Dear Friends across Pacific Mountain region,
Please see this letter from the Vision Council of Shaughnessy Heights United Church, offering their support to all community of faiths who have not yet sent in their one vote regarding Remit 1.
Blessings,
PMR Staff
The original date of the Vision Council letter is 23 January, 2024. There was a delay in our regional communications, in circulating this letter. Thank you for your patience.
Siblings in Christ
We write to you in this season of Epiphany as representatives of your congregations of the United Church
of Canada, from our position as representatives for our congregation on the west coast.
We are all facing the hard work of contemplation and action on the road to Reconciliation. As one
component of that the United Church of Canada leadership has brought us, through General Council 44,
Remit 1: Establishing an Autonomous National Indigenous Organization, which was a response to a
proposal from the National Indigenous Church for removal of structural barriers to developing and
sustaining an autonomous National Indigenous Church within the United Church of Canada.
The Remit is a Category 3 Remit: it must be voted on by every Regional Council and each pastoral
charge’s governing body, you. Lack of a vote will be counted as a “NO”. It is due at the end of March,
2024.
We have taken the measures we felt were needed for us and the whole congregation to become educated
on the matter, to consider and ask questions, to have conversations within the congregation, and then to
vote in advance of the deadline. We had all the predictable questions that arise when a process is
proposed that does not have every detail nailed down in advance. We were able with faith and patience
and dialogue to have heartfelt conversations on what is meaningful, about change and uncertainty, about
hope, about responsibility and about the future. As a Council, we have already voted and sent notice.
One of the messages that arose from this process was a clear call to each other to lead by example, and
assist others where needed, in having the energy and courage to engage, and to submit a vote. Beyond
our individual relationships across the country, we thought it was important and urgent to reach out to
you, to offer practical help if you need it, but mostly to offer our support and prayers while you too
consider significant amendments to the Basis of Union as the United Church of Canada approaches its
100th anniversary.
There are lots of resources, through https://generalcouncil44.ca/council/remit-1-
establishing-autonomous-national-indigenous-organization, through your region, and through others.
Our minister has shared these resources with other ministers, and we can share ours with you as Council
if you wish. Please share this message with others who may not receive electronic mail.
With our best wishes,
Vision Council, Shaughnessy Heights United Church
January 23, 2024