General Assembly 2009

posted on June 13, 2009 in Blogs, Jayne Self

Recently, the Lord has challenged me to reassess the way I live my faith.

Yes, I’m active in my church community, I give to the food bank, I sponsor children in far off countries, I give to missions and PWS&D. But those are safe things. They don’t interfere with my life. They don’t threaten my security.

For me, some of the most interesting aspects of the General Assembly have centered around this issue. What, as safe and secure Canadian Christian, is God calling me to do to further His kingdom here on earth?

I admit I’ve been reluctant to consider this question. I don’t believe we can create God’s kingdom on earth. That’s something He will do that when Christ returns.

But God is opening my eyes to see that although we cannot do anything as grand as He, He has still called me to do my part—as a foot soldier, I suppose, if you’ll pardon the military reference.

Archbishop Elias Chacour, this year’s recipient of the E.H. Johnson Award, challenged us through his words and his life, to love all people equally, regardless of race, or faith. “All of us are created in God’s image and worthy of respect,” he said.

This week I saw examples of how our Presbyterian Church in Canada is striving to achieve that goal.

Whether it was commemorating the church’s apology to Canada’s Aboriginal peoples and our part in the heartbreak of residential schools, or the special Commissioner’s Overture addressing North Korea’s most recent actions, I’m proud to say the Presbyterian Church in Canada is on the move.

However, we cannot become complacent. As one commissioner reminded us, Canada’s history of ignoring people’s civil liberties is as old as our country. In 1914 we refused landing to Indian immigrants aboard the Komataga Maru. We interred German Canadians during WWI and Japanese Canadians during WWII. Prime Minister Mackenzie King’s decision to refuse Jews fleeing German persecution was in part supported by Canadian Presbyterians. And, of course, there is our part in the residential schools.

After all this, you’d think we’d learn. But we haven’t. And I’m saddened to say that despite all the good works we as Presbyterians are doing, not one person at the 135^th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, stood to condemn our government’s refusal to intervene on behalf of two Canadians, Omar Khadr and Abousfian Abdelrazik.

Why are we silent?

Where is the Holy Spirit?

A challenge to the General Assembly.

posted on June 11, 2009 in Blogs, Jayne Self

When I was little I asked my Sunday school teacher, “What is the Holy Spirit?” “I don’t know,” she told me and I wondered, if she couldn’t tell me, who could?

A few years later we moved to Kelowna B.C., and began attending the Presbyterian church. I still remember our first Sunday. I was watching a girl about my age (fourteen) sitting in the front row of the senior choir, and not paying much attention to the sermon when suddenly a man in the congregation shouted, “Amen!”

I sat up straight. Had God finally sent me to a church that could answer my question?

My parents and I attended St. David’s for years and I learned so much from David Stewart (St. David’s minister at the time), the congregation and the activities of the Presbyterian Young People’s Society, about the life and ministry of the Holy Spirit. My life was changed and I will forever be grateful to God for our years in Kelowna.

Today I was speaking with a young minister from B.C. While my memories of B.C. abound with excitement and dynamic spiritual growth, his experience is very different. Sadly, he sees congregations struggling and dying for lack of youth and young families. And he grieves for the future of the Presbyterian churches in his part of BC.

Why are our churches shrinking?

Is there a correlation between my youthful experience in Kelowna and its emphasis on the ministry of the Holy Spirit among believers? Conversely, is there a correlation between the lack of growth in our congregations and a lack of teaching about the Holy Spirit?

One of my goals here at General Assembly was to tap the vast resources of our church to find Bible resources for my ladies’ Bible study group. They are hungry to learn more about the Holy Spirit and I thought, “What better place to look?”

Imagine my surprise when I could not find one single book in the book room on the Holy Spirit. Nor could I find a minister who could recommend a resource he or she had used.

An elder from Brampton Presbytery today asked Harvey, “Why are we ignoring spiritual issues and not discussing the spiritual condition of our churches?”

The young minister form BC lamented, “How can we spend so much time discussing money and not evangelism?”

Could it be, the Presbyterian Church in Canada is struggling because we are ignoring the Holy Spirit?

Come In

An amazing story of God's provisions told through a refugee.

posted on June 10, 2009 in Blogs, Jayne Self

Charles is a Chaplain in the Canadian Armed Forces.

