By Lloyd Mackey

A VANCOUVER ISLAND member of Parliament has been increasingly recognized, in recent months, for his interest in the applying of Christian concepts to the task of reconciliation on issues related to Israel and aboriginals.

James Lunney, MP for Nanaimo-Alberni, was a recipient of the Scroll of Jerusalem award earlier this year, in an Interfaith Tribute held in an Ottawa synagogue.

Others so honoured were John Raymer, lead pastor of Peace Tower Church; and Anna-Lee Chiprout, well known for her Jewish/Christian liaison work.

In June, Lunney spent many hours at the Forgiven Summit, a three day aboriginal response to Parliament’s historic 2008 apology for past abuses in church-run native residential schools (See the front page of the main section).

That event was spearheaded by Chief Kenny Blacksmith, with some background support from several charismatic Christian organizations, including Watchmen for the Nations, led by Egyptian-born and Vancouver-based physician David Demian.

Watchmen has been known through the years for its Christian-based conciliatory outreaches toward several identifiable clusters, including Jewish/Israeli people and First Nations/ Inuit/Metis groups.

BCCN asked him about his interest in these reconciliation efforts.

With respect to Jewish/Israeli matters, Lunney said he had taken 17 trips to the Holy Land, often with his wife Helen; many of them happened before he entered federal politics in 2000. He emphasized that not all the trips have been to Israel. Others have taken in Egypt, Turkey and Jordan.

The couple’s purpose, he said, has been to get to know the lands of the Bible, as a means to better understand their Christian faith. In his pre-political life, Lunney led tours to several of those countries.

His interest in aboriginal matters, as well, pre-dated elective politics.

It was heightened by the fact that he became active, as the Nanaimo-Alberni MP, in pressing for First Nations treaties within – or close to – his riding boundaries.

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One thing important to understanding First Nations work, he suggested, was that aboriginal people and their groups are “relational.” That means you cannot “ride in on a white charger” to work with them.

All this was background, when Lunney rose in the House of Commons on June 11 and 14 to provide some national exposure to the Forgiven Summit.

Utilizing the daily ‘member’s statement’ opportunity, Lunney noted the gathering, declaring: “We still have a long way to go. We are learning to walk together, and we are committed to achieving a better future – a future of hope and opportunity for all Canadians.”

Following the Forgiven event, he said: “It was a joy to see the singing, dancing, drumming and celebrations expressed in many languages, and ceremonial acts of reconciliation.”

Quoting Chief Blacksmith, he stated: “Forgiveness is not political; it cannot be bought or sold; it cannot be legislated. It is an individual choice that can break the generational cycle of victimization and accusation.”

With regard to the Jewish/Israeli side of his Christian-based initiatives, Lunney pointed out that he sees Jesus as a bridge-builder. And he further noted that motivational speakers, for example – even those who are not necessarily Christian – will use biblical principles like forgiveness and reconcilation to promote human betterment and achievement.

He said he particularly appreciated receiving the Scroll of Jerusalem because, to him, “Jerusalem is the heart of the world,” in both a spiritual and cultural sense.

The Scroll cited Lunney’s “interfaith work between Christians and Jews, as well as your . . . concern for the continued growth of the State of Israel.”

It focused on the MP’s work as chair of the Canada-Israel Inter-parliamentary Group.

In practical terms, Lunney acknowledges that the two-state solution, as approved by the “quartet” – the United States, United Nations, Russia and the European Community – is what ultimately will work for both Israel and the Palestinians.

July 2010