Fall 2017 Executive of the General Council Meeting

Transcription

1 Fall 2017 Executive of the General Council Meeting Nov , 2017 The meeting opened with worship and music led by Tim Reaburn. New members covenanted were Cathy Hamilton, Phil Schuyler, Jody Maltby, and Lauren Hodgson. Consent Motions The following proposals, which were reviewed in advance by members of the Executive, were approved through a consent motion: Extending the term of the Sub-Executive and all committees of the Executive of the General Council until December 31, 2018, to allow for an appropriate transition to the new system. The term of the current Executive has been extended already to December 31, 2018, at a special meeting of the 42nd General Council on September 20, Members of the Executive of the General Council are to meet by video-conference call on Saturday, September 29, and, if needed, Saturday November 17, The September Executive meeting is expected to be asked to approve a revised version of The Manual which would come into force January 1, Principles to guide the drafting of the 2019 edition of The Manual were approved. The 2018 Operating Budget Assumptions and Principles were accepted, with an operating deficit of $2.93 million. $1 million of this arises from our practice of setting aside 50 percent of bequests and one-time gifts. The 2018 Operating Budget is to be finalized in early Applications to the Interim Ministry Sabbatical Fund are to be submitted to the Ministry and Employment Unit six months prior to the start of the proposed sabbatical. In addition, there is no limit placed on the number of applications that can be approved in one year. Updates to the Benefits Plan were approved to add the Gardasil-9 Vaccine, and to include the Lifespeak Total Wellbeing platform, a library of resource material. The Rev. Philip L. Hobbs was appointed director of the Bridge Street United Church Foundation. Changes were approved to compensation and reimbursement rates for candidates in Supervised Ministry Education placements. The proposal on Lay Education Strategy was withdrawn from the agenda to allow further conversation before the topic is returned to the Executive at a future meeting. Decision Making A new decision-making process, the same process that is being planned for the 43rd General Council, was used at this meeting of the Executive. It was a three-part process: beginning with education sessions, where the proponents provided an explanation about the background and intent of the proposal, those with additional information were invited to share it, and questions for clarification were entertained, but participants did not enter into discussion or debate; The United Church of Canada 1 L Église Unie du Canada

2 continuing with discussion sessions where groups of about 20 to 25 people discussed all the proposals. Notes were made about their comments, and these notes were shared on a platform where others could read them to see what the various discussions were about; followed by a facilitation group (for this meeting, Alan Buckingham, Fred Monteith, and Barb White) which reviewed all the comments and considered them before returning to the decision-making session either with the same proposals where there was general support, or with reworked proposals, or with a recommendation that more work was needed before a proposal was ready for decision making; When the proposals came to the decision session, each proposal was presented by the facilitation group. The Moderator then tested whether the Executive was ready to move to the motion stage, and then each motion was discussed and voted on. This new business model took some getting used to for everyone, but it seemed to work very well, and many people observed that in the smaller discussion sessions, everyone seemed to be comfortable speaking and taking part. The following matters were dealt with through the new decision making process: Caretakers Report The Executive unanimously approved a motion to receive the report from the Caretakers of Our Indigenous Circle, and to recommend it for approval at the 43rd General Council. The report details the nine Calls to the Church from the Caretakers, articulating the Indigenous church s place within the United Church. Aboriginal Ministries Council member Janet Sigurdson said its acceptance by C43 will be a major milestone. We can make this church so much fuller if there if a better thing to being a better church, we are on that threshold. Moderator Jordan Cantwell agreed. This is an incredible opportunity, and responsibility, for the whole church, she said, urging everyone in the room to talk about the calls with people back home. The Moderator noted that some of the calls are structural, such as the 6th Call, which says the Indigenous communities can have dual belonging (with a regional council and with the national Indigenous body), and that this would enable them to decide how they relate to the region they are in, through a covenanting process. Remit implementation Alan Hall and Peter Hartmans, co-chairs of Remit Implementation Task Group, gave an overview of the group s work. People across the church have many questions more than 170 have come in already about remit implementation, and all of these will be answered as the work progresses. While anxiety is a natural part of change, it is important that we support those experiencing it and work to not allow ourselves to get caught up in its swirl, Hall advised. Hartmans added that the Remit Implementation team is building a jigsaw puzzle, but we don t have any of the edges yet, nor do we know what the picture looks like yet. Hartmans said the key goal behind the restructuring envisioned in the remits is to create a sustainable and workable church structure, as reserves have been used to subsidize church operations for 20 years. He identified four key goals: regional flexibility supporting ministry (regional councils will decide what work to fund and how volunteers will be used), living within our means, encouraging sharing, and creating a church structure for the future. They explained that recommendations of the Comprehensive Review Task Group were actually expanded somewhat in what was finally approved at General Council, with an Office of Vocation that The United Church of Canada 2 L Église Unie du Canada

