Living Justice
At Broad View United, justice and outreach are not just acts of charity but relationships of solidarity. Our partners teach us, challenge us, and walk alongside us as we share resources, energy, and hope. Through these collaborations, BVU both contributes to and learns from the wisdom, resilience, and actions of others.
What does Living Justice look like for BVU leaders?
Clare Atwell
“How do we take the valuable work we are already doing and connect it to what people outside the church are truly hungry for?”
Connecting Church and Community
Clare reflects on the challenge and opportunity of connecting the meaningful work already happening within the church to the deeper longings people carry beyond traditional church spaces.
“How do we take the valuable work we are already doing and connect it to what people outside the church are truly hungry for?”
She describes the community art installation as an expression of interconnectedness — a reminder that all lives are connected and interdependent. The project shifts people’s perceptions and challenges assumptions about what churches can be and do.
Many people are surprised to see a church leading something so creative, community-oriented, and justice-focused. Clare emphasizes that people are hungry for communities that are engaged, relational, and grounded in meaningful action.
She also notes that while churches often speak about creation, there is still little lived connection between faith, ecology, and nature. This work helps bring those connections to life.
“Connecting Dots”
A key idea Clare raises is “connecting dots” — recognizing that complex systems and social issues are deeply interconnected. Storytelling becomes an important way of holding these connections together and strengthening relationships among local groups and communities.
Creating Spaces of Safety and Belonging
One of the most impactful moments during the visioning process comes when someone shares:
“I love coming to this community. Even though I’m not a Christian, I feel like I can breathe here.”
The absence of judgment and the sense of being welcomed and enriched deeply resonate with Clare. She reflects that creating safe spaces is essential, and hearing others describe that experience so clearly is especially powerful.Emily McDonald
"The Evolving Church Team’s Spring Tea with seniors at Our Place is deeply meaningful to me. Over time, it becomes less about simply serving people and more about sitting together, listening, and learning from one another’s stories."
Building Neighbourhood Connections
Emily shares how involvement in the North Park neighbourhood began with a desire from local residents who wanted the church to become more engaged in community life.
The neighbourhood association plays an important role in fostering these connections through local activities and gatherings, beginning with spaghetti dinners and expanding into many forms of community engagement, including:
- Teas for Our Place seniors
- Participation in the North Park Community Festival
- Children’s skating programs
- Support for Moms Stop the Harm
- International Overdose Awareness events
- Non-traditional worship services
Much of this work through the Evolving Church Team is lay-led, reflecting new and creative ways of “doing church differently.”
Listening Beyond Service
Emily describes the Evolving Church Team’s Spring Tea with seniors of Our Place as deeply meaningful. Over time, the experience becomes less about simply serving and more about sitting together, listening, and learning from one another’s stories.
Young People as Foundation
She also emphasizes that young people are foundational to understanding emerging needs, hopes, and ways of building community for the future.Stephen Tyler
“Change happens through connecting with others more than through brilliant ideas.”
Collective Action and Relationship
Stephen speaks about the work of GVAT (Greater Victoria Acting Together), which brings together many faith communities and organizations to pursue social change through collective action and advocacy.
He reflects that the congregation helps him understand the value of relationship and conversation over analysis alone:
“Change happens through connecting with others more than through brilliant ideas.”
For Stephen, this becomes an important way of living out Christian values within the wider community — through collaboration, listening, and shared action.Barbara Taylor
“I see the BVU Justice Fair as ‘justice work from outside to inside’ — a space where people can come, share, connect, and participate together. Even someone who has previously left the church can still find the experience empowering, because it gives them a chance to reconnect through shared passions and meaningful action. The Justice Fair helps people rediscover where they might belong within the community again.”
Palestine Solidarity and Grassroots Justice
Barbara speaks about Palestine as an ongoing thread within justice work and community awareness. She reflects on becoming more aware of how people are treated globally and shares simple but meaningful acts of solidarity, such as bringing Palestinian olive oil and dates into community spaces.
Having grown up in the United Church, Barbara connects this work to a longstanding belief in grassroots engagement, networking, and building relationships both within and beyond the church community.
BVU Justice Fair & Finding Connection
Barbara highlights the Justice Fair as an important example of justice work creating pathways for connection. She shares the example of Gail Chapman making cards in support of the Moose Hide Campaign.
One person who previously leaves the church still finds the experience empowering because it allows them to reconnect through shared passions and meaningful action. The Justice Fair helps people discover where they might belong within the community again.
“Justice Work Outside to Inside”
Barbara describes the Justice Fair as a movement of “justice work from outside to inside” — creating spaces where people can come, share, connect, and participate in meaningful action together.
Public Presence in the Community
Barbara also shares a story from a Palestinian Solidarity Rally. When organizers asked:
“Would you like some cookies?”
Those participating in the rally warmly welcomed them, especially because the cookies complement the coffee already being served.
Members of Broad View United Church responded by bringing nine dozen cookies.
When someone asks who should be thanked, Barbara intentionally answers:
“Broad View United Church.”
For her, it is important that Broad View United Church is publicly recognized as an active, compassionate, and justice-oriented presence within the wider community.How BVU Lives Justice
• Interconnectedness and “connecting dots”
• Storytelling as relationship-building
• Hospitality, safety, and belonging
• Justice expressed through action and presence
• Lay leadership and grassroots initiative
• Listening and mutual relationship, not just service
• Collective action across communities and organizations
• Faith communities engaging publicly in social justice
• Creating welcoming spaces beyond traditional church boundaries
Get Involved
Explore, get involved in, or support BVU’s diverse and active ways of living justice.
Here are just a few of the programs and initiatives you may find meaningful or inspiring:
Justice Fair (usually on the 2nd Sunday of each month)
Quilts for Survivors
Palestinian Solidarity ("PalSol")
Trans Family Dinner
Evolving Church Team
Our partners
