Archive for tag: United Church of Canada

Archive pour tag : United Church of Canada

The United Church of Canada is currently holding its 44th General Council, but this time it is a little different than past occasions. The current General Council is online and spread over several months. This should provide ample opportunity for discussion and reflection. A key item on the agenda of every General Council is the election of the next Moderator. In the United Church, the moderator is elected by the members of the General Council towards the end of the meeting. The new Moderator is installed in the office at the end of the meeting and then serves over the succeeding years until the next General Council meeting. The current 44th General Council is moderated by the Rev. Richard Bott, who was elected at the 43rd General Council in 2018 in Oshawa.

The plan for the Moderatorial election this year was that nominations would be received until June 17th. At that time, the slate of nominees would be announced and the discernment would begin. The election is July 23 and the installation is August 7. The surprise this year is that there is only one nominee. This is not unprecedented, but it is more common to have a large slate of candidates, up to a dozen or more. When nominations closed on June 17, there was a sole nominee: the Rev. Dr. Carmen Lansdowne. There is no process for acclamation, so there will be a ballot on July 23.
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Posted: June 28, 2022 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=11930
Categories: NewsIn this article: United Church of Canada
Transmis : 28 juin 2022 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=11930
Catégorie : NewsDans cet article : United Church of Canada

After decades of nipping around the edges of the issues of systemic racism, the Commissioners of the 43rd General Council voted to declare the denomination to become an anti-racist church on Saturday, October 24, 2020. “This doesn’t mean we have achieved this goal,” explains the Moderator, the Right Rev. Richard Bott, “but we are taking a stand and saying we are publicly committed to eliminating systemic racism from our practices and policies.”

One of the last actions of outgoing General Secretary Nora Sanders was to create a new Anti-Racism and Equity Officer position in the General Council Office. After an extensive search process, we are pleased to announce that the successful candidate is Adele Halliday, who has already been deeply engaged in related work within the Church in Mission Unit and has worked with the United Church since 2004.
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Posted: Oct. 29, 2020 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=10850
Categories: NewsIn this article: anti-racism, equity, United Church of Canada
Transmis : 29 oct. 2020 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=10850
Catégorie : NewsDans cet article : anti-racism, equity, United Church of Canada

It has been years in the making, but today, 22 July 2019, delegates to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada General Assembly in Des Moines, Iowa, approved a historic agreement with The United Church of Canada. Known as a Full Communion Agreement, it allows clergy to move freely between the denominations if they choose, and recognizes each other’s sacraments of baptism and communion. The United Church of Canada voted for this agreement in July 2018 at its 43rd General Council meeting. In 2015, the United Church signed a similar Full Communion Agreement with the United Church of Christ (USA).
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Posted: July 22, 2019 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=10581
Categories: NewsIn this article: Disciples of Christ, full communion, United Church of Canada
Transmis : 22 juil. 2019 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=10581
Catégorie : NewsDans cet article : Disciples of Christ, full communion, United Church of Canada

In 2016, The United Church of Canada and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) began conversations about how to deepen the partnership between the two communions in North America and beyond. The United Church of Canada and the United Church of Christ in the USA had reached a “full communion” agreement the year before that included Global Ministries, and the leaders of the Disciples and The United Church of Canada thought the time was right to “close the triangle” by entering into full communion relationship between the two churches.
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Posted: Dec. 24, 2018 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=10443
Categories: NewsIn this article: dialogue, Disciples of Christ, United Church of Canada
Transmis : 24 déc. 2018 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=10443
Catégorie : NewsDans cet article : dialogue, Disciples of Christ, United Church of Canada

The Roman Catholic‒United Church of Canada Dialogue has released a report on climate change entitled The Hope within Us. Since October 2012, the Roman Catholic‒United Church of Canada Dialogue has met eight times to explore our churches’ responses to the ecological crisis, with particular attention to climate change. The report explores the spiritual resources of our common tradition for addressing climate change and working for ecological justice. While not turning away from the real dangers of the ecological crises, the dialogue provides a vision of hope, based on our common Christian faith, that a new relationship between humanity and creation is possible.
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Posted: July 18, 2018 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=10295
Categories: DialogueIn this article: Catholic, CCCB, climate change, United Church of Canada
Transmis : 18 juil. 2018 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=10295
Catégorie : DialogueDans cet article : Catholic, CCCB, climate change, United Church of Canada

