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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At the 42nd General Council, the church approved support for a national process of a Living Apology installation project for dialogue, storytelling, education, and reconciliation with persons who identify as sexual or gender diverse including but not limited to Two-Spirited, Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, Transgender, Queer persons.
In 2012, The United Church of Canada created the Comprehensive Review Task Group, later renamed the Comprehensive Renewal (CR) Task Group, which set a course for structural change. In 2015, the Task Group report, including recommendations, was presented to the 42nd General Council. After a number of revisions, incorporating feedback from across the church, the General Council approved the Comprehensive Renewal process and authorized a series of remits to seek the approval of the wider church of the revised recommendations. All remits were approved by wide margins. The recommendations included an evaluation process. The nature of the evaluation was further shaped by the Executive of General Council in March 2018. At that point, the decisions taken in 2015 had been endorsed by the church and were awaiting final enactment.
Whatever our ancestors imagined on June 10, 1925, it was likely not what our experience is today. But, perhaps we sell them short. Even a quick read of our history outlines that there were early champions for some of the qualities that have come to define us, such as inclusivity and being justice-seeking, and there were early critics on matters we have come to regret, such as our participation in residential schools. The seeds of our future can be found in our past.
Greetings and the peace of Christ be with you, from Horseshoe Falls Regional Council, AKA HFRC. We are located in the Southern Ontario, including the Niagara Peninsula, and the western shores of Lake Ontario. Our geographical location has allowed us to share resources, mainly in the way of paid regional council staff, with Antler River Watershed and Western Ontario Waterways Regional Councils. This arrangement has allowed all three Regional Councils to have staff specialized in social justice, faith formation, right relations, and ministry pastoral support. Our last report was made to GC 44 in 2022.
Northern Spirit Regional Council includes all of Northern Alberta north of Hwy 13, the Peace Valley portion of Northern BC and the Northwest Territories. This vast geography makes Northern Spirit the largest geographical regional council; however, we also have the smallest number of Communities of Faith.
The first Central Committee meeting following the World Council of Churches (WCC) 11th General Assembly in Karlsruhe, Germany, in 2022 took place from June 21 to 27, 2023, at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland. In addition to the 150 Central Committee members and eight presidents elected in Karlsruhe, advisors and youth advisors from the member churches of the World Council of Churches, as well as ecumenical partners and churches that are not members of the WCC, also participated.
The GCE is led by commitments to governance that is future-oriented, visionary and grounded in deep love and care for the whole church.
Food insecurity remains one of the most pressing global challenges, deeply affecting health, education, and economic development. In 2024, 304 million people faced acute food insecurity according to the UN World Food Programme, with the number of people experiencing severe hunger globally rising to 783 million-an increase of 122 million since before the COVID-19 pandemic. The main drivers include conflict, climate-related disasters (such as El Niño and La Niña), and economic shocks like sanctions and hyperinflation. These factors have intensified, particularly in countries already vulnerable due to prolonged wars and successive natural disasters.
KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives is a program of the United Church of Canada that functions as a joint social venture bringing ten Canadian church denominations and agencies to work together for faithful action for justice and peace. Under the direction of The United Church of Canada, the KAIROS Steering Committee, composed of representatives of the member churches and agencies, administers the program. Launched in 2001, KAIROS carries the legacy of over forty years of inter-church social justice coalitions.
The General Council needs to elect and authorize members to serve on the General Council Executive which is accountable to the General Council.
