Quick links to sections on this page
President’s Letter | In-Person or Online | Townhalls | Meeting Resources and Materials | Nominations | Proposals | GC Commissioners | Registration
Welcome!
We hope you can join us for our spring regional meeting! Our theme this year is “Sanctuary: Towards a Kindom of Peace, Justice and Reconcilliation”.
This year’s meeting will once again be a hybrid, held both in-person at North Bramalea United Church and online in Zoom. Our meeting will start on Friday June 7 at 9:00 a.m. and again on Saturday June 8 at 9:00 a.m. Our meeting will wrap up with our Celebration of Ministry service on the evening of Saturday, June 8 2024 at 6:30 p.m.
Covid Safety Protocols: The safety of you and your fellow attendees are important to us. We encourage you to test each day before coming to the meeting, or if you feel unwell to stay home and contact us to get the online meeting link. Masking is optional however we will have masks and tests available at the registration desk. We thank you in advance for your consideration.
And now, here are a few words from our planning team!
Welcome Message
We’re trying something different for our regional meeting this year. The theme for both 2024 and 2025 is ‘Sanctuary: towards a kindom of peace, justice and reconciliation’. This theme is rooted in the story from 1 Kings 17 when Elijah found sanctuary in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, then in Zarenphath in the region of Sidon where he stayed with a widow. In both instances, sanctuary was provided not by the wealthy but by people who were the poorest of the poor and considered unclean.
A significant portion of our 2024 regional meeting’s agenda will be considering and voting on proposals intended for action by either Shining Waters Regional Council or by the General Council in the summer of 2025. To help us make good decisions, we will be grounding our understanding of sanctuary both in the lived experiences of people who are marginalized in society and in the principles-based approach to justice work that was approved by the General Council in October 2023.
Our theme planning team this year includes President Maria Christina Conlon, Past-President David Leyton-Brown, Ariel Saigan who is in ministry with Asbury and West United Church and is a member of the working group that developed the principles for the General Council, Allyce Mutungi who is a member of the Shining Waters Executive and Uganda Martyrs United Church, and Ruth McDonald who is involved at Burton Avenue United Church.
A two-year theme will give us the opportunity to hear many perspectives and reflect deeply on issues connected to sanctuary, including displacement, housing, reparations, restoration and reconciliation. Come join us on this journey.
Join Us In-Person
North Bramalea United Church will be the home for this year’s in-person regional meeting.
They are located at 363 Howden Blvd., in Brampton (MAP) which is near Hwy 410 and Williams Parkway.
Parking: Those with a visible government issued accessible parking permit sticker may park in the North Bramalea UC parking lot. All other parking is available at the neighbouring church parking lot.
Accommodation: There are several hotels located a short drive from the church.
Meals: There will be lunch and dinner meals available for purchase for those attending. The deadline for ordering food is May 24, 2024. Please indicate which meals you would like to purchase on your in-person registration form, lunches on both Friday and Saturday will cost $22 and dinner on Friday evening will cost $35. You will be able to pay by credit card through to our secure online payment provider Stripe. Payment in full is required at time of registration, otherwise your food order will not be included. If more than one person from your family is attending, please fill out a separate registration form and meal selections for each person.
If you have any issues with paying online please contact Susan Whitehead at swhitehead@united-church.ca
Join Us Online in Zoom
Unable to join us in person? Not to worry, we are offering a hybrid meeting this year. Simply register for the online option for the meeting and we will make sure you have the necessary Zoom link to gather together virtually. Many of us are very comfortable with Zoom, but if you’re a bit rusty please review our Zoom tip sheet. Or take some time to review our videos on how to vote in Zoom or how to use the captions in Zoom.
Come Celebrate!
Join us on Saturday, June 8 starting at 6:30 p.m. as we hold our Celebration of Ministries Service. We will also be livestreaming the service from North Bramalea United. More information will be posted as it becomes available. We hope you can join the celebration!
Nominations
Commissions and Committees
Shining Waters Regional Council is currently recruiting new members for the following:
- President Elect
- Regional Council Executive
- Communities of Faith Commission
- Intercultural Diversity Commission
- Social and Ecological Justice Commission
- Grants and Mission Support Committee
- Intentional Interim Ministry Committee
- Licensed Lay Worship Leader Committee
- Nominations Committee
Please see our Nominations Page for the mandates for these positions. Applications will be accepted until Friday, March 29, 2024. The Nominations Committee will prayerfully consider all applications and will advise candidates if their name will be put forward for consideration by the Regional Council at its meeting on Saturday, June 8, 2024. Expressions of interest can sent to Jody Maltby at jmaltby@united-church.ca
Thank you for considering where your talents and experience might fit.