Le Dialogue de l’Église catholique romaine et de l’Église Unie a publié un rapport sur le changement climatique intitulé l’Espérance en nous. Depuis octobre 2012, le Dialogue de l’Église catholique romaine et de l’Église Unie du Canada s’est réuni huit fois pour examiner les réponses de nos Églises à la crise écologique, en portant une attention particulière au changement climatique. Le rapport explore les ressources spirituelles de notre tradition commune pour faire face au changement climatique et travailler pour la justice écologique. Sans fermer les yeux sur les dangers réels des crises écologiques, le dialogue offre une vision d’ espérance fondée sur notre foi chrétienne commune, voulant qu’une nouvelle relation entre l’humanité et la création soit possible.
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Posted: July 18, 2018 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=10297
Categories: DialogueIn this article: Catholic, CCCB, climate change, dialogue, United Church of Canada
Transmis : 18 juil. 2018 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=10297
Catégorie : DialogueDans cet article : Catholic, CCCB, climate change, dialogue, United Church of Canada

Changes now being considered to the structure of the United Church of Canada could conceivably ease clergy-sharing and other forms of cooperation between that church and the Anglican Church of Canada, say some leaders from the two churches.

One challenge now facing merged Anglican and United congregations, as noted in a report issued following the conclusion of the most recently completed round of dialogue between the two denominations, is that they lack an agreement allowing the interchangeability of ministries. Clergy of one church have been allowed to serve as clergy for the other generally only in circumstances regarded as exceptional, such as in ecumenical shared ministries, for which special permission needs to be granted by the authorities of each denomination.
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Posted: Jan. 25, 2018 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=9829
Categories: Anglican JournalIn this article: Anglican Church of Canada, episcopé, shared ministry, United Church of Canada
Transmis : 25 janv. 2018 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=9829
Catégorie : Anglican JournalDans cet article : Anglican Church of Canada, episcopé, shared ministry, United Church of Canada

New and returning members of the Anglican Church of Canada-United Church of Canada Dialogue came together last month for the first meeting since the renewal of their mandate at General Synod 2016.

Gathering from Nov. 27-30 at the Queen of Apostles Renewal Centre in Mississauga, representatives from the two churches reviewed the achievements of past iterations of the dialogue—as documented in The St. Brigid Report and Called to Unity in Mission—and explored ways to move forward in the mutual recognition of ministers and ministry.

The Rev. Dr. Scott Sharman, animator for ecumenical and interfaith relations and Anglican staff support to the dialogue, said that much of the dialogue focused on how mutual recognition currently manifests itself at the grassroots level.

“Oftentimes, the way that question was being considered was as though that mutual recognition would have to happen at the level of the national churches at the same time,” Sharman said.
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Posted: Dec. 19, 2017 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=9823
Categories: Anglican JournalIn this article: Anglican Church of Canada, dialogue, mutual recognition of ministries, United Church of Canada
Transmis : 19 déc. 2017 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=9823
Catégorie : Anglican JournalDans cet article : Anglican Church of Canada, dialogue, mutual recognition of ministries, United Church of Canada

The relationship between the Anglican Church of Canada and the United Church of Canada (UCC) is back on track, the United Church’s moderator says—and she’s delighted about it.

Fresh out of a meeting in Toronto this week with Archbishop Fred Hiltz, primate of the Anglican Church of Canada —their first official meeting since her election last summer—the Rt. Rev. Jordan Cantwell was brimming with enthusiasm.

“We could’ve talked for three times as long,” she said in an interview. “We had about an hour and a half to talk, and we were just getting going, and Bruce says, ‘Well, we have five more minutes,’ ” Cantwell said, referring to Archdeacon Bruce Myers, the Anglican church’s co-ordinator for ecumenical and interfaith relations.

The first thought that went through her head on hearing that was, “What? We’ve only talked about one thing—we’ve got so much more!” Cantwell said. “So yeah, it was wonderful.”
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Posted: Jan. 8, 2016 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=8935
Categories: Anglican JournalIn this article: Anglican Church of Canada, United Church of Canada
Transmis : 8 janv. 2016 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=8935
Catégorie : Anglican JournalDans cet article : Anglican Church of Canada, United Church of Canada

Hailing this past weekend the enactment of a full communion agreement between the United Church of Canada and the United Church of Christ in the U.S., Anglican Church of Canada primate, Archbishop Fred Hiltz, said he is eagerly looking forward to more ecumenical co-operation in the future.

The two churches, which had been exploring the idea of full communion since 2013, approved an agreement at their general synod and general council meetings this summer, but it was not officially enacted until a ceremony in Niagara Falls, Ont., October 17. Congregations of both churches marked the agreement with a special common prayer the following day.

According to the agreement, the full communion is marked by five key features: the common confession that “God is in Christ”; the mutual recognition of each other’s members and baptisms; the common celebration of the Lord’s supper/holy communion; the mutual recognition of each other’s ordained ministries; and a common commitment to the mission of each church.
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Posted: Oct. 21, 2015 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=9646
Categories: Anglican JournalIn this article: full communion, United Church of Canada, United Church of Christ
Transmis : 21 oct. 2015 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=9646
Catégorie : Anglican JournalDans cet article : full communion, United Church of Canada, United Church of Christ

An historic vote in Canada has set the stage for close cooperation between two North American churches.

