The United Church welcomes Partner Council members this month for mutual learning, accompaniment, and commitment to mending the world
From November 7 to 16, 2026, members of The United Church of Canada Partner Council are gathering in Canada, to meet with communities of faith, regional councils, church leadership, and advocacy partners. Together, they are sharing experiences, deepening relationships, and exploring how the church can respond faithfully to the interconnected challenges our world faces.
Global partners are churches and ecumenical or civil society organizations with whom the United Church has deep and multifaceted relationships, and seeks to work and walk with together for the mending of God's kin-dom. They are located throughout Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Middle East. The Partner Council consists of advisors from partner organizations, whose diverse experiences and perspectives help guide the United Church's global mission and ministry:
- Maria Tendai Dendere (Zimbabwe Council of Churches)
- Elisabeth Cook (Latin American Biblical University, Costa Rica)
- Reina Ueno (Buraku Liberation Center, Japan)
- Sarah “Bestang” Dekdeken (Cordillera Peoples Alliance, Philippines)
- Silvia Vasquez-Olguin (KAIROS Canada)
- Zoughbi Al-Zoughbi (Wi'am, Palestine)
- Masiiwa Ragies Gunda (World Council of Churches)
While some Partner Council members are gathering in person, others will participate virtually due to visa challenges. These barriers to international travel are a reminder of the inequalities that can hinder global relationships, making the commitment to mutual accompaniment and finding ways to remain connected even more important.
People from across the church enjoyed an opportunity to engage with members of the Partner Council through a panel discussion held this afternoon in person at St. Andrew's United Church in Brantford, Ontario, with many tuning in to attend online.
Accompaniment in a Time of Global Crisis
Around the world, communities are confronting overlapping crises, from climate emergencies and conflict to growing inequality and threats to human rights. As these challenges deepen, there is increasing pressure for countries, institutions, and communities to turn inward.
The United Church's commitment to mutual radical accompaniment offers another way forward: journeying alongside one another, challenging unequal power dynamics, and recognizing that every partner has wisdom, experience, and gifts to share.
Through conversations with communities of faith and regional councils, the visit will offer opportunities to connect the challenges facing communities in Canada with those experienced by partners around the world, and to explore how we can respond together.
The Partner Council will also engage with the General Council Executive as it meets in Winnipeg later this month. The meeting will create space for mutual learning and reflection on the role of Partner Council, how global solidarity can inform faithful action in Canada and beyond, and the future of the global partnerships program of the United Church.
Rooted in the church’s vision of Mending the World, the visit is an invitation to consider how the church and communities of faith can strengthen relationships and work alongside others in the pursuit of peace, justice, and the well-being of all creation.
Stay Connected
There are many ways to continue to learn with global partners, to bring their voices into your community of faith, and to continue to engage with justice issues. Stay connected with United Action for Justice on Facebook and Instagram, and subscribe to United Church newsletters if you haven’t already. You can also reach out to to ask about stories, resources, speakers, and ways to get involved.