand on the shoulders of ecumenical pioneers are fighting hard for the ideals and principles and just solutions based on the strong traditions of theologically based careful analysis and faithful witness. Ted would be proud. Joy Kennedy Kairos Ecological Justice Co-ordinator Toronto |
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