The General Council of the United Church of Canada, meeting at Corner Brook in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, voted unanimously on 13 August to adopt a proposal for “Full Communion” with the United Church of Christ in the United States. This is the first time such a proposal has been adopted by the Canadian church. The announcement of the result of the vote was greeted with a standing ovation.

The term “Full Communion” is used for formal agreements between churches that acknowledge they share a common vision of Christian mission and agree to engage in joint ministry and to call one another’s ministers as pastors.

Prior to voting, General Council delegates were shown a video of members of the General Synod of the United Church of Christ singing the national anthem of Canada to celebrate their unanimous vote in support of the proposal at the Synod’s meeting in Cleveland in June 2015. In response, General Council members rose spontaneously to sing the American national anthem.

The agreement between the United Church of Christ and the United Church of Canada will take effect in October 2015 at a celebration in the city of Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada on the border with the United States. A joint worship service and a time of fellowship will mark the event.

Both churches are members of the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC).
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Posted: Aug. 14, 2015 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=8656
Categories: WCC NewsIn this article: Christian unity, full communion, United Church of Canada, United Church of Christ
Transmis : 14 aoüt 2015 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=8656
Catégorie : WCC NewsDans cet article : Christian unity, full communion, United Church of Canada, United Church of Christ

Delegates to the United Church of Christ 2015 General Synod in Cleveland on Monday morning unanimously approved an amendment to recognize a full communion between the United Church of Christ and the United Church of Canada. The union fulfills the promise the churches made to one another in 2013. “Let us dare to dream of the unexpected places we might discover as Uniting and United Churches in North America,” said Karen Georgia Thompson, United Church of Christ minister for ecumenical and interfaith relations, echoing the theme of General Synod 30 in Cleveland June 25-30.

Passage of the amendment on June 29 drew a sustained 45-second applause from delegates, some of whom stood and cheered. For the Rev. Michael Denton – United Church of Christ Executive Board member and Conference Minister of the Pacific Northwest Conference – the vote was cause for celebration. “We share significant borders with Canada,” said Denton, whose conference comprises Washington state, Northern Idaho and Alaska. “This is an opportunity for a cross-border-sharing ministry. Some United Church of Christ churches are closer to Canada than any other United Church of Christ churches.”
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Posted: June 29, 2015 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=8601
Categories: NewsIn this article: full communion, United Church of Canada, United Church of Christ
Transmis : 29 juin 2015 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=8601
Catégorie : NewsDans cet article : full communion, United Church of Canada, United Church of Christ

The Anglican Church of Canada, The Presbyterian Church in Canada, the Roman Catholic Entities Parties to the Settlement Agreement, The United Church of Canada and the Jesuits of English Canada make the following statement in response to the findings and Calls to Action issued by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.

It is with gratitude and humility that we are here today to speak together as representatives of churches that participated in the operation of Indian Residential Schools. We are grateful to the Commissioners and staff of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada for the commitment with which they have carried out their mandate, and we are humbled in the knowledge that we continue to share a responsibility to ensure that the task of reconciliation does not end today.
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Posted: June 2, 2015 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=8618
Categories: DocumentsIn this article: Anglican Church of Canada, Catholic, Jesuits, Presbyterian Church in Canada, Truth and Reconciliation Commission, United Church of Canada
Transmis : 2 juin 2015 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=8618
Catégorie : DocumentsDans cet article : Anglican Church of Canada, Catholic, Jesuits, Presbyterian Church in Canada, Truth and Reconciliation Commission, United Church of Canada

In a letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, The United Church of Canada has asked for clear reassurance that the government does not intend to limit the democratic rights and freedoms of individuals and organizations opposed to Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories.

The church’s letter was prompted by a recent CBC news story that cited the possibility of the government using hate crime laws to clamp down on activities they consider to be singling out Israel for criticism.

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Posted: May 13, 2015 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=8315
Categories: NewsIn this article: Canada, divestment, Israel, Palestine, United Church of Canada
Transmis : 13 mai 2015 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=8315
Catégorie : NewsDans cet article : Canada, divestment, Israel, Palestine, United Church of Canada

The Anglican and United Church of Canada dialogue has issued an interim report that proposes “to explore what steps can be taken to make a mutual exchange of ministries between our two churches normative”. As a first step, the dialogue members propose to explore the interchangeability between the order of priests in the Anglican Church and ordained ministers in the United Church. The interim report, prepared in January, has been received by the respective churches and was published May 20. Approving the proposal, the two churches have asked the dialogue to report on its progress in time for the Anglican General Synod in 2016.

