As congregations are coming back to in-person worship and other activities, it is a good time to review your duty of care program.
The United Church of Canada is committed to providing a safe environment for worship, work, and study in all communities of faith. We have a legal, moral, and spiritual duty to care for and protect participants in our church programs. This is a legal principle called duty of care, and church groups have been, and will be, held legally responsible for ensuring reasonable measures are taken to ensure safety.
Our church is blessed with the gifts of many who offer leadership as volunteers, staff, and ministry personnel. These people have a special calling to offer their time and talents in congregations through Sunday schools, programs for children and youth, choirs, home visiting, and many other ministries of the church. A duty of care program helps ensure that everyone, including staff, volunteers, participants and the church as a whole, are safe and protected.
Shining Waters Regional Council, in partnership with our sister region Canadian Shield Regional Council, has begun a series of workshops exploring and discussing duty of care in our communities of faith.
Duty of Care Workshop – April 25, 2023
This workshop will provide a general overview of duty of care and how communities of faith can review their programs and assess risks. This event is designed to engage congregational staff (lay and clergy) and key lay leaders, including members of the church board/council, M&P committee and all committees/working groups with responsibility for worship, outreach, and spiritual growth/Christian education in the fundamentals of creating safer worshipping communities.
Resources
Ministry and Personnel Committee
Ministry and Personnel Committees: Policy, Procedures, Practices: https://united-church.ca/sites/default/files/ministry-personnel-committees_policy-procedures-practices.pdf
Resources for Ministry and Personnel Committees: https://united-church.ca/sites/default/files/resources-for-mandp-committees.pdf
Please see our Ministry and Personnel Committee page for more info.
Staff Support
JODY MALTBY
Regional Staff Lead and Communities of Faith Minister
Phone: 416-231-7680 | 1-800-268-3781
Extension: 6226
Direct Line: 249-489-2002
Email: jmaltby@united-church.ca
Serves in: Shining Waters Regional Council
Location: Teleworks and works from the Guthrie Main Office
Role: Jody coordinates the support to communities of faith, including coordinating the work of regional staff.
Contact Jody about: Conflict Resolution; Community Ministries; Congregational Finance; Covenants; Governance; Grants; Property Renovation or Sale; Transitions – amalgamations, collaboration, closures.
DIANE MATHESON-JIMENEZ
Community of Faith Support Minister
Phone: 416-231-7680 | 1-800-268-3781
Extension: 6453
Email: dmatheson@united-church.ca
Serves in: Canadian Shield Regional Council and Shining Waters Regional Council
Location: Teleworks from home
Role: Diane provides support for the region by encouraging and connecting communities of faith as they adapt and experiment in changing times.
Contact Diane about: Conflict Resolution, Community Ministries, Congregational Finance, Covenants, Grants, Property, and Transitions - amalgamations, collaboration, closures.
KATHLEEN JONES
Administrative Support
Phone: 416-231-7680 | 1-800-268-3781
Extension: 2059
Email: kijones@united-church.ca
Serves in: Shining Waters Regional Council and Canadian Shield Regional Council
Location: Teleworks from her home.
Role: Kathleen provides administrative support to Shining Waters and Canadian Shield Regional Councils.