Friday, Aug. 8: Summary of the Day

Although the day started out overcast and rainy, the sanctuary of Knox United Church in Calgary resonated with a joyful end to a somber service in which The United Church of Canada offered an apology to 2S and LGTBQIA+ people who had been harmed within the church. At least 300 people attended the service, with another 200+ online.  

Eventually they made their way back to the TELUS Convention Centre in time for the day’s proceedings to begin.  

As the day progressed, the plenary business session began with an introduction of Full Communion, Partner Council, global and Canadian ecumenical partners, and inter-faith guests by Japhet Ndhlovo, Executive Minister for the Church in Mission unit. Some who had been invited were unable to attend. 

Guest speaker The Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson, General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ in the United States, offered a rousing presentation on today’s theme: What is The United Church of Canada’s vision/dream for Daring Justice?  

“By definition, to be daring is to have the courage to do something,” she told the room of 400 commissioners and guests. “Daring justice is justice that is courageous, justice that challenges the church, challenges society, challenges each one of us, justice that requires risk and costs us each something.” 

She challenged the global church to offer prophetic witness, and bold, daring justice to a world that is in chaos. She offered three questions for participants to discuss in their table groups. The Moderator offered an opportunity for individuals to tell the room one response to the questions from their discussion. 

The United Church of Christ and The United Church of Canada celebrate a decade of Full Communion partnership this year.  

Much of the afternoon was spent in plenary learning sessions clarifying questions about the proposals related to daring justice, ensuring the debate was centred on the intent of the proposal, and its wisdom.  

Moderator Ballot #1  

Taylor Croissant (chair of GC45 planning committee) and Kenji Marui (chair of business planning) introduced the process of the first ballot for the Moderator selection. The nominees who were present left the room while commissioners considered their choices. The first ballot of the Moderator election resulted in Rev. Dr. Samuel V. Dansokho, Rev. Dr. Kimberly Heath, and Rev. Dr. John Pentland moving forward to second ballot, and Rev. Dr. Cheri DiNovo, CM, and Rev. Sungmin Jung being withdrawn.  

The General Secretary, Rev. Michael Blair, offered an overdue recognition of The Very Rev. Richard Bott, former Moderator, for the ways he led the church, particularly through the pandemic. Rev. Michael Blair praised Richard’s gifts of conscientiousness in prayer, his contributions to liturgy, and his savvy with social media. A standing ovation led into a montage video of moments from his time as Moderator; this also received great applause.  

Commissioners spent the rest of the afternoon in discussion groups on the justice proposals, before taking the evening off and spending dinner at a selection of restaurants in downtown Calgary.