The latest “iteration” of the dialogue between the Anglican and United churches began in January 2012. The dialogue was established in 2003 and issued a report in 2009 entitled “Drawing from the Same Well: The St. Brigid Report”. A Plan of Union between the two churches was unsuccessful forty years ago. Central to the concerns in the old Plan of Union was a proposal to reconcile ministries between the two churches with the union church having episcopal orders.
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Posted: May 21, 2014 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=7601
Categories: NewsIn this article: Anglican Church of Canada, dialogue, ministry, ordination, United Church of Canada
Transmis : 21 mai 2014 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=7601
Catégorie : NewsDans cet article : Anglican Church of Canada, dialogue, ministry, ordination, United Church of Canada

I am writing today as the spiritual leader of Canada’s largest Protestant denomination, The United Church of Canada. I am also writing as an openly gay man, married to another United Church minister. This introduction may come as a surprise, seeing that so often it is religious leaders who condemn homosexuality, quoting scripture to justify their prejudice.

And so, as we approach this year’s International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia, I want to deliver a different sort of message from a religious leader to all members of the LGBTQ community, whether they are people of faith or not.

It is a message that states unequivocally that not all Christians think the same way; that the hatred, condemnation, and judgment inflicted upon LGBTQ people by some within the Christian church is wrong and does not reflect the sum total of all Christian understanding of gender identity and sexual orientation.

For too long LGBTQ persons have been ostracized because of who they are, and the cost has been tremendous suffering, oppression, and diminishment of their humanity. For this I grieve.

I believe that we are all made in the image of God, wholly good and wholly loved by the Creator. This is why I feel such sadness when I see religious leaders and organizations failing to recognize that reality in every member of the LGBTQ community.
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Posted: May 12, 2014 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=7574
Categories: OpinionIn this article: human sexuality, United Church of Canada
Transmis : 12 mai 2014 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=7574
Catégorie : OpinionDans cet article : human sexuality, United Church of Canada

“Both friendly and intense”—that’s how the Rev. William Harrison describes the latest phase of the dialogue between representatives of the Anglican Church of Canada and the United Church of Canada after the last of three annual meetings wrapped up at the Vancouver School of Theology on Jan. 16.

Harrison, the group’s Anglican co-chair, said the participants from both churches have prepared an interim report, which has to be submitted the Anglican Church of Canada’s Council of General Synod (CoGS) for its next meeting in May before it can be discussed in detail. In the meanwhile, he answered a few questions from the Journal by email about the latest meetings and their progress.

In keeping with a resolution from the 2010 General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada, and with the agreement of the United Church’s Theology and Inter-Church Inter-Faith Committee, these most recent talks have focused on “the doctrinal identities of the two churches and the implications of this for the lives of the churches—including understandings of sacraments and orders of ministry.”

“Both sides have been willing to engage and ask tough questions,” Harrison wrote. “Where the previous phase focused on what we have in common, this phase has been more inclined to recognize differences. The result is that we have challenged one another and ourselves.” The previous dialogue took place over six years and ended in 2009. Those conversations were described in Drawing from the Same Well: The St. Brigid Report.

In spite of those differences, Harrison wrote, “We found that on core theological commitments (as expressed in the Nicene and Apostles’ Creeds, for example) we are really in much the same place, facing common challenges. Our differences on these matters tend to be more in the realm of how we do theology than in the things that we affirm.”
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Posted: Feb. 14, 2014 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=7352
Categories: Anglican JournalIn this article: Anglican Church of Canada, Christian unity, dialogue, United Church of Canada
Transmis : 14 févr. 2014 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=7352
Catégorie : Anglican JournalDans cet article : Anglican Church of Canada, Christian unity, dialogue, United Church of Canada

The General Secretary of the United Church of Canada, Nora Sanders, has issued a message to the church’s General Council to announce that the General Synod of the United Church of Christ (USA) has accepted the United Church of Canada as an ecumenical partner. The announcement, issued 11 July, follows.
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Posted: July 11, 2013 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=6487
Categories: NewsIn this article: Canada, Christian unity, ecumenism, full communion, united & uniting churches, United Church of Canada, United Church of Christ, USA
Transmis : 11 juil. 2013 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=6487
Catégorie : NewsDans cet article : Canada, Christian unity, ecumenism, full communion, united & uniting churches, United Church of Canada, United Church of Christ, USA

