“This conversation was a very important moment in the life of Ottawa and Church.”

Craig Macartney
Spur Ottawa Writer

More than 100 pastors and Christian leaders joined a videoconference to hear Ottawa’s black pastors share their experiences of racism. The July 8 call, organized through a partnership between One Way Ministries, Love Ottawa, and the International Pastors and Leaders Forum (IPLF), was a first step in a broader initiative to seek God’s heart for racial reconciliation and healing in Ottawa.

“It was clear to us that the many black pastors we work with were dealing with the pain their people have been experiencing since George Floyd’s killing, in late May,” explains Richard Long, director of Love Ottawa. “It is pretty obvious this is a moment when our society is trying to come to terms with historic racism. We believe that God is using this moment to begin a healing process that is long overdue.”

The call featured presentations from several black pastors and leaders, highlighting their personal experiences and sharing the challenges black people experience in Canada.

“In scripture, you can find both redemptive and instructive use of black people in God’s salvation story.”

“I think [this conversation] was a very important moment in the life of Ottawa and the Ottawa church community,” says Anthony Bailey, who pastors Parkdale United Church.

Bailey has long challenged the Church and society to take decisive action against racism. On the call, he shared how his brother was murdered by white supremacists in Montreal and how flawed historic perspectives about black individuals have created major barriers for the black community.

“It is important that we check our blind spots and biases. The Bible has been used to reinforce racism and a hierarchy, with whites on top and blacks on the bottom. I shared on the call how, in scripture, you can find both redemptive and instructive use of black people in God’s salvation story.”

“Personally, I feel deeply sad when I hear the stories of what the black experience is really like in our nation,” Long states. “My hope was that we could have a lot of fellow pastors take some time to listen to the stories. I hope our black colleagues will feel we are starting to understand and that we are truly learning to love each other.”

“Now the knowledge is there; people have to decide what are they going to do.”

Jason Boucher, lead pastor at the Lifecentre, adds “My hope is [black pastors] would know they are not alone and that not only are we owning the wrong, the sin done, but we are committed to doing better.”

Both Bailey and Isaac Gimba, president of the IPLF, are optimistic about the conversation started in this call. Bailey was encouraged by the openness and humility he saw from white pastors seeking to listen and understand the effects of racism.

“I really appreciated the pastors who reached out and said, ‘I had no idea about all of this. I want to be confessional, I want to be repentant, and I want to learn,’” he says. “That has been heartening. Now the knowledge is there; people have to decide what are they going to do.”

Both leaders also highlighted their hope that the Church will examine how people are chosen for leadership. While many churches celebrate broad ethnic diversity in the pews, few multi-ethnic congregations have black members in leadership positions. Although this initial call did not address steps forward, Bailey and Gimba hope the ongoing conversation will lead to more multicultural representation in church leadership.

“It rests on the Church to model truth, justice, and reconciliation in a world disillusioned by hatred and racism.”

Gimba adds that a first step will be “having our white pastors and leaders forming collaborative partnerships with black pastors at the leadership and congregational levels, exploring common areas of interests and themes for periodic joint programs.”

Organizers of the initial call are planning a second call next month, and an ongoing dialogue among the city’s Christian leaders to continue the conversation and explore the way forward together.

“The Church is the light of the world,” Gimba states. “It, therefore, rests on her to model truth, justice, and reconciliation in a world disillusioned by hatred and racism. My prayer is that God’s true light will shine on the ills, misconceptions, ignorance, and error of division in the Body of Christ, while fostering brotherhood, love, and reconciliation between the black and white communities, in Christ Jesus.”