News From The United Church of Canada

The United Church of Canada

**Our hearts are heavy as we hear reports of intensified airstrikes across the Middle East. Overnight, the United States and Israel intensified joint air attacks, with explosions reported in both Tehran and Beirut as the conflict enters a new and volatile phase.
We hold in prayer all those living in fear, those forced to flee, and the countless families affected by violence. We continue to pray for peace, for the protection of civilians, and for international leaders to pursue every possible path toward de‑escalation and just resolution in accordance with international law.
May compassion prevail over fear and may every step toward de‑escalation be encouraged and amplified.
Lord, in your mercy… hear our prayer.
————————————————————–
This Lent, you’re invited to join Rev. Dr. Christine Jerrett for a six-week online Lenten study based on the new Lenten devotional, “Bless, Break, Share: Recipes for Faithful Living” beginning Tuesday, February 24, 2:00 p.m. ET.
This season, deepen your spiritual practice through reflections on food, hunger, and justice, and explore meaningful questions together: What do you hunger for? How do you feed others? What feeds your soul?
Participants receive 15% off the book, with additional bulk discounts available for congregational study groups.

There’s still time to sign up! Learn more and register today at CHURCHx: https://churchx.ca/local/shop/product.php?id=363

Find out more about the devotional, “Bless, Break, Share: Recipes for Faithful Living” at UCRDstore: https://ucrdstore.ca/collections/bless-break-share
Can a simple bowl of chickpeas reveal the heart of God? 🥣This week on Kitchen Conversations, Aaron Gallegos joins Moderator Kimberly Heath to cook Coptic Chickpeas and explore “God’s Upside-Down Kingdom” — where what the world overlooks is deeply loved.

Watch the full episode this Sunday on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UnitedChurchCda

(🔔 SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel and turn on notifications so you don’t miss it!)
————————————————————————
This Black History Month, join us in a prayer for justice.
Do not let us leave this place unchanged, O Lord.
O God of Justice, God of Mercy,
we come to you with hearts weighed down by stories we wish were not true.
We lift up every soul who has faced the sting of prejudice,
every child who wonders why they are left out,
every parent who carries the burden of explaining a world not yet ready for love.
We pray for every person whose skin, language, or identity
has made them a target of fear, of exclusion, of hate.
We pray for the streets, the schools, the homes, the nations
where racism hides in shadowed corners and in whispered words,
where injustice is normalized and love is challenged.
O God, break the chains of hatred that bind us,
tear down walls of fear and indifference.
Let rivers of your justice flow through our cities,
washing away centuries of lies, lifting every soul to dignity.
We pray for the nations of the world,
for every land that has ignored injustice,
for every government, every institution, every home, every heart
that has tolerated prejudice instead of challenging it.
O God, let your Spirit ignite in us a fire that cannot sleep,
a fire that will call out racism wherever it hides,
and remind us that we are all your children,
all beloved, all worthy of love, dignity, and freedom.
Do not let us leave this place unchanged, O Lord.
Let us rise as your body in a hurting world.
Let us be bold, let us be brave, let us be love in action,
until every child can live freely, every voice is heard, every heart is free,
and your kingdom of justice and peace is made clear in our midst.
Amen.
—by Daniel Addai Fobi

Explore additional resources for Black History Month and anti-racism work throughout the year: https://united-church.ca/…/black-history-month…

We also invite you to consider making a donation to help to continue to support the United Church’s ongoing anti-racism work: https://united-church.ca/…/donations-anti-racism-work
————————————————————————————
The United Church of Canada laments the tragic violence in Tumbler Ridge and holds in prayer the families, loved ones, and entire community who are now living with shock, trauma, and profound loss. It is in moments such as this, we are reminded of our deepest calling as followers of Jesus: to care for one another, to protect the vulnerable, and to seek justice rooted in compassion.
In the wake of this tragedy, The United Church of Canada affirms a simple but essential truth: one person’s actions never define an entire community or identity group. At a time when fear and suspicion can take hold, we call on all people of faith and goodwill to let love, compassion, and our shared humanity lead the way. No community should be judged by the actions of an individual, and no moment of violence should be used to create division or deepen stigma.
We also affirm clearly and without hesitation: trans and nonbinary people and all those who identify as genderqueer and gender-fluid are beloved members of our churches, our families, and our communities. The United Church of Canada has long upheld the sacred worth of all people and continues to work toward communities marked by compassion, justice, and mutual care. That work is especially urgent now.
Every person is a child of God, carrying inherent dignity that cannot be diminished by the actions of another. Violence is never who we are called to be.
——————————————————————————-
Kitchen Conversations with the Moderator launches February 17!
Inspired by the new Lenten devotional “Bless, Break, Share: Recipes for Faithful Living,” this video series invites thoughtful conversation around food, faith, and justice. Get ready to join the conversation with:
• 📖 Bless, Break, Share devotional (print or e-book)
• 👩‍🍳 Bless, Break, Share apron
• ☕ Bless, Break, Share mug

