GCE Summary, November 14–15, 2025

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The 45th General Council Executive (GCE) met online on November 14 and 15, 2025. The two days focused on setting the triennium up for transformative change, with dialogue around the triennium operating budget, the strategic direction and objectives, and affirming the commitment to anti-racism.

Friday began with worship and reflection led by Moderator the Right Rev. Dr. Kimberly Heath, who lifted up the COP30 meeting in Brazil, acknowledging the climate emergency and the need for climate justice. Reflecting on Psalm 46, the Moderator encouraged members of the Executive toward awareness, repair, and renewal in this time of climate events, war, genocide, and the rise of fascism. We trust in God even as we make small steps towards change. Music choices were from Then Let Us Sing, including a video of 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) from Wall Street United Church in Brockville, Ontario, and We Are a Rainbow.

On Saturday, Sarah Charters, Executive Minister Philanthropy and Foundation President, opened the day’s proceedings with an in memoriam acknowledgement.

As the work got underway on Friday, the following reports and proposals were addressed through the consent agenda:

Received for information: 

• Moderator’s Accountability Report 
• General Secretary’s Accountability Report
• Operational Plan Report — Third Quarter 2025
• Pension Board Accountability Report
• Partner Council Report to GCE 2022–2025
• Report from the Pilgrimage of Learning Delegates

The GCE affirmed the recommendations in the following Way Forward proposals from General Council 45:

• WF36: WOW01 Election of Adherents to Governing Bodies of Communities of Faith
• WF40: HF02 Policy That Meets a Variety of Changes in Communities of Faith for Summer 2025

And approved the following proposals: 

• GS15 Clarifying Status and Accountabilities of Ministry Personnel Appointed
• Amendments to several sections of The Manual related to the role of the Moderator and the General Secretary
• GS30 Approving the Question for Remit Membership of Regional Councils, allowing retired Designated Lay Ministers to be members of regional councils.
• GS31 Archives Working Group 

KAIROS Canada

Shona Fulcher, Director of Operations for KAIROS Canada, gave an update to the Executive, noting that the organization—for which The United Church of Canada has oversight—continues to build its programming around four pillars: Indigenous rights, migrant justice, gender justice, and ecological justice.

KAIROS, which partners with 10 churches and religious groups, including the United Church, is currently updating a multi-year strategic plan for 2026, while seeking charitable status as an independent not-for-profit. 

Pension Plan

The afternoon’s work involved updates on the Pension Fund and Pension Board. The Executive heard from John Prezioso, who advises on compliance, administration, and governance, and Anne Soh, Chair of the Pension Board. The GCE has high-level responsibilities related to the Pension Plan but is not involved in day-to-day operations of the plan; these are overseen by the Pension Board. Ms. Soh noted that the average age of active members is 53.45 years, and the average age at retirement is 66.29 years. About 277 members of the Pension Plan are 90 or older, while there are six members aged 100.

After the reports and presentations, the Executive approved the following:

• GS09 The Pension Plan of The United Church of Canada Funding Policy
• GS10 Executive of the General Council, Terms of Reference in its role as the Administrator of The Pension Plan of The United Church of Canada

The Executive expressed deep gratitude for the leadership of Rev. Alan Hall, Executive Officer, Shared Services; Alan is retiring next month, and this was his final GCE meeting. Harry Li, Executive Officer, Finance, will be assuming the mantle for Pension and Benefits Plan.

Strategic Plan

Rev. Jennifer Henry, Executive Minister, Organizational Development and Strategy, offered a brief presentation as a follow-up from the September GCE meeting, where the direction and objectives for the 2026–28 strategic plan were discussed. They were revised based on that discussion and presented at this weekend’s meeting.

The GCE approved GS27 Approval of Toward 2035 Strategic Direction and 2026–2028 Strategic Objectives, containing the 10-year strategic direction that aligns with Toward 2035, and objectives in the areas of Embolden Justice, Invigorate Leadership, and Strengthen Invitation. Metrics related to the direction and objectives will come to the February GCE meeting for approval. Some discussion emerged around the importance of both United Church identity and ecumenical relationships.  

