In areas of war and peace, war making and peacemaking, we remain a nation in a state of denial and ungratefulness. This is particularly disturbing as Christians because we should understand, as no one else does, the themes of sacrifice, advocacy and the defence of others. It is a situation that is also puzzling as we are in a state of war as a country. A sense of a strong military presence and culture existed in this country until the late 1960’s. The demise of that culture is neither here nor there, but with its demise arose a self-serving sense as a country that if we “don’t do war”, we are a country that “does peace keeping”. Turns out we do neither well. I am not suggesting that we spend more or less on the military. I am suggesting that we can do two things better.
The first is that we support Baptist Chaplains in the Regular Force and the Reserve in our prayers and our churches. The following is a list of our dear sisters and brothers in the Regular force and our Western Canadian Chaplains.
The second is an invitation to reflection how we as Christians can bear our responsibility in the defence of others, work actively and passionately for peace and finally, how we as Christians model for ourselves and our country, Christ’s call to be serving and compassionate to all.
We fail to repay our incredible debt to the fallen, the wounded and the many more who were hurt in war when we do not remember this day and when we do not seek to change things as they are.
Warmly
In Christ,
Jeremy
Regular Force:
Maj Art Crawley
Maj Jim Hardwick
Maj Derrick Marshall
Maj Barb Putnam
LCdr Jim Russell
Lt(N) Curtis Duclos
Capt Tracey Edwards
Capt Mario Gaulin
Capt Richard Larsen
Lt (N) Daryl Levy
Capt Matthew Lucas
Capt Larry Pardy
Capt Gordon Poley
Capt Randall Read
Capt Howard Rittenhouse
Reserve Force
Lt(N) Heather Taylor
Maj Don Collar
Maj Randy Stanton
Capt Paul Beckingham
Lt (N) Dennis Milne
Capt Ian Easter
Civ Jeremy Bell (Interfaith Committee of Canadian Military Chaplaincy, ICCMC)