United Church of Canada
The United Church of Canada is the largest Protestant denomination in Canada. We minister to close to 3 million people in over 3500 congregations across the country.
Throughout our history, the United Church has been in the forefront on matters of faith and justice. The United Church of Canada has partnerships with national churches, ecumenical organizations, Christian Councils and church agencies around the world to work for justice, peace, and human dignity. Some of these partnerships have evolved from overseas mission work which started in the late 19th century and some from recent contact and collaboration. 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.
The United Church of Canada participates in the ACT Alliance through the Justice, Global and Ecumenical Relations Unit which is mandated to offer leadership that strengthens the church's engagement in God's mission embodied in Jesus Christ of justice, peace and care of creation, locally and globally, facilitating the sharing of resources with global, ecumenical and interfaith partners (GCE Mandate 2001). This mandate is lived out within the 3 main programmatic areas:
Global and Ecumenical Relationships
The UCC has long been an active participant as the world faith community answers God's call to struggle for justice, peace and care of creation. Through partnerships with other churches and organizations and in the context of a widening gap between rich and poor, imperial domination, ongoing conflicts, and widespread ecological devastation the UCC, through global partnerships, fulfills the church's mission imperative to become involved with others in God's mission for wholeness of life.
Public Witness, Education for Justice and Advocacy
Coordinate The United Church Of Canada's mandate for prophetic witness on systemic justice issues that are national and global in nature, enabling public witness, through effective public policy development, social analysis, theological reflection, and advocacy for a more just and peaceful Earth community
People in Partnership
Encourage and support contextual learning, discernment and analysis through the direct involvement of United Church members, congregations and other courts of the church in transformative global mission relationships. The sending and receiving of personnel creates opportunities to build human connections and insights that deepen understanding of God's mission.
Since 1985 The United Church of Canada's response to global emergencies caused by natural and human-made disasters has been coordinated by the Justice, Global and Ecumenical Relations Unit and governed by an Emergency Response Protocol. The Protocol is informed by and attempts to balance the Church's available financial and human resources, program priorities, and principles of partnership and financial stewardship. In responding to emergencies, the United Church gives priority to building the capacity of indigenous organizations to respond to local situations and enhance their emergency preparedness. We rely on expertise and reporting from global partner organizations to ensure the effective use of funds. Unlike large, specialized agencies whose primary work is emergency relief, the United Church maintains a limited capacity for emergency response, and does not usually deploy personnel to accompany or monitor a relief effort.
More information on the United Church of Canada's partners across the world can be found here.