The meeting of the Roman Catholic-United Church of Canada dialogue group which I attended in October reaffirmed the report on marriage that was submitted to our sponsoring bodies last spring. I have had the pleasure to be a part of this dialogue for the last 5 years as we discussed the often personal topic of marriage and our churches’ policies regarding marriage. What could have been a very confrontational discussion ended up being a wonderful celebration of the ideals of the institution as well as the rites involved in a wedding. Indeed, our two churches have much in common around marriage.
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Posted: Feb. 8, 2013 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=2902
Categories: CommuniquéIn this article: Canada, Catholic, Christian unity, dialogue, ecumenism, UCC, United Church of Canada
Transmis : 8 févr. 2013 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=2902
Catégorie : CommuniquéDans cet article : Canada, Catholic, Christian unity, dialogue, ecumenism, UCC, United Church of Canada

While the Catholic Church and the United Church aren’t about to agree about same-sex marriage (Catholic against, United in favour), the official Roman Catholic-United Church of Canada Dialogue has found significant common ground in their theologies, liturgies and pastoral approaches. “In the end it is good news that we were able to say something together on marriage,” said Michael Attridge, a University of St. Michael’s College theology professor who was one of the Catholic representatives on the dialogue. “A very important topic — something that’s very important to both our Churches.” The 23-page final report on marriage makes no change in either Church’s teaching on marriage and does not try to paper over significant differences on same-sex marriage, divorce and marriage as a sacrament. However, by analysing the Catholic and United Church marriage ceremonies and official Church documents, the dialogue found common ground. Both believe marriage must be the free choice of the spouses, is intended to be a lifelong commitment, is “a commitment to self-transcendence” which serves not just the couple but children and the whole community, is a vocation to holiness, and pastorally marriage preparation is important. The Churches decided to tackle marriage in their official dialogue after the United Church and Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops found themselves submitting opposing factums to the Supreme Court in 2004, before the court ruled on the constitutionality of same-sex marriage.
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Posted: Jan. 25, 2013 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=7606
Categories: Catholic RegisterIn this article: Catholic, dialogue, marriage, United Church of Canada
Transmis : 25 janv. 2013 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=7606
Catégorie : Catholic RegisterDans cet article : Catholic, dialogue, marriage, United Church of Canada

The United Church of Canada, the country’s largest Protestant denomination, has approved a recommendation to boycott products produced in Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory. The intent is to bring pressure to bear on the government of Israel to stop expansion of the settlements and end the occupation. The church’s General Council, its senior decision-making body, received the recommendation last week at its meeting in Ottawa. More than 350 elected delegates met for the eight-day event that concluded August 18. The recommendations were approved on August 15 and the policy paper was approved on August 17.
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Posted: Aug. 20, 2012 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=2238
Categories: NewsIn this article: United Church of Canada
Transmis : 20 aoüt 2012 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=2238
Catégorie : NewsDans cet article : United Church of Canada

The Anglican Church of Canada has entered a new round of dialogue with the United Church of Canada. The aim is to explore ways in which the two churches can work together for more effective ministry and mission.

“Much of the impetus for these conversations is coming from the grassroots of our two churches,” says Archdeacon Bruce Myers, the Anglican church’s coordinator for ecumenical relations. “Many communities across Canada are served by ecumenical shared ministries in which Anglicans and United church people and clergy work and worship side by side. They’re asking our churches’ leadership to find ways to facilitate such cooperation in mission and ministry.”

To that end, 12 new representatives from the two denominations met in Toronto May 14 to May 17 at St. John’s Convent, the headquarters of the Sisters of St. John the Divine. In addition to theological conversation, the group shared common prayer, meals and fellowship.
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Posted: May 29, 2012 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=2188
Categories: Anglican JournalIn this article: Anglican, Christian unity, dialogue, ecumenism, UCC, United Church of Canada
Transmis : 29 mai 2012 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=2188
Catégorie : Anglican JournalDans cet article : Anglican, Christian unity, dialogue, ecumenism, UCC, United Church of Canada

The United Church of Christ‘s five-member Collegium of Officers is making a road trip this week to engage the United Church of Canada in a historic moment of the [US church].

“This is the first time we’re taking a delegation of sorts to Canada,” said the Rev. Karen Georgia Thompson, [United Church of Christ] minister for ecumenical and interfaith relations. “I was in Canada last year and had some conversations with their [General Council] and ecumenical officers to talk about what we can do to be more intentional about working with each other.”

