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Category: COVID-19

INSTALLATION: Sunday, August 7, 2022 Nominations closed for 44th Moderator of The United Church of Canada on June 17. The United Church of Canada requires an election process for Moderator, so the nominee, the Rev. Dr. Carmen Lansdowne, Kwisa’lakw, attended the election on July 23 ..... and the Rev. Dr. Carmen Lansdowne, Kwisa’lakw, will be installed on August 7, 2022. Learn more about the nominee in this biographical statement. For those unable to attend in person, the event will be...

COVID POLICIES from the National Office of The United Church of Canada With restrictions easing across the country, the United Church sought the advice of outside legal counsel for communities of faith. Excerpts from the legal opinion are provided below. Please note it is based on policies currently in place and the assessment of them as reasonable. Assuming that the original rule issued by the Church or congregation concerning masking or proof of vaccination status was reasonable, there is...

Thank you for the care and attention you have given to an ever-evolving situation. It is difficult to face another round of uncertainty with the increase in Covid cases and the spread of the Omicron variant. Some communities of faith are re-examining their policies and re-considering their plans for Advent and Christmas. As a starting point, check with your local health unit. Each health unit sets regulations based on transmission rates in their jurisdiction. Many health units have specific...

Early in 2021, the Executive and Commission members of the regional council together attended the four sessions of the United Church’s racial justice training.  That experience informed the spring meeting where time was devoted to Indigenous justice and anti-racism.  It also informed this fall meeting where the traditional Land Acknowledgement shifted from a formula into a reflection.  The title became “Reconciliation Focus” and we considered the nearest First Nations to us, the name of an...

Thank you to local community of faith leaders.  When they accepted these roles, few expected to be coping with a global pandemic.  The regional council offers advice but the decisions are made in the community of faith.  All congregations are encouraged to applaud and support the efforts of leaders who have been navigating changing regulations, consulting with their local health unit and instituting protocols to keep the church available to others and to ensure the safety of all who access it....