Humility and Confidence in Sharing Faith

Strategic Objective: Develop and implement effective and connected regional and national strategies that result in growth within existing ministries, and by seeding and sustaining new expressions of communities of faith.

The first and leading priority is achieving the strategic objective related to growth.  Working in partnership with regions and the Indigenous Church, we will advance three interconnected streams of work to revitalize and activate growth in the denomination: Renew; Create; Invite.

Renew

We will strengthen the capacities of existing communities of faith to welcome, attract, retain, transform, and send people into the world. The plan is for a creative, robust, clear, and coordinated set of resources to help communities of faith strengthen invitation and innovation, reducing current duplication and filling in key gaps.

GC Proposal Number(s)

Priority Activities

Progress

 

Conduct an assessment towards providing concrete tools and grants or loans to communities of faith so that they might clarify their identity, strengthen their invitation, and ensure the future of their ministry.
 
Excellent
 

Develop coaching and consulting resources to assist in community of faith transformation, including towards collaborative ministry models or ecumenical shared ministry.
 
Fair
  Build a coordinated strategy to provide financial sustainability and stewardship support to communities of faith to create a stable operating base, including engagement in social finance.
 
Excellent

Create

Mapping demographic information and assessing community needs, we will propose, develop, and create 100 new communities of faith with a view to their long-term sustainability.

GC Proposal Number(s)

Priority Activities

Progress

 

Create eight new online communities.
 
Awaiting Activation
 

Create 45 new communities in regional priority areas or identity communities.
 
Awaiting Activation
NEW03 Create 30 new migrant communities.
 
Excellent
  Create 7 new intentional, intercultural engagement communities.
 
Good
  Create 5 new francophone communities.
 
Awaiting Activation
  Create 5 new communities aimed at connecting with persons with disabilities.
 
Delayed
  Advance communion and partnership conversations that enhance the creation and development of communities of faith.
 
Delayed

Invite

Drawing deep on the new Call and Vision, we will galvanize common identity and purpose across the church, strengthening the understanding of our discipleship in this time. We will develop ways to communicate effectively with different groups of the public about the spiritual home or pathways to home in the church, including using the 100th anniversary to renew relationships.  

GC Proposal Number(s)

Priority Activities

Progress

TICIF01

Encourage all members, adherents, affiliates, and communities, councils and ministries of the church to engage with the Call and Vision in diverse ways.
 
Excellent
 

Develop and implement a multi-pronged communication strategy focused at Canadians with no current relationship with The United Church of Canada that invites them to discover deep spirituality, belonging and community.
 
Awaiting Activation
  Develop MonCredo.org to enhance development and welcome of francophone community in the United Church
 
Good
  Celebrate, commemorate, lament and learn by developing a coordinated approach to Centennial 2025.
 
Fair

*Progress is determined from percentage completion of planned key results in a given quarter.

For questions on the Strategic Plan, or for a summary of all 2023 Operational Plan Activities, contact planning@united-church.ca .

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