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With Barry Rieder, the Jane Finch Community Minister, cutting his hair in October 2007, over $4,000 was raised to support two United Church Ministries: the Jane and Finch Community Ministry of Toronto West Presbytery and North End Stella Community Ministry in Winnipeg. Thank you to all those who contributed.
Barry Rieder started growing his hair long some 20 years ago while working at a shelter for battered women. “I saw it as a symbol of standing in solidarity with abused women,” says Mr. Rieder. For several years colleagues have been challenging Barry to cut his hair as a fundraiser for Community Ministries. At a May Presbytery meeting, after coming back from a National Community Ministry conference in Winnipeg, where the focus of the conference was journeying with the First Nations community in Winnipeg, Barry succumbed to the pressure to cut his hair. At the meeting, a presbyter announced that she was cutting her hair and donating it for Kids with Cancer. Money raised from the endeavour was to be donated to the Toronto West Community Ministries and she challenged others to do the same. At the same presbytery meeting there was a special presentation about residential school survivors. Barry Rieder states, “I was struck by the horrible fact that one of the first colonizing things that they did to aboriginal children when they entered the residential school system was to cut their hair. Therefore, in addition to raising money for the Jane Finch Community Ministry, I have decided to share half of the proceeds with the North End Stella Ministry which works with the First Nations community in North End Winnipeg, many of whom are survivors of the residential school system. The actual hair will be donated for Kids with Cancer and for additional pledges I will consider shaving off the moustache.”
The actual cutting event took place on Tuesday Oct. 16th at the presbytery meeting. Barry, who was a recent recipient of an award for “Outstanding Achievement in the area of Social Justice” hopes that he will not be a Samson and loose his strength.
Below is a brief description of the Community Ministries
that the Hair Cutting Fundariser supported.
The Jane and Finch Community Ministry is a Toronto West Presbytery ministry with the United Church of Canada. It is situated in a public housing community in the North West part of Toronto and has been in existence since 1982. The role of the ministry is to provide community development and community organizing support, offer pastoral care and be involved in advocacy through coalitions and networks. The Ministry has taken an active role with the Network of Community Based Organizations, the Black Creek West Community Capacity Project, the Street Involved Youth Issues Coalition and a food access program called Making Connections. In conjunction with these different networks and in partnership with community residents the ministry continues to make a difference. It is a ministry of presence, walking in solidarity with the culturally diverse, low income community of Jane and Finch and seeking ways to address the problems in ways that that honour the strengths, assets and riches of the community. Although issues of poverty affect Jane and Finch the community is blessed with cultural riches including representation of 110 different nationalities where over 70 languages and dialects are spoken. Barry Rieder has been with the Jane and Finch Community Ministry for the last eleven years.
Northend Stella Community Ministry was originally part of the Methodist church in Canada, the place where J.S. Woodsworth began his long years of service to the people of Winnipeg. It has had a presence in the north end of Winnipeg since 1909 and the Stella Mission has been a part of the United Church of Canada since it’s formulation in 1925. The ministry works cooperatively with the community to address issues and concerns. It is a ministry with and for the community. Its mission is to build upon the strengths of families in the community, working together for hope and healing. It provides programs and services that honour the gifts of individuals and families from the neighbourhood and supports and encourages community leadership. The ministry encourages and participates with other groups working for a healthy community and pursues opportunities to be in partnerships with the church, community agencies and the government to continue the work of hope and healing. Recognizing the community it serves, it has been intentional about taking “TWO PATHS ONE JOURNEY.” The ministry integrates both Aboriginal Spirituality and Christian Spirituality. An Elder in Residence offers Aboriginal traditional teachings. They offer new and innovative programs to enable individuals or, groups in the churches to learn, understand and become aware of Aboriginal culture. It is a way of learning to live in right relationship and of hope and healing for the church community and the Aboriginal community. It is a healing journey for all, One More Step Along the Path toward justice and right relationship. It is a way to begin Building Bridges and Bridging the Gap.
