Remit to Remove Structural Barriers to Developing and Sustaining an Autonomous Indigenous Church
Quick links to sections of this page
Town Hall Info Session | Registration | GC 44 Background Info | Educational Video Resource | Other Resources | Staff Support
Town Hall Info Session
Join us on Tuesday, September 19 starting at 6 p.m. for our town hall information session, when we will gather on Zoom with our friends from Canadian Shield Regional Council to review and discuss the remit to remove structural barriers to developing and sustaining an autonomous Indigenous Church. Special guest the Rev. Michael Blair, General Secretary, will be with us to join in the discussion.
This information session is open to all those interested in learning more about the remit vote, both for your own community of faith’s vote or our regional response. Please register below to attend.
Regional Meeting to Vote on Remit
Following the information session, Shining Waters regional members will stay online and vote on our regional response to the remit. We anticipate ending by 8 p.m.
This is a Category 3 Remit, and so requires a vote by every regional council and each pastoral charge’s governing body. If a regional council or a pastoral charge does not register a vote, that is considered a vote against the proposal.
There is one question to be voted on, as follows:
Does the regional council agree to amend the Basis of Union to reflect:
- That The United Church of Canada will be organized as follows (1) a three-council structure, consisting of communities of faith, regional councils and a Denominational Council*; and (2) an autonomous National Indigenous Organization; and
- That once the new autonomous National Indigenous Organization is established within The United Church of Canada, it will have its own mechanisms to make any future changes to its structure and processes, and, therefore will not be subject to the remit process under section 7.4.1 of the Basis of Union**; and
- The changes required for the establishment of the autonomous National Indigenous Organization.
Once the regional vote has been completed we will submit the regional response form to the General Council Office.
PLEASE NOTE: Registration deadline for this event was Tuesday, September 19, 2023 at 4 p.m. and is now closed.
A recording of this meeting will be available after for those who are unable to attend. We appreciate your interest and hope you can join us next time.
If you have already registered, a zoom link has already be forwarded to you. We will also be resending this link to you today by 5 p.m. to the email address you registered with. We look forward to seeing you soon.
General Council 44 Background Information
The 44th General Council met virtually between February 2022 and August 2022.
At that meeting, the General Council approved an amendment to the Basis of Union in The Manual of The United Church of Canada to establish an autonomous National Indigenous Organization. It also authorized a Category 3 Remit to test the will of the church with respect to this change.
For background information about this remit, a study guide, response forms and more, please see the General Council 44 website. Questions can be e-mailed to remits@united-church.ca.
To read the proposals click the links below:
Responding to Questions
Since launching the Category 3 remit about removing structural barriers to developing and sustaining an autonomous Indigenous Church in March 2023, the General Council Office has received a number of questions about the remit process, as well as about the remit itself.
Some of these questions have asked: What is this remit about? Where did this remit come from? Why is a remit process needed? What is the voting process? What will the new Indigenous Church look like? How will it be funded? How will this Indigenous organization be in relationship with the regional councils and wider United Church?
In this video, Adele Halliday, Anti-Racism and Equity Lead, and Sara Stratton, Reconciliation and Indigenous Justice Animator, of the General Council Office respond to these questions and others that have been raised about the current Category 3 Remit on establishing an autonomous National Indigenous Organization within The United Church of Canada.
Educational Video Resource
Remit Preparation – The United Church of Canada and its Relationship with Indigenous Members
Presentation by Rev Dr Teresa Burnett Cole regarding Remit NIC-01 Establishing an Autonomous National Indigenous Church. For more details on the remit, including a study guide and response forms, please see https://generalcouncil44.ca/council/remit-1-establishing-autonomous-national-indigenous-organization
Other Resources
THE DOCTRINE OF DISCOVERY
- The United Church Repudiation of the Doctrine of Discovery
Backgrounder and 2012 Motion to Repudiate the Doctrine of Discovery (united-church.ca)
- Doctrine of Discovery: Canadian Museum for Human Rights article
The Doctrine of Discovery | CMHR (humanrights.ca)
THE UN DECLARATION ON THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
- The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
https://united-church.ca/social-action/justice-initiatives/reconciliation-and-indigenous-justice/un-declaration-rights
- UN Declaration and Canada
https://justice.gc.ca/eng/declaration/index.html
THE CALLS TO ACTION (TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION)
- Truth and Reconciliation Commission (including the Calls to Action)
https://united-church.ca/social-action/justice-initiatives/reconciliation-and-indigenous-justice/truth-and-reconciliation
THE CALLS TO THE CHURCH (CARETAKERS OF OUR INDIGENOUS CIRCLE, UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA)
- The Calls to the Church
https://united-church.ca/community-and-faith/being-community/indigenous-ministries/calls-church
THE UNITED CHURCH APOLOGIES
United Church Apologies to Indigenous Peoples
THE ROYAL COMMISSION ON ABORIGINAL PEOPLES (RCAP)
The Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples (RCAP) Final Report is a huge document. If you wish to take a glance, here is the link: https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/aboriginal-heritage/royal-commission-aboriginal-peoples/Pages/final-report.aspx
Nov 21, 2021 was the 25th anniversary of the final report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples (RCAP)
https://www.cbc.ca/radio/royal-commission-aboriginal-peoples-25-1.6243545
Staff Support
PETER HARTMANS
Executive Minister
Phone: 416-231-7680 | 1-800-268-3781
Extension: 6117
Email: phartmans@united-church.ca
Currently on leave, please contact Jody Maltby, Acting Executive Minister
Serves in: Shining Waters Regional Council and Canadian Shield Regional Council
Location: Teleworks and spends time in each region.
Role: Peter provides leadership, counsel, and support for the governance and administration in the Regional Councils.
Contact Peter about: Budget and Policy; Media and Public Statements; Regional Joys and Concerns; Workplace Discrimination, Harassment, and Violence.
KIM UYEDE-KAI
Communities of Faith Support, Intercultural Diversity, Anti-Racism and Right Relations Minister
Phone: 416-231-7680 | 1-800-268-3781
Extension: 6173
Email: KUyedeKai@united-church.ca
Serves in: Shining Waters Regional Council
Location: Teleworks from her home in Toronto
Role: Kim encourages and connects communities of faith in their work and supports indigenous ministries in their relationship with the region and promotes and supports racial justice.
Contact Kim about: Anti-Racism; Conflict Resolution; Covenants; Governance; Intercultural Ministry; Right Relations; Vision and Mission
SUSAN WHITEHEAD
Executive Assistant and Administrative Support
Phone: 416-231-7680 | 1-800-268-3781
Extension: 6134
Email: swhitehead@united-church.ca
Serves in: Canadian Shield Regional Council and Shining Waters Regional Council
Location: Works from the North Bay Main Office.
Role: Susan is the Executive Assistant to Peter Hartmans and gives administrative support for the Canadian Shield and Shining Waters Regional Councils.