Actions and Campaigns

Water is a prominent symbol in our Christian faith stories, both in scripture and in rituals such as baptism. A gift of God, water is essential to life-of plants, animals, and ourselves. Yet in today's world, access to water and water quality are both at risk. Water is a vital concern within many Canadian, First Nations, and global partner communities.

Water in Focus was a special initiative of The United Church of Canada during Lent 2006 that involved spiritual development, education, and action on water issues. Congregations are invited to use the resources below to continue or begin an exploration of water as a vital faith concern.

Broaden your focus on water—The following resources and stories about water offer the opportunity to deepen a congregation's engagement by exploring many aspects of our broader relationship with creation.

Focus on Water in Worship

Integrate a focus on water into your worship celebrations, using resources such as these:

• Celebrating Together: An Intergenerational Worship Service. Order a copy of Mandate Special Edition, May 2006: Living in Right Relationship with Creation.
• Living Water Workshop Rotation [RTF: 13 pp/232 KB]—an exploration of how important water is for us and for all of creation
• Water-themed bulletin covers

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Take Action

Engage in water-related actions initiated by KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives.

• Sign and promote the KAIROS Counting on Water Action*
• Water: Life Before Profit! campaign*
• Ten things a congregation in Medicine Hat, Alberta, has done to conserve water and learn more about water and ecology issues.

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Learn

United Church and ecumenical resources for individual and group study on water:

• Waters of Life: Issues, Ethics, and Actions: Five Study Sessions for Faith Communities by David Hallman—for study group leaders
• Spirit Connection, the television ministry of the United Church, focuses on water for its Lent 2006 series
• Water Is a Sacred Gift* education guide from KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives
• World Council of Churches statement on Water for Life* (Porto Alegro, Brazil, February 2006)

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Involve Children and Youth

Young people can get involved with engaging worship and study materials such as these:

• Celebrating Together: An Intergenerational Worship Service. Order Mandate Special Edition, May 2006: Living in Right Relationship with Creation
• Order Water: Life before Profit Campaign* from KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives
• Use the Living Water Workshop Rotation for Lent [RTF: 13 pp/232 KB] and Water as a Metaphor with Children in Worship [RTF: 6 pp/147 KB]
• Order World Development and Relief children's resources from 2005–2006 that focus on water from UCRD

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Policy

The United Church adopted several policy decisions about water at its 39th General Council in 2006, including calling congregations to advocacy and asking the Canadian government to oppose water privatization.

• Water: Life before Profit

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For more information please contact one of the following staff at the General Council Office, 416-231-5931 or 1-800-465-3771:

• Joy Kennedy (ext. 4069)