Fall Issue 4
Reading week comes so fast, yet so slow. - Alice Hodgkins
Click here to download a PDF of this issue and the Greensheet
Two Lessons and a Proposal
Embodying God’s Justice
By Audry Goertzen
On Wednesday, September 23, the first of two livestreams was held for Ideas that Matter. The idea that indeed matters in this conversation was ‘Embodying God’s Justice,’ highlighting the ongoing conversation surrounding the injustices experienced by Black Indigenous People of Colour (BIPOC), especially in North America. Wednesday’s conversation was between Dr. Drew Hart, Dr. Dennis Edwards, and our very own Dr. Mariam Kamell Kovalishyn. It was, in a word, brilliant.
It could not be more fitting that the conversation’s host was an expert on the book of James, for what is the letter if not a whole word for social justice, for the God-breathed message that human lives matter, most especially those in the margins and being oppressed. The cherry on top of her hosting was her complete lack of control over her reactions…the clear joy of Dr. Kovalishyn’s face was sunshine on a cloudy day.
Joy, despite the topic of the discussion—the insidious, deplorable, continuous injustices committed against African Americans in particular—was the most surprising aspect of the 90 minutes. I tuned in ready for conviction and to be spurred into action; to be given a sledgehammer to begin the demolition of broken systems so that the renovation of the world might begin (can you tell I’m a millennial?). Instead, I tuned in and was met by joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, and most of all love (which, for the record, is the topic of each writer’s last chapters in their new books). How odd, to be met by the fruits of the Spirit, when I felt like a new recruit showing up for battle, ready for armament. I was ready for Ephesians 6 references on warfare, not Galatians 5.
This surprise lingered with me longest after the livestream ended. To be clear, I wasn’t disappointed that my expectations were unmet. In fact, it correlated so well with the lessons I’ve learned over the summer, when the Black Lives Matter movement spiked upon the murder of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor.
This summer, I realised the depth of my privilege. Having seen poverty, inequity, and racism early in life, while living in Bolivia, I’d been aware of much of my privilege, but not to the full extent. I didn’t understand at age five, and quite honestly, I still don’t understand. Still, I realised how little I’ve done to combat racism, thus comfortably standing by as an accomplice. I was ashamed, and I wanted to take action. Reflecting on my childhood self, I remembered equating racism with ‘stranger-danger,’ to which the simple solution was getting to know the stranger so that they were no longer strange, and therefore no longer dangerous. Clearly, my childhood logic was flawless. I don’t know what’s happened since then.
How do we get to know strangers, so that they might no longer be strangers perceived as dangers? We listen. Just like we did on Wednesday. How do we take action, once we’ve listened? Well, this is more complicated. I was ready to write a to-do list of books to read and more petitions to sign and organisations to research and support. Instead, I left with two lessons, one from each guest.
The first is from Dr. Hart: share transparently of our own journey, and allow others to resonate with it. To speak confessionally, admitting to our faults, rather than pretending we’ve never stood by as injustice took place. This invites others to confess as well, and for repentance to take place.
The second from Dr. Edwards is in tandem with the first: to win people over, so that others join in the journey towards justice. God’s justice must be embodied by His Body, the church, and the church is not made of just me or you, and certainly not just of our BIPOC sisters and brothers. Therefore, our actions must be winsome. In the words of one advocate I learned from this summer, “If you call a racist a racist, you end the conversation, only creating more division. If you ask a racist why they believe what they do, you begin a conversation, which allows you to speak into their lives, giving you a chance to change their minds.”
A third conviction I left the livestream with was not an instruction from the speakers, but a necessary one to share: Regent has work to do. The good news is, I’m confident we know this. Surely, I am not the only one who notices the single skin tone of our faculty, and perhaps the consequential, relatively lacking diversity of skin tones of the student body. The Regent community does not look like the community I encounter elsewhere. So, step one is complete: admit we have a problem. Step two is also complete: we believe in a higher power.
For step three though, we must deviate from the twelve steps for turning from addictions, addictive as privilege may be. For step three, I propose the hiring of one of the four amazing guest speakers we heard from Wednesday and the livestream Monday. Now before you say, “Well, that requires quite a bit of funding we don’t currently have, Audry,” allow me to acknowledge this hurdle and volunteer as tribute to coordinate a fundraising event. My spirit is so willing that though my flesh is busy sitting in front of a screen on a Zoom call or doing homework, I’m sure I could find a way. At least for a seminar or a spring/summer course. Please?