3 went beyond the earlier concept of the College, and with a more robust set of responsibilities for the regional councils. Local and regional resources, where available, will fill some of the gaps, volunteers will fill others, but Hartmans said it will be a challenge for all of us to identify new ways of doing things and to make choices about where resources will be invested and where they will not be invested Budget A draft 2019 budget outline was discussed in breakout discussions on Saturday, where it was made clear this was a framework intended for discussion, not decision. The discussion was helpful in identifying questions that people have, and points that need to be communicated. Brian Cornelius, chair of the Finance Committee, reminded the Executive on Monday that the church has only one funder, the people in the pews, and we need to explain to them this is not centralization at the top, but a better way to share costs and divide what Mission & Service donations fund versus what will be paid by assessments. Funding Categories Executive members agreed to adopt the descriptions of regional and denominational council responsibilities as they relate to mission and ministry and governance and shared services funding categories. Mission & Service donations will fund mission and ministry activities, while assessments will pay for governance and shared services. Church responsibilities have been sorted into the two funding categories, though the lists do not include all of the tasks to be done, and the lists may change from time to time. Local Resources The General Council Executive affirmed the statement that Corporations, including extension councils, presbyteries and Conferences will decide how current resources will be held or directed in concert with the changes implemented January 1, All bodies holding financial resources will need to review how their assets will be used within the new church structure. Clusters and Networks It was agreed to adopt the description of clusters and networks given in the workbook. Clusters are defined as local clusters of communities of faith that would provide community and support for communities of faith and their leaders, and focus on worship, mission, learning, collegiality, and strategic planning, while networks would link people working on specific issues (e.g., supportive housing, intercultural ministry, youth ministry) or for project work (e.g., event planning) that function through the whole church. Before the vote on this motion was called, facilitators noted that there was a concern expressed that without financial support, clusters and network will take time to form, and that may increase the loss experienced by the loss of presbyteries. It was also suggested that there should be encouragement for establishing clusters and networks prior to the change to the Three Council Model, with everyone sharing best practices. Pension Board Divestment The Executive decided to take no further action on a proposal from Maritime Conference asking the General Council Executive to request that the Pension Board reconsider its decision to not divest from Goldcorp. Facilitators noted that there was lots of lively discussion about this proposal. There was concern expressed about the broader issues of the ethics and impacts of mining and the importance of the church raising these with Canadian government and society. It was acknowledged that the Mining The United Church of Canada 3 L Église Unie du Canada