Find them all at UCRDstore.ca , so pull up a chair—there’s always a place at the table.

————————————————————————————-
We invite and encourage United Church people to continue responding urgently in solidarity through prayer and action with Mission & Service partners and the people of Cuba, who face multiple and deepening crises.

On January 30, the Trump Administration issued an Executive Order that makes life even harder for the Cuban people by imposing “a new tariff system that allows the United States to impose additional tariffs on imports from any country that directly or indirectly provides oil to Cuba.” https://www.whitehouse.gov/…/fact-sheet-president…/

Three things you can do:

1. Write to the government of Canada: Please sign this online petition calling on Canada to respond now with increased humanitarian assistance to Cuba: https://petition.web.net/CanadaActNowOnCuba

2. Phone your Member of Parliament: The United Church of Canada urges you to click on the petition link to also find your Member of Parliament. Phone your MP and urge them to support this call to increase humanitarian assistance to Cuba.

3. Pray: lift up to God the needs of the people of Cuba. Share this prayer with your community of faith: as we act in solidarity with Cuban siblings, with the Mission and Service partners and the people of Cuba, we pray together for a more just, equitable and peaceful world: https://united-church.ca/…/welcome…/partners-mission

——————————————————————————–
A Prayer for Cuba
God of life, justice, and compassion, you hear the cries of the poor and the voices of those pushed to the margins. You call us to stand where suffering is greatest and to speak truth when silence becomes complicity.
Do you see your people in Cuba, living faithfully on an island shaped by histories of colonization, geopolitical power, and economic control? Do you see the long lines for food and basic necessities, the hunger of children and elders, and the daily hardship required simply to survive?
God of mercy, you hear the cries from hospitals where care is limited not by knowledge or will, but by the absence of medicine and resources. You see the darkness caused by rolling blackouts, as homes, schools, and communities are forced to pause and wait. And food in the fridges get spoiled.
O God, it pains our hearts as people struggle with life and death, despair, and agony.
Stir the conscience of governments and global institutions. Strengthen movements for peace, dialogue, and cooperation. Empower your people to advocate boldly, to accompany those who suffer, and to work towards compassion and human rights.
O God of overflowing love, may your justice roll down like waters, and your righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. May your will be done—not the will of empire or profit. May your will bring life, dignity, and hope for all.
We pray for Cuba. We pray for a just world. We pray that we, your church, may be faithful in word and in action. Amen.  #UCCan
——————————————————————–
The United Church of Canada has committed to engaging with the United Nations Second International Decade for People of African Descent.
“By committing to a second decade as the church, we build on the work we started in the first decade. We affirm our commitment to a long-term project that is consistent with ongoing efforts in anti-racism and anti-Black racism,” says Rev. Adele Halliday, Anti-Racism and Equity Lead for The United Church of Canada.
The United Church’s hopes for the decade will be outlined by a Working Group on Church Legacies for People of African Descent. This working group will continue to deepen our commitments to reparations, reparatory justice, and the 2025 agreement from the 45th General Council to work on a process and related work for an apology from The United Church of Canada to the African Diaspora for enslavement and legacies of enslavement in Canada.
Expressions of interest to contributing to this working group, as well as related groups, are welcomed.
Read the full news announcement to find out more:  https://united-church.ca/…/united-church-commits…
——————————————————————————–
We stand in solidarity with faith leaders and communities across the United States who are courageously speaking out and caring for neighbours in this challenging moment.
As one interfaith leader so powerfully said:
“Here we are, Muslims and Christians, Sikh, Buddhist, Unitarian, Jews, atheists, Hindus, and more and more and more—united in our desire to confront this surge of ICE agents, this attack on democracy, and this attack on our neighbours.”
Across traditions and borders, we affirm human dignity, justice, and love for neighbour. You are not alone. We see you, and we stand with you.
—————————————————————-
Calling all photographers! Do you have an eye for capturing the beauty and spirit of the United Church? Submissions are now open for the 2027 Canadian Church Calendar!
We’re looking for images that celebrate church life inside and out—worship, music, community gardens, justice work, sacred spaces, and the changing seasons. 🌱❄️🍂
✨ Special shoutout: we’d love to see more photos from Manitoba, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland & Labrador!
Chosen photographers will receive a $100 honorarium, printed credit, and a copy of the calendar. 🖼️
🗓️ Deadline: January 15, 2026
👉 Find out more and submit your photos here: https://united-church.ca/…/get-involved/submit-your-photos
——————————————————————–
For children in the Sabra/Shatila refugee camp in Beirut, everyday life can feel uncertain. Since 1950, the Joint Christian Committee for Social Service (JCC) has been a bright spot — offering a safe, colourful kindergarten where children aged 3–6 can begin their education and just be kids.
Rising rental costs, essential renovations, and skyrocketing inflation are making it harder to provide the books, paper, and art supplies that make learning possible.
💛 Your gift of $60 provides school supplies, giving refugee children the tools to take their first steps toward a brighter future.
————————————————————————————–
**On this National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, we honour the lives lost, the lives impacted, and recommit ourselves to justice, safety, and dignity for all women.

