Monday, Aug. 11: Decision session summary

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The last day of the 45th General Council began with a moving service that remembered the Communion of Saints. Dorcus Yohan, a youth leadership animator, offered a reflection and an invitation to bring to mind those names of elders and saints who have loved and nurtured us as individuals, and as the church.

Multilingual prayers and a moving hymn, “Those Hearts That We Have Treasured,” marked the memories of the saints who have gone before us.

The General Secretary’s equity check spoke about being the “beloved community,” noting that relationships are critical. He reminded participants to familiarize themselves with the behavioral covenant, which is about offering safer space for deeper dialogue, and for co-creating intercultural community. It is rooted in Holy Manners, the Equity Aspirations, and Seven Sacred Teachings, to honour our diversity.

Rev. Japhet Ndhlovu introduced the General Council’s global, ecumenical, and interfaith guests, who brought words of encouragement and challenge to those present.

Before lunch, in the Address to Council, Elders Elaine Jacobs, Deb Anderson and Lorraine Kakegamic spoke to the Court to remind us that much still needs to be done on our reconciliation journey.

Said Elder Elaine, “We have a lot to teach you. Our societies are built on cooperation. Western society is built on competition. You have to choose one or the other. It’s time for you to live like us, in a cooperative society.”

Four Commissioner proposals

Four Commissioner proposals, received during Council, were presented to the court for learning and discussion.

Decisions

The Court spent most of the rest of the day in decision sessions with the following proposals approved:

WF23: AUD01 Audit Committee Recommendations: Carried.

WF24b GCE05 Assessment Funding Rate for 2026-2028: Carried.

WF27: GCE03 Supporting Towards 2035: Carried.

GC45 WF25: COM04 Elected or Not: Carried.

GC45 WF26: GCE01 Review the Roles of the Moderator and General Secretary: Carried

GC45 WF37: YCOM01 National Youth Council (NYC): Carried as amended.

GC45 WF20: TICIF02 Revised Principles for Justice Work: Carried.

GC45 WF32: NAK01 Development of an AI Policy for the United Church of Canada: Carried.

Omnibus proposals

Some proposals were addressed through Omnibus proposals:  

GC45 GS10 Omnibus: Implementation for Summer 2025

Having reviewed the Way Forward proposals, where there was strong consensus among discussion groups, the General Secretary recommended the 45th General Council approve an omnibus proposal which resulted in the following being carried:

• GC45 WF14: ARW01 Rejecting Christian Nationalism for Summer 2025GC45 WF19: SW04 Harm Reduction Sunday for Summer 2025
• GC45 WF34: PM01 Emerging Communities of Faith for Summer 2025

GC45 GS11 Omnibus: Take No Further Action for Summer 2025

This omnibus proposal, addressing proposals where there was little to no support in discussion groups, resulted in the 45th General Council taking no further action on the following:

• GC45 WF03 HF04 Vocational Review and Discipline Accountability Policy for Summer 2025
• GC45 WF28: COM02 Faith Workers Bill of Rights for Summer 2025
• GC45 WF29: COM03 Autonomy of Communities of Faith and Their Assets for Summer 2025
• GC45 WF30: EOO02 Gospel for Summer 2025
• GC45 WF31: HF03 Remit and Proposal Integrity Policy for Summer 2025
• GC45 WF39: EOO01 Accessibility of Church Decision-making for Summer 2025

At the close of the decision session, the Council discussed the following way forward proposal: WF43 COM07 Living into Right Relations – All Relationships Need to be Rooted in Truth, Respect, Transparency, and Built on Trust.

The Council ultimately withdrew the way forward proposal, returning to the original COM07 Living into Right Relations – All Relationships Need to be Rooted in Truth, Respect, Transparency and Built on Trust proposal. This original proposal passed after a motion to extend the Order of the Day also carried.  

Closing Motion

Following the closing motion, the 45th General Council concluded at the end of the Moderator’s installation service. There will be an online follow-up meeting in the fall to tie up some loose ends and proposals.

The 46th General Council will be held in Horseshoe Falls Region. More details will follow later.

Commissioners and guests moved to Knox United Church to thank staff and volunteers who made the Council possible, express the church’s deep gratitude to the 44th Moderator, Right Reverend Carmen Lansdowne, and install the 45th Moderator of The United Church of Canada.