Letters from the General Secretary

February 6, 2009

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Many in The United Church of Canada have already started looking forward to the 40th General Council, which will take place in Kelowna this coming August. Some will be commissioners, making the decisions that guide the United Church, and others will support them through prayers and discussions.

There are three documents that I will be sending to you as we approach this General Council, for broad circulation within the church during this time of preparation.

One is a paper that I am enclosing with this letter. Called to Be Church [PDF: 9 pp/64 KB] offers background information about the issues facing our church in a brief, readable format. I suggest that you share it widely, and encourage all who are interested to read it and consider it prayerfully. It is intended to be a catalyst for the thinking and discussion needed for the future of the United Church. I look forward to many conversations over the coming months.

Also, in the next short while, I will be sending out a small package of practical information related to the format and preparation of proposals, and the processes through which they will be received. This tool should be helpful to anyone who wants to develop a proposal for the General Council, or anyone who just wants to understand the processes better. (This document will go to Conferences and presbyteries and will be available through them to all who are interested.)

Later this spring, but well before the annual general meetings of the Conferences, there will be a third document, a paper that provides background facts and figures to give a clear picture of “The State of the Church” as it is at this time. This will be of general interest, but will be particularly important for commissioners who will be the decision makers at General Council. (This document will go to GC40 commissioners, and to Conferences and presbyteries, to be available through them to all who are interested.)

All three of the documents will also be posted on the United Church website.

I hope that these materials will be useful to all those whose thoughts and prayers are beginning to turn to General Council 40.

Nora Sanders,
General Secretary, General Council