He was born in Rwanda and raised in a refugee camp in Tanzania, and Monday evening he told us his story as we rode home from the General Assembly Banquet on a bus.

It’s a story of God’s provision, but more amazing to me than the miraculous movement of God’s hand directing the circumstances of Charles’ life, is the undeniable influence of God’s grace in Charles’ life. Charles bubbles, He bounces. He absolutely glows with God’s love. And it’s a dynamic, tangible thing that draws people to him. In only a moment her had us leaning close as we soaked up his word above the drone of the bus’s engine.

“To make a long story short,” Charles said that over and over before adding another twist.

I’m not going to tell you Charles’ story here. It’s too mind-blowing to fit into this small space and frankly, I wouldn’t get all the details correct after only hearing him once. But one particular aspect of his story has continued to resurface in my mind.

When Charles and his new bride finally stepped across the border into Canada, he stood in front of his wife (who did not as of yet speak English) and said, “We are refugees.” Then the Canadian Border Security Officer replied, “Come in.”

To Charles Canada means “Come in.” Come in from the cold. Come in and be safe. And in gratitude for that welcome he’s become a citizen and now a Chaplain serving in our Armed Forces.

“Come in.”

As Canadians we have the wonderful privilege of opening our doors to a needy world, and saying “Come in.” Come in from the cold. Come in and be safe.

But more importantly, as Christians Jesus has called us to open our hearts and our churches and say, “Come in.”

Come in out of the cold. Come in and be safe. Come in and let us share with you the love and joy of our amazing Lord, Jesus Christ God’s son.

Second Time – Even Better

The warm and fuzzies at the 135th General Assembly.

by Allyssa De Bruijn

posted on June 10, 2009 in Allyssa de Bruijn, Blogs

I have the immense pleasure of being a second-year YAR. I was more than honoured when my Presbytery approached me to represent Northern Saskatchewan for the second time.

So here I am. The Venerable General Assembly #135. New YARs. New commissioners. New moderator. New venue (McMaster University, Hamilton is lovely, by the way). Same old Presby spirit. Good ol’ Presbyterianism!

I like people. There are a lot of people here. It’s truly amazing, especially coming from Saskatchewan, worshiping with so many Presbyterians from all over the country. I’m sure that if you put all the Presbyterians in Saskatchewan in the same room, there would be less people than there are at General Assembly right now. Pretty sure.

It’s been an ama-za-zing experience so far! This time around, I know a lot more about the procedure and expectations, and am able to help out the other YARs in understanding the what’s what of General Assembly.

I’ve been impressed with Moderator Harvey Self. He always remains composed, keeps the business of the Assembly flowing, and knows procedure. He’s very knowledgeable, and has a long-standing family history with the Presbyterian Church in Canada.

The Assembly has voted on some very interesting issues so far. This year, for the first time, the YARs were granted the privilege of casting “advisory votes” on certain issues. This means that we, before the commissioners, get to let the Assembly know our opinions via green voting cards. By this method, we’ve provided input about such issues as Israeli-Canadian trade, and responses to a Muslim agreement entitled “A Common Agreement Between Us and You.” And that’s just one day’s work!

As YARs, we get to meet with many people who tell us about what’s going on this week, such as the Moderator and the Clerks. We’ve asked them all to tell us something that they think will surprise us. For the right price, I may be willing to disclose this information on a later blog.

So far, I would have to say that this General Assembly has sparked more debate and has dealt with more serious and pertinent issues than the 133^rd General Assembly. This is only my perspective, though, and I will freely admit that it’s very likely that I think this way because I am paying infinitely more attention this time around and have a proper grasp of what’s happening.

I’d just like to close this entry by saying that I adore my fellow YARs. They are all fantastic ambassadors for the youth of their respective Presbyteries. I’m glad they could be a part of my experience here. They make me feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside. Smile!

Park: Pray for Canada’s oil industry

Moderator of 2008 assembly shares insights following tour of Alberta's oilsands.

posted on June 8, 2009 in Blogs, Connie Purvis

During his final remarks as moderator of the 2008 General Assembly, Rev. Cheol Soon Park asked for special prayers for Canada’s oil industry.

