The Annuity Fund plays an important role in supporting both the long-term obligations to annuitants and the Mission and Ministry works of the United Church of Canada. However, currently, there is no formal and documented funding policy guiding how the fund should be administered. While the fund has been managed prudently over the years, the absence of a written policy creates ambiguity in decision-making.

The operating budget establishes parameters for the allocation of financial resources across various functions, including denominational governance, shared services, program work supported by Mission and Service, and corporate functions serving the General Council Office, Regional Council offices, and all pastoral charges and communities of faith. As a cornerstone of effective financial planning, the budget must be developed with a strategic lens and guided by the energy and direction endorsed by the church.

The 44th General Council directed a total compensation study for ministry personnel in the pastoral relations system and for ministry personnel and lay employees in General Council and regional councils staff systems be undertaken, reporting back to the 45th General Council.

GS03 Group Benefits 2026 proposal was carried at the September General Council Executive meeting. Amongst many changes, the proposal introduced an enhanced life insurance model, replacing the employer indemnity model.

The United Church of Canada offers employees a core suite of group health and dental benefits and life insurance (paid for by employers), restorative care (short-term disability) and employer indemnity plans (paid for by employers), long-term disability insurance (paid for by employees) and a retiree group health and dental plan (paid for by retired members who select the plan upon retirement).

The Executive of the 44th General Council in response to GS127 Future of Fundraising in the Church, March 2025, directed the General Secretary to: “ begin negotiations and sign an agreement with the Board of The United Church of Canada Foundation to undertake the responsibility for fundraising for Mission and Service including special appeals for emergencies, etc."

Greetings from the board and staff of The United Church of Canada Foundation. We are pleased to be on a new stage in our journey together. The signing of the new relationship and governance agreement in the fall of 2025 marked a special inflection point in our relationship. While staff of both organizations have always worked well together and we have all done our best to ensure we minimized any overlap in work, the clarity this new arrangement brings will benefit us both.

We believe that The United Church of Canada will continue to deepen its commitment to becoming an anti-racist denomination by having a national committee, focused on continuing to advance the church’s anti-racism work.

At the 45th General Council 2025, the General Council approved a change to the Basis of Union regarding the composition of the Regional Council to allow Regional Councils to elect additional lay members; and retired designated lay ministers to hold membership in their respective Regional Councils; and authorized a Category 2 remit (including information and study materials) to test the will of the church concerning this change.

The Budget Principles and Assumptions provide the essential foundation for preparing the operating budget of the General Council Office of the United Church of Canada. Once approved by the Executive of the General Council, this document establishes the strategic budgetary direction enabling staff to develop a comprehensive operating budget, which details key elements such as staffing levels, grant allocations, spending parameters, and authorized transfers from various reserves.