GC45

GC45 Final Report Offices of Moderator and General Secretary Review for Summer 2025

Origin: The Task Group to Review the Roles of Moderator and General Secretary

The offices of Moderator and General Secretary are the two most senior offices in The United Church of Canada. In September 2022, the Executive of the General Council established a task group to examine the church’s needs in relation to the role of the office of Moderator, the responsibilities of the Moderator, and the opportunity a Moderator has to pursue themes and initiatives (The Manual D.4.1.6). The last time a review happened was in 1997. The 37th General Council in 2000 made Manual changes to the role of the Moderator and General Secretary. (Resolution 38 – GC37, 2000)

The Manual does not require a review of the office of the General Secretary, however given
1) the restructuring of The United Church of Canada in 2018, 2) the current financial reality that faces the church in the coming years, 3) the staff cuts that were necessary over the past few years, and 4) the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is reasonable that a review of the expectations of the office of the General Secretary, given the needs of the church, should also be conducted at this time. Furthermore, the fiduciary responsibility of the General Council Executive to the United Church dictates that the Executive evaluate and respond to the need to establish performance standards for the two most senior executive roles in the denomination.

This is the task group’s final report to the Executive. It is proposed that it be forwarded to the General Council with the attached recommendations.