Letters from the General Secretary

April 23, 2009

It is never easy saying goodbye to valued colleagues, particularly when they have served the General Council with such faithfulness, grace, and hard work.

It is therefore with regret that I announce that Ian Fraser, Janet McDonald, and Kim Uyede-Kai will be ending their ministries with the General Council Office, effective April 30, 2009.

Each has served extremely effectively in their capacities as

• General Council Minister, Resources for Mission and Ministry
• General Council Minister, Planning Processes
• General Council Minister, Racial Justice and Gender Justice

All three have a long history of dedicated service to The United Church of Canada, and their departure from these offices will be felt as a loss by many who have worked alongside Ian, Janet, and Kim.

Their departures are most definitely not a reflection on their individual abilities, but are rather the result of recent decisions to change the management structure of the General Council Office.

Opportunities for both formal and informal expressions of thanks and farewell will be communicated as plans are formulated. In the meantime, however, this notice is being circulated as a first step in this process of leave-taking to express our collective appreciation for the energy and commitment that Ian, Janet, and Kim have demonstrated in their work.

Please join with me in wishing these three faithful servants to the church all the best in their future endeavours.

• Nora Sanders
  General Secretary of the General Council
  The United Church of Canada
  3250 Bloor St. West, Suite 300
  Toronto, ON M8X 2Y4
  Tel: 416-231-5931 ext. 2013
  Toll-free: 1-800-268-3781 ext. 2013
  Fax: 416-231-3103
  E-mail: Nora Sanders