Thompson is making the trip April 3-4 to Toronto along with the United Church of Christ’s Collegium: the Rev. Geoffrey A. Black, general minister and president; W. Mark Clark, associate general minister; the Rev. J. Bennett Guess, executive minister for Local Church Ministries; the Rev. M. Linda Jaramillo, executive minister for Justice and Witness Ministries; and the Rev. James Moos, executive minister for Wider Church Ministries.
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Posted: Apr. 3, 2012 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=2153
Categories: NewsIn this article: dialogue, United Church of Canada, United Church of Christ
Transmis : 3 avril 2012 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=2153
Catégorie : NewsDans cet article : dialogue, United Church of Canada, United Church of Christ

Two ecumenical partners greeted the Anglican Church of Canada’s General Synod members on Wednesday. The Archbishop of Halifax Anthony Mancini represented the Roman Catholic Bishops of Canada, and Moderator Mardi Tindal represented the United Church of Canada.
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Posted: June 9, 2010 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=1600
Categories: Anglican JournalIn this article: Anglican Church of Canada, Catholic, CCCB, ecumenism, UCC, United Church of Canada
Transmis : 9 juin 2010 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=1600
Catégorie : Anglican JournalDans cet article : Anglican Church of Canada, Catholic, CCCB, ecumenism, UCC, United Church of Canada

Revived Anglican-United dialogue issues report

[ACC News] After six years of conversation, the Anglican-United Dialogue offers their churches “Drawing from the Same Well: the St. Brigid Report.” Formatted for quick reference, the report describes where Anglican and United churches are working cooperatively, and outlines the differences between the denominations.
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Posted: July 3, 2009 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=591
Categories: NewsIn this article: Anglican, United Church of Canada
Transmis : 3 juil. 2009 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=591
Catégorie : NewsDans cet article : Anglican, United Church of Canada

[Toronto] A Canadian church magazine has become the first North American sponsor of a travelling exhibit of the life and work of natural scientist Charles Darwin, whose theory of the evolution of species has long been a source of conflict between scientists and Christians who take the Biblical account of creation literally.

The exhibit, which opened at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto on 8 March, had failed to find support from the museum’s usual sponsors. Museum officials said none disagreed with Darwin’s theories but cited concerns about a potential backlash from Christians opposed to the idea of evolution.
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Posted: Mar. 24, 2008 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=441
Categories: ENIIn this article: United Church of Canada
Transmis : 24 mars 2008 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=441
Catégorie : ENIDans cet article : United Church of Canada

The United Church of Canada‘s 39th General Council has rejected a proposal calling for divestment from Israel, in favour of what is described as a “pro-peace” investment strategy. The proposal originally presented to the General Council called for the church and its congregations to selectively divest from corporations that support or contribute to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories.

The General Council is held every three years as the highest decision making body in the United Church of Canada (UCC). The meeting August 13 to 19 was in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Approximately 400 commissioners from across Canada participated in the General Council meeting.
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Posted: Aug. 18, 2006 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=258
Categories: OpinionIn this article: 2006, divestment, Israel, Middle East, Palestine, peace, Sabeel, United Church of Canada
Transmis : 18 aoüt 2006 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=258
Catégorie : OpinionDans cet article : 2006, divestment, Israel, Middle East, Palestine, peace, Sabeel, United Church of Canada

[Toronto • 17.2.2006] The United Church of Canada has sent a letter to the Islamic Council of Imams expressing the church’s “deepest regret that the name of Muhammad has been so tragically misused in the depictions of cartoons first published in Europe, but now also in Canada.” The letter strongly condemns the publication of the
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Posted: Feb. 17, 2006 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=206
Categories: NewsIn this article: Canada, cartoon controversy, Islam, Islamophobia, religious hatred, United Church of Canada
Transmis : 17 févr. 2006 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=206
Catégorie : NewsDans cet article : Canada, cartoon controversy, Islam, Islamophobia, religious hatred, United Church of Canada

The United Church of Canada is engaged in a study process towards the adoption of a new statement of faith. The proposed statement would not replace any existing document — the Basis of Union, the 1940 Statement of Faith, or A New Creed (1968) — but would supplement the existing statements. The study process, entitled
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Posted: July 28, 2005 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=152
Categories: Documents, NewsIn this article: statements of faith, United Church of Canada
Transmis : 28 juil. 2005 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=152
Catégorie : Documents, NewsDans cet article : statements of faith, United Church of Canada

Two churches examine shared ministries: Anglican dialogue with United Church began in 2003 by Solange De Santis, Anglican Journal Nearly 30 years after the Anglican and United churches broke off merger talks, the two denominations are again discussing closer ties – but a merger is not on the table. “It’s still in an exploratory phase,
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Posted: Feb. 1, 2005 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=6084
Categories: Anglican JournalIn this article: Anglican Church of Canada, Christian unity, dialogue, ecumenism, United Church of Canada
Transmis : 1 févr. 2005 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=6084
Catégorie : Anglican JournalDans cet article : Anglican Church of Canada, Christian unity, dialogue, ecumenism, United Church of Canada

In August 1974, the General Council of the United Church of Canada passed a resolution which invited the Roman Catholic Church in Canada to enter into conversations concerning Christian unity. The following month, the Plenary Assembly of the Canadian Catholic Conference responded to the invitation in a positive manner. In November 1975 the first dialogue meeting took place, which means that the dialogue has now been meeting for twenty-eight years!
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Posted: Sept. 30, 2003 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=2267
Categories: NewsIn this article: Catholic, dialogue, United Church of Canada
Transmis : 30 sept. 2003 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=2267
Catégorie : NewsDans cet article : Catholic, dialogue, United Church of Canada

