Volume 7, Issue 3, January 1998

ONE PURPOSE, MANY FAITHS

The provision of spiritual and religious care in the Ontario Public Service is supported by the member faith traditions which make up the Ontario Multifaith Council on Spiritual and Religious Care.

These collaborating faith groups take part with the provincial government through programmes in three ministries - Solicitor General & Correctional Services, Community and Social Services, and Health.

Spiritual and Religious care is the joint responsibility of the Government and the faith groups of the province. At least 35 faith groups are affiliated with the council.

The OMCSRS appoints and gives leadership to various committees, the members of which address the more detailed aspects of the Council's work. These Regional Multifaith Committees promote an effective working relationship among the regional faith groups and local faith communities, chaplaincy Services Ontario, and local faith communities.

I have been appointed by Hamilton Conference of the United Church to the membership of the Hamilton/Brantford/Niagara Regional Multifaith Committee and have been elected secretary of the committee. We meet bi-monthly.

The above committee has a membership of interested Christian denominations and representatives of Judaism, Hinduism, Jainism, Baha'i, Pagan, and Aboriginal.

It is a rewarding and exciting experience working alongside the people of other faith groups. The co-operation and respect for one another in the work of the RMC is extraordinary and beautiful.

Through my own efforts a Brantford branch of the RMC has been organized. At present we have eight members and growing. One of our first achievements was to initiate a plan whereby cases of persons exhibiting violent or inappropriate behaviour and picked up by the police and lodged in jail are immediately assessed by a designated person from the psychiatric ward of the hospital, and if a mental health case removed to the hospital.

If you are an Ontario resident there will be a RMC for your area and you may be able to assist the work they are performing.

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"Religion NOW" is published in limited edition by the Rev. Ross E. Readhead, B.A., B.D., Certificate of Corrections, McMaster University, in the interest of furthering knowledge and participation in religion. Dialogue is invited and welcomed.