4 the Connections Working Group work has been important in identifying issues that the Pension Board has raised with Goldcorp. Spring Meeting The next meeting of the Executive of the General Council will be on March 3-4, 2018, by videoconference call. Facilitators noted that discussion groups found there is value in face-to-face meetings, but there was stronger support shown for the electronic meeting. The workbook notes the cost of an online meeting is up to $4,000, while in-person Executive meetings in this triennium have averaged about $55,000. In addition, now that meetings of the full Executive must be held off site, the costs are even higher. Some in the room argued that an in-person meeting will provide the Executive a chance for closure, and for further experience with the new business process. Report on Membership The Theology and Inter-Church Inter-Faith Committee is being asked to do further work on a report about membership in the United Church, and to find a way for this conversation to happen at the 43rd General Council. The committee had offered two models. The first is similar to today s model, which starts with belief. The second model puts an emphasis on belonging. The committee s report on the two models was circulated across the church, with 273 responses received, the vast majority from individuals. It was noted that many congregations were unable to study and respond to the membership document because they were also dealing with remits during the winter and spring of That lack of response from congregations, plus the fact that the responses received were evenly split, led the committee to conclude that it could not recommend either model without further discussion taking place. This is the third time in the past 30 years that the church has wrestled with the concept of membership. Number of Commissioners on the Denominational Council It was agreed that the 43rd General Council should set the number of denominational council commissioners at no more than 260 members. The Permanent Committee on Governance and Agenda had suggested three options: (i) 356 [the current number] (ii) 160 and (iii) 260. This provides guidance for the Governance and Agenda Committee as it develops a proposal for the 43rd General Council. French Ministries It was agreed to adopt the proposal presented by the General Secretary, authorizing the development of tripartite covenants between regions, the General Secretary, and La Table de concertation des ministères en français (the national consultative Table for ministries in French). The only change from the original proposal was the elimination of the word nationale in the name of La Table, recognizing that for some people in Quebec, this terminology may carry an unintended meaning. Formation for Church Leadership. It was agreed to recommend that GC43 receive the report from the General Secretary s Task Group and approve its recommendations. This is the work that followed the 42nd General Council s referral of the Working Group on Leadership for Ministry s report (competency-based education) to the General Secretary for further work. The report considered at this meeting of the Executive notes that the journey to effective church leadership has four components (call; credentialing; competency development and assessment; and continuing education) extending over an individual s entire ministry. The United Church of Canada 4 L Église Unie du Canada

5 The report recommends that in the credentialing component of this process, the church continue to determine the general areas it sees as crucial, with the theological schools given the responsibility of developing the relevant courses. It also recommends that the current practice of granting Testamur by the United Church-related schools be continued, and that there be regular conversations between Testamur-granting schools and church bodies to ensure clear guidelines about what further work will be required of persons who have done some or all of their credentialing at a non-united Church-related theological school, or who have other theological degrees. Elimination of Lay/Ordered Salary Differential It was agreed to delay the decision of this issue until further study is done and structural changes underway are in place. Since 1958, the United Church General Council Office (including the Conference offices) has had the practice of paying laypersons more than order of ministry people doing the same jobs because ministers are eligible for a clergy residence deduction, if they meet certain conditions. The current practice was flagged in 2012 as inconsistent with our compensation policy to provide fair and equitable compensation to all employees by ensuring that salaries are internally equitable. Office of Vocation and New Covenant Process This material was before the Executive for discussion and input, and it was agreed that the response to these proposals will be the oral and written responses provided throughout the meeting. Charter for Lifelong Learning Executive members asked the Permanent Committee on Programs for Mission and Ministry to further refine work on a A Charter for Lifelong Growth in Christian Discipleship and Faith in the United Church of Canada. There was considerable affirmation for increased attention to faith formation in the United Church, but format and language need some work. Faithful Decision Making on Social Justice Issues This proposal was a response to ANW 3 from the 42nd General Council. The Executive agreed to recommend that the 43rd General Council discuss and make a decision on the report, Faithful Decision- Making on Social Justice Issues in the United Church of Canada. The only major change to the proposal as stated in the workbook is in the sixth point: That the Executive of General Council and develop processes for recruiting and retaining volunteers from diverse backgrounds, with the intention that, by 2021 people from racialized and other marginalized communities comprise one third of the governance structures/systems of the church. In the motion that passed, everything after the first clause was removed, ending the sentence with the word backgrounds. The reasoning offered for this amendment was that the challenge for diverse representation was clear in what is left in, and that the wording removed might have unduly limited forms of diversity, for example, language minorities. Honouring the Divine in Each Other The Executive agreed to forward the proposed statement on Hindu-United Church relations, Honouring The Divine in Each Other: United Church-Hindu Relations Today, to GC43 for discussion and response. The statement s preamble notes the church must continue to encourage its membership to grow in understanding Hindus as they would wish to be understood. The statement also notes the church regrets the condemnation of Hindu worship practices that were part of missionary history [and] regrets the use of the language of idolatry to condemn Hindu theological traditions. The United Church of Canada 5 L Église Unie du Canada

