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People and organizations
Methodist Episcopal Church
Corporate body · 1784

The Church was organized in the United States in 1784. This denomination sent preachers to Nova Scotia (1785 to 1800), to Montreal (1802 to 1820) and Quebec City (1803 to 1812), and officially to Upper Canada in the winter of 1789-1790--first through its New York Conference, then from 1810 to 1824 through its Genesee Conference, and from 1824 to 1828 through its Canada Conference. In 1828 the Methodist Episcopal Church in Canada was established. In 1821 the Genesee Conference established a committee to consider the matter of evangelism to the Aboriginal People and contacts were made with the Six Nations Reserve on the Grand River. In 1822 Alvin Torry was designated missionary to the Aboriginal People in Canada; in 1824 the Canada Conference Missionary Society was organized; and in 1828 William Case accepted the post of General Superintendent of Indian Missions of Upper Canada.

Corporate body · 1795

The Wesleyan Methodist Church, established in England, was based on the teachings of John Wesley, who died in 1791; its date of creation is generally given as 1795, when the Wesleyans separated from The Church of England. The British Wesleyan missions commenced in Newfoundland in 1765 or 1766; in the Maritimes in 1799 (replacing the American connection); and in Lower and Upper Canada after the War of 1812-1814, establishing themselves as far west as Niagara and St. Catharines by 1820. In the meantime by 1817, the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society had been formally established, assuming responsibility for missionary work around the world, including British North America. Problems over jurisdiction in the Canadas between the American Methodist Episcopals and British Wesleyans resulted in an agreement reached in 1820 whereby Lower Canada was allotted to the British Wesleyans (with the exception of the east side of the Ottawa River), and Upper Canada to the American Methodists (with the exception of Kingston). Lower Canada, after 1841 Canada East (Quebec), was organized as a District under the direction of the Missionary Society in 1817 and remained so until 1854, when it formally united with the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Canada already in existence in Canada West (Ontario). British Wesleyans were ready to return to Upper Canada by the early 1830s. A union between the Methodist Episcopal Church in Canada and the British Wesleyans in 1833 in the establishment of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Canada averted conflict between the two groups (but resulted in the establishment of another Methodist Episcopal Church in Canada, 1834-1883/Fonds 6). This union, moreover, extended the control which the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society had in Upper Canada: to have final say on appointment of all Canadian Wesleyan ministers, most of the funds raised for missions, and appointment of a Superintendent of Missions. This and other divisive issues forced the dissolution of the union between 1840 and 1847. After the reunion in 1847, the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society began to withdraw from significant responsibility for mission work in Canada West and in British North America generally, although money for the work here continued to be provided. The first British Wesleyan missionary to be appointed among Canada's Aboriginal People was Thomas Turner in 1832; his mission bordered the St. Clair River in Upper Canada. In the late thirties, missions opened on the shores of Lakes Superior and Huron and after 1840 in Hudson's Bay Company territory. The Hudson's Bay Missions were administered directly from Britain until 1854 when they too became the responsibility of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Canada.

Canada · Corporate body · 2014-2017

Huron Shores United Church was founded in 2014 through the amalgamation of Grand Bend United Church and Greenway United Church.

CAN · Corporate body · 1844-1930

Egmondville Presbyterian was formed ca. 1844 and joined the United Church at the time of union.

Corporate body · 1972-2001

The Division of World Outreach was created by General Council in 1972 out of the Board of World Mission and became operational in July 1973. The new Division promoted mutuality in mission and interdenominational cooperation; it divided its administrative framework into geographic areas, including Africa, Asia, Latin America, Caribbean, South Asia and Pacific.

In 2001 as part of a General Council structure reorganization, Division of World Outreach became part of the newly formed Justice, Global and Ecumenical Relations unit.

Corporate body · 1972-2001

Until 1976, first as an Associate Secretary and then as Secretary, Garth Legge had responsibility for Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin America. James A. Kirkwood first reported as Associate Secretary for Africa in 1977, with Garth Legge continuing to have responsibility for the Caribbean and Latin America. From 1988 to 1993, Paula J. Butler and Jim Kirkwood shared the roles of Africa Area Secretaries, followed by Omega Bula and Paula Butler (1994-1995), Omega Bula and Lee Holland (1996-2002). Under the major reorganization of 2002, work related to Africa was moved to the Justice, Global and Ecumenical Relations Unit.

