AGM 2024 ~ Our Time Together, in 300 Words or Less

that the General Council of The United Church of Canada

–            renew its commitment for reconciliation by issuing a new apology that builds on previous apologies in light of our learnings about Residential Schools, acknowledging that babies, children and others who died and were denied proper funeral ceremonies, incinerated, and never returned to their communities and families, and

–            develop a Truth & Reconciliation process and resources that supports Communities of Faith and Regions in their reconciliation efforts, in consultation with the National Indigenous church to be presented to the 46^th General Council (2028)

Carried

that the General Council of The United Church of Canada

–            develop a definition for “Emerging Communities of Faith” (such as in The Manual 2010, page 39, Bylaws)

o   some suggested wording is one (1) or more groups of people that are a part of The United Church and that meet for public worship, but not fully constituted as a Community of Faith that is a Pastoral Charge or a Congregation by the Regional Council.

–            Add a section to the Manual (B.9) for Emerging Communities of Faith with these or similar terms:

o   An Emerging Community will exist as a ministry or expression of the Regional Council through a covenant with the ministry personnel and/or a wider group of leadership in the Emerging Community.

o   The Regional Council will be responsible for the care, administration, and oversight of the Emerging Community.

And that the General Council give authority to Regions to, as appropriate,

–            transfer roles and responsibilities to the Emerging Community as it evolves toward becoming a fully recognized Community of Faith that is a Congregation or Pastoral Charge, provided the Emerging Community reports all relevant information to the Regional Council.

–            to accept voting delegates from Emerging Communities to the same ratios as established Communities of Faith at such a point as the Regional Council deems the Emerging Community is ready to do so.

Carried

that Pacific Mountain Regional Council and the General Council of The United Church of Canada have a conversation and consider ways the church might respond to the ongoing mental health crisis, with an emphasis on people in the First Third of life.

Carried

that Pacific Mountain Regional Council and the General Council of The United Church of Canada

1)     in the full acknowledgment of the archiving of the UnSettling Goods Campaign, acknowledge the increasingly urgent call within the United Church for non-violent action in solidarity with Palestine that, among other strategies, includes mechanisms for creating economic pressure to support the end of the occupation of Palestine

2)     Develop and make available information to support boycott and divestment actions against products, companies and institutions who profit from or derive benefit from the occupation of Palestine

3)     Develop and make available in the same forum information to support positive economic action to support products, companies and institutions who support and directly benefit the Palestinian people, and products made by Palestinians

4)     In the same forum make readily available the Just Peace final report as a resource to Communities of Faith with which to build their own justice work in solidarity with Palestine

5)     Create a mechanism through which communities of faith may submit requests directly to the campaign to add other companies to the list for boycott and divestment.

Carried