Cliff and Wilma Derkson
A few weeks ago there was a full-page obituary in the Globe and Mail newspaper for a person most Canadians have never heard of. Cliff Derkson was a 76-year-old former art teacher, a gentle man who was never interested in public attention, although he and his wife Wilma received it because of the high-profile murder of their daughter, Candace, in 1985. Candace was 13-years-old when she was abducted, then killed while walking home.
Despite the pain the Derksons experienced at the time of their daughter's death and their grief throughout their lifetimes they drew upon their Mennonite Christian faith to offer forgiveness to her unknown murderer. Wilma was generally the spokesperson for the couple and I've blogged about her books on their journey of forgiveness, one of which I used as one text in study groups. Sadly, their were critics of their outlook and some even suggested Cliff of being the murderer. He continued to lead a quiet life but when he eventually wrote his autobiography he observed: "I was struck over and over again at how pervasive the concept of forgiveness had been in my life. It was right there in the beginning."
In the Anabaptist tradition, which included Mennonites and Amish, the approach is generally to declare forgiveness no matter how grievous the harm, perhaps developed in the crucible of persecution in earlier centuries. It is very different from the perspective in many Christian circles that forgiveness comes with time. While this commitment to immediately declaring forgiveness may seem incomprehensible to some of us I've never doubted the Derksons sincerity. I do wonder if I could ever forgive in this way in similar circumstances.
While I've been meaing to write about Cliff Derkson's story it has come to mind as Pope Francis is in Canada to offer apologies to Indigenous people who were done great harm through the Residential School system. The abuses were a form of soul murder, and there were children who physically died from neglect.
Some Residential School survivors and their descendents have already said they are prepared to forgive, and many of them are still Roman Catholics. Others are waiting to hear whether the apology or apologies are sincere, with commitment to action. Still others are boycotting the events during the visit and creating alternative opportunities to gather. Some condemn the Roman Catholic church as evil and irredeemable.
It is not for any of us to say whether or how forgiveness should be offered. Forgiveness is at the heart of Christian faith but we must humbly concede that it is a mystery which we endeavour to comprehend and express through our lifetimes, through the grace of Christ.
Again, this week we can pray for those who were harmed so deeply by Christ's church, including those who attended United Church run Residential Schools.
Pope Francis arrives in Edmonton, Sunday July 24th
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