Decolonizing the YWAM Values: a Personal Journey

"Decolonization once viewed as the formal process of handing over the instruments of government, is now recognized as a long-term process involving the bureaucratic, cultural, linguistic and psychological divesting of colonial power [1]” https://www.ictinc.ca/blog/a-brief-definition-of-decolonization-and-indigenization Jan 25/19 

This re-understanding is my journey of decolonization, one rooted in my Acadian identity; rooted in my relationship with the Mi'kmaq, Wolastoqey, and Passamaquoddy; rooted in this Land.This is not an exercise in contextualization, or worse, appropriation, but in decolonization and unsettling the YWAM values for the benefit of all of YWAM.  Decolonization is the responsibility of the colonizer more than the colonized. Decolonization is something you practice.

These values aren't really values at all but words of the Lord spoken to YWAM. These values, as time goes on, the revelation of these Words continues to change and grow. They are alive. My hope is that others pursue a journey of exploration of these values. Finally, this effort combined two of the YWAM values “Be relationship oriented” and “function in teams” because the latter is the fruit of the former.
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Creator knows us all, wholly. We, all together, beyond the individual, journey with Creator on the Jesus Way. Know and be known.

Reconcile all. The Land. The people. The water. Walk the way of harmony—with ourselves, with each other, with the Land, and with Creator.

Creator speaks. Hard stare from an elder (Be quiet. Be still.) Listen to the earth, to the animals, to the trees. Listen to the Great Spirit, the Son, Creator.

All our conversations invoke Creator. Ritual and protocol connect us to each other, to the Land, to Father, Son, and Spirit. Eat, sing, dance, drum, sweat, paint, be still, laugh.

Every “word of the Lord’ is an experiment. Live the vision quest and experiment with Creator.

Protect, teach, and care for the young. How will what we do today affect the next seven generations?

The seed is scattered across the skin of the world. No voice is greater than another. We are communities, in community, part of communities, many communities together.

We are called to community of nations, of theologies, of methodologies. Treaties are living and good  agreements, covenants for ongoing relationships.

We all live a syncretic life on the Jesus Way. Walk humbly. Trust the Spirit speaking in the other. Respect and weigh Creator’s words.

Drum in a circle. Don’t spend all your time drumming alone. We people keep each other sharp, vibrant, rooted, moving, and still.

All leaders are servants, are sacrifice, are offerings. Tell the story of the people and give place for people to tell the story. Come to a meeting of the minds. Lead by consensus. Eat together.

Elders have walked the path and help us on the Way. Honour your elders. We walk the path and then tell others the Way.

Being human is good. Each of us is an Image Bearer of Creator and Creator loves every person. Actions, ideas, words that are counter to Creator’s Way dehumanize.

We are born into families. We find families. We choose families. We adopt and are adopted. We follow Creator’s example. All my relations.

Exit empire. Be generous. Trust Creator will care for you. Care for the Land.

The Land welcomes us. Let us perform actions that make this earth, this Land, hospitable to humanity. Let us be hospitable like the Land. The stranger is welcome—the queer stranger, the black stranger, the indigenous stranger—welcome all your neighbours you haven't yet met. Welcome her. Welcome him. Welcome them. Welcome the ones who have lost their land.

Listen to the voice of the Land; to the voice of the minority; to the voice of the creative ones; to all our relations. Listen twice as much as you speak. Speak life and beauty.