Turning Tables: A Young Adults Retreat on Jesus and Liberation- Fall 2016

We invite you to “Turning Tables”– a fall retreat for young adults (18-35yrs) to explore what our Christian journey could look like if we engaged our minds, our spirit and the world around us. How does one live the faith-based life in the here and now while still yearning for the kin-dom of heaven?

We will explore the theme of Think, Pray, Love to tie our political and personal convictions with our faith rooted in the story of Jesus and the Resurrection.

THINK – We have the capacity and calling to explore our personal and political convictions about the world. We will look at our diverse identities as the body of Christ. What does feminism anti-racism and gender justice have to do with it all? How do we understand our position in a world that values money and status over justice and peace?

PRAY– We will reflect on our need to nourish our spirits and to connect with God and creation to prepare us for the journey. We will practice different forms of prayer to build our power together.

LOVE– Finally, we will examine how Jesus loved in his time on earth, and how we are called to love in the context of our world today. Love as action and movement and power and the purpose of God in the world.

This national retreat is a great chance to meet other young adults from across Canada who are passionate about faith-based justice! If you are coming from outside the province and need help with your travel costs, contact us!

In partnership with the Anglican Diocese of Toronto, Toronto South West and Southeast Presbyteries of the United Church of Canada, and the Ecumenical Chaplaincy at U of T.

When: Sept. 30-Oct 2nd, 2016

Where: Countryside Camp, Cambridge ON (1.5 hours from Toronto). We’ll provide carpool from downtown Toronto, leaving around 3pm Friday.

Cost: $40.

Registration includes carpooling, stay in shared cabins, all meals and beautiful wooded surroundings! Go here https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/turning-tables-think-pray-love-tickets-25383148681

Facebook event: here

You’ll need to bring sheets or sleeping bag and pillows. If you don’t have them then contact us in case we have spares.

The SCM is now searching for a National Coordinator/General Secretary for a one year contract with the possibility of extension.

Deadline for Applications: May 25, 2016
Work location: SCM General Office, Toronto, Ontario (Dupont & Spadina)
Term of Contract: 1 year contract, with possibility for renewal, beginning in June 2016
Salary: $36,000-38,000, plus health/wellness benefit plan.
How to Apply: Send your Cover Letter and CV to hiring@scmcanada.org

Please indicate how you meet the above qualifications,  experience, and skills  criteria, and the contribution you feel you can make toward the goals of SCM.

ABOUT THE POSITION
The successful applicant will support the life and work of the Student Christian Movement (SCM), including its local units and national programs. They will be accountable to the Board of Directors and will be responsible for implementing decisions made by the board. The General Secretary is the only hired full-time position within the SCM.

The SCM or Student Christian Movement is a progressive network engaged in social justice and faith. We are a non-dogmatic community of diverse belief systems where faith and radical political action flourish. We encourage applicants from a diversity of backgrounds such as race, language, class, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ability.

The position will include travel and some work on weekends.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
– Understanding of the political and theological orientation of social justice and faith movements
– Experience in grassroots justice and political organizing
– Experience or exposure to SCM’s work on a national or regional level and/or experience in an organisation with similar vision
– Experience in managing programs, events and committees
– Adequate understanding of the Christian Churches in Canada and ecumenical movement
– Commitment to working in an anti-oppressive framework, including anti-racist, feminist, and LGBTQ.
– Undergraduate degree in a relevant field, or equivalent experience
– Inter-faith experience is an asset

SKILLS
– Able to work independently (this is the only hired full-time position in the SCM) and as part of a team with local boards and units
– Strong ability to take initiative and create partnerships and programs
– Strong skills in community building and grassroots organizing, especially
in faith-based settings
– Strong organizational skills and ability to prioritize day to day activities
– Strong administrative computer skills, including word processing, email, internet, and skills / aptitude / ability to learn basic publication and layout and database management
– Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including conflict resolution
– Ability to communicate clearly and effectively in English, other languages an asset

TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

A. Managing Programs:
– Organize SCM’s annual program, Cahoots festival, with the festival collective, including finding speakers, booking space, and recruiting committee members
– Manage all aspects of SCM’s global exposure programs and promote to recruit participants
– Support the development of justice-focused resources and find contributors
– Organize Fall SCM Retreat with the retreat committee and promote with churches and faith communities
– Use your passion and skills to empower and support students to organise local groups in their campus or community and provide training on faith and justice issues.

