The Journeys of Black Peoples

In April 2005, The United Church of Canada held a national consultation for self-identified Black peoples, called The Journeys of Black Peoples in The United Church of Canada. In the first such gathering in the life of the church, nearly 50 people gathered near Barrie, Ontario, under the theme “Journeying Together.” Participants at the consultation renamed the four areas of the United Church's anti-racism policy—participate fully, organize for diversity, act justly, speak to the world—as outcomes to work toward. The group also expressed its desire to establish a network of Black peoples that would offer support and enable the work to continue.

Now a growing national network, The Journeys of Black Peoples in The United Church of Canada re-gathered in April 2007 in Montréal, Québec, under the theme “Journeying Together: Weaving a Community of Hope.” Nearly 60 people met together, affirmed goals for the diverse community, and mandated a national steering committee to oversee work in the time between gatherings. The April 2007 National Gathering stated that emphases on developing regional clusters, HIV/AIDS in the Black community in Canada, and Black youth and young adults would help direct the work of the steering committee over the next few years.