“It’s a remarkable resource, and we need it,” he told commissioners and staff during the first session of the 2009 assembly. “Although a lot of money can be made by extracting oil quickly, we need to be responsible. We need to ensure that the next generation and the generation after that still have access, and do not have to bear the cost of restoring the land.”

Park had just returned from a tour of Alberta’s Athabasca oil sands that allowed church and aboriginal leaders to meet with industry representatives, workers, government officials and aboriginal communities. The tour was sponsored by KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives and ran from May 21 to 27.

Canada boasts some of the largest oil reserves in the world—second only to Saudi Arabia—and its petroleum industry is a booming employer in the midst of an uncertain economy. But the industry has its environmental dark side. Processing heavy crude, such as that found near Fort McMurray in northeastern Alberta, requires large quantities of water and substantial amounts of natural gas, making oilsands projects the largest contributors to Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions. Water contaminated by the process is also stored in large ‘tailing ponds,’ which environmental groups allege can seep into nearby water sources.

During an interview with the Record the week before assembly, Park expressed particular concern for the people of Fort Chipewyan, a small town 300 km north of Fort McMurray. Cancer rates are unusually high in the town, which is located downstream from several oilsands developments.

“That’s a harsh reality,” Park said. “People are dying there.”

A report released by Alberta Health Services in February claimed more study is necessary to determine if the oilsands operations upstream are to blame for the town’s higher than normal cancer rates. Park said such noncommittal responses from scientific studies and government officials have frustrated local people.

“We need to slow down, do more research,” he said. He also expressed desires to see a more balanced approach to issues surrounding Alberta’s oil. Although he believes Canada needs the oilsands, he expressed concern about the speed of the mining processes. As oil becomes an increasingly valuable commodity, the pressure to increase production may lead to large deforested areas or, if an underground pipe ruptures, liquid bitumen could leak into the water system—a possibility an industry spokesperson described as “catastrophic.”

At assembly, Park described expansive stretches of barren ground as church leaders flew over some of the land mining sites.

He urged commissioners to follow up on the process that began with the leaders’ tour, and to keep the industry in their thoughts and prayers.

“It’s not their problem, it’s our problem. We’re the consumers of this oil.”

Monday – Briefing Groups and Child Prodegies

posted on June 8, 2009 in Blogs, Connie Purvis

Monday was spent navigating the maze-like corridors of McMaster University to attend briefing groups. As the name implies, these groups provide commissioners with a brief overview of the reports and recommendations from the church’s various committees and agencies, and allows them to ask questions or seek clarification if needed. In theory, this gets the preliminary details out of the way so commissioners are prepared to deal with business as soon as it hits the floor of the assembly. But from what I hear from serial commissioners, business can still be bogged down by details. And it’s hard to guess what the big debates will be.

In the evening, we all boarded city buses chartered for us by the City of Hamilton. It was time for the General Assembly banquet; a relatively formal affair involving a beef dinner and some fabulous entertainment. This year it was hosted at banquet hall for very large weddings, a venue full of white marble and draping fabrics, peppered with replica artwork and statuary by its namesake.

Our dinner entertainment, however, was pint-sized. Even standing on a platform only a few tables away from me, 10-year-old Liam McGlashon was hidden by the heads of seated commissioners. He’s a prodigy on the fiddle, playing a variety of Irish and Scottish tunes, a waltz, and finally the well-known—but exceedingly difficult—Orange Blossom Special, a bluegrass favorite.

Although he set the bar high for the entertainment to come, the Youth section of the Hamilton Children’s Choir didn’t disappoint. They had just returned from a trip to Gothenburg, Sweden as guests of a renowned music school and I must say, they deserved it. The group’s repertoire was eclectic and entirely without accompaniment, ranging from Canadian-composed songs to Cuban melodies to an Indian folk tune arranged by co-director Meghan Quinlan. They concluded with a rendition of Dancing Queen by the Swedish pop group ABBA in honour of their recent trip.

With our bellies full, the assembly returned to McMaster to prepare ourselves for the long week ahead. Business begins in earnest tomorrow.

If you’re interested, here are links to some Youtube videos featuring the talented performners:

Liam McGlashon

And the Hamilton Children’s Chorus

Rising To The Challenge

A standing ovation for those who took risks.

posted on June 8, 2009 in Blogs, Jayne Self

We will take risks and trust our loving God with the results.

