This Library contains documents from all recent United Church governance meetings, including General Council and its Executive. It will also soon include “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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WHEREAS no authentic peace is possible without justice; and WHEREAS the suffering of the Palestinian people under Israeli occupation is severe and unacceptable; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the 32nd General Council: Affirm strongly the interfaith organizations in Canada that are working for reconciliation in Israel and the occupied territories; Request the Division of World Outreach to consider providing further support and assistance to organizations in Israel that are striving for cooperation and peace, including the Middle East Council of Churches in its particular ministry of reconciliation;
WHEREAS we affirm Jesus Christ as the life-giver of the world; and WHEREAS submarines may usually bear arms and arms bring death, not life; and WHEREAS the government of Canada has decided to buy a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines at an estimated cost of $8 billion dollars; and WHEREAS the Canadian Centre for Arms Control and Disarmament released a study on February 24, 1988, which concludes that building, staffing, hand operating these submarines could drive the total costs to between 12.5 billion dollars and 14.8 billion dollars
WHEREAS nuclear-powered submarines will not increase our security; and WHEREAS the use of nuclear technology for military purpose will be seen as being provocative and as contravening our previous agreements to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes only; and WHEREAS the cost of nuclear submarines is not justifiable on any grounds, especially in view of unmet human needs; for example, the predicted famine in Africa this year:
WHEREAS the development and build-up of conventional and nuclear armaments continues unabated, threatening our hope for a future, and placing the fate of the earth in serious jeopardy; and
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the General Council of The United Church of Canada: 1 REQUEST the government of Canada to place a moratorium on all low level flights of military aircraft in Labrador and North East Quebec and to make no commitment to establish a new Tactical Fighter Weapons Training Centre in this region and to provide economic alternatives for the community (financial subsidy support);
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the 31st General Council of The United Church of Canada: 1. REQUEST the government of Canada, in its national budget, to increase socio-economic aid to Third World countries and to increase economic aid to the depressed economic sectors and welfare needs of our own country; and
WHEREAS the government of Canada in the early 1970s decided to end Canada’s nuclear role in NATO; and WHEREAS the UN Palme Commission on “Common Security” recommended that nations develop systems of common security together on a global basis rather than against one another through regional defence pacts; and WHEREAS the 29th General Council adopted the recommendation of Project Ploughshares that Canada become a Nuclear Weapons Free Zone; and adopted a petition memorial calling for the dissolution of all military alliances:
THAT the 30th General Council: 1. Request the Division of Ministry, Personnel and Education and the Division of Mission in Canada to encourage all theological colleges and training centres to include peace and disarmament study in the regular and the continuing education curricula;
WHEREAS the development of nuclear and other weapons of mass and indiscriminate destruction compromise Christian discipleship by making it impossible for Christians to fulfil their calling to be neighbour to one another and gardener to the creation; and
WHEREAS the threat of nuclear war is global and the prevention of nuclear war calls for global collaboration by people of all faiths and commitments; and WHEREAS the Christian gospel is denied in the false apocalypticism of some religious figures and by the despair and passivity of others; and WHEREAS the world is witnessing a renewal of movements that use religion to buttress militarism and war-making:
