Thursday, August 7: General Council 45 Daily Summary

The 45th General Council of The United Church of Canada reconvened at the TELUS Convention Centre in Calgary, Alberta tonight. This session’s theme is Visions and Dreams. GC45 wraps up on Monday, August 11 with a final worship service that includes the installation of the newly selected Moderator. 

For the next few days, we will imagine the future of the church and build on our dreams and visions. Before General Council reconvened today, Indigenous leaders and other General Council attendees headed to Mnî Thnî (formerly Morley) for the lighting of the Sacred Fire, which will burn throughout the Calgary gathering. 

After a powerful and joyous worship, outgoing Moderator, the Right Rev. Dr. Carmen Lansdowne, welcomed the Moderator nominees. The nominees, all ordained ministers, are:

• Rev. Dr. Samuel V. Dansokho (Sherbrooke, QC)
• Rev. Dr. John Pentland (Calgary, AB)
• Rev. Dr. Cheri DiNovo, CM (Toronto, ON)
• Rev. Dr. Kimberly Heath (Brockville, ON)
• Rev. Sungmin Jung (Alliston, ON)

The Rev. Michael Blair, General Secretary, and the Rev. Dr. Lansdowne presented the nominees with a specially designed stole made by Susie Henderson, a textile artist based in Toronto. The nominees’ video statements were aired, including an additional brief video by the Rev. Dr. DiNovo, who offered regrets for not being able to attend GC45 in person. Tomorrow begins with the apology by the church to the 2S and LGBTQIA+ communities within the church, taking place at Knox United Church, 506 4th St. SW, Calgary. A livestream of the service, and all plenary sessions of the General Council, are available on the United Church of Canada YouTube channel.