Yesterday we heard about the remains of another 751 children buried in unmarked graves on a former residential school property in Saskatchewan. What else can we feel but guilt, shame, and remorse? I weep with all indigenous people who are reminded of their families torn apart by government policy and church compliance.
Where do we start in the work of truth and reconciliation with our indigenous neighbours? For Christians, one small beginning is to tell the truth about this in our worship gatherings. “Land acknowledgements” have become common practice to open civic events and at the same time controversial in regards to whether this is mere tokenism or an important ritual of recognition. Using land acknowledgements as part of church worship adds another layer to civic ceremonies. I personally think that we should incorporate land acknowledegments into Christian worship. Here are three reasons why.
Our word “worship” comes from the Old English WEORTHSCIPE, meaning “to ascribe worth”. To worship is to state what is most important and most valuable, i.e. what is of ultimate value to us. When Christians worship we are “ascribing worth” to the God of the Universe who created all things, sustains all things, and redeemed all things through Jesus Christ. It is appropriate then that our church developed a land acknowledgement statement to be used in our worship gatherings. Our church’s land acknowledgement statement is a deep act of worship because it is acknowledging that God is the creator of everything and owns everything and we are but stewards. To acknowledge God as Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer of everything is central to worship.
Secondly, such a statement also acknowledges that the heart of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is reconciliation that includes reconciliation with God, with our neighbours, and with all creation. The beginning of reconciliation is confession and apology. This too is a basic Christian practice. This is something all the church bodies that were directly involved in the residential school system have done and we await and urge the pope to now do so on behalf of the Roman Catholic Church. One thing that our own church’s statement does not do but should do is confess our sin of racism and cultural genocide that our ancestors were complicit in and continues in our own hearts today. One day, hopefully we will get to this part as a church. To be faithful to the Gospel of Peace [Ephesians 2:11-22], it behooves us to make statements of confession and repentance in our worship services on a regular basis.
Some may object that such a land acknowledgement is just political tokenism and we should keep politics out of our worship services. Worship in any form—song, prayer, sermon, ritual, etc.—is a deeply political act. The first confession of faith and the first act of worship for the early church was their statement: “Jesus is Lord.” All citizens of the empire at the time were required to pay homage to the emperor with the statement of allegiance: “Caesar is Lord.” Thus, the primary statement of worship was also a statement of political allegiance to the reign of God as inaugurated in Jesus of Nazareth because this God demanded exclusive worship. Going to church to worship God is a political act no matter what the form and content! If you don’t want to make any political statements join a country club. Politics is about allegiance and relationships; this is what the church of Jesus Christ is about: allegiance to Jesus and renewed relationships with others.
A land acknowledgement is but the beginning. If this is all we do then it is mere tokenism as it has become in some public events and ceremonies. God doesn’t want us to put too much energy into crafting an hour of songs, prayers, and sermons. “I can’t stand your religious assemblies. I will not accept your offerings. Away with the noise of your songs!” (Amos 5:21-23) True worship is primarily about what happens outside the walls of the church building. Following Jesus is about all of life. We need to learn about the history of injustice toward indigenous people in Canada and then we can begin the work of reconciliation. “But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” (Amos 5:24)
Here is the land acknowledgement statement for our congregation, Emmanuel Mennonite Church:
As a faith community, we believe that the earth is a gift from God our Creator. Together with the first people of this land, we are called to be stewards of this earth that sustains us, and we are grateful for that privilege. Therefore, we acknowledge with deep gratitude our presence on the unceded, traditional, and ancestral homeland of the Matsqui First Nation, affiliated with the larger Sto:lo Nation. The land is an important part of our faith and we also recognize that it is has always been at the center of Indigenous life, culture and spirituality. May we treat this land and all its people with respect and understanding, as we strive for peace and right relationships with all who share it.
gareth brandt 