[Toronto – February 18, 2003] The Anglican Church of Canada and The United Church of Canada have begun an ongoing dialogue. These are the first formal conversations between the two denominations since the end of the Plan of Union talks in the 1970s. The meeting took place February 13-16, 2003 at the Vancouver School of
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Posted: Feb. 18, 2003 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=53
Categories: NewsIn this article: Anglican, United Church of Canada
Transmis : 18 févr. 2003 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=53
Catégorie : NewsDans cet article : Anglican, United Church of Canada

The United Church has dropped an attempt to substitute gender-neutral language for “Father, Son and Holy Spirit” in the baptism rite — a proposed change that caused concern among the church’s ecumenical partners, including the Anglican Church. About 100 groups and congregations last fall were asked their opinions of various new forms of the rite, said Fred Graham, liturgical officer for the United Church. The church is developing a new worship book, Celebrate God’s Presence. Conservatives, however, did not care for the changes — as Mr. Graham put it, “that sector in our church rose up” against alternate wording. Others felt, he said, that inclusive language was to be encouraged. At the same time, the United Church’s General Council Executive, which rules on matters of doctrine and faith, decided that such a fundamental change would need to be put to a church-wide vote.
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Posted: Sept. 15, 2000 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=6467
Categories: Anglican JournalIn this article: baptism, Catholic, Christian unity, dialogue, ecumenism, Trinity, United Church of Canada
Transmis : 15 sept. 2000 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=6467
Catégorie : Anglican JournalDans cet article : baptism, Catholic, Christian unity, dialogue, ecumenism, Trinity, United Church of Canada

It was a Valentine in the form of a covenant signed by a Roman Catholic bishop, a United Church Presbytery chair, two local pastors and members of their congregations on the eve of Feb. 14.

The covenant was the formalization of a long friendship between McClure United Church and Holy Spirit Roman Catholic Parish. The covenant was written, according to the document itself “in response to the call of Jesus, “that they may all be one and that the world may believe that you have sent me” (Jn 17:21-23).

“You must have been listening to the Spirit,” said Sister Anne Keffer, director of Saskatoon’s Centre for Ecumenism, where the official document signing took place.

“On behalf of the whole church, I thank you. I thank God.”

In total, some 40 members from the two congregations were present for the signing ceremony which involved joint prayer and reflections on healing and reconciliation.

Rev. Bernard de Margerie of Holy Spirit Parish, a past director of the Centre for Ecumenism, said the stages of the relationship between the churches were like any other. It first involved a courtship, which built into a relationship. The covenant itself was a gesture of solidarity, followed by the joint celebration of the formal covenant on Sunday. The last step will be ongoing faithfulness.
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Posted: Mar. 8, 2000 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=9
Categories: NewsIn this article: Catholic, Christian unity, covenant, ecumenism, Saskatoon, United Church of Canada
Transmis : 8 mars 2000 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=9
Catégorie : NewsDans cet article : Catholic, Christian unity, covenant, ecumenism, Saskatoon, United Church of Canada

It was more than 30 years in the making but on Sunday, parishioners from Holy Spirit Roman Catholic and McClure United parishes stood side by side.

Old and young sang beautifully together. They taught their children together, hugged, prayed and worshipped as brothers and sisters in Christ at Holy Spirit Parish. Afterward, they walked together through the streets of Saskatoon to break bread together at a community lunch at McClure United.

This was done to mark the signing of a new covenant between the parishes which has been discussed since 1966 and which both pastors hope will mark the beginning of an even better relationship.

“I believe this to be the will and the work of the Holy Spirit that has brought us to this moment. It is not merely our efforts or our decisions,” said McClure’s Rev. Ron McConnell.

Holy Spirit pastor, Rev. Bernard de Margerie, agreed. He said the covenant means that the two congregations pledge to grow together to “help create a more stable relationship that is more worthy of life within the Body of Christ.”

In his portion of the joint sermon, McConnell compared the covenant relationship to a marriage.