B. Finance and Fundraising:
– Research and write grants to fund SCM Programs and write reports to funders
– Steward individual donors and respond to their inquiries
– In conjunction with the Treasurer, oversee finances of the SCM including bookkeeping, banking, auditing and receipting donations
– Organize direct mail and newsletter

C. Communication & Office Administration
– Administer web site, social media, and moderate mailing lists
– Create monthly e-newsletters
– Develop and maintain relationships with SCM alumni and other key stakeholders
– Ensure bills are paid, such as rent, mailing, internet service etc, and ensure files are organized.

D. Contact with National Churches and Organisations:
– Develop and maintain relationships with campus ministries and ecumenical coalitions and develop partnerships when possible
– Attend and participate in faith and ecumenical events, retreats, conferences and church services to meet like-minded people and partners (some weekend work)
– Work with the World Student Christian Federation (WSCF) and its regional north American body located in NYC and its committees to develop and participate in global programs.
– Develop and maintain contact with church bodies, including being available for speaking engagements

We meet weekly for a justice-focused bible study at U of T. Together we explore biblical text from our context and experience and from the lens of social justice!

When: Wednesdays at 6:15 pm (Winter Semester)

Where: Chaplaincy Office at Knox College (Basement)

This space is feminist, anti-racist and queer friendly, and all are welcome! All faith traditions are welcome!

You can email us at uoft@scmcanada.org

(image copyrighted by nakedpastor.com, thanks for letting us use it!)

SCM Ottawa in partnership with the Max and Tessie Zelikovitz Centre for Jewish Studies is hosting a film screening at Carleton University to explore marginalized gender and sexuality identities within the Navaho, Jewish, Muslim, and Christian traditions.  Feb 1-4, 2016.

Films will start at 7 p.m., followed by a facilitated discussion. Cost: FREE! And we’ll have popcorn.

MONDAY
Two Spirits (2009)
Information: https://streamingmoviesright.com/us/movie/two-spirits

TUESDAY
Hineini: Coming Out in a Jewish High School (2005)
Trailer: http://www.keshetonline.org/resource/hineini-coming-out-in-a-jewish-high-school/

WEDNESDAY
A Sinner in Mecca (2015)
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzshP2k5FMk

THURSDAY
For the Bible Tells Me So (2007)
Trailer: http://forthebibletellsmeso.org/media.htm

In this season of Advent, as I was reflecting on my year, a man in Colorado walked into a Planned Parenthood health clinic with a gun and shot three people.

As Robert Lewis Dear walked into the clinic, I imagined the terror of the women there. Some of them may have come to get pregnancy testing. Others may have come for an abortion. But all probably came knowing full well that society is watching them. After all, women often stand on narrow and shifting ground. They are judged for any reproductive decision they make.  They are judged for having a child out of wedlock, and judged for having an abortion. Judged for having too many children or not enough. Women are judged for giving birth with no medical intervention and for giving birth with it.

And as I think of all this, I think of Mary in this season of Advent. She too was pregnant and in a vulnerable place. She too was condemned by society. She too might have faced the violent judgment of a patriarchal society.

For me, what is moving about this story is that in this vulnerable place and despite the difficulties, Mary gives birth to Jesus. Jesus- which to us in the Christian tradition, is God’s face revealed. Love comes down from a fragile and vulnerable place. An unlikely place. A small place. And as I think of Mary, I think about all those women who went to that clinic that day. And how in that small place, in that place where society can be cruel, hateful and even murderous, women find a renewal of life either through an abortion, where they may feel a sense of relief, or of expectancy of a child.

Mary teaches me that love doesn’t live in position or power, but in the small places of our lives. And in our small struggles for justice and peace. Life-giving peace is renewed and created in those spaces.

“We are all called to be mothers of God – for God is always waiting to be born” – the German mystic Meister Eckart

Sarah is the current General Secretary (2015-2016).  Sarah first came across the SCM at the mobilization against the G20 in Toronto. She attended a prayer vigil organized by SCM and was hooked. She then attended weekly SCM meetings on faith and justice at the University of Toronto SCM Local Unit meetings. Sarah is passionate about freedom for all people – freedom of thought, freedom of movement across borders, freedom to create and to love. Sarah thinks the SCM provides an avenue to begin to work for this.