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The church’s impact in Canada is strengthened by working with others, through partnerships as well as United Church community ministries.

Description
Community ministries provide a broad spectrum of programs across the country that offer an opportunity for community, grace, and transformation.

The term “partnership” can describe a wide range of relationships undertaken by the church. The work of the church is accomplished through working with others—some full ministries of the church, including community-based organizations, as well as through relationships with organizations and coalitions we know as national partners.

What are community ministries?

In addition to congregations, the church also includes ministries such as camps and campus ministries and community and social justice ministries that support people seeking basic needs such as food, clothing, shelter, advocacy services, and spiritual guidance. There are over 60 community ministries.

Community ministries are often full ministries and expressions of the church, while some have developed into community-based organizations that partner with a variety of local government and non-governmental organizations. Through these relationships the church is able to faithfully and more fully make a difference in the lives of vulnerable people. These ministries call the church to risk new forms of life and membership, to be willing to be transformed by those on the margins of our society, and to join them as the place where God is present and active.

Find a Community and Social Justice Ministry near you.

What are Canadian partners?

The United Church of Canada partners for common action with others who seek after justice, wholeness and love for the whole creation. In many and varied ways the work of the church is accomplished through working with others, including by relationships we know as partnerships. In total there are over forty partnerships in Canada held at the national level of the church.

Partner relationships engage in advocacy and justice, research and policy, education and theological reflection, congregational engagement for justice-making, and community support. They include faith-based ecumenical organizations and civil society organizations.

Faith-Based Ecumenical Partnerships

Through partnerships, the United Church joins other faith-based organizations to explore issues of faith and act toward justice, peace, and integrity of creation. United Church ecumenical partners and networks in Canada include the following:

Civil Society Organizations

Some of our partners work in direct solidarity with people in marginalized communities in Canada where issues of poverty, violence, abuse, and ecological degradation are common. Other partners develop justice resources and design education and advocacy programs that encourage the engagement of members to act for just change in the public arena. Advocacy with these partners builds a strong consensus from which to engage elected members of Canada’s government, including members of Parliament.