Sunday, Aug. 10: Summary of the day

About 50 Commissioners, former Moderators, General Council Office staff, and the Moderator-elect and her family began the day at 6:15 am MT for the fourth Alvin Dixon Memorial Walk/Run, which raises money for Indigenous students pursuing post-secondary education. This year’s five-kilometre walk/run has raised more than $25,000 so far, the most in a single year since the event started. Donations are accepted until the end of the month. 

Today’s theme urged General Council participants to think about what their vision and dream is for the future of The United Church of Canada.  

Back at the TELUS Convention Centre, opening worship was led by General Council children and youth. Retired minister Rev. Kay Cho mirrored the wisdom of the prophet Samuel’s call and mentorship by elder Eli.  

“When the old and young march together in empathy, dignity, humility,” Cho said, “We might be surprised to find ourselves walking in deep spirituality, bold discipleship, daring justice.”  

She also reminded us that this month marks the 80th anniversary of Korea’s liberation at the end of World War II and its division into North and South. 

Toward 2035 

General Secretary Rev. Michael Blair introduced Treena Duncan, Chinook Winds and Pacific Mountain Regional Executive Minister, and Cameron Fraser, Growth and Ministry Development Director, both of whom led this morning’s Toward 2035 discussion.  

Toward 2035 takes an honest look at United Church past and projected statistics while also challenging the Church to dream and act strategically for a vibrant future. For example, while the United Church had a membership of 767,055 in 1992, that number fell to 321,054 in 2023 and is projected to be 111,000 in 2035. The challenge of these statistics compels intervention, inspired also by the present example of some emerging and growing communities of faith.  

Toward 2035 propels the church to a vision and strategy of diverse, inspired, and resilient communities of disciples, from coast to coast, attending to all generations. To realize this, we need to look creatively at ministry opportunities in our regional and local contexts. Three examples towards a more diverse, collaborative, and connected future were highlighted:  

• In Calgary, Commissioners Joanne Anquist and Britta Den Hoed spoke of how McDougall, Ogden, and Red Deer Lake United Churches have come together in creative collaborations, sharing staff and resources to offer deeper and wider ministry on that city’s south side.
• Rev. Jenni Leslie and Rev. Daniel Addai Fobi spoke of how Kitchissippi United Church in Ottawa has found vibrant ministry with new immigrants and refugees, including many who are part of LGBTQIA+ communities.
• Five years ago, Chinook Winds Region intentionally chose to resource First Third Ministry. Team Lead Pamela Evans spoke about the expanding ministry with children, youth, and young adults in rural and urban contexts.  

Jennifer Henry, Executive Minister, Organizational Development and Strategy, invited the court to find their place in this emerging strategy, and mentioned tools and resources being put together for communities of faith to help people engage.  

Indigenous Ministry and Justice (IMJ)

Springwater Hester-Meawassige and Rev. Tony Snow gave an update on IMJ, using the seasons as a lens for the update: 

• Winter— a time of rest and renewal
• Spring — a time of renewal
• Summer — a time of abundance
• Fall — a time of reflection 

The update covered Indigenous youth programming, a contribution to an understanding of spiritual violence, engaging with the work of the Special Interlocutor into Unmarked Graves, and researching the state of Indigenous properties and support to the Healing Fund, a grant that supports healing initiatives in Indigenous communities to address the ongoing impacts of the residential school system. Rev. Tony Snow outlined the ongoing challenges facing Indigenous United Church congregations and the continued need for settlers to attend to relationships and possible reconciliation. 

The General Secretary called on Harry Li, Executive Officer, Finance, to address a query about funding to the Indigenous Church. He noted that direct funding to Regional Council Offices has two streams: Mission and Service grants and assessment allocation, totalling between $500,000 and $600,000 per region.  

In 2024, the total budget allocated to the Indigenous Church was $3.8 million; in addition, there is $6 million in investments from property sales earmarked for the Indigenous Church. Springwater noted that collectively, 22 Indigenous church properties require $10 million in repairs; one in northern British Columbia would cost $1.3 million to repair alone. 

“This is our reality. The needs are great,” she told the gathering. “It’s way bigger than the money that is sitting in the account right now.” 

GCE Accountability Report 

Kit Loewen, Chair of the Governance Committee, presented an update on the General Council Executive (GCE), to offer colour to the accountability report. Using Exodus 35 as a foundation upon which to layer the report, Kit outlined how the GCE strives to live into the transition initiated by the structural changes. 

She outlined the three duties of the GCE: 

1. Fiduciary: Care for human and material assets of the church—oversight and management
2. Strategic: Foresight, planning, and oversight
3. Generative: Insight, reflection, and mitigating biases 

She expressed gratitude for the guidance of Rev. Dan Hotchkiss on governance and highlighted the ongoing journey of decolonizing the work of the GCE. She also thanked the workflow task group, which was made up of governance experts from across the church. 

Way Forward Committee: Decision Session #1 

General Council then moved into a decision session where the Way Forward Committee presented three proposals:   

WF11 TICIF01 Vocations of the Whole People of God: Carried 

WF06: PM05 Salary Continuance for General Council Office Staff and PM06 Denominational Pay Equity: Carried with amendment 

WF08: GCE02 Total Compensation Review Proposals: Carried with amendment 

Theme #3: Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson 

The keynote speaker, Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson, spoke for the third time, starting off her motivating message with a poem entitled “Resurrection”. She acknowledged the international guests in the room and offered continued support of The United Church of Canada—we are not alone. Her message recalled the deep harms that we continue to perpetrate, but affirmed the possibility to heal and be with one another in new and meaningful ways. 

Karen Georgia challenged the church to think differently about the ABCs: attendance, buildings, and cash, and urged the church to stop doing the things that are not working. Her invitation was to embrace the spiritual needs of people and communities and build a church of the future that is deeply relevant to those needs. She connected the importance of spiritual practice to sustained commitments to justice, and encouraged the continued faith journey of bold dreaming and daring transformation.  

White Hat Ceremony 

A representative from Calgary Tourism engaged special guests and senior leaders in a White Hat Ceremony, to the great entertainment of those in the audience.