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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In winter 2003, twelve persons named by The Anglican Church of Canada (ACC) and The United Church of Canada (UCC) met in Vancouver to consider their new mandate to explore the relationship between our two churches. It was clear to us from the outset that we were not commissioned to prepare plans for a new “church union,” a successor to the failed project of the 1970s. What we should make our task was initially less obvious.
St. Brigid Report, so named because it was completed on St. Brigid’s Day, February 1, 2009. The metaphor “drawing from the same well” captures the Dialogue’s recognition that it is the same grace of God that we see active in and through our two churches in the power of the Holy Spirit, nourishing us with the living water that is the Christ. The Report is set up in such a way as to make it possible to dip into it rather than read it all the way through. You can draw a cupful or a bucketful according to your circumstances. Recommendations for future discussion and action are made at the end of each section. A complete list of these recommendations is included in the Report and is provided in this summary.
Whereas we have affirmed our desire and commitment to strive for just, peaceful, and sustainable communities in keeping with God s vision for wholeness of life; Whereas we are all inextricably interconnected in the web of creation, and affected by actions that impact on the sustainability and well-being of all of creation; Whereas scripture calls us to be peacemakers; Whereas God would have the whole world turn swords into ploughshares, we know that in many places ploughshares are turned into swords; military, peace, United Nations, humanitarian crisis
Declare our willingness to support and participate in the World Council of Churches' proposed week for International Church Action for Peace in Palestine and Israel focusing on the Holy Land and provide educational material and worship resources.
The United Church of Canada is called continually in all courts of the church to bear witness to Jesus Christ in the midst of our neighbours and in the world. In accordance with that call, the 38th General Council in 2003 approved for study across the church a proposed statement and study document, That We May Know Each Other, on the relationship of the United Church to Islam. People of the United Church have responded thoughtfully and prayerfully to the study document and to the proposed policy statement. This statement encompasses that response and seeks to be a faithful expression of our understanding of United Church–Muslim relations.
I. THE THEME: Following a fruitful discussion of Trinitarian language at baptism, the Canadian Roman Catholic/United Church of Canada Dialogue sought another topic of mutual interest and lively concern. Realizing that both churches were addressing issues around past failings, and involvement in sinful action, current demands for forgiveness, and the search for reconciliation, we agreed to study this reality further. The concrete events we had in mind were a) the Demand of Pardon expressed by John Paul II in the year 2000 for past faults committed by members of the Roman Catholic Church, b) the United Church of Canada’s response to past antisemitic behaviour; and c) the reactions of both churches to the Indian Residential School issue in Canada, including official apologies.
the Executive of General Council has affirmed its conviction that “a necessary step towards true peace in the region will be through the implementation of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions specifically 242 (1967), 338 (1973) and UN General Assembly Resolution 194 (1948) and that these resolutions require … the withdrawal of Israel from the West Bank and Gaza including settlements
AN ALTERNATE LOGISTICS ARRANGEMENT: As an alternate arrangement to that discussed under the previous three headings, an arrangement of production might be worked out with an organization such as Kairos where each interested denomination would give a guarantee of purchasing a certain number of copies of the materials.
Commanded as Christians to “beat our swords into ploughshares, and our spears into pruning hooks” and that “nations shall not learn war any more” (Isaiah 2:2-4); Further commanded to love our enemies and do good to those who hate us (Luke 6:27); Understanding that the safety and security of persons is the goal of national and international security efforts;
Commanded as Christians to love our neighbours and our enemies and to be good stewards of the Earth; Noting that the International Court of Justice in its Advisory Opinion of July 8, 1996, reviewed the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and decided unanimously that there exists an obligation on states to pursue in good faith and bring to a conclusion negotiation leading to nuclear disarmament; Concerned that the world’s states have failed to begin negotiation for the elimination of the 20,000 nuclear weapons in their possession; Further concerned to note recent decisions by the U.S. Government to develop smaller nuclear weapons which could make nuclear weapons more useable and allow them to be portrayed as being militarily and morally equal to conventional (non-nuclear) weapons;