Corporate body · 1972-2001

The Asia Area comprised of Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, India, Nepal, and Taiwan in 1972 but the boundaries were continually altered since that time. E. Frank Carey, an Associate Secretary and then Deputy Secretary, was responsible for Asia until 1984. In 1985 the Asia and Pacific Area Secretary first reported; at times the responsibilities for this area were divided between two Area Secretaries--for East Asia, and for South Asia and Pacific. During this period cooperation with other churches (both native and foreign) and mutuality in mission were important. Area Secretaries for East Asia 1985 have included Rhea M. Whitehead, 1984-1991 and Nancy (Nan) Hudson, 1992-2000 while Jack G. Lakavich, 1988-1995 and Bruce Gregersen, 1996-2001 have served as Area Secretaries for South Asia and Pacific.

Corporate body · 1971-2001

Garth Legge, first as an Associate Secretary and then as Secretary, was responsible for Africa, the Carribbean, and Latin America until 1977 when an Associate Secretary for Africa first reported. He continued to have responsibility for the Caribbean and Latin America Area until 1983. From 1984-2002 the Area was the responsibility of an Associate Secretary (1984) or Area Secretary (from 1985). Associate Secretaries were Rev. Thomas C. Edmonds, 1984-1990; Rev. Christopher Ferguson, 1991-1998 and Jim Hodgson, 2000-2001. Under the major reorganization of 2002, work related to Caribbean and Latin America was moved to the Justice, Global and Ecumenical Relations Unit.

Corporate body · 1971-2001

In 1972, the General Council authorized the creation of a portfolio under administration of the Division of World Outreach on Research and Education in Interfaith Relations and International Understanding. The name of the portfolio changed in 1976 to Interfaith Dialogue when the terms of reference were altered to exclude international affairs, and to give more emphasis to education and promotion of interfaith exchanges. The mandate, simply stated, was "to develop community through dialogue with people of other faiths within and beyond Canada." The Secretary had six main areas of responsibility: initiating dialogues between people of different faiths; representing the Division in Canada and abroad in discussions about interfaith encounters; interpreting dialogue concerns to the Church; providing and disseminating resource materials; extending dialogue into cognate areas of human rights; and doing appropriate research. The Secretary began serving ex-officio as a member of the General Council Committee on Inter-Church and Inter-Faith Relations in 1980. New terms of reference, instituted in 1988, charged the Secretary with the task of devising ways to promote interfaith dialogue at the congregational level in concert with the General Council and Conference Inter-Church and Inter-Faith committees. James F. Seunarine was Secretary from 1974 to 1980. He was succeeded by John H. Berthrong who served from 1980 to 1989. Paul W. Newman served from 1990-1993, and Bruce Gregersen from 1995-2001.

Corporate body

When the work of the Board of World Mission became part of the Division of World Outreach the responsibilities held by two committees under the General Council, the Committee on World Development and Relief and the Committee on Overseas Relief and Inter-Church Aid, were made one under the Division of World Outreach and called the Committee on World Development, Service and Relief, in 1972. The Committee was overseen by a Secretary of the World Development Service and Relief Committee (Glenna Graham, 1976-1979), then an Associate Secretary, Development (Glenna Graham, 1979-1982); then, Development Secretary (Lee Holland, 1986-1996).

In a unit reorganization in 1997, work re development was folded into Education for Engagement, which brought together and integrated the educational work of three former DWO Committees (Development, Interfaith, Mission Education) as part of the implementation of the recommendations of the Division’s Strategic Work Task Group.

Corporate body · 1997-2001

In a unit reorganization in 1997, work re development was folded into Education for Engagement, which brought together and integrated the educational work of three former DWO Committees (Development, Interfaith, Mission Education) as part of the implementation of the recommendations of the Division’s Strategic Work Task Group.

The mandate of the Education for Engagement Committee was to ensure the implementation of the Division’s mandate for education for engagement of The United Church of Canada’s community in global partnerships, or, supporting the Division’s commitment to find ways to enable the whole of the United church to better participate in global partnership.

