Authors: Tammy-Jo Mortensen

I was just reading an article in the Spring 2021 edition of the University of Alberta Alumni magazine, New Trail, and a couple of headlines caught my attention, which then gave me food for thought for this issue of Gathering on ongoing racism in the church. It feels like there...

The word affirming can have several meanings depending on context, but the definition can include: 1) stating a fact, 2) asserting strongly, and 3) offering someone support or encouragement. In the United Church context, we first started using the term affirming to mean the inclusion of all people of all...

In our communities, we all need to be mindful about discrimination and ableism. The word able, on its own or as a suffix, is loaded with many positive and negative meanings (capable, teachable, unable, disable). When someone asked me to distill thoughts about my work in music ministry down to...

There are some choral suggestions for Advent, Christmas, or Epiphany by Canadian women composers in the attached pdf. This list is by no means exhaustive. Sincere apologies for any composers who have been omitted.

Music is often described as an “international language” that can break down barriers. Does it, or does it divide us sometimes? The music that we prepare for church is created by composers from all over the world, and so a church musician might consider the various aspects of the word...

LEARNING It seems all I am doing these days is learning—about new technology and new procedures; about politics, science, mechanics, and engineering; and especially, as a white woman, about the Black Lives Matter movement and Indigenous Peoples here and around the world. Will all of this learning make me a...

Indigenous Composers National Indigenous History Month is in June, and if you wish to focus on Indigenous hymns and compositions by Indigenous song-makers or song-creators in June and throughout the year, here are some resources below. Recently, in sessions she led for the newly formed Bridge Choral Collective, Sherryl Sewepagaham...

Privilege. That word is so loaded with meaning these days. The Oxford English Dictionary defines the word several ways, including these: first, “A special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group,” and second, “Something regarded as a special honour.” I think our role...