Native Evangelicals Offer Statement on the Residential School Crisis

At the 2021 United In Christ Native leadership conference, leaders of the sponsoring organizations (CHIEF and Center for Indian Ministries) and the plenary and workshop speakers presented a Statement on the Residential School crisis.  The statement reads:

Statement of United in Christ Leadership and Presenters  on the Canadian Residential School Atrocities

 Matthew 18:2-6; He called a little child to him and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me”.  If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.

Since the news broke of the discovery of the first mass gravesite containing the remains of 215 First Nations children at a Residential School campus in Kamloops, British Columbia, we as Native evangelical Christians have been stunned and grieved over the atrocities that were committed.  We are deeply grieved and shocked that such atrocities were committed by those who purported to represent Christ as members of the clergy, serving in primarily Catholic and Anglican churches who administered these Residential Schools in the over 125-year history of these institutions.  Sadly, we believe this is only the tip of the iceberg.  The grieving heart of Native North America will not subside for a long time to come as even more sites containing our children are discovered.

We, as the leadership of the sponsoring organizations of the United in Christ 2021 conference along with the plenary speakers and workshop presenters, want to state unequivocally that:

1. We stand in unity, affirming that those who committed such evil acts in no way represented the heart, soul, and character of the Christ of Christianity, but instead were carrying out the evil intentions of the enemy of our souls, Satan himself.  As John 10:10 states, The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
2. We affirm that the true and righteous judgment of the Judge of all the earth will one day be administered to all mankind, including those who committed these evil acts.  As Genesis 18:25 states, Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?
3. We stand in unity in heart and purpose to pray without ceasing for all those families, tribes, and First Nations people that are affected by the loss of their children, grandchildren, and ancestors.  We also affirm our commitment to continue to be light and salt in our generation and represent the Christ of the Bible to our people in a way that brings salvation, hope, and healing.  We reaffirm our conviction that only Christ can heal such broken hearts.

Will you join us in prayer for all those grieving today, and continue to do so for as long as the pain remains?