Input to Boundaries Commission

On January 10, 2018, the Boundaries Commission will release its interim report. The report will show the boundaries of the proposed regional councils, including where all pastoral charges will fit into the proposed regional councils. One significant early decision of the Commission was to honour a request from the Caretakers of the Indigenous Church. They had prepared the “Calls to the Church” document regarding the future place of the Indigenous Church within The United Church of Canada; see pages 56‒67 of the complete GCE Workbook November 18-20 2017. Consistent with these Calls, the Caretakers asked the Commission to honour the intent of the Indigenous Church to engage in a distinct process to decide their relationships within the new church structure.

Suggestions for changes

As the next step of the process, the Commission will be receiving feedback on its interim report from the governing bodies of pastoral charges, presbyteries, and Conferences. All current church courts are encouraged to read the report carefully. If any church court has a suggestion for a specific change, that court’s governing body must pass a motion naming the requested change. The motion can then be e-mailed to regchange@united-church.ca from January 10, 2018 to January 31, 2018. Please use this address for change requests only; comments and other questions can be sent to r emits@united-church.ca.

Governing bodies of church courts may want to consider scheduling a meeting between January 10 and 31 to review the report and determine whether they wish to request any changes.

The Commission will receive and study all feedback received and will make decisions on all the requested changes. It will release its final report no later than March 15, 2018, outlining the boundaries of the new regional councils. If the 43rd General Council approves Remit 1: Three Council Model in July 2018, the new boundaries will take effect on January 1, 2019.

Information about all the changes underway in the church can be found on the Remit Implementation page, along with documents answering frequently asked questions about the remits. Questions, comments, suggestions, and concerns can be sent to remits@united-church.ca. Sign up to receive the Remit Implementation newsletter here.