For Church Leaders, Deep Spirituality and Daring Justice are Global Actions

Several leaders from The United Church of Canada are currently very active in various global ecumenical spaces—at the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC), held in Chiang Mai, Thailand, from October 14–23, at the World Council of Churches (WCC) at their offices in Geneva, Switzerland, and at WCC’s Sixth World Conference on Faith and Order, held at Wadi El Natrun, near Alexandria, Egypt, October 24–28.

Rev. Dr. Sandra Beardsall is the United Church representative on the WCC’s Faith and Order Commission, chairing the work on Nicaea 2025. She is also chair of the planning committee for the World Conference on Faith and Order in Egypt. The conference marks the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea and the development of the Nicene Creed. Participants in Canada can join this important gathering, which will be livestreamed, by registering for online watch parties.

Rev. Prof. Dr. Hyuk Cho launched his book, Decolonizing Diakonia: From Servanthood to Companionship, in a hybrid event at the World Council of Churches (WCC) in Geneva on October 16. He is the Associate Professor and Director of United Church Formation and Studies at Vancouver School of Theology. His work focuses on intercultural theology, decolonial mission practice, interfaith dialogue, and diakonia as companionship. Decolonizing Diakonia will soon be available in the United Church Resource Centre.

At the 27th General Council of the WCRC in Thailand, among those sharing expertise was Rev. Dr. Miriam Spies, who delivered a Bible study based on Luke 22, which explored what disability theology teaches about compassion and perseverance.

Four key reports from the WCRC president, general secretary, and women’s and youth caucuses were presented to about 400 delegates, who gathered in small discernment groups to reflect on the reports’ content. Rev. Michael Blair, General Secretary of The United Church of Canada, moderated one of these sessions. He also offered his perspective on racism within the church, acknowledging the diversity and strength of churches across Africa and the importance of working together within the WCRC towards justice, collaboration, and solidarity.

Rev. Dr. Jessica Hetherington, a climate justice theologian, advocated at the WCRC General Council for “radical discipleship of climate action” to transform the way we live, especially if we live in places of privilege.

Hetherington and Rev. Dr. Hye-Ran Kim-Cragg, Principal at Emmanuel College in Toronto, led and taught at the Global Institute of Theology (GIT), which offered programming alongside the WCRC. The GIT offers space for theological students from around the world to learn theology in an inter-contextual and ecumenical way. Kim-Cragg also offered insights on gender justice at the WCRC.

Also at the WCRC, Rev. Dr. Japhet Ndhlovu, Executive Minister of the Church in Mission unit of The United Church, moderated an ecumenical workshop hosted by the National Council of Churches in Korea on October 14–15. The workshop was one of several offered on the opening day of the WCRC General Council. Read a reflection from Rev. Japhet on his experience in Thailand on the Round the Table blog.

While this post highlights only a few of the leadership participants in these ecumenical and global events, others from the United Church are also in attendance, gaining knowledge, connections, and drawing from others’ expertise to inform their own work and ministries here in Canada.