Saturday, Aug. 9: Summary of the day

On August 6, 1945, Hiroshima was destroyed by an atomic bomb from the US. On August 9, 1945, 80 years ago today, Nagasaki was destroyed by an atomic bomb from the US. People, animals, land, continue to suffer lasting effects in Japan. Across the world today, places still suffer the debilitation of war and genocide. 

So began the worship service that began the day’s proceedings. The service not only marked the 80th anniversary but also centred the voices of Palestinians, including that of Palestinian Christian, Muna Nassar, Executive Secretary for Mission and Advocacy for the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC), and Shadia Qubti, a Palestinian member of The United Church of Canada. Both offered powerful laments, one for Gaza in the form of a poem, and the other a reflection on the Beatitudes from a Palestinian perspective. 

The theme for today’s session is: What is the vision/dream for the life of the UCC?  

Total registration for the 45th General Council includes 252 commissioners; 75 Youth Forum participants, and six former Moderators, including four online.  

Learning sessions in plenary: governance and finance 

Time to ask clarifying questions was offered during each presentation. 

Review of the role of Moderator and General Secretary 

Catherine Glover, chair of the task group reviewing the role of the Moderator and General Secretary, presented in plenary the report of the task group. She noted the review of these two roles is overdue, the last review occurring in 1997.  

The offices of the Moderator and General Secretary are highly valued and distinct, at the same time as they are demanding and transformative. Both roles are distinct from each other and integral to the function of the church. The task group’s report recommends that the Moderator speaks TO the church, while the role of the General Secretary is to speak FOR the church. 

Assessment funding 

Harry Li, Executive Officer, Finance, shared a proposal that would increase the assessment funding rate, a primary source of revenue for the broader church. An increase in the assessment rate is both necessary and recommended to maintain shared services and governance, build on the momentum generated by the last triennium’s strategic plan and successfully launch the next phase.  

Towards 2035  

The General Secretary, Rev. Michael Blair, spoke to the commissioners about two proposals—GCE03 and GCE04—that would facilitate experimentation and nimbleness in function and vision. A key recommendation revives a 2015 proposal to earmark 10% of Mission and Service funds for new, renewing, and emerging ministries (by 2028). 

Ballot #2: Moderator election 

Video interview with the Moderator-elect. 

Structural change evaluation task group  

The structural change evaluation task group gave an interim report, augmented by online analysis from Betty Pries of Credence & Co., the consultant who is facilitating the surveys that are foundational to the evaluation.  

After clarifying questions for reports and proposals had been fielded, the session broke out into discussion groups to continue the work throughout the afternoon.  

Youth Forum 

Upon resuming after a break, the equity team highlighted the skills and value of youthful voices around the table by way of introducing the Youth Forum presenters and youth leadership animators.  

• Raven Anderson
• Thea Sheridan-Jonah
• Matthew Tyhurst
• Ben Ryan
• Mariana Muhumza
• Dorcus Annika Yohan
• Joshua Bell
• Johannes van Kessel-Crozier
• Tia Park-Lee
• Kupa Munikwa
• Celestine Alimasi
• Cédrick Kalaki
• Daryl Foka
• Madi Naude
• Anaiah Hackshaw
• Samantha Miller
• William Miller 

Each spoke eloquently and convincingly, challenging the church to examine how it relates to youth, and to follow their leadership. As they finished speaking, Deb Anderson, National Indigenous Elders’ Council, offered a blessing for the youth and young adults, followed by a prayer from The Very Rev. Jordan Cantwell.  

Theme #2: Karen Georgia Thompson 

The Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson returned to the podium this evening for the second theme session: What is the dream for the life of the United Church?  

“Let’s get back to dreaming,” she challenged, adding that to vision and to dream are calls to action that require much imagination and out-of-the box thinking. She encouraged people to set aside restrictive and old narratives so that we can dream and vision. 

Rev. Dr. Jennifer Janzen-Ball, Executive Minister for Theology and Faith Leadership, said that an issues subcommittee is writing a public statement to be presented to the Court on Monday. Often the processes of business don’t allow for courageous declarations to be made in the moment. Using an adapted model from the World Council of Churches and the World Communion of Reformed Churches, an issues sub-committee would draw from the business of GC45 and create a public statement that allows for the church to be deep, bold, and daring, in the moment. 

Closing worship for the day included an In Memoriam time, holding up the names of United Church ministers, staff and global partners who have died since the last General Council.