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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We recognize that gambling takes on many forms. There are many disagreements among people as to which activities actually are gambling, and as to what is the relative harmfulness of different activities which are generally acknowledged to be gambling. Our concern lies in all these areas, but our thrust in this report is chiefly on legalized lotteries and on the possible use of gambling activities to raise funds for churches. Central Aim: Our aim and purpose has been to provide GUIDELINES, not directives. We have no intention of attempting to answer all or even most of the questions posed above. The factual information and the reflections contained in this report must speak for themselves. The onus for making value judgments and policy decisions finally rests with individuals and congregations, although the recommendations will give specific conclusions for approval by the General Council.
The question might fairly be asked as to the reason for particular attention in the church to the problems associated with alcohol misuse, when there are so many government, quasi-government, and private agencies focusing on this problem. We begin to answer this question by asking another: What unique gifts has the church to offer persons, families, and communities where alcohol misuse causes harm? Uniquely the church is that body of people assigned to consciously carry forward (in all times and places) the gospel of Jesus Christ, his ministry of teaching and healing, and his straightforward commendation of the good, and reproof of evil.
The General Council of the United Church asked the government of Canada to take all necessary steps to ban the advertising of all alcoholic beverages on Canadian television.
The 26th General Council urge that much firmer measures be taken to enforce the minimum drinking age laws in all the provinces. Keywords: Alcohol, Liquor, Addiction, Advertising, Law, Youth
The Board of Evangelism and Social Service in its brief to the Senate Committee on Poverty endorsed the concept of a guaranteed annual income Keywords: Economic security, Social Assistance Systems, Social Programs, Guaranteed Annual Income
In this resolution The United Church of Canada called for an immediate and total ban on all advertising of alcohol and tobacco products.
BE IT RESOLVED THAT this General Council 1 COMMEND the enabling action of the federal government and the action of provinces making provision for medicare plans in accordance with this legislation; 2 REQUEST all other provinces to seek to bring similar plans into being as soon as is practical.
COMMEND those provinces which have established a comprehensive health services plan and urge those provinces which do not yet have such a plan to provide one as quickly as possible;
Attitude of the Church to the Traffic: The phrase “hostility to the traffic” was used by the 6th General Council, and in the Record of Proceedings of the 8th, 9th, and 13th General Councils there is reference to “the uncompromising hostility” of the United Church to the beverage alcohol business. Similar positions have been taken by other churches in both Canada and the United States.
IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THIS General Council: 1. RE-ENDORSE the principle of a National Health Insurance Plan; 2. COMMEND the Province of Saskatchewan for steps being taken to implement such a program on the provincial level; and 3. URGE the federal government in cooperation with the medical, dental, pharmaceutical and related professions to establish a comprehensive national health insurance program.
