News & Info

The General Council is seeking many new members to serve in various roles on committees and task groups. Complete expressions of interest must be received by March 25, 2010.

Representatives of Canadian Jewish Congress and The United Church of Canada met Feb. 1 to discuss the relationship between the two groups and to seek ways of promoting ongoing dialogue.

This spring, three continuing education Learning Circles are being convened for small groups of ministry personnel to meet monthly by telephone conference call.

The 2009 Statistical and Information Forms, to be completed by pastoral charges, were mailed to charges were mailed to charges January 8-14, 2010.

Congregations can take steps to ensure that all money collected for Haiti relief is seen by CIDA as coming from individual donors.

February marks Black History (or African Heritage) Month in Canada. This is a time to reflect on the experiences of people African descent—both historic and current.

Neil Parker, a United Church of Canada chaplain, was sent to Haiti with four hours’ notice on January 20.

Dr. Marilyn J. Legge has been named the 2010 recipient of the United Church’s Davidson Trust Award for “excellence in teaching and scholarship in theological education.”

United Church of Canada staff are working together with partners in Haiti and with other emergency response efforts in the wake of the earthquake that struck the Haitian capital on Tuesday, January 12.

Application deadlines are approaching for the McLeod Scholarship (February 15) and the McGeachy Scholarship (April 30).

The Canadian Council of Churches has released a brief and letter to the Prime Minister calling for peace in Afghanistan.

Helpful links to 2009 Christmas-related material on the United Church website.

KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives responded today to recent comments by federal cabinet ministers about the government’s decision to cut funding to the group.

Palestinian Christian leaders have recently issued a call for a just peace, named the Kairos Palestine Document.

The United Church of Canada expresses its profound shock at the news of the Canadian government’s decision to cut funding to KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives.

Support Moderator Mardi Tindal and other leaders at the UN Copenhagen Climate Change Conference.

The Board of Five Oaks Centre is pleased to announce that the new Acting Director of Five Oaks—effective January 1, 2010—will be the Rev. Pegi Ridout of Hamilton.

Representatives of The United Church of Canada appeared on December 1, 2009, before the Canadian Parliamentary Inquiry into Antisemitism. The church also submitted a written brief.

The following letter—condemning the massacre in Maguindanao Province and calling for an end to the underlying culture of impunity—has been sent to the Philippine and Canadian governments.

November 2009 call for dialogue on refugee protection from faith leaders to Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

A call for the lifting of all sanctions against the DPRK (North Korea) was recently issued by leaders and representatives of nearly 140 churches, including The United Church of Canada.

Some things to consider about the H1N1 virus’s impact on church life.

The inter-regional office of the World Student Christian Federation is seeking two interns to work for 2010 in Geneva, Switzerland, on Human Rights and Communications.

Visit an archival display that tells the story of Vancouver Japanese United Church, whose building was sold without consultation in the aftermath of the Second World War.

Mandate magazine is being expanded in size and content and is getting a new look.