Proposal Process
A portion of the 2024 Regional Meeting agenda will be considering and voting on proposals proposals intended for action by the Regional Council or at the meeting of the General Council in the summer of 2025. The deadline for submitting proposals for the 2024 Regional Meeting is April 12, 2024.
FOR A COMPREHENSIVE DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSAL PROCESS, PLEASE REFER TO SECTION F.1 of THE MANUAL (2024):
https://united-church.ca/sites/default/files/2024-01/the-manual-2024.pdf
Proposal Template – [Word]
Please see our short video outlining the proposal submission process. If you have questions or need assistance with the proposal process please contact Peter Hartmans at phartmans@united-church.ca or Susan Whitehead at swhitehead@united-church.ca
Deadline
The deadline for submitting proposals for the 2024 Regional Meeting is April 12, 2024. Proposals should be sent to Susan Whitehead at swhitehead@united-church.ca.
GC 45 Commissioners
Nomination Process
The General Council of The United Church of Canada will meet in Calgary in August 2025. Shining Waters Regional Council may elect 14 commissioners to attend the meeting and serve as members of the General Council for three years, beginning in June 2025. Commissioners will also participate in educational sessions beginning in April 2025.
Please see the position description for GC45 Commissioners (PDF | 2 pages) for further details on what expectations will be required.
The deadline for application submissions to be a GC45 Commissioner is Friday, April 12, 2024.
After a process of recruitment and discernment, the SWRC Nominations Committee will propose a slate of commissioners that will include:
• At least four ministry personnel, one of whom will be a first alternate in case no candidates for Moderator are nominated;
• At least four lay people, one of whom will be a first alternate in case no candidates for Moderator are nominated;
• At least four people intentionally selected to reflect diversity not otherwise reflected;
• At least one youth or young adult;
• At least two or three additional alternates will be elected.
The regional council will vote on the slate of commissioners at our regional meeting being held on June 7- 8, 2024. For more information please see our General Council Commissioner page.
General Council Commissioners Page
Prayer Room Request Page
These items are pending and will be added as they become available
- Resource Book – [pdf | pages] –
- Draft Meeting Agenda [pdf | 2 pages] – PDF
- Consent and Procedural Motions [pdf | pages] –
- Holy Manners [pdf | 1 page] – PDF
- Draft Minutes of Regional Meeting – May 28, 2023 [pdf | 7 pages] – PDF
- Zoom Tip Sheet – includes how to vote during the meeting – [ pdf | 2 pages ] – PDF
- Proposals – [pdf | pages ] –
- Business: 2025 SWRC Draft Budget – [ pdf | pages ] –
- Reports: Digest of Actions – [ pdf | pages ] –
- Reports: Regional Council Executive Accountability – [ pdf | pages ] –
- Reports: Communities of Faith Commission – [ pdf | pages ] –
- Reports: Intercultural Diversity Commission – [pdf | 2 pages] – PDF
- Reports: Pastoral Relations Commission – [ pdf | 2 pages ] –PDF
- Reports: Social and Ecological Justice Commission – [ pdf | pages ] –
- Reports: Nominations Committee – [pdf | pages] –
- Reports: Emmanuel College – [ pdf | 3 pages ] – PDF
- Reports: Centre for Christian Studies – [pdf | 2 pages] – PDF
- Reports: Atlantic School of Theology – [pdf | 1 pages] – PDF
- Reports: United Church Studies Program, Montreal Diocesan Theological College – [pdf | pages] –
- Report: United Church Rural Ministry Network [pdf | 2 pages] – PDF
- Jubilands [pdf | pages] –
- Retirees – [pdf | pages ] –
- In Memoriam – [ pdf | pages ] –
Meeting Registration
Please register to attend this meeting if you are Ministry Personnel or an Elected Lay Representative. Elected Lay Representatives are elected by their community of faith or by the region. Not sure if you are an elected lay representative or have other registration questions? Contact us at swrc@united-church.ca.
Please note that the deadline to register and order meals is May 24, 2024. After that date you will still be able to register but there will be no meals available to purchase.
If you are unable to attend the meeting please submit your regrets below. Thank you and we look forward to seeing you soon!