Starting Something Unthinkable

posted on June 8, 2009 in Blogs, Connie Purvis

A magnificent pipe organ dominated centre stage, flanked by large overhead screens and surrounded by the murmur of voices. As worship began, the voices gave way to the organ’s music, only to rise again—together—with unexpected power in the words of the opening hymn.

O breath of life, come sweeping through us;
Revive your church with life and power.
O breath of life, come cleanse, renew us,
And fit your church to meet this hour.

That was the start of the 135th General Assembly, opening with worship at Redeemer College in Hamiton, Ont.

Rev. Cheol Soon Park, ever eloquent and dignified in his role as moderator of the 134th assembly, admitted he had struggled with his sermon for the occasion.

“I knew I would be speaking to many ruling elders and many teaching elders,” he told the crowd. “I wondered, how can I move their hearts?” He chose one of the best-known stories in Luke’s gospel—the tale of Zacchaeus.

As a tax collector—and a good one at that—Zacchaeus grew rich by gauging people. He collected more tax than necessary, gave the requisite amount to the Roman authorities and pocketed the difference alongside his salary. He was despised by the local population—an unwelcome and uninvited guest the day Christ came to town.

But as he thought about his sermon, Park found himself reflecting on our Presbyterian identity.

“We’re prudent people,” he told the assembly. “We don’t make decisions easily, carelessly. We delay the process, postpone the sederunt. We’re practical. We don’t want to waste money. We’re trying to be honest, frank, diligent. I’m impressed and blessed by the structure, system and protection we have. We’re not used to making mistakes, especially from unpreparedness. We don’t like the unexpected—something surprising.”

He paused.

“Zacchaeus,” he said,” was not a Presbyterian.”

Like a good, diligent Presbyterian himself, Park said he did his math. Zacchaeus, a man who grew rich by cheating others, promised Christ he would give one half of his wealth to the poor and would pay back each person he had wronged four times the amount he had taken dishonestly.

“How much of his wealth did he acquire dishonestly? Ten per cent? If it was only ten percent he would have been the kindest tax collector around. Twenty per cent? Thirty? Forty?

“If Zacchaeus did what he said he would do, he would be left with nothing.

“I think he made a conscious decision. He knew he’d be left with nothing. He knew he’d be left in red ink. But he did it with joy and happiness. Why? Because he had experienced life in abundance. He had seen the marvelous love and grace of God.

“Maybe we’re being caught up by our almost perfect system. Our own tradition. Our norms and standards and ways of doing things.

“We’re highly trained polity people. We try to be practical, and most of all biblical. But Zacchaeus tells us one thing as a Christian who experienced vast love and acceptance—we should be willing to try something unthinkable. Something impractical, unacceptable. Something past where we drew the limit of where we were willing to go. Something we’ve delayed many times.”

Park then told the story of a young Korean man with a newly printed theology doctorate from a New York University and bright prospects ahead of him, who boarded a plane to Seoul. He sat beside an older gentleman—in his 60s, perhaps—who turned out to have a doctorate in business. As they chatted, the older man finally said something unexpected that shook the younger man’s world.

He was a committed Christian, and had struggled to open a university in China. Because of his perseverance, the Chinese government eventually gave him a square kilometer of land for the purpose. It was the site of a public cemetery—land that no one else wanted. He built two stone buildings for his university, but he still had no faculty and no funding. He offered the young graduate a job. “I think you can do great things there,” he said. “But you should know—the job will be volunteer. You must bring your own money.”

Twelve years later, that young man is still a member of a 150-member faculty.

“Tonight, as we gather once again to prepare ourselves once again for the future, I’d like to challenge you with one thing—let us do as Zacchaeus did. Something we didn’t think about—didn’t want to. Something we’re too prudent and careful to do. Something unthinkable. Something we’ve never done before.

“When we’re willing to lose something in God’s name, a miracle occurs. Even in our age. Even in the Presbyterian church.

“Start something unthinkable in God’s name.”

General Assembly Blues

Songs by Angus Sutherland

posted on June 8, 2009 in Angus Sutherland

some-assembly-required

The Clerk’s Rant (MP3 file)

First Time Commissioner at the General Assembly Blues (MP3 file)

CDs are available for sale at General Assembly and can be ordered through the Book Room. $15 only. All proceeds go to PWS&D.

