December 12, 2007
Volume 1, Issue 43

Editor: Rick Scherger

1. At the November 15 meeting of Mantioba Interfaith Council the Rt. Hon. Edward Schreyer presented the needs for housing and support services for the chronically challenged adults in our communities. He challenges the interfaith community to take the lead in mobilizing planning, and implementing strategically located housing for these folk who need supports beyond their immediate families--many for whom the parents are aging--and for whom independent living with supports should be a "given".

Manitoba Interfaith Council seeks a group of able, committed persons who will gather around this issue and plan a process leading to an Interfaith Board whose sole mission is support of chronically challenged adults. This is to put out the call for names of contacts from each faith group, each faith community, each denomination, who would come together to join with a small cadre of present MIC members to move this to reality.

MIC requests each member partner to seek out persons who would pick up this task. As Mr. Schreyer emphasized - "It can be done".
If you are a person who would join a team of planners or have a name to put forward, please contact me, Ted Chell, President, MIC at 775.3536 or email: tedchell37@hotmail.com

2.Newly organized Spiritual Care Advisory Committee for Health Care is formed. MIC has recently named 4 persons to serve on this key working group with Manitoba Health. MIC members on the committee are: Rev. Dr. Harold King,Retired Dean, Uof W Theology, Ms. Pam Dreiger , Spiritual Care Director, Eden Mental Health Centre, Winkler, Mr. Tim Frymire, Spiritual Care Director, Riverview Health Centre
Rev. Doug Longstaffe, Spiritual Director, Seven Oaks Health Centre. This group joins Manitoba Helath appointees to make reccomendations to Manitoba Health on matters relating to spiritual care.

3. Interfaith Education Series "The People Next Door" is a six week series of visits to multi-faith worship centres with opportunity to learn more about the faith and practices of the faith community. MIC is joining with U of Winnipeg Faculty of Theology in sponsoring this series which will begin January 17,2008 and continue for six Thursday evenings.
The schedule by week is :
Jan.17 Buddhism,
Jan. 31 Hinduism
Feb. 14 Judaism
Feb.21 Sikh
March 13 Islam
March 27 Wrap up Panel Discussion
Fee for the series is $25.00 Registration and further details can be received from Rev. Tom Collings,772.2892 email: tomjulie@mts.net.

4. Manitoba Health has recently approved two new Spiritual Care Director positions in North East Man RHA, and in Interlake RHA. MIC has forwarded the Standards for spiritual workers document to these RHA's and has offered the assistance of a non voting
member to be named to the RHA Selection Committees as they interview and select a candidate.

5.The Spiritual Care Advisory Committee for Justice relates to the services in the various gaols in the province. This committee has developed a programme of volunteer supports for persons as they prepare to re enter society following their incarceration. A brochure "Caring for Incarcerated/Paroled Released Prisoners" has been prepared by MIC. Volunteers from faith group communities are being recruited to join in this good work. For more information please contact Rev. Tom Collings, 772.2892; email: tomjulie@mts.net.

6. The next bi-monthly general meeting of MIC is scheduled for Thursday, January 17,2008 at Room 327 Misericordia Health Centre at 12 noon-1:15 pm. We encourage every faith group representative and all spiritual care practioners to gather.

The guest speaker is: The Rev. Karen Toole, newly appointed Co-ordinator for Spiritual Care within Manitoba Health. Karen will present a "Vision for Spiritual Care".

Each member faith group is urged to update your appointed members to MIC and gather for the business of MIC that follows the presentation.

Happy Holy Days.