—————————————————————————-

Military accord could make Canada complicit in human rights abuses in Philippines: The United Church of Canada is calling for public transparency and a full human-rights assessment following the recent signing of the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) between Canada and the Philippines. The agreement, announced by Canada’s Department of National Defence on November 2, establishes new terms for military cooperation between the two countries.

“Canada’s security partnerships must reflect our deepest commitments to international law regarding human rights,” The Rev. Dr. Japhet Ndhlovu, Executive Minister of the Church in Mission Unit, affirms. “True peace is built not through militarization but through justice, accountability, and respect for human dignity.”
—————————————————————
An Update from Global Partners Amid Hurricane Melissa: As Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm at it strongest, moves through the Caribbean, we are hearing from Mission and Service partners in Cuba who are assessing needs in the hardest-hit communities in the eastern provinces. At least 900,000 people have been evacuated, and provisions for food, shelter, water, basic services, and psychosocial support are urgently needed.
Join us in prayer for all those in the path of Hurricane Melissa: https://united-church.ca/…/prayer-those-path-hurricane…
Donations to the United Church’s Global Emergency Response Fund will support Mission and Service partners in Cuba responding to Hurricane Melissa: https://united-church.ca/donate/global-emergency-response
———————————————————————
In “My Hair, My Rage,” Inzwi Munikwa shares an experience that’s often seen as small but is really about consent, identity, and the cost of making racism “easier to hear.”
Explore more at United-Church.ca:
In “Racism is a Spiritual Issue,” Damber Khadka reflects on how racism denies the divine image in others—and why justice must begin with how we see one another.

🌐 Explore all the resources and activities for 40 Days of Engagement on Anti-Racism: https://united-church.ca/…/40-days-engagement-anti-racism

⬇️ Download this video from our YouTube channel: @UnitedChurchCda

40 Days of Engagement on Anti-Racism     #UCCan #40Days #AntiRacism #AntiRacistChurch

To mark 40 Days of Engagement on Anti-Racism, the United Church Bookstore has a great collection of books on anti-racism available. Use discount code 40DAYS to receive 15% off your purchase of two or more featured books. Explore all the titles: https://ucrdstore.ca/…/40-days-of-engagement-on-anti…
————————————————————————-
The United Church of Canada offers sincere congratulations to Bishop Sarah Mullally, who has been named as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury. She is the first woman ever chosen to lead the world’s 85 million Anglicans in the Church of England’s 1,400-year history. We pray for God to guide her as she navigates both rocky paths and smooth. We pray for her to have strength to face the challenges of leading a global church, and that she will be a peaceful and inspiring spirit for a world in chaos.