“The questions people most often ask about the covenant include: ‘Does this mean you’re exactly the same now? Do you now see everything the same way? There are no more differences?” The answer is — are you kidding? Does that sound like any marriage you have ever known?’ ” he said.
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Posted: Mar. 8, 2000 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=8
Categories: NewsIn this article: Catholic, Christian unity, covenant, ecumenism, Saskatoon, United Church of Canada
Transmis : 8 mars 2000 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=8
Catégorie : NewsDans cet article : Catholic, Christian unity, covenant, ecumenism, Saskatoon, United Church of Canada

Good neighbours: McClure United and Holy Spirit congregations have always been close; now they’ve put it in writing If Covenant 2000 were a play, Holy Spirit Roman Catholic Church and McClure United Church would be well into the second act. The two churches recently signed a formal ecumenical covenant, committing themselves to breaking down barriers
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Posted: Feb. 26, 2000 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=6037
Categories: NewsIn this article: Catholic, Christian unity, covenant, ecumenism, Saskatoon, United Church of Canada
Transmis : 26 févr. 2000 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=6037
Catégorie : NewsDans cet article : Catholic, Christian unity, covenant, ecumenism, Saskatoon, United Church of Canada

Anglican, United church dialogue goes one step further [Belleville, Ontario] Talks between the Anglican and United churches in Canada — the first formal dialogue since the collapse of a proposed Plan of Union in 1975 — are progressing slowly, but enough to warrant two meetings this month. A recent gathering of church representatives in eastern
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Posted: Sept. 16, 1999 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=4955
Categories: NewsIn this article: Anglican Church of Canada, Anglican Consultative Council, UCC, United Church of Canada
Transmis : 16 sept. 1999 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=4955
Catégorie : NewsDans cet article : Anglican Church of Canada, Anglican Consultative Council, UCC, United Church of Canada

Canada’s largest Protestant church, the United Church of Canada (UCC), has launched a challenge to the nation’s multi-billion dollar gambling industry, and to the federal and provincial governments which receive massive revenue by taxing gambling. The Canadian Council of Churches and other faith groups are being approached to support the campaign for an inquiry into gambling.
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Posted: June 1, 1998 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=2233
Categories: ENIIn this article: gambling, United Church of Canada
Transmis : 1 juin 1998 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=2233
Catégorie : ENIDans cet article : gambling, United Church of Canada

On October 24, the Ottawa Citizen reported that Bill Phipps, the moderator of the United Church of Canada had stated that the “divinity of Jesus and the reality of heaven and hell are irrelevant.”

The article, which was carried coast to coast in numerous papers, generated an immediate controversy and storms of protest to both the United Church national offices in Etobicoke, Ontario and the newspapers reprinting the article.

By mid-November battle lines were drawn with pundits, theologians, clergy and laity of both conservative and liberal hues voicing their opinions of Phipps’ statements and of his orthodoxy. It would not be terribly helpful (or appropriate) for me to add my views. But, I should, in the interests of bringing clarity to the discussion, make the following observations.

Firstly, both Bill Phipps and the United Church spokespeople have pointed out that the specific statements that were reported were lifted out of context and did not accurately represent his views. The entire article was published in the Ottawa Citizen on November 2, and while the statements are direct quotes, in my opinion Phipps clearly did not intend to deny the divinity of Jesus.
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Posted: Dec. 1, 1997 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=2227
Categories: NewsIn this article: Bill Phipps, interfaith, salvation, United Church of Canada
Transmis : 1 déc. 1997 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=2227
Catégorie : NewsDans cet article : Bill Phipps, interfaith, salvation, United Church of Canada

from the Windsor Star [SASKATOON] At least 30,000 members of the United Church of Canada have signed a declaration of dissent against a statement by the church’s general council dealing with sexuality, says a United Church minister in Saskatchewan. “I’m upset,” said Rev. Don Lamont of Eston. “Some people have already left my church over
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Posted: Sept. 17, 1988 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=6233
Categories: NewsIn this article: human sexuality, United Church of Canada
Transmis : 17 sept. 1988 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=6233
Catégorie : NewsDans cet article : human sexuality, United Church of Canada

from the Windsor Star [VICTORIA, BC] In a strongly worded farewell speech, the head of Canada’s largest Protestant denomination decried its divisiveness and warned of the danger of excluding believers. Anne Squire, the 67-year-old Amherstburg-born moderator, said what is at stake is whether the United Church wants to be “an inclusive or exclusive body.” And
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Posted: Aug. 19, 1988 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=6236
Categories: NewsIn this article: human sexuality, United Church of Canada
Transmis : 19 aoüt 1988 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=6236
Catégorie : NewsDans cet article : human sexuality, United Church of Canada

“Many people today think the ecumenical movement is losing momentum; but, in fact, many marvelous things are taking place,” says Father Irenée Beaubien, SJ, director of the Canadian Centre for Ecumenism here. He cited the example of the fruitful dialogue which has been going on for the past seven years between representatives of the Catholic and United Churches.
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Posted: May 15, 1982 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=13704
Categories: Catholic RegisterIn this article: Catholic, dialogue, United Church of Canada
Transmis : 15 mai 1982 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=13704
Catégorie : Catholic RegisterDans cet article : Catholic, dialogue, United Church of Canada