6 International Decade for People of African Descent It was agreed that the Executive should engage the United Church in an educational process around the International Decade for People of African Descent and adopt the International Decade as part of its commitment to racial justice and building a just world. In addition, resources are to be developed for theological reflection, study, and action. In partnership with the United Church of Christ, the church will adopt the International Decade as a framework for its ongoing work for racial justice. In addition to the proposals considered, a number of presentations and reports were presented. Moderator s Accountability Report Moderator Jordan Cantwell talked about attending An Awkward Conversation in Alberta, which addressed race and racism in the church. She said the church needs to let go of the practice of privileging Whiteness and work at giving everyone equal opportunities. She also talked about visiting Manitou Conference to see the premiere of Truly and Humbly, a film about the first Apology by the church to Indigenous Canadians in The Moderator talked about how life giving she has found her visits to Indigenous communities, and her encounters with youth and young adults in the United Church. She reported that she is energized by the spirit and devotion of those she meets on her travels. She urged everyone to persist at working to rid society of injustices, by following Jesus s guidance to be salt, as we flavour the world to affect change. General Secretary s Accountability Report Nora Sanders noted that much of our work is focused on planning for implementation of the remit decisions. She reflected that in this time of change, some people are feeling worried, others are feeling invigorated, and most of us are experiencing both kinds of emotions at times. She referenced 2 Corinthians 4:1 Therefore since it is by God s mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart. She invited feedback on the White Privilege Working Group s terms of reference, which had been circulated to the Executive. Referencing the challenges of communicating fully and broadly about everything going on in the church, she asked Executive members to let her know where they saw opportunities or gaps. She showed some pictures of the new consolidated office space and told of the experience, mostly positive, of working in new ways. The longer-term plan is still to move the offices to redeveloped space at the current site of Bloor Street United Church, and an active conversation with Anglicans and Presbyterians about the possibility of sharing offices and support services is continuing. The General Secretary provided an update on work being done in response to CR14 from General Council 42, which had directed her to initiate a review of the property and investments of The United Church of Canada at all levels, being guided by the principle of sharing human and property resources between financially wealthy and financially disadvantaged communities of faith at the denominational, regional, and local levels. Rob Dalgleish, Executive Director of EDGE, gave a presentation on the property inventory that was developed this year by an outside consulting firm, with support from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. Further work needs to be done to sort out how best (and who best) to provide support to congregations or other groups who are having to make decisions about capital assets. The property development support mechanism used in B.C. Conference was lifted up as an example. The General Secretary noted that the word sharing means voluntary; it will be up to local decision makers to decide how to use their resources. Sharing was also recognized in a separate but related piece. David Armour along with Doug Goodwin and Will Kunder has been asked to lead the Generosity Project. He indicated that they are looking at multiple paths for encouraging generosity The United Church of Canada 6 L Église Unie du Canada

