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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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;
WHEREAS Canada produces 35% of the world’s uranium, some 27 million pounds in 2001 (CNSC Annual Report, 2001, p.22) and needs to be proportionally accountable for the hazards and by-products of the industry; and WHEREAS Canada has accumulated 37,854 tonnes of high level nuclear waste from reactors (CNSC Annual Report, 2001, p. 21), which is lethal for thousands of years, and which, after 60 years, scientists still do not know how to dispose of safely; and WHEREAS AECL spent $700 million dollars over 15 years to develop a deep rock Disposal Plan, and a Scientific Review Group found various assumptions and procedures of the plan to be problematic, and the Seaborn Panel spent 8 years and $8 million dollars to find the Proposal not socially acceptable, with 99 deficiencies to be further addressed, and then the Government of Canada in December of 2002 legislated the whole issue back to the producers to solve; and WHEREAS the Government of Canada has been financially propping up the industry, spending $58 million dollars each year from parliamentary appropriations to operate CNSC (Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission), and since 1951 has awarded the industry some $60 billion dollars in subsidies, plus export loans of $600 million dollars to China, and $329 million dollars to Romania; (E-mail of article in Ottawa Citizen, June 21/01, by Dave Martin, researcher for the Sierra Club); and WHEREAS Canada has a Protocol with the IAEA in Vienna (International Atomic Energy Agency) that its uranium will not be used for nuclear weapons, but each year exports 11 million pounds of uranium yellowcake to the USA, which, when processed, is labeled as “US Material”, (Dr. Donald Lee, Report of the Joint federal-Provincial Panel, 1997, Cumulative Observations, p. 25.), (BriarPatch, May 1993, p. 190); and
As followers of Jesus we are called to live in peace (2 Corinthians 13:11). We believe that the Hebrews Scriptures tell us to be peacemakers (Isaiah 2:4; Micah 4:3). WHEREAS The United Church of Canada has long history of involvement in social justice, WHEREAS The Ottawa Presbytery passed motions in December 2002
That the Executive of the General Council authorize that a letter be sent from The United Church of Canada to the Government of Canada supporting the renewal of the Aboriginal Healing Foundation.
That the Executive of the General Council make the following Statement on Anti-Semitism: In the face of the recent upsurge of attacks against Jewish people and property in Canada and around the world, The United Church of Canada reiterates its absolute condemnation of all acts of antisemitism.
That the Moderator and the General Secretary write to the Parole Board to say that: while we believe in restorative justice, in the church’s recent experience with Mr. Plint in the Port Alberni trial, there was no evidence of remorse or substantial rehabilitation on his part; the church is aware of and supports concerns for the victims of Mr. Plint; and the church urge the Parole Board to deny parole until such time as Mr. Plint has shown genuine remorse and evidence of rehabilitation.
That the Executive of General Council direct the General Secreatry to write a letter on behalf of the General Council to the Hon. Jane Stewart, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, asking for consultation how the Canadian Government and the churches will work together with First Nations People in addressing the need for healing Residential Schools, Healing, Aboriginal, First Nations, Native Indian
That the Executive of General council instruct the church’s counsel that our involvement in the current Alberni Indian Residential School litigation be primarily focussed on: a) settlement negotiations, formal and informal b) determining the measure of damages of the plaintiffs c) negotiating the church’s fair share of liability with the crown Residential Schools, Aboriginal, First Nations, Native Indian
