This Library contains documents from all recent United Church governance meetings, including General Council and its Executive. It also includes “Our Beliefs Explained” official policy documents dating back several decades. If you can't find something you think should be included, contact gcbusiness@united-church.ca.
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The Executive of the General Council initiated a review of the Offices of Moderator and General Secretary. A final report is submitted to this meeting. Following are proposals arising from the work of the task group.
In the development, adoption and implementation of the Strategic Plan (2021) with its Call and Vision and strategic operation plan, the Executive of the General Council was committed to seeking to reverse the narrative of decline that is so prevalent in the life of the church. There is no doubt that church has lived experience of decline, and the data supports this. The Executive Leaders have committed to foster a climate of data informed decision making and to lead from the future.
In 2022 the Executive of the General Council adopted the strategic operational plan for the work of the General Council Office. One of the six objectives was Strengthening Invitation: Humility and Confidence in Sharing Faith. The objective’s goal was to help to implement effective and connected regional and national strategies that result in growth within existing ministries, and by seeding and sustaining new ministries and communities of faith.
That the bounds of the plenary of the 45th General Council be the MacLeod Hall at the TELUS Convention Centre in Calgary and the online meeting room connected with it, excluding the visitor seating and unnumbered tables.
Before the restructuring in 2019, presbyteries had the ability to appoint up to 10 lay members at large. This ability was lost during the transition from our former presbytery structure to our current regional council structure.
During the most recent remit process, we identified that the governing body is responsible for the vote. However, the Manual does not clearly specify whether the remit vote is limited to the governing body or if it includes the congregation as well.
An amendment to section I.1.2.4 was approved at G44 in February 2022 to allow ministers from other denominations to serve in United Church communities of faith when United Church ministry personnel are unavailable for short-term vacancies.
While the Manual states that regional councils can assess and recognize ministries that are not traditional communities of faith, it does not provide a definition. This proposal aims to define such ministries.
The United Church of Canada, as an operator of residential institutions, is being asked to issue an updated apology for its role and the actions of its employees in that system. Calls for an updated apology have come from a survivor/United Church settler group in Port Alberni; Pacific Mountain Regional Council (PM02); and in the Final Report of the Special Interlocutor for Missing and Disappeared Children and Unmarked Burials.
Under section J.10.9.4, the General Secretary is responsible for reporting all decisions made by the Judicial Committee to the General Council. While the Judicial Committee’s Decision is available for you to review, below is an overview of the Judicial Committee's role and details about the decision, which can either be affirmed or referred back to the Judicial Committee for further review.