7 through sharing resources and wealth, while providing opportunities for groups to discern for themselves the best and highest purpose of their assets and their properties. Pension Board In his presentation, Marcus Robertson, board chair, said the Pension Board is acting in the best interests of plan members, while seeking to respect creation and right relations. The Executive has recently added Katharine Preston, senior manager of responsible investment at OPTrust, to the Pension Board. She is also now working on the board s Responsible Investment Working Group. Robertson noted the Pension Plan became a signatory to the UN Principles for Responsible Investment in 2016, and that the board is actively engaged with Goldcorp. The funded level of the plan continues to strengthen but not to a level that allows for increased pension payouts. There will be no changes in contribution levels for three years. LGBTQ apology coming from the Prime Minister Past Moderator Gary Paterson announced that on November 28, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will make a full apology for the persecution of LGBTQ people by the public service, RCMP, and military in the past. Paterson served as the faith representative on the committee that help draft the apology, and he promised that it will bring tears to your eyes. I m glad we have come to this point where these words can be spoken. Global Pilgrimage to Kenya. Three participants talked about a Mission & Service Global Pilgrimage to Kenya in the spring of this year. Marlene Lightning from the All Native Circle Conference described it as an eye-opening, humbling experience people there are so poor. David Hewitt talked about the success of conservation agriculture and low-till farming, which has tripled yields in the rural area he visited. He also noted that within the church, only 45 percent of those who give, make a contribution to Mission & Service. If only five percent more people gave to M&S, what a difference that would make, he said. Tim Reaburn talked about his visit to the Jerusalem Girls Secondary School, which takes young women out of dangerous situations and provides them with an education. Mission & Service donations literally save lives in places like Kenya, he said, noting the United Church is also funding a school for LBGTQ Kenyans. Global Partner On Saturday, Global Partner Bishop Reuel Marigza, General Secretary of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines, said the Mutual Recognition of Ministry Personnel agreement the two denominations signed in 2015 is having results, as one minister from his church is now living and ministering in Winnipeg. He closed his address on Saturday by thanking Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for raising human rights issues with Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte during a recent visit. On Monday, Marigza speaking this time as a representative of the Partners Council, said We are inspired and strengthened by you, as you are a church that stands up for inclusion. He said the United Church s openness to people, regardless of gender identity and sexual orientation, has been noticed by other Protestant churches in the Philippines, with one church apologizing to the LGBTQ community. He urged the United Church to keep living out its New Creed, as you must always must be a church in mission. The United Church of Canada 7 L Église Unie du Canada

8 Reflection on Time in Korea On Saturday, Catherine Christie reflected on her seven years of service with the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea. At first she was hesitant to eat the food or to have meaningful dialogue with people there. After a time, she started to enjoy the food and learn the language, and to love many people and be loved in return. She also spoke of the challenges of returning home to Canada after her work and friendships in Korea had become part of her life, and her description of the experience of going through major change offered insight into the experience of change that the United Church is going through in these times. Theological Reflections Miriam Spies provided three moving theological reflections. At the conclusion of Saturday`s meeting, she reminded everyone that voices on the margins call to us, reminding us that the needs of our Body of Christ are greater than what we see and experience I pray we continue to come from a place of wonder and humility, knowing we do not hold all the answers or the picture on the box, and we are not the whole body. On Monday morning, Spies reminded everyone that Jesus says we are the light of the world. Not because we re perfect or right, just because we re beloved and that s who God made us to be. And in her final reflection later on Monday, Spies noted that, Our church is in the midst of birth pangs but we aren t alone. God is with us, entering our world. Recognition Executive members honoured David Wilson and Karen Hamilton for their respective efforts. Hamilton has served three terms as General Secretary of Canadian Council of Churches, representing 25 denominational groups. Ecumenism is the way forward, she said. We need to talk to each other. [Christian denominations] have so much that we hold in common. Wilson has been with The United Church Observer for approximately 30 years, the past 11 as editor/publisher. I feel blessed and fortunate to leave the Observer with no regrets, he told the group, asking everyone to continue to support the Observer and its new editor, Jocelyn Bell. The United Church of Canada 8 L Église Unie du Canada