The Poetry Doesn’t Matter
By Steven Gomez
The poetry doesn’t matter,
not even in these days when
even steady rhythm is
an elusive grace.
The poetry doesn’t matter,
not when grass can shine
in the evening sun which sets
a wine glass sparkling.
When the poetry more than matters—
is more than ink, more than letters—
the shining grass vibrates,
the wine glass softly hums,
and who knows but even the light
may bend an ear, along with us.
Who guessed the immaterial
could feel so present? Could move
unseen and unlettered,
giving body to the empty air?
Poetry need not matter
to be a welcome guest.
What matters is energy
and the poetry energizes
and the poetry connects
and the poetry substantiates,
but the poetry doesn’t matter.
When everyone is unmuted
and interruption is strangely graceful,
the light and the grass and the glass
fall silent at the truth:
it is not the poetry that matters
but us.
Meet Your New First Year Representative
Sanju Thomas Abraham
During a global pandemic, God is still calling people to move their entire life to the other side of the world. Join Associate Editor, Amy Deutscher, as she interviews the RCSA’s First Year Rep, Dr. Sanju Thomas Abraham. Thomas’ journey is not ideal, easy or complete, but he is giving up everything to follow God’s call to Vancouver.
Bio details
Full name: Dr. Sanju Thomas Abraham
Preferred name: Thomas
Home country: India
Program at Regent: MATS
Who do you live with? My wife Nancy and children Rachel (14 years old), Mark (9 years old) and Sarah (7 years old)
Age: 44 years old
What were you doing before becoming a student at Regent?
I was a dentist for 20 years. In India getting into professional education is a struggle. Even though there were no dentists in my family, I was keen and interested in it. I started preparing for taking up the national level exam after classes from the 11th grade. Went through multiple examinations and finally got selected to do dentistry.
What did you enjoy about it?
Almost all the patients who come to the clinic would be anxious. Dealing with them bringing down their anxiety and building up confidence in them is the most exciting part.
You’ve told me that coming to Regent has been a big dream of yours. When did that dream first begin? How has it changed over time?
It started in the year 2018. There were times in which I was not sure if I could meet the financial needs. The matter was not only to pay the tuition fees but also to have funds to live in Vancouver as a family. As my children are growing up I wanted to have them with me as I do my studies. Also I was particular that I wanted to do a full time theology program and wanted to attend in person classes. So the Covid situation and lockdown is again a challenge.
What are some things God has said to you about leaving dentistry and going to Regent?
For the past 3 years I was very clear that God wanted me to prepare myself for His ministry. In this regard I wanted to have a firm foundation in theology. I tried doing a part time program as I was having my clinical practice, but it did not work out and I found that my profession itself was stopping me from obeying God's command. But it took 3 years’ time to finally make the choice of quitting dentistry and doing a full time program and I am sure God will speak to me in these 3 years what to do next. While praying for the right college for me to join, Regent came through a reference. I did not apply for anywhere else, I left it for His guidance.
How has this decision been received by your friends and family?
I thank God for my wife, her parents and my parents who are a pillar of support for me. This decision was easy for me as they categorically believe that God's work is the best work to do and feel the need of everyone studying theology and doing His great commission. My father at the age of 74 still hopes to do a full time program in theological studies. My friends have different views on it and some of them tell me that I should have done this along with my profession, but I am very clear in my calling.
In what ways do you think Regent will be a good thing for your faith?
I believe I will get an in depth study of theology from Regent and also having a trans-denominational faculty and co-students will definitely help me to broaden my Christian views and thoughts.
How do you think your experience of being a dentist for 20 years will shape how you study theology?
I would look at it in the perspective of having spent 20 years of life for myself and not doing much of what am supposed to do for my Lord. Many times I have faced situations where I was asked to speak about dentistry to a crowd without notice and I was able to do it without any preparation and enjoyed doing it. But the same when it came to preaching in church, I always wanted a time to prepare. This was a burden for me as I wanted to make sure my best should be for my Lord.
Well we’re so glad you're here and appreciate you sharing your story with us. We’re looking forward to welcoming you and your family to Canada soon!
My room
By Amy Deutscher
My room.
I find you so lovely.
The plants!
The art!
Morning light streams in.
But to stay in
so lovely a place
would not do.
My dear room
It’s not you
But I need to see other people too.