By Andrea Miller
Ottawa’s Anglican churches are relying on their 13,000 members to make a dent in the diocese’s $1.6 million share of the residential schools settlement.
With the first $80,000 quarterly payment made almost a month ago, the diocese’s newly-formed Settlement Fund Commission has decided to send out a mailing list asking for open donations from the parishioners as its initial attempt at fundraising. The first payment was made through the use of diocesan reserve funds.
“We haven’t had time to develop long-term plans. This is the first, immediate, quick step to generate support,” says Roger Steinke, chair of the Settlement Fund Commission.
The settlement was made in response to claims of abuse from Aboriginal Peoples who attended government-sanctioned residential schools run by the Anglican church in the 1900s. The Anglican Church of Canada and the federal government agreed in November 2002 that the church would contribute $25 million to compensate residential school students with validated claims.
Out of the 12, 000 claims filed from across Canada, Anglican organizations are responsible for 2,200.
Steinke says he expects a good response to the general appeal.
“I think people are looking to get on with this so we can get on with healthy, constructive relationships with the Aboriginal People. I think there will be strong support,” he says.
Donations towards the settlement fund have already trickled in, according to Michael Iveson, the treasurer of the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa. “We’ve already been getting a number of contributions without any sort of appeal. Individuals and parishes have sent cheques in without any formal invitation,” he says.
Garth Bulmer, a reverend at St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church on Somerset Street, says that the decision to ask for open contributions was expected.
“As annoying as (mailing lists) may be, it’s still an effective approach. It’s a good beginning.”
Parishioners at St. John church agree.
“That’s where you’ve got to start. If the money has to come from the church, it should come from the people who support the church,” says Ruth Teetzel.
Fellow parishioner Ron Chaplin says he would be willing to donate because he sees it as “a moral responsibility.”
“The church screwed up,” he says. “No, I didn’t do it. I was not part of the Anglican church then. But the church as an institution has to carry some responsibility.”
Since the diocese has until 2007 to pay the settlement, maintaining support will be the focus, says Bulmer.
“It has to be sustained over five years — that’s quite a long time. They’re going to have to do other things.”
The mailing list will be sent out later this month. It will ask for donations in a lump sum, either as a designated amount over five years or as an electronic withdrawl every month.
The Settlement Fund Commission will meet at the end of May to discuss long-term plans.