16 | Terrace 2 Review _ Wee, ‘May 24; 1989 The Terrace Arena buzzed with activity for four days recently as more than 600 delegates to the B.C. Conference of the United Church of Canada held their annual meeting here. - United Church pledges $t million to Gitksan — ~ land claims cause - Over 600 people poured into Terrace to attend the. _-64th annual B.C. Conference of the United Church of Canada, held May 12 to 15 at the Terrace Arena. It was - - the biggest annual meeting ever, probably due to recent controversy within the large church regarding the or- dination of homosexuals. by Pam Whitaker This issue, however, was - quickly put to rest at the con- ‘ference, as the matter will be ‘opened again at the 33rd ‘General’ Council to be held in _ August 1990, Congregations . _-were encouraged to respond by " next. fall to’ the General Council ‘executive in preparation of re- ‘ opening the debate. The general consensus was, in the meantime, to abide by the statement of Membership, Ministry and - Human Sexuality drawn up at __ the 32nd General Council. While many church members . find this statement ambiguous and are not happy with it, it is . pointed out that United Church statistics show only a slight dectine in membership. Out of about 3,899 ordained ministers, _as of May 1, 1989, approximate- ly 36 had left. One minister from’ the ’ Kootenays interviewed by the Terrace Review said that while - he was in agreement with the _. spiritual truth of those who left : the church, he feels they were __ premature in leaving, as it can . yet be worked out. He said some -» church membership, in trying to “be ‘fair’ to all people, do not ’ tealize that while scripture clear- ’ ly states homosexual activity is : wrong, it at the same time shows ~ the way of healing, and restora- - tion to wholeness for those in- : » dividuals who truly come to “Jesus Christ. ~The following statement seems to sum up the feelings of - the majority at this conference “regarding the controversy sur- - rounding | the ordination of _ homiosexuals: — sé, this 64th. annual. meeting . ~ of the B. C. Conference express our regret that some Order of Ministry persons and some con- gregations have decided that it is necessary to separate themselves from the United Church of Canada. We offer them our blessing as they depart. We con- © fess that we are indeed the wounded Body of Christ.” It was carried unanimously. The biggest issue to come out of the. United Church Con- ference was a resolution to pro- vide some funding to support legal costs of land claims. cur- rently im progress of the Gitksan-Wet’suwet’en people. The United Church of Canada will use its influence on behalf of the Gitksan-Wet’suwet’en to convince the government of Canada to provide *‘adequate funding as already committed”’. If this does not materialize, they have agreed to contribute a total of $1,025,000 through the B.C. Conference ‘machinery, using various ‘means to raise these funds. ‘The B.C. members of the United Church have made this decision as they believe: . (quoting from Resolution 7 on Native Land Claims) ‘‘... we are called to speak and act against injustice;... it has been recog- nized in Canadian Law that the Native Indians of Canada have aboriginal rights, and the extent of those rights has not been determined by treaty or court ruling in, B.C.;... the United Church of Canada and B.C. Conference have historically supported the aboriginal rights and land claims of Native Peo- _ ple;... the Gitksan-Wet’suwet’en people have historically been associated with the Methodist Church ‘and since: union, the [- United. Church... Doug Goodwin, a 1 spokesman for the conference, said this - meeting demonstrated ‘‘a strong sense of support and solidarity - _ Of Native People.’’ Indeed, Jim Angus, a hereditary chief of the. Gitksan, was elected President designate of B.C. Conference to be installed next year. He will replace Reverend Bob Burrows from Wilson Heights United Church in ‘Vancouver, who was ‘installed at this meeting.. “Regarding his election, Jim Angus addressed the crowd say- ing: ‘I know the workload will be heavy, but I-will be a humble servant to, you all”? The man in the responsible’ position.of President of the B.C. Conference organization who stepped down at this meeting and .was replaced. by Rev. Bob. Burrows’ was: Rev. Arthur Anderson. He will continue to be a Commissioner to General Council. The British Columbians who travelled to Terrace for this con- ference arrived by air, land and sea. A chartered Canadian Air- lines 737 brought in 122 people,. and hotels, motels and trailer courts were full, partly due toa northern regional Construction Association meeting: held the same weekend, ‘The convention was held at the Terrace Arena, except for the Ordination held Sunday morning at the R.E.M. Lee Theatre. Mardy Scales of Ter- race, who was in charge of the preparations, said that the col- lege provided . all the meals for ‘.the convention except Sunday lunch, which was organized by the Haisla. Hundreds of box lunches were made in the college kitchens. “The food was well received,” Scales said. ‘‘The people appreciated fittle things like homemade cookies, fresh apples from Oliver, and real continued on page 17 **1 will both lay me down cin peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only maketh medwell insafety. iad Psalm 4:8. Sacred E Heart Catholic Church - Mass Times: - Pastor: . Saturday: 7:30 p.m. Fr. Allan F. Noonan Sundays: 9:00a.m. ‘OMA. . ‘W30am - 4830 Straume Avenue | : 635-2313 St. Matthew’s Anglican Episcopal Church Sunday Services: ‘Priest in Charge: 9am. & 1am. Reverend Peter Zimmer Sunday School classes are held during the 9 a.m, ‘service, Chid care ig available during the 8 a.m. service. 635-9019 . 4506 Lakelse Avenue. _ Christ Litheran Church ‘Sunday School — 9:45 a.m. aa | ee | ~ Starting Sunday, May 7 — Worship Service at 11 200 a. a.m. Pastor: Donald P. Bolstad (3229 Sparks Street 635-5520 Terrace Seventh-Day Adventist Church Sabbath School: _ Pastor: Saturday 9:30 a.m. Ole Unruh — 695-7313 Divine Service: - ‘Prayer Meetings === | Saturday 11:00 a.m. » Wetinesday, 7:00 p.m. <4 3306 Griffiths. 635-3232 oe “Evangelical Free Church Sunday School: Pastors: (for all oges) Jim Westman 9:45 ahi: oe - Gordon Froese Sunday Services: x . Prayer Meeting: 8:30 a.m. / 11:00 a.m. 6:90 p.m. Wed. 7:00 p.m. | 3302 Sparks Street 635-5015 | Knox United Church: Sunday Worship: : Minister: = - 10:30 a.m. ' $tan Bailey .. Sunday School: . Youth Group: 1:30am. | —. 7. 6:90 p.m. 4907 Lozelle Ave. 433-0014 "Terrace Pentecostal Assembly Early Service: - Pastor: 8:30 a.m. John Caplin Associate Pastor: gilt iff Siebert Sunday School: 10:00 a.m. Morning Service:. 11:15 a.m. EOUp I ao pm 3511 Eby St Street 035.2434 The Alliance Church Family Bible School: Pastor: Rick Wiebe 9:45 a.m. Ase't Pastor:Douglas Ginn Divine Worship: 11:00am. Fellowship Service 6:30 p.m. All are cordially invited Youth Ministries « Home Bible Studies * Visitation 4923 Agar Avenue 635-7727 | The Salvation Army Sunday Services: . 9:90 a.m. Christian Education (all ages) 11:00 a.m. Holiness Meeting 7:00 p.m. Salvation Meeting For Further information call - 4643 Walsh Avenue : 635-6480 Christian Reformed Church Sunday Services: ~ Pastor: tiam. &5 p.m. Pater Sluys — 635-2021 Coffee Break, Ladies’ Bible Study Wednesdays 9:90 a.m. & 7:45 p.m. 3602 Sparks 636-6173