Can you perceive a new thing? God is doing something fresh among us—something that calls us to hospitality, justice, and hope.

We sing of a church
seeking to continue the story of Jesus
by embodying Christ’s presence in the world.

We are called together by Christ
as a community of broken but hopeful believers,
loving what he loved,
living what he taught,
striving to be faithful servants of God
in our time and place.

—A Song of Faith

One hundred years ago, [The United Church of Canada] began with faithful people seeing the possibility God guided them into, right there in the place they called home. We are convinced that God still calls, and that we can respond —we are not alone. 

—The Rev. Michael Blair, General Secretary, The United Church of Canada

Michael Blair headshot

What is Toward 2035? A Call to Prayer and Conversation

Deep, Bold, Daring - Toward 2035

Toward 2035 is an invitation to prayer and a whole-church conversation about the future of God’s call to the United Church of Canada.

When we say whole church, we mean all of us—Communities of Faith, Clusters, Regional Councils, and the General Council. But whole church does not mean one-size-fits-all. Context matters. Connexion matters.

This is about weaving together the unique voices and visions of our church:

  • Communities of Faith discerning what it means to live as Beloved Community for the sake of our neighbours where we call home.
  • Regional Councils offering visionary leadership, drawing conversations together with a view of ministry across the whole region.
  • The General Council providing support and resources needed at every level.

Individual conversations become connected—forming a shared vision for the next decade and beyond. Together, we seek to imagine and embody God’s future for the United Church as we move toward 2035.

Toward 2035: Envisioning a Future of Hope

Toward 2035 is about imagining what God is calling us to become—not bemoaning decline.

Yes, this conversation asks us to honestly acknowledge our current trajectory and the implications of inaction. But it is not about despair. It is about possibility. It is about hope.

Toward 2035 Calls Us to Imagine…

In The United Church of Canada, inspired, resilient, and diverse contextual communities of disciples seek to continue the story of Jesus by embodying Christ’s presence in the world. The church is present and deeply connected coast-to-coast-to-coast in rural and urban settings, and in ecumenical and global relationships. Guided by hope-filled, adaptive and effective ministry leaders, the denomination is increasingly multigenerational, multiracial, and intercultural.

Can We Picture This Future Together?

Can we collaborate with God—who has created and is creating—to see this vision come to life?
Can you imagine your place in this future?

Engaging Toward 2035 within your Community of Faith

 

  • Hold a conversation introducing the idea of Toward 2035 to your congregation using the small group resource in the Downloads section below.
  • Use the small group resource to host a conversation with another United Church nearby.
  • Hold a time of prayer and listening (see Downloads below).

Latest Updates

Deep Bold Daring - Toward 2035

Toward 2035 Invites Communities of Faith to a Hope-Filled, Bolder Future

Toward 2035: General Council Executive approves strategic direction as whole-church strategy continues to unfold; new tools available soon to help… continue reading
Deep Bold Daring - Toward 2035

United Church of Canada Invites Conversation Toward 2035

Toward 2035 aims to honor the legacy of past generations while charting a bold path for the future.

Downloads