The United Church of Canada/L'Église Unie du CanadaHorn of Africa Emergency, 2011—Backgrounder
Although the Horn of Africa is prone to periods of drought, the regional climate does not fully explain the current emergency. This document
[PDF: 3 pp/59 KB] provides background information answering three questions: Were there warning signs? What factors have contributed to the 2011 crisis? and What related issues are also a concern?
What Makes a True Partner? Hear what Susie Ibutu from the National Council of Churches in Kenya says on our YouTube channel
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The United Church of Canada has partnerships with national churches, ecumenical organizations, Christian Councils and church agencies around the world. Some of these partnerships have evolved from overseas mission work which started in the late 19th century and some from recent contact and collaboration.
In addition to the partners listed below, there are numerous indigenous church and community organizations whose work is touched and supported by these partners.
The United Church of Canada and its global partners are called to work together in God's mission for wholeness of life. The Justice, Global and Ecumenical Relations Unit facilitates the relationships that enable The United Church of Canada and global partners to work together. We are one partner among many, called to receive and to give.
Read a statement passed at the 32nd General Council in Victoria, 1988, Seeking to Understand "Partnership" For God's Mission Today. The document is foundational in terms of how the United Church of Canada currently defines and understands it's global partnerships.
† Additional financial support provided by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
+ Additional financial support provided by the Manitoba Council for International Cooperation
◊ Additional financial support provided by the Saskatchewan Council for International Cooperation
In 1998, the former Division of World Outreach of The United Church of Canada (UCC) held a four-day consultation to engage in a process of looking at gender justice and its relationship to partnership. The consultation was an attempt to further deepen the DWO's commitment to living out the goals of the Ecumenical Decade of Churches in Solidarity with Women in Church and Society. There were 30 participants, including nine global partners, members of the United Church from across Canada and several staff from The United Church of Canada. The result of that process is a document we refer to as the Gender Justice and Partnership guidelines.
In 2002 much of the work of the former Division of World Outreach, including staff support of the Gender Justice and Partnership work, was moved to the newly created Justice, Global and Ecumenical Relations Unit of The United Church of Canada. The Gender Justice and Partnership Guidelines continue to be a living embodiment of our commitment to transform structures and systems within the United Church to be faithful to God's vision for humanity and to engage with global partners in a mutual struggle to promote gender justice. Work continues on the implementation and tracking of how the guidelines are being used.
The Gender Justice Guidelines
[PDF: 14 pp/62 KB]. The Guidelines are also available at no charge from UCRD (Product #400 000 058).
Three Canadian government sources provide valuable co-funding support for the development work of UCC global partners.
The United Church of Canada's Sharing Bread initiative, a response to the global economic crisis, will support diverse global partners' projects.
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