KAIROS: 25 years working together for justice

KAIROS Canada is marking 25 years of ecumenical witness as a congregation of the global faithful. 

Luke Stocking, treasurer of the KAIROS Canada steering committee, uses the occasion to point out that this is far more than a simple milestone being celebrated. 

The anniversary of the national church coalition is instead best seen as a moment of gratitude for a quarter-century of churches working together for justice, and the clear, unified call to recommit to that shared mission with Indigenous peoples and all who continue to seek God’s kingdom.

Advertisement

The organization has chosen to observe the anniversary with the banner “Rooted in Faith. Rising in Solidarity,” conveying KAIROS’ long history of supporting ecumenical relationships, movement-building and collective action for justice through campaigns advancing human rights, ecological justice, Indigenous rights and migrant justice, among others. More than a quick look backward, the milestone frames the past 25 years of faithful witness as the foundation for a renewed commitment to rise together into the work that still lies ahead.

As Stocking reflects, the ecumenical body formed by the coming together of several earlier ecumenical networks focused on social justice, officially beginning in 2001, continues to be a representation of churches working together as followers of Christ to bring that justice into the world.

“To be here since 2001 is a great accomplishment to be celebrating together now, but it is also a call to recommit to that collaboration,” he told The Catholic Register while meeting the KAIROS board in British Columbia. 

“As resources decline all around, the temptation is for the different churches to retreat and take care of their own concerns. The challenge is here to recommit toward working together to build God's kingdom.” 

Advertisement

Over time, KAIROS’ work has shifted from broad focus areas across international solidarity, Indigenous rights, migrant justice and environmental concerns toward a more centred approach revolving around a reconciliation perspective. Its new strategic plan, launched as part of this year’s anniversary, emphasizes this approach, not by abandoning other issues, but by seeking to carry out all of the work hand-in-hand with Indigenous partners. 

Still, Stocking is confident that the group's initial vision, one based in the main tenets of faith and shared love for social justice, will be presevred by its members. 

“It can become easy for the different churches involved to lose sight of the fact that KAIROS is not some other organization that we are invited to participate in, but that is ‘us,’ ” he said, referring to the global church. “It is the Catholic, Lutheran, United, Anglican Church, all working together, and we’re called to remember that, too.” 

Catholics especially have long championed KAIROS. Stocking shares that when the organization faced a severe financial crisis in 2009, it was their religious communities that stepped in and created the Justice Fund, which would effectively save the organization as it is known. 

He hopes Catholics, particularly various religious communities, can take this milestone as a sense of legitimate pride in their contribution to the group’s 25-year ecumenical justice work.

Even with its strong Catholic identity and a proud contribution for Catholic partners, the truest strength hoped to guide the next 25 years remains that shared ecumenical commitment and a conviction that the churches are stronger when they continue to walk this path together.

Advertisement

“ It comes back to the principle that says everything that Christians can do together, they should do together, and working together for justice is something that we all can do together,” Stocking said. 

For more, visit https://kairoscanada.org/about-us/25-years-rooted-and-rising/.