United Church elects Carmen Lansdowne as 1st Indigenous woman to lead a religious denomination in Canada

A minister in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside has grow to be the primary Indigenous girl to steer a non secular denomination in Canada.

On Saturday, the United Church of Canada elected Rev. Carmen Lansdowne as its new moderator. The place makes her the establishment’s spiritual leader and public consultant, whereas insurance policies and doctrine are overseen by a basic council.

The Heiltsuk (Haíɫzaqv) Nation member, also referred to as Kwisa’lakw, helms First United within the Downtown Eastside. It gives meals, housing and showers to low-income residents.

“Our security nets should not adequately responding to their wants,” Lansdowne mentioned in an interview.

Church buildings must be “talking reality to energy” on points like poverty, housing, Indigenous rights, and local weather change, crises that “play out” tragically in the Downtown Eastside, she mentioned.

“However they’re points that have an effect on all Canadians. I feel the church ought to have one thing to say.”

Her election comes 36 years after the denomination grew to become the primary to apologize for abuses towards Indigenous youngsters in its residential colleges.

“There are divisions or combined emotions, and rightly so, throughout the Indigenous neighborhood about Christianity,” Lansdowne mentioned. “And on the identical time … the Christian story has been one which has been eager for some Indigenous individuals.”

Lansdowne mentioned she “stands on the shoulders” of Alberta Billy, a We Wei Kai First Nation elder who died June 13. Billy was amongst a bunch of Indigenous elders who demanded the establishment make amends within the Nineteen Eighties. 

That historic apology got here in 1986, however the elders didn’t settle for it, as a substitute acknowledging it was acquired.

“That was an enormous reward and problem to the church,” Lansdowne mentioned.

In 1992, Cree Rev. Stan McKay grew to become the church’s first Indigenous moderator. Thirty years later, Lansdowne was the one nominee.

‘Make room for these conversations’

Lansdowne’s management of what was as soon as one of many nation’s strongest denominations is an indication of change, mentioned Rev. Ray Aldred, director of the Vancouver College of Theology’s Indigenous research program.

“To repair one thing, that is bought to be a grassroots type of motion and an excellent chief,” mentioned Aldred, an Anglican minister and member of the Swan River First Nation. “And I feel Carmen can be good at that … [to] hearken to the grassroots and attempt to make room for these conversations to occur.

“Typically, individuals throw all the pieces out, not simply the dangerous stuff … What’s good? What wants to vary? What could be saved?”

Not one to keep away from probably the most divisive subjects inside Christianity, on June 28, she tweeted after the U.S. Supreme Court docket reversed abortion rights: “This pastor will marry you and assist you as you entry reproductive care. Full cease. No exceptions.”

Requested concerning the message, she mentioned it mirrored solely her personal views and ministry, admitting many Christians could be bowled over.

“There are individuals throughout the United Church of Canada for whom that might be a very radical and difficult assertion, and we aren’t in settlement with one another about that,” she mentioned. “I do not really feel prefer it’s my job or anyone’s job to evaluate one other individual round what occurs in and to their physique.”

In 1980, the church declared “abortion must be a private matter between a lady and her physician” — the identical yr it elected its first feminine moderator, Rev. Lois Wilson.

The United Church is among the many nation’s largest Protestant denominations; roughly 1.4 million Canadians categorical an affiliation, in keeping with Statistics Canada.

However an enormous membership decline has dealt an everlasting blow to Sunday pews — and providing plates.

“We’ve got but to see what the way forward for the church appears like … new ways in which we could not presumably think about that do not centre round a neighbourhood congregational constructing,” Lansdowne mentioned.

Having additionally labored for environmental regulation agency Ecojustice, she mentioned some of the pressing priorities of her three-year time period is to “confront” the crises of local weather change, the “rise of nationalism and potential fascism,” and the neglect of seniors.

“The church can do and will do extra,” she mentioned. “We do not have a ton of time to confront a number of the challenges that we have now … We’ve got to suppose huge and be hopeful and artistic.”

Lansdowne will likely be formally put in at a ceremony on Aug. 7 at Canadian Memorial United Church in Vancouver.