GCE45 GS19 Amendments to section D.4.1.3 for November 2025

1. What is the issue? Why is it important?

GC45 WF26: GCE01 – Review of the Roles of the Moderator and General Secretary for Summer 2025 was carried at the last General Council meeting in August. A task group reviewed the roles of the Moderator and the General Secretary and produced a report with several recommendations.

The General Council received the report and adopted all of its recommendations except for Recommendation 9, which proposed distinguishing between the General Secretary speaking for the Church and the Moderator speaking to the Church. This particular recommendation was referred back to the General Council Executive for further analysis, with a report to be provided to the General Council in 2026.

All other recommendations were accepted, and the Manual Committee was directed to revise the by-laws accordingly.

2. How might the General Council Executive respond to this issue? 

The General Secretary recommends the following changes to section D.4.1.3. The original wording is presented first, followed by the proposed changes.

D.4.1.3 Responsibilities

Original Text

As the senior elected officer of the United Church, the Moderator has the
following responsibilities:

• Giving leadership: The Moderator gives leadership to the United Church, especially in spiritual 
  things, quickening in the hearts of the people a sense of God as revealed in Christ, and heartening 
  and strengthening the whole United Church.
• Presiding: The Moderator presides at the meetings of the General Council, its executive, and its 
  sub-executive.
• Visiting: The Moderator visits throughout the United Church, giving sympathetic guidance and 
  counsel, and reporting to the General Council and its executive.
• Serving as spokesperson: The Moderator serves as the primary
  spokesperson and representative for the United Church.

Proposed Text

The Moderator is the senior elected officer and spiritual leader of the
United Church. Their responsibilities include:

Spiritual leadership:

1. Inspire and encourage the church in its faith and mission;
2. Quicken the hearts of people with a sense of God as revealed in Christ; and
3. Be an instrument of unity and strength for the whole denomination.

Presiding:

4. chair meetings, including those of the General Council, its Executive, and Sub-Executive.

Pastoral presence:

5. Engage communities of faith across the church by listening, guiding and encouraging.

Public Voice:

6. Serve as the primary spokesperson and representative of the church;
7. Communicate the Call and Vision set by the General Council in ways that connect with the whole 
   denomination; and
8. Call the church to prophetic action in response to current issues.

Collaborative ministry with the General Secretary:

9. Advance the Call and Vision set by the General Council of deep spirituality, bold discipleship, 
   and daring justice;
10. Discern and articulate what is happening in the church;
11. Advance right relations with the Indigenous church;
12. Maintain strong connections with national, global, and ecumenical partners;
13. Ensure a consistent and thoughtful voice on prophetic or controversial matters; and
14. Clarify and communicate the United Church’s role as a distinctive Christian expression.
     

3. For the body transmitting this proposal to the General Council Executive:?

N/A