Dressed in such brand names as Gap and Nike, members of the civil and religious liberties committee treated the Caribbean and North American area council to a "sweatshop fashion show". They paraded before the council while their chair, Helen Smith (Presbyterian Church in Canada), detailed conditions in the plants where these familiar products are manufactured. We wear exploitation next to our skin.

The sweatshop fashion show

In early March, 47 representatives, guests and visitors gathered at the Crieff Hills conference centre, about two hours away from Toronto, for the annual CANAAC meeting.

Anna Case-Winters preached on judgment and transformation during the opening worship at the Knox Church, Crieff; and Art Van Seters and Harold Alston, past and present moderators of CANAAC, presided at the communion service.

Surrounded by the snow-covered fields of the 250-acre centre, delegates focused on faith and economics. Harold Sitahal (Presbyterian Church in Trinidad and Tobago) spoke on "Ecumenism and historical realities in the Caribbean". Tom Faulkner of Dalhousie University presented a paper on "Secular trends: reconceiving the relationship between religion and economics". Dorcas Gordon and Peter Wyatt, newly elected principal of Emmanuel College, Toronto, led participants in Bible study.

The civil and religious liberties committee reported on action arising from CANAAC's October 1999 conference on the debt crisis, and called on member churches to report activities related to covenanting for justice in the economy and the earth. The theology committee will work on the development of a curriculum on life in fullness - the theme of the 24th general council (Accra, 2004) - for use by member churches in the next three years.

On the eve of the March elections in Guyana, the council agreed to write to member churches in Guyana advocating racial reconciliation. It also decided to write again to the US government calling for an end to the embargo against Cuba.

Brian Ellison reported that all CANAAC member churches can now communicate with each other electronically and announced plans for a CANAAC web page. A CANAAC youth consultation is planned for 2002.

Earl Thames reported on the work of the Caribbean and North America Council for Mission, which celebrates its 15th anniversary this year. (Thames is the CANACOM treasurer.)

The new CANAAC moderator is Collin Cowan (United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands). Other officers are Colleen Bowers (Presbyterian Church, USA), vice-moderator; Harold Alston (United Church of Canada), past moderator; Brian Ellison (Presbyterian Church, USA), recording clerk; Chris Burdick (United Church of Christ), Joy Abdul Mohan (Presbyterian Church in Trinidad and Tobago), and Perryn Rice (Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America).

The new officers were installed by Setri Nyomi, general secretary of the Alliance, who earlier brought greetings and encouraged CANAAC and its member churches to share in preparations for the 24th general council. Also attending was Olivia Masih White, one of the WARC vice-presidents.

The council is slated to meet from October 17 to 20 2002 in the USA - probably in Texas, with foci on the death penalty and the environment, especially along the US-Mexican border. It will meet again from October 16 to 29 2003 in the Caribbean, with the theme "That All may have Life in Abundance." Thereafter meetings will be held every 18 months.