GCE45 GS01 Opening Procedural and Consent for September 2025

The General Secretary proposes that the General Council Executive: 

1. Approve the minutes of the General Council Executive meeting held March 7-9, June 9, and August 13, 2025.
2. Name Tyler Lodge as Recording Secretary.
3. Receive for information any correspondence to the General Council Executive received since the last meeting of the Executive (sent to the Executive by email and found online).
4. Adopt the agenda for this meeting as circulated, with any changes which may be necessary as the meeting evolves, to be made on the recommendation of the Business Committee.
5. Name as the Business Committee: the Moderator, General Secretary, Chair, Governance Committee, Senior Governance Support Lead and Administrative Assistant Governance Support.
6. Name as corresponding members to this meeting any General Council Officers, Executive Ministers, Executive Officers, and Regional Council Executive Ministers who are present; anyone else who may be named by the General Secretary to serve as resource persons to the General Council Executive.
7. Receive for information the following reports:
   • General Secretary’s Accountability Report
   • Operational Plan Report – Second Quarter 2025
8. Approve the following proposals:
   • NOM02 Recommendations for Appointment
9. Affirm the recommendations in the following Way Forward proposals from General Council 45
   • WF01: BNS01 Clergy Housing Assistance
   • WF02: ECO04 Training on Conflict and Change
   • WF04: ECO01 Making Sabbaticals Easier
   • WF07: CW01 Mediation of COL Group Assignment Disputes
   • WF09: ECO02 Reviewing M&P Committee’s Role and Function for Summer 2025 and FSLDW02 Modernizing Human Resources Models within the United Church of Canada
   • WF10: WOW02 Administration of Sacraments For Retired Diaconal Ministers
   • WF38: NAK02 Address Declining Membership by Expanding the United Church of Canada’s Intercultural Ministry
   • WF40: HF02 Policy That Meets a Variety of Changes in Communities of Faith
   • WF45: COM09 A Call for Strengthening Camping Ministries as Central to Faith Formation within The United Church of Canada, and to Explore How This Vital Work is Structured and Resourced

These proposals are based on the notes from the Discussion Groups of the 45th General Council and were refined by the Way Forward Committee to reflect that input. These proposals were referred to the Executive as unfinished business. Only Way Forward proposals indicating widespread agreement are listed below. Other unfinished business will come to the Executive at a later date.

10. Send the following proposals from General Council 45, which did not have sufficient input from Discussion Groups for the Way Forward Committee to develop a proposal, to the General Secretary for guidance, to report at the Executive meeting in November 2025.
    • PM04 Facing Every Emotional Limit
    • ECO03 Systematic Information Sharing by Pastoral Charge Supervisors
    • COM05 Rescind and Review Manual Changes to “Voluntary Associate Minister” Requirements
11. Adopt the recommendation of Horseshoe Falls Regional Council and appoint Rev. Deborah Laforet as Chair of the Planning Committee for General Council 46.

Background for Consent Motions

A consent agenda is a tool to help the Executive focus on what is most important. Proposals which are routine or non-controversial actions or routine changes in policy or procedure are included in the consent agenda. At the meeting, any voting member of the Executive may request to move any item(s) from the consent agenda to be placed on the meeting’s agenda. By courtesy, advance notice would be given to the General Secretary. If you have a concern you are encouraged to contact the General Secretary in advance as an exchange of information may resolve a question.

In a consent agenda you may also find minutes of previous meetings, accountability reports, etc. The list of correspondence to the Executive (if any) is included with the reports (if any) to be received for information. 

Process

The process for acting on the consent agenda in the opening sessions will be as follows:

1. Presider/chair: “You have all received the workbook, with the consent agenda. Does any member wish to move an item from the consent agenda to be placed on the meeting’s agenda by the Business Committee?”
2. If any voting member requests it, an item is moved. (By courtesy, advance notice would be given to the General Secretary.)

Presider/chair: “Without discussion, then, the consent agenda is ready for a vote. Those in favour? Opposed? All items on the consent agenda are adopted.”