Educational work of the Division was meant to enrich the understanding and practice of partnership, integrate the whole of the United Church more completely in the partnerships the Division maintained and respond to local initiatives in that regard, facilitate people-to-people exchanges, south/south, south/north and north/south, and deepen commitment to the support of systemic justice.

Work of the Cluster: globalization, the Canadian Jubilee Initiative, twinning, Face to Face, Faith to Faith, Interfaith Reference Group, Mission Study, Moral Economy, urgent action, responses to emergencies, emergency appeals, ecumenical coalitions, gender justice and partnership.

In 2002, the Division of World Outreach work was absorbed by the newly created Justice Global and Ecumenical Relations Unit. Work continued in the People in Mission Unit.

Corporate body · 1958-1971

The Committee on Ecumenical Affairs was established by General Council in 1958 to cultivate an understanding of the ecumenical movement and its relevance to the United Church. Through participation in the Canadian Council of Churches and the World Council of Churches, as well as through direct contact with several Canadian churches and coalitions, the Committee promoted interdenominational cooperation with other Christian denominations and later, other faiths. At the November meeting of the General Council Executive in 1969 the Committee on Ecumenical Affairs submitted the following recommendation: That the work of the following four committees – Ecumenical Affairs, Committee on Union, Protestant-Roman Catholic Relations, Joint Committees of Seven (Presbyterian-United Church) be subsumed into one Committee which would assume the present responsibilities of each Committee and that its name be “The Committee on Inter-Church and Inter-Faith Relations”. The Committee was superseded by the Committee on Inter-Church and Inter-Faith Relations in 1971.

Corporate body · 1971-2009

At the November meeting of the General Council Executive in 1969 the Committee on Ecumenical Affairs submitted the following recommendation: That the work of the following four committees – Ecumenical Affairs, Committee on Union, Protestant-Roman Catholic Relations, Joint Committees of Seven (Presbyterian-United Church) be subsumed into one Committee which would assume the present responsibilities of each Committee and that its name be “The Committee on Inter-Church and Inter-Faith Relations”. The Committee was superseded by the Committee on Inter-Church and Inter-Faith Relations in 1971.

The Purpose of the Committee, as stated in 1971, was to “challenge the Church to a vision of ecumenism which includes the whole inhabited world. The committee shall encourage, support, enable, and hold the Church accountable to its role as a sign of reconciliation and renewal among human communities at both the local and global levels. The Committee shall constantly remind the whole church that ecumenism is not an option, but rather, an integral part of its life and witness.”

Corporate body · 2003-2011

The Committee is one of the four committees of the Executive of the General Council that was established after the restructuring of General Council divisions in 2001. It is responsible for overseeing and monitoring the financial life and policies of the General Council, including assets, income, expenditures, considerations of its short- and long-term financial issues, risk management, and investment and fund management; overseeing the long-term financial planning of the General Council; recommending the overall expenditure and income budget to the Executive; monitoring income, expenditures, assets, liabilities, and capital initiatives and reporting them regularly to the Executive and; recommending financial strategies.

The Permanent Committee on Finance is made up of 9 to 12 voting members reflecting the gender, race, ethnic, age, vocation, and geographical diversity of The United Church of Canada and three voting members of the Executive of the General Council. The General Council Officer for Finance is the staff resource to the committee.
Corporate body · 2003-2008

The Permanent Committee on Governance Planning and Budgeting Processes (PC-GPBP) was one of the four Permanent Committees set up to assist the General Council Executive in it’s work. The Committee was charged with assisting the Executive to develop it’s governance, planning and budgeting processes. It created and recommended strategies or processes through which the Executive could carry out its governance planning and budgeting roles. Specifically, it reviewed work coming before the Executive; ensured planning with the committees and units was held up and came to the Executive in a coherent, integrated and manageable form; co-ordinated and presented policy recommendations; ensured accountability for delegated tasks; made decisions as delegated in the area assigned and delegated other functions to Working Units, sub-committees or other task groups; ensured and modelled the principle of collaboration between staff and elected members; carried out other functions as requested and advised and guided the Executive on matters relevant to its mandate.

This committee was a Permanent Committee of the General Council from 2003-2008 at which point a new Terms of Reference was adopted and most work of the Committee moved to the Committee on Governance and Agenda.