Budget and the annuity program

Harry Li presented four financial proposals, all of which were approved. These included approving a change in the funding policy for the Annuity Program and allowing for an annual annuity payment of $500,000 for the next three years into the operating budget to help offset a recurring deficit.

The Triennial operating budget 2026–28 was approved, after a comprehensive consultative process that began at the March GC44 GCE meeting, an assessment proposal consultation at the June GCE meeting, and then approval of the budget principles in September at the GCE meeting.

Lastly, an interest-bearing loan to Shining Waters Regional Council was approved to help address an urgent cash flow gap in an ongoing church construction project. The loan is conditional on support from the region and the Toronto United Church Council, and a comprehensive repayment plan.

Anti-racism and equity

The United Church committed to becoming an anti-racist denomination in the year 2020, building on the church’s anti-racism policy, That All May Be One, from the year 2000. The church has a National Anti-Racism Action Plan, and diverse ways of engaging in anti-racism in education and action, theology, advocacy, and governance; as well as programs, policies, and processes to guide this work.

Based on a presentation by Rev. Adele Halliday, who leads and supports anti-racism and equity work for the denomination, the GCE approved revised terms of reference for the Anti-Racism Common Table and the establishment of an Equity and Anti-Oppression Circle. It also affirmed GS12 Commitment to the 2nd United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent. This proposal builds on the first decade of work (2015–2024) by supporting the development of tools for communities of faith so they can engage at a deeper level with the anti-racism work led by the national church.

Partner Council

The United Church Partner Council draws together perspectives from global and ecumenical partners.  Individuals from partner organizations in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East, as well as Canadian and Global organizations, offer their voices, experiences, and regional expertise.

Rev. Dr. Japhet Ndhlovu, Executive Minister of Church in Mission, presented the following Partner Council members for approval by the Executive in this triennium:

• Maria Tendai Dendere is the Director for Humanitarian Services and Diakonia at the Zimbabwe Council of Churches (Zimbabwe)
• Elisabeth Cook is the Rector (President) of the Latin American Biblical University (UBL) (Costa Rica) and professor of Biblical Studies
• Rev. Reina Ueno is the Director of the Buraku Liberation Center (BLC) (Japan) of the United Church of Christ in Japan and a member of the National Council of Churches of Japan’s Gender Justice Working Group
• Zoughbi Al-Zoughbi is the founder and director of Wiam, The Palestinian Conflict Transformation Center (Palestine)
• Silvia Vasquez-Olguin is the Global Coordinator for Latin America, Gender Justice, and Extractivism at KAIROS Canada
• Sarah “Bestang” Dekdeken is the Secretary General of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) (Philippines), an alliance of 307 of Indigenous peoples’ and sectoral organizations, and belongs to the Kankanaey-Igorot Indigenous people in the Cordillera region, northern Philippines
• Rev. Dr. Kenneth Mtata is Programme Director for Public Witness and Diakonia for the World Council of Churches (Global Ecumenical) ministries (Switzerland)

Time with the Moderator and General Secretary

The Moderator and General Secretary both offered brief highlights of their reports (see consent agenda links above). Moderator Heath noted she is feeling, after three months, like she’s finally settling into the new role. She spoke of the importance of encouraging local congregations, and is anticipating the appointment of the accountability committee to offer ongoing clarity and support.

The General Secretary, Rev. Michael Blair, is on sabbatical from January 1, 2026, through to April 1, anticipating time spent in silent retreat, reflection on the church’s commitment to being an intercultural church, and rest. He highlighted the urgency of ensuring Toward 2035 takes root in the church, through supporting communities of faith. This includes streams of work related to youth and young adults, and ongoing work to develop church leadership, including through living into the Theology Inter-Church Inter-Faith (TICIF) statement from the 45th General Council, Vocations of the Whole People of God: Ministries for Our Time.

The next meeting of the Executive is February 21–22, 2026.