Deep Spirituality | Bold Discipleship | Daring Justice
As we live out our church’s Centennial, we hear the call to be deep, bold, and daring in renewing our church for the next 100 years.
The General Council Office’s Strategic Plan is helping the church realize our Vision, working closely with regional councils across the country. We hope these stories of progress from year two of our plan will engage, inspire, and compel. Learn more about the plan by going to Our Call and Vision on united-church.ca.
Please scroll down to download the full text of the 2024 report.
Strategic Objectives
Strategic objectives to guide progress towards the Vision were approved by the General Council Executive.
They are focused on the ministry of the General Council Office. Each objective forms part of the operational plan, and is broken down further into initiatives and activities that are accountably tracked and evaluated. You can find the full text of the objectives by going to Our Call and Vision.
Embolden Justice
Informed by those with lived experience, we join with others in the hard work of bringing about racial and Indigenous justice, and 2S and LGBTQIA+ rights, including through Canadian and global partnerships.
In Maputo, Mozambique, last August, the United Church supported a transformative consultation on human sexuality and gender diversity in the African church context, led by The All Africa Theological Education by Extension Associate. We continue to support global and ecumenical partners in promoting and advocating for the human rights of 2S and LGBTQIA+ individuals.
“The discussions demonstrated a shift toward healing and reconciliation and a call for greater support for faith leaders looking to take a bold and prophetic stance on full inclusion.” – Jane Thirikwa, Program Coordinator, Global Advocacy 2S and LGBTQIA+
Invigorate Leadership
As we strive to better reflect the diversity and needs of our church and country—current and future—we are developing key resources, experimenting with pilot programs, and reimagining training for leaders to enable them to meet new challenges and possibilities.
(Re)Generate, the Moderator’s Leadership program, is supporting, challenging, and strengthening United Church ministry personnel leaders from diverse backgrounds and contexts across the national church. At a series of five-day online and residency sessions, 32 participants have deepened leadership skills including financial management, fundraising, allyship, and advocacy, in order to best inspire today’s communities of faith.
“Having a space for support, challenge, fun, song, and worship helped brighten my own flame.” – Rev. Emily Gordon of Leaside United Church, Toronto
Nurture the Common Good
Being a national organization can help benefit communities of faith across the country. Administrative efficiencies, effectiveness, and accountability, including by sharing services, frees up time and resources for ministry.
The ongoing redevelopment of 300 Bloor Street West is a testament to conscientious resource use, nurturing ecumenical relations, and sustainability. The new home of our General Council Office and archives will be shared with the national offices of the Anglican and Presbyterian churches of Canada, and community, commercial, and worship spaces, including a refurbished Bloor Street United Church.
“We collaborate to be witnesses in the healing of God’s world…. I am excited and grateful for the possibilities.” – Rev. Michael Blair, General Secretary of The United Church of Canada
Deepen Climate Integrity
We offer tools and resources for immediate climate action to help communities and individuals live with respect in creation. Building by building, and coast to coast, we are taking responsibility to reduce our emissions, as we advocate for nation-wide change.
Thanks to a $30,000 grant from the United Church’s Faithful Footprints program and public funding, Transcona Memorial United Church was able to help green their building, reducing building energy consumption by an estimated 81.4 percent by installing heat pumps, solar panels, and LED lighting throughout the building.
To date Faithful Footprints has helped 546 faith communities explore greening their buildings. Those who implemented upgrades have cut emissions equal to the annual energy use of 1,242 homes.
Growth – Strengthen Invitation
We are renewing existing communities of faith, creating new churches, and supporting bolder invitation. The United Church of Canada is not wrapping up; we are ramping up as we enter our next 100 years.
25 migrant and diasporic communities are on their way to becoming United Church communities of faith, including a growing group of Swahili-speaking communities in Ontario and Quebec. An exciting collaboration between Sunnybrook United Church and Red Deer Polytechnic College fostered both a new First Third ministry and a new Campus United ministry on the Red Deer, Alberta campus.
“It felt that the Holy Spirit was guiding the process as many people said, ‘Yes’ to a new thing they discerned God was doing in their midst.” – Rev. Scott Reynolds, Growth Animator
Journeying Indigenous Pathways
We recognize and celebrate diverse Indigenous ways of being, knowing, and engaging with theologies and spiritual practices. We are committed to decolonizing church structures, and to partnering with a self-determining Indigenous Church.
At last year’s National Indigenous Spiritual Gathering in Winnipeg, those gathered called for the Elders Council to provide leadership on the future of the Indigenous Church. The Elders Council set a path forward for a renewed governance model, which it will pursue after allowing time for healing.
“We honour all that has come before this moment as we move forward into this new beginning.” – National Indigenous Elders Council
Youth Action Across the Strategic Plan
Daring action taken by church youth across each strategic objective includes the work of our Youth Climate Motivators and Leadership Animators, an unprecedented gathering of francophone United Church youth, the success of the Indigenous-Racialized Youth Scholars program, and the joyful coming together of over 450 youth and young adults at this year’s Rendez-vous 2024: Audacious Hope.
“Diverse young people need to be at the table and participating in conversations about our future. They’re an integral part of the Church’s vision for the next 100 years.” – Thea Sheridan-Jonah, Social Justice Animator
Financials
In 2024, the General Council of the United Church dedicated resources (salaries, grants, programs, etc.) from the operating budget to the six areas of the Strategic Plan. In addition, particular areas were supplemented by specialized reserve funds, or fund centres. (See download below for Operating Budget only.)
By the Numbers in 2024
6 Strategic Objectives
79 Activity Streams
23 Priority Areas
(of the 79 Activity Streams)
78% progress on planned Key Results overall
(Excluding Indigenous Pathways, which reported in a narrative manner)
Climate objective highest at 87.75%
For more detail, refer to the audited financial statements.
We are deeply grateful to be able to advance the Strategic Plan, drawing from Mission and Service contributions, assessment, reserve funds, and other revenues.
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Strategic Plan Report Highlights the United Church’s Pursuit of Call and Vision
The United Church of Canada’s strategic plan report reveals ambition for impact, using resources to support the church and transform communities and… continue readingDownloads
- 2024 Strategic Plan Report (1.94 MB) (PDF)
- 2024 Strategic Plan Report Operating Budget (160.32 KB) (PDF)
- 2024 Strategic Plan Report Presentation (4.13 MB) (PowerPoint)
- 2024 Strategic Plan Report Presentation (287.26 KB) (PDF)
- 2024 Strategic Plan Report PowerPoint Talking Points (363.14 KB) (PDF)
- 2023 Strategic Plan Annual Report (850.68 KB) (PDF)