Mullally is a former cancer nurse who was England’s chief nursing officer in the early 2000s. She was appointed Bishop of London in 2018, a position she held until her appointment as Archbishop of Canterbury. She is also a member of the House of Lords. Find out more about the Archbishop-designate: https://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/…/rt-revd-and-rt…

——————————————————————————–

This week, Moderator Kimberly Heath took part in the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation on Parliament Hill. You can read more about her thoughts on the process of reconciliation in a conversation with Sara Stratton, the United Church’s Reconciliation and Indigenous Justice Animator, Indigenous Ministries and Justice on our webpage: https://united-church.ca/…/national-day-truth-and…

—————————————————————————–
The United Church of Canada’s 40 Days of Engagement on Anti-Racism is beginning October 14, 2025. This annual campaign features study and worship resources and live webinars to engage our churches and communities in anti-racism activities and is an important part of the ongoing work toward becoming an anti-racist church.
This year 40 Days of Engagement on Anti-Racism is all about short video stories—14 in total, ready to use in worship, as a Mission and Service Story, or in a study group. There are also prayers, prompts, and other resources for your community of faith, youth group, study group, or individual use.
This introductory video offers a preview of the 40 Days of Engagement on Anti-Racism resources that will launch very soon. Check it out and get engaged!
Join Us for 40 Days of Engagement on Anti-Racism 2025! youtube.com
Join Us for 40 Days of Engagement on Anti-Racism 2025!
The 40 Days of Engagement on Anti-Racism 2025 starts October 14. This year you’ll find weekly videos, prompts, and other resources for your community of fait…
—————————————————————————-
The United Church of Canada has released a powerful renewed declaration, “Dreaming a Better World Into Being: For the Sake of God’s Beloved World.” Stemming from decisions made at General Council 45 in Calgary, Alberta, the statement renews the church’s commitment to justice, peace, the integrity of Creation, and the flourishing of all peoples and the world.
The church raises its voice to call for urgent action on peace and justice issues internationally, including the ongoing genocide and humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, as well as violence in Latin America and tensions on the Korean peninsula.The declaration also addresses the church’s own complicity in settler colonialism and urges all levels of Canadian society to defend those Indigenous Peoples most affected by the climate crisis and those without access to clean drinking water.
The statement reiterates the church’s apology to 2S and LGBTQIA+ communities, calling for government action to protect their rights. Other urgent calls for action include addressing the housing and mental health crises, the overdose crisis, increasing polarization, and the erosion of democratic processes.
Read the full statement and learn more about the United Church’s call to action for a more just and peaceful world: https://united-church.ca/…/united-church-issues-bold…
—————————————————————————————————————————————–
**Canada Post has issued a new stamp in its “Places of Pride” series commemorating the origin of the term “Two‑Spirit,” which was introduced at the third North American Native American Gay & Lesbian Gathering in Beausejour, Manitoba, in 1990. The gathering was hosted at what is now the Sandy‑Saulteaux Spiritual Centre.
This historic moment marks a powerful reclaiming of Indigenous gender, spiritual, and relational identity rooted in ceremony and culture. The artwork depicts ceremonial gatherings under a night sky and reflects both ancient traditions and the act of naming that changed the course of Two‑Spirit recognition in Canada and beyond.
As a United Church of Canada ministry training centre and ecumenical space where Indigenous and Christian spirituality intertwine, Sandy‑Saulteaux Spiritual Centre holds deep significance in both theological education and reconciliation journeys.
We celebrate the Two‑Spirit community and all those who helped forge this identity. May this stamp inspire deeper understanding, healing, and affirmation across Indigenous and queer communities.
———————————————————————————————
The United Church of Canada welcomes Canada’s July 30, 2025 announcement that it will formally recognize the State of Palestine at the UN General Assembly in September. This is seen as a meaningful step toward a two-state solution rooted in international law and human dignity.
But recognition alone is not enough. The church is calling for immediate action: a sustained ceasefire, unhindered humanitarian aid, the release of all captives, and a comprehensive two-way arms embargo on Israel.
The statement questions whether recognition can truly respond to the suffering in Gaza and the West Bank and urges concrete steps beyond diplomatic words.
Statement on Canada’s Recognition of a Palestinian State
united-church.ca
Statement on Canada’s Recognition of a Palestinian State
This week, Prime Minister Carney made a welcome statement recognizing Palestine as a state. 
————————————————————————————————
100 Words of Hope: Resilient by Grace
Something interesting happens as we age. We’ve gathered experiences that younger people have just started to accumulate. Experience softens the sharp edges of crisis. It prepares us for the unimaginable.
Our adaptation muscles are strong. We can say, with confidence, “this too shall pass.” It isn’t a lack of caring or abandonment; it’s a shortening of the shock and a faster ability to roll up the sleeves.
The church has seen 2,000 years of surprises. Let us situate ourselves in that wisdom and do the work that needs to be done. United in hope, with love and care for one another.
—Éric Hébert-Daly, Executive Minister for Eastern Ontario Outaouais, Nakonha:ka, East Central Ontario regional councils
Find more 100 Words of Hope reflections: https://united-church.ca/blogs/round-table
We encourage you to share your own “100 Words of Hope” (prayers, poems, or reflections): https://ow.ly/4lqn50VsQSP