The Flashing Lights of General Assembly

These are a few of my favourite 150,000 Presbyterians. But first an apology.

by Andrew Faiz

posted on June 8, 2009 in Andrew Faiz, Blogs

First: let me apologize to all commissioners gathered at Redeemer University last night for General Assembly’s opening worship and First Sederunt: I didn’t realize till later that my flash was in perpetual test mode and as I turned my camera towards you I didn’t realize I was attacking you with a strobe effect. A few of you, kindly and politely, made jokes about it; a few of you gave me dirty looks. But, it was only one lady who came right up to me and told me she didn’t appreciate the strobe lighting. That’s when I realized there was a problem.

So my apologies.

Now, let me introduce you to a few Presbyterians; all of whom you probably know already, and if you don’t, you really must:

Al Clarkson

Al has been, he thinks, to about 25 general assemblies. He was a Young Adult Representative, has been a commissioner a couple of times. For the other occasions? “It’s family,” he says. Its getting so, it wouldn’t be general assembly without Al.

He volunteers at the Presbyterian Museum and can be seen each year at its booth. He does have a day job but he doesn’t let it get in the way of his interest in the Presbyterian Church in Canada.

Oh, and if you were on the Redeemer campus last night and saw a corrected sign, you know it was Al: the sign said Presbyterian Church of Canada; Al took out the pen and made the correction.

Remmelt Hummelin

There’s a very good novel in Remmelt’s life story. Coming of age in the Sixties, he was a young man on a mission in our church. He was very active in the PYPS movement then, helping raise its profile. He was on the ground when the first Young Adult Representative were introduced to General Assembly, forty years ago.

Flash forward to the Seventies and he worked in the national church’s communications department, telling stories of the church.

Remmelt returned from Afghanistan a year or so ago. He was working there on a development project — work he has done around the world for thirty years. Work which is in many ways an expansion of the work he first did as a much younger man for this church. He is not a commissioner but he came for the opening worship.

Ken Craigie

It suddenly occurs to me I’m making a list of some of my favourite people in the church; folks I’ve been privileged to know over the years. The last time I spoke to Ken was about a week ago; half way through our conversation he told me he was lying in a hospital bed. But, nothing keeps a good man down. He’s an elder at Rosedale today; and his PCC story is classic: he came up through PYPS and has been an active presence in our church for at least thirty years.

Charles Deogratias

I first met Charles in the mid-Nineties. He had just arrived in Canada and a civil war had broken out in his native Rwanda. I interviewed him for my church (Gateway Community, Toronto) newsletter.

He moved from Toronto and went to Presbyterian College, Montreal. He is now a padre in the Canadian Armed Forces and was most recently in Afghanistan. Charles’ life would make a vast sweeping novel: it is a story of our times, of the darkness and light that co-exist in humanity and of this great country in which we live but our too shy or reticent to raise in song and voice.

Charles’ story begins with civil war in Rwanda in 1949. His grandparents are murdered, his family’s estate is stolen and the family shoved to a refugee camp in what was then Tanganikya. That’s where Charles was born and grew up. And that’s where he learned to praise God for his glory and his grace. He arrived in Canada just as another civil war broke out in Rwanda.

By the time he graduated from PC, Montreal, Charles had lost almost two dozen members of his family. He returned to Rwanda — return is the wrong word, he arrived there for the first time — in the late-Nineties. He was now Rev. Deogratias, Canadian. He performed a mass burial/funeral for his family. And then, with his father in tow, he returned to the family estate. His father hadn’t been there in forty years. Those who had murdered the grandparents and stolen the farm were still there. The Diogratias’ hugged and forgave the family. For them it is much more important to understand, to contemplate, the darkness in humanity than to fret over property. As Charles said last night, he tries to explain this to his children, that they must understand. He quoted St. Augustine: “To love those who love you is human. To hate those who love you is demonic. To love those who hate you is divine.”

Its real — finally

Jayne Self, married to the moderator of the 135th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, shares her observations and experiences of the annual Gathering of the Clans.

posted on June 7, 2009 in Blogs, Jayne Self

I’m Jayne and I am married to Harvey, who happens to be the moderator of the 135th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Canada. His name was announced on April 1st, 2009.

