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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Many United Church communities of faith observe Orange Shirt Day, also known as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, but it is not designated as a “Special Sunday” in The United Church of Canada.
The operating budget establishes parameters for the allocation of financial resources across various functions, including denominational governance, shared services, program work supported by Mission and Service, and corporate functions serving the General Council Office, Regional Council offices, and all pastoral charges and communities of faith. As a cornerstone of effective financial planning, the budget must be developed with a strategic lens and guided by the energy and direction endorsed by the church.
The Budget Principles and Assumptions provide the essential foundation for preparing the operating budget of the General Council Office of the United Church of Canada. Once approved by the Executive of the General Council, this document establishes the strategic budgetary direction enabling staff to develop a comprehensive operating budget, which details key elements such as staffing levels, grant allocations, spending parameters, and authorized transfers from various reserves.
The United Church of Canada (UCC) has administered a charitable gift annuity program for decades. This program offers individuals (annuitants) the opportunity to make an irrevocable gift to the United Church in exchange for a guaranteed, regular annuity payment for life, along with a charitable donation receipt.
The Global Partnership Program Review 2023 was undertaken to assess program alignment with the church’s Call, Vision, and Strategic Plan 2023-2025, and to inform and have an impact on the 2024 budget and beyond by providing recommendations related to program shape, structure, and priorities. With the decision made to reduce the number of partners and the percentage of budget, it is necessary to approve the structure of the program going forward.
The Remit and Proposals process was designed to allow for democratic input from the appropriate groups within the denomination so that the decision-making process is upheld with integrity to ensure our identity as a conciliar church and to give voice to all. We have recently witnessed “legal loopholes” allow for prior Remits to be circumvented using the Proposal process.
At the 45th General Council 2025, the General Council approved a change to the Basis of Union regarding the composition of the Regional Council to allow Regional Councils to elect additional lay members; and retired designated lay ministers to hold membership in their respective Regional Councils; and authorized a Category 2 remit (including information and study materials) to test the will of the church concerning this change.
We believe God/Jesus Christ/the Holy Spirit is calling the church to recognize the lifelong call to ministry and faithful service in response to that call of many current Designated Lay Ministers. While their practice of ministry is indistinguishable from that of ordered ministers in the eyes of many church members, DLMs have been frustrated, hurt and disappointed at continuing to be limited to appointments and not eligible for call, paid at lower minimum salary schedule than ordered ministers, and retaining no status as ministry personnel between appointments and in retirement in many regional councils.