 

——————————————————————————

Published On: April 17, 2025….as posted on Face Book, June 25, 2025

Today, Holy Thursday, The United Church of Canada unveiled a bold photographic reimagining of The Last Supper, marking a significant moment in its centennial celebrations this year.

Revealed for the first time at Metropolitan United Church in Toronto, this reinterpretation challenges traditional depictions of the iconic scene and affirms the United Church’s belief in an all-encompassing love that embraces each person as their authentic self.

Holy Thursday, also known as Maundy Thursday, commemorates Jesus’ act of radical inclusion—sharing a meal with his followers, washing their feet and urging them to love one another. Inspired by this powerful act, the Church’s reimagining invites reflection on its core value: that God’s love for all is limitless. Everyone, celebrating all backgrounds and identities, has a place at the table.

“This is not just a statement for all time, but for our time,” said Rev. Michael Blair, General Secretary of The United Church of Canada. “This reimagining calls us to rethink what it means to be a faith community—one that evolves with the times, embraces diversity and actively fosters spaces of bold belonging. It’s not enough to simply have a seat, one must have a voice and the space to bring the fullness of all who gather.”

As part of The United Church of Canada’s centennial theme, Deep Spirituality, Bold Discipleship and Daring Justice, this photograph brings together people from various walks of life, each representing the diverse community they embrace. The image serves as a bold testament to the Church’s vision—a table where differences are honoured, diversity is celebrated, and faith is lived through shared commitment to equity and belonging.

A defining feature of this reimagining is the absence of Christ in physical form. Instead, Christ’s presence is embodied through the gathered community, underscoring the belief that faith is expressed through justice, compassion, and service.

“As a member of the United Church, I was honoured and inspired to reimagine The Last Supper in a way that let each of the Disciples’ identities shine through,” said photographer Alan Lai. “I wanted the image to honour who they each are and reflect the Church’s spirit of unity and belonging, showing that Christ’s presence lives in all of us, in all our diversity.”

This reimagining also underscores The United Church of Canada’s ongoing commitment to advocacy, including support for 2SLGBTQIA+ rights, Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, Racial Equity, Disability Justice, and engagement in struggles for peace and human rights, including those around the globe. It affirms that true belonging requires more than just tolerance—it requires action, dialogue and the intentional creation of spaces where all are truly welcomed and valued.

“I’ve experienced firsthand how life-giving it is to create spaces where 2S and LGBTQIA+ people, and all those on the margins, are not only welcomed but celebrated,” said King Julez, past chair of Affirm United/S’affirmer Ensemble and one of the Disciples in the photograph. “As a trans person and drag performer, I carry the legacy of queer resilience—of people who fought, created chosen families and found joy even in struggle. This image is about more than representation, it’s about transformation. It challenges us to reflect on what it truly means to belong.”

Throughout the Church’s centennial year, the photograph will be shared across digital platforms, including on a new dedicated webpage, sparking conversations about faith, identity and community in the modern world. This art is a call to action, encouraging the creation of spaces that embrace authenticity and promote social justice.

Bringing together individuals from coast to coast to coast, the project reflects the diversity of today’s United Church of Canada—spanning cultural backgrounds, generations, gender identities and spiritual perspectives. Rather than assuming sameness, it celebrates differences while reinforcing a shared vision of faith, hope and a bold future.

Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bpuX5Rngz0&t=191s

—————————————————————-
We are called to be generous believers, to support our church and to support one another. What will your legacy of faith be?
Support your church: become a part of the Centennial Legacy Campaign. Learn more about how you can support your congregation for the next century: https://unitedchurchfoundation.ca/centennialcampaign
"...out of the believers' heart shall flow rivers of living water." John 7:38
———————————————————————————————
HERITAGE MOMENT
The United Church of Canada: Making a Difference in Public Life
Rev. Edward Moore Jackson Burwash, in the uniform of the Canadian Chaplain Service (1916).
The re-election of the Hon. Rev. Rob Oliphant on April 28 continues a tradition of United Church members and ministers serving in the political sphere. Perhaps the best-known among them is the Rev. Bill Blaikie, who served as a member of the House of Commons from 1979 until 2008. When he left federal politics, he became a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. In 2011, his book, The Blaikie Report: An Insider’s Look at Faith and Politics was published, highlighting how the two—faith and politics—are connected.
Rev. George Campbell Pidgeon broadcasting (approx. 1925).
Dr. Ernest Edgar Long and visiting dignitaries at a press conference in Montreal (1955). Ernest Edgar Long (1901–1985) was a United Church Minister and the longest serving Secretary of General Council.
United Church people have long shared that conviction. There are dedicated ministers and members currently serving at all levels of government—municipal, provincial/territorial, and federal. Some of the giants of Canadian politics, like Lloyd Axworthy, the Hon. Rev. Lorne Calvert, and the Hon. Kathleen Wynne are part of the United Church. With its strong Methodist roots, the United Church has always believed faith is more than a matter of private spiritual devotion; it is also a call to serve in the world.
Rev. Alexander S. Murray talking to new arrivals at the port of Montreal.
Thora Mills accepting the Toronto (Metro) Medal for Public Service.
Legend has it that there was a time when the Moderator of the United Church could telephone the office of the Prime Minister and be put through immediately—but that is not our recent experience. The invitations sent to leaders to join us for our Centennial celebration in St. John’s have not been accepted. It’s harder to gain the attention of political leaders these days which has led some United Church folks to become creative in their efforts. In 2017, as part of the “Bread not Stones” campaign to raise awareness of and act on child poverty in Canada, a dedicated group of United Church members made a doll for every member of federal parliament as a tangible reminder of the children who were suffering. Their hopes to distribute them in the House of Commons were dashed but, with the help of Sen. Art Eggleton and MP Kate Young, they hosted a day-long event to mark the UN’s World Children’s Day.
Bread Not Stones joins other anti-poverty groups to bring “Dolls of Hope” to MPs and Senators (2018).
The Right Rev. Richard Bott, former Moderator of The United Church of Canada, with Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, who is responsible for the federal poverty reduction strategy and Canada’s response to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

No story of United Church civic engagement would be complete without acknowledging the protests and letter-writing that address unjust situations and urge change. From Indigenous rights to protection of the land to mining concerns to international human rights violations to seeking a just peace for Palestine and Israel, United Church members are on the forefront, committed to a faith that is more than words.