Last Sunday, May 31st, this finally started to feel real. We’d just finished singing the benediction when John, an elder at Tweedsmuir, Orangeville, Ont.,where Harvey is minister, walked to the front of the sanctuary. “Harvey, before you leave for Hamilton, with all the responsibilities and privileges that your new position as Moderator will entail, we wanted you to know that you are not going alone. And as a symbol of this, we have a small gift for you.”

He presented Harvey with a beautiful new preaching scarf. It’s navy, like Harvey’s gown, and emblazoned with the Burning Bush and the words: Nec Tamen Consumebatur. (Which I understand means burned but not consumed.)

“During this coming year, we hope this scarf will represent our arms encircling you with our love and prayers,” said Margorie, our Clerk of Session.

Downstairs during coffee, there was another presentation. Orangeville’s Deputy Mayor challenged Harvey to step forward, not only as a representative of Tweedsmuir, but as a representative of Orangeville.

It’s amazing really. We have moved so many times that until now we have never known the blessings of belonging to an extended community. Until now, our closest bonds have been with family. How exciting it is to see God extending those bonds.

I’m told General Assembly is like the Gathering of the Clans. That being the case, I look forward to getting to know my clan better.

A Call to See and Be Near

Relationships and youth

by Andrew Root

posted on June 1, 2009 in Youth

photo by Sheryl Mareae Reily, Getty Images

An infected person with a glowing green hand touches others who then contract glowing green hands, and who each pass along the glowing green infection to another and then another. This is often how we believe suffering operates. We implicitly assume it’s passed on like an infection, like the green hand.

Youth ministry has historically been constructed around fun and entertainment, assuming we need these things to get young people to come and participate. If they come and participate we can get them to become members of the church, to have faith, to be responsible, that is, to do what we want them to do. In youth ministry we have often seen our relationships as tools for positive influence. But this may prevent us from being with adolescents in their raw human existence, in the midst of their suffering for an identity, in the midst of suffering broken families, disappointment and fear. We might assume, because youth ministry has tried to be an influential commercial for Christian faith, that any suffering from one will infect the group. In other words: Don’t have the depressed kid come on the trip or she’ll infect the group with her suffering. Don’t ask him about the divorce of his parents because what then would I say? Don’t put two and two together that your most committed leader may be the victim of abuse because that may remind you of your own past.

Too often relational youth ministry avoids suffering, and therefore lacks the boldness and bravery to enter into the full humanity of adolescents. But suffering doesn’t work like the glowing green hand of infection. When suffering is shared, often its power to strangle is broken. Things may remain painful and difficult, but when we’re no longer alone, suffering feels (and is) no longer life-threatening. The power of suffering to determine our destiny is broken when suffering is shared in relationship. We may then argue that the heart of relational youth ministry is actually shared suffering.

Free Web Hosting

posted on June 1, 2009 in News

The Presbyterian Church’s communications office is providing a new free web-hosting service to all recognized ministries of the church beginning in June. The service will offer a basic website that is easy to manage with no additional software or technical skills required.

First, Port Colborne, ON

posted on June 1, 2009 in People & Places

The WMS of First, Port Colborne, Ont., recently organized fundraising for Bricks for Jobat and School Supplies for Eastern Europe. On Mission Sunday the guest speaker was Mary Lou Johnston, in flowered vest, of Dunnville, who described Christian gypsy children in Hungary, the Ukraine and Croatia who can now attend school and have a better chance for a future with the funds that the WMS helped to raise.

Free Press

posted on June 1, 2009 in News

ENI—The Toronto-based World Association for Christian Communication has called for international pressure to lift media restrictions in Fiji that prevent journalists from publishing material that portrays its military government in a “negative light.”

Letter from Bankok: Dalit Theology

A WCC conference on the caste system in a Christian context.

by Will Ingram

posted on June 1, 2009 in News

Most of us cannot imagine being treated from birth as if we were impure, polluted and polluting to those around us. And yet, this is the daily reality for many of the world’s 200 million “dalits”.

Geddie Keeps Growing

posted on June 1, 2009 in News

“There’s something about Camp Geddie,” executive director Audrey Cameron said. “The Celts use the term ‘thin spaces’ and I believe Geddie is a thin space where heaven and earth are very close.”
That space is a little roomier as Camp Geddie in Nova Scotia makes use of over 40 acres of land added to its existing facilities.