The Saltwire article reads: "United Church of Canada set for organizational restructuring in 2019 - SYDNEY, N.S. — Almost a century after its establishment altered the country’s religious landscape, the United Church of Canada is once again preparing for change.
But unlike 1925, when the Church was formed from the amalgamation of Canada’s Methodist, Presbyterian and Congregational denominations, or 1988, when it opened the door to gay ministers, recently approved amendments to the Church’s structure of governance and communication are not expected to cause any fallout with the religious organization.
Don Smith, chairperson of the Church’s Sydney Presbytery, said the changes approved by the national office’s General Council are more administrative than anything else and are driven by ever-changing logistics and demographics.
“Many churches, not only the United Church, are losing numbers as congregations get older and here in Cape Breton many young people move away and don’t return,” said Smith.
“That’s a problem for the economy in general and for the economy of the church because if you don’t have as many members sitting in the seats you don’t have as much money for expenses and eventually churches amalgamate or even close.”
That scenario has already played out within the United Church in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality. Four years ago, three of its Sydney churches (First United, St. Andrew’s United and Trinity United) amalgamated with the United Baptist Church to form the United Heritage Church that uses the latter’s Charlotte Street location for services.
Rev. Rosemary Godin, who has presided over the amalgamated church’s services since 2014, said the union of members from the four congregations has been smooth. And, she said she doesn’t expect any pew-level issues with the changes that take effect in January.
“We in the clergy and the presbytery have already been working several years to bring change about within the Church and I think most of us look at this as an exciting time and we look forward to what change can bring,” said Godin.
“As far as the people who sit in the pews, they are probably not going to notice the change as much – it’s certainly not going to impact worship services or things that affect them at the grassroots level, we’ve always been a Church where the congregations make decisions.”
Presently, the United Church structure has a head body, or general council, that oversees its 1,600 pastoral charges (churches). The local charges are part of regional presbyteries that in turn make up the Church’s 13 conferences.
Essentially, the new structure will be streamlined from a four-tiered system to a three-tiered organization comprised of local pastoral charges, regional councils and the general council.
The new regional council that oversees local charges will be known as Region 15 and is comprised of Nova Scotia and Bermuda. The Sydney Presbytery, which includes 25 churches across Cape Breton, will no longer exist.
As the chair of the island’s only presbytery, Smith will watch his own position disappear. The executive presently includes the chairperson, corresponding secretary, recording secretary, treasurer and past chairperson, along with chairpersons of 13 different committees. Those local committees will also be disbanded with liaison personnel being assigned to new regional council committees.
“It’s a change in the way we do things — they’re talking about using a lot more of the computer, teleconferencing and webinars and they think that’s going to make a change, but there will be less face to face interaction,” said Smith.
“I hope it’s going to work and I think it’s going to work, but it’s like anything else when you make a big change in it there are going to be some kinks in it and there’s going to be some problems, but I think we can work them out eventually.”
Smith acknowledged that if there is one area of concern it is the perception that the changes will take a bite out of the local decision-making process.
Rev. Alison Etter, who presides over services at Glace Bay’s Warden and Knox United Churches and is on a transition committee that focuses on the changes, said the Church has always encouraged the leadership of lay people.
“Often, ideas begin within local congregations where they are studied and debated before they are brought forward to the wider church,” said Etter.
“The new structure will replace presbyteries and conferences with regional councils, but the values behind these bodies will remain the same — I want to see at least as much decision-making at the congregation level as before.”
She also pointed out that the changes are the result of a democratic process in which the majority of congregations voted in favour of the restructuring.
United Church of Canada (UCC)
Timeline
1925 – Founded as an amalgamation of the Methodist, Congregational and Presbyterian churches (an estimated 300 Presbyterian congregations declined to join) with a combined membership of about 600,000.
1936 – Rev. Lydia Emelie Gruchy of Saskatchewan becomes first woman ordained as a minister in the United Church
1949 – United Church rethinks residential school concept and begins closing those institutions under its care
1950 – Church goes against popular sentiment as it issues statements supporting universal healthcare and the People’s Republic of China
1964 – Church membership peaks at 1.1 million
1980 – Church task force releases In God’s Image, a report on sexual ethics that recommended the admittance of homosexuals into the ministry and tolerance of premarital sex
1988 – Church issues statements that all persons, regardless of sexual orientation, who profess their faith in Jesus Christ are welcome to become members and that all members are eligible to be considered to join the ministry
2015 – Delegates to 42nd General Council vote in favour of major organizational changes
2018 – Aforementioned changes officially ratified at 43rd General Council
2019 – Changes come into effect on January 1"
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