This is one of the characteristics by which the United Church is known: that our faith leads us into the world, to live into the “Daring Justice” that is part of our call.
Mardi Tindal with Governor General Michaëlle Jean at Rideau Hall, to mark the beginning of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s hearings (2009). Photo by Fred Cattroll.
Rev. Christine Boyle, British Columbia Minister of Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation on Transgender Day of Visibility (2024).
—————————————————————————————————————
Another “Heritage Moment” to read:
Decorative Header Banner. United Church of Canada Centennial Newsletter.
Reflecting on Our Anti-Racism Journey
It was June 2020. The Black Lives Matter movement was experiencing a groundswell of support across North America. It was also pre-COVID vaccines, and restrictions were in place to reduce the spread of the disease. The General Council was meeting online to consider postponing the meeting scheduled for 2021 until 2022. In this context, a proposal entitled “Towards Becoming an Anti-Racist Denomination” was presented.
Chinese United Church 50th Anniversary, Victoria, B.C. (1935).
Journeys of Black People in The United Church of Canada gathering in Montreal, (April, 2007).
A painting crew at the Chinese United Church, Vancouver, B.C. (1953).
A painting crew at the Chinese United Church, Vancouver, B.C. (1953).
The United Church acknowledged racism as a sin in 1960 after the destruction of the Africville neighborhood in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and had previously addressed it in a variety of ways, such as the 2006 requirement for ministry personnel to undertake racial justice training. But in the final hours of the 2018 meeting of the General Council, the continued pervasiveness of racism was made evident, as racialized clergy and lay people spoke to the racism they had experienced in the church. When the General Council met on October 24, 2020, it acknowledged what it had heard in 2018 and what was happening in society, and made a commitment to “Becoming an Anti-Racist Denomination,” creating the staff position of Anti-Racism and Equity Lead to support this.
Kyogikai conference at Knox United Church, Winnipeg (1962).
Chinese United Church sign, Victoria, B.C. (1960).
The Very Rt. Rev. Wilbur K. Howard (1974). Learn more about the Very Rev. Wilbur Howard.
Four years later in February 2024, when the Executive of the General Council received the report of the Pastoral Relationships Thriving with Equity Research Project, it was clear that progress is slow. Racialized clergy continue to experience blatant racism. Despite the number of communities of faith without a minister, the United Church has had to stop receiving applications from other denominations as there is already a long list of qualified ministers, many of whom are racialized, unable to find a position.
The United Church has committed to becoming an anti-racist denomination. Watch this video to explore what this means and understand how racism may be present within our church.
Korean United Church congregation, Vancouver, B.C. (1967).
Historic MOU signed this between The United Church of Canada and the Methodist Church of Ghana, establishing an Associate Membership for the Ghana Calvary Methodist United Church of Toronto (May 5, 2013).
February is Black History Month. We have much to lift up: the decision to become an anti-racist denomination, racial justice training for ministry personnel, the Black clergy network, the admirable leadership of former Moderator, the Very Rev. Wilbur Howard, and of current General Secretary, the Rev. Michael Blair. But we cannot yet claim we “are” anti-racist; the data makes it plain that is not the case. This February, how will we recognize this and challenge it? By 2035, 30 percent of the Canadian population will be racialized or Indigenous. Will we be able to say the same of a denomination that has historically mirrored population trends in its membership?
——————————————————————————————————-
The United Church Learning Pilgrimage delegation to the Philippines visited mining sites in the Cordillera region, and witnessed some of environmental damage caused by international mining companies.
Won Hur
Today, The United Church of Canada’s pilgrims in the Philippines visited two gold mines in the Cordillera region. The mining companies have dumped cyanide in the mine pit lake. Lots of environmental destruction was caused by international mining companies. On the otherhand, Indigenous miners have practising sustainable mining practices for 300 years. Farmers were able to grow rice right by the mines where cyanide mine pit lake now sits. Thank you Cordillera Peoples Alliance for arranging this visit. Thank you, The United Church of Canada for this opportunity. I asked the people in the community what The United Church of Canada can do for them. They replied, “Please tell our story.” #UCCan
———————————————————————————-
We have be made aware of a number of scams circulating on social media which are offering refugee support in the name of The United Church of Canada. The United Church of Canada that holds the Sponsorship Agreement Holder is located at 3250 Bloor West, Toronto. No other location is valid. The United Church does not ask for money to undertake refugee sponsorships nor do we work with consultants in facilitating refugee cases. We only work with United Church congregations as our constituent groups (CG) and partners – Lifeline Syria and Rainbow Refugee Society. Please be aware that we do not send Facebook Friends requests. If you have questions please contact us here. Thank you.
100 Words of Hope: Stillness in a Loud World
When we wake up each day we enter into the din
Our home, our places, our nation.
It deafens us at every turn, on every platform, exponentially by the din of other’s imposed upon us.
It is overwhelming.
What are we to do? Will covering our ears allow escape?
Nay, the answer lies in the sitting and the listening.
Listening for that which cannot, at first, be heard.
Sitting until the din is hushed
When all we can hear is the still small voice
Which whispers words of love and hope and reassurance
That “I AM” is with us always.
—John Neff, Westminster United Church, Orangeville, ON
——————–
We are inviting people to share “100 Words of Hope” that draw from deep spirituality to speak to these moments of high anxiety and change in the church, Canada, and the world.
We invite you to share your own 100-word reflection, poem, or prayer that conveys hope and faith in these times, add yours to the comments below, or submit a reflection: https://ow.ly/4lqn50VsQSP
Together, we can inspire each other to live out the call of the church to deep spirituality, bold discipleship, and daring justice. We are not alone.