Yesterday, August 9th, was the first day of the triennial meeting of the United Church of Canada's General Council. This is our national meeting, so four hundred commissioners from across the country have gathered in Kelowna, British Columbia. They are be joined by children and youth who will participate in concurrent events. There are also representatives from other denominations both in Canada and abroad. Our Saskatchewan reader, Deb, is there as a delegate while her husband Jeff will be a leader at the children's event. Their boys will participate as well.
General Council tends to be hectic, tedious, stimulating, all rolled into one. Big issues are presented, discussed, debated. My one trip to Council was in the early 1990's in Fredericton. Our most significant discussion that year was around same-gender unions, long before same-gender marriage became the law of the land. This year General Council has already been in the news because of a scheduled debate of a proposal about Israel's treatment of the Palestinians.
This time around much of the soul-searching will address the future shape of our denomination. One topic will be what is called transfer and settlement, the process by which newly ordained and commissioned ministers are sent to pastoral charges for their first call. The long-established system just doesn't work well any more.
The theme of General Council is Down to the Potter's House, a reference from Jeremiah 18 and an acknowledgement that God is in the process of reshaping our United Church. We figure we should have a bumper sticker on our car saying "We Brake For Potters" because we love stopping in at potter's studios. The best visits are the ones where we can see them shaping their work in inventive and creative ways. I really like this image for God.
Check out the General Council website http://gc40.united-church.ca/en
Yes, I am at General Council, and, David, you described it pretty well. "hectic, tedious, stimulating..."
ReplyDeleteI would say the most powerful part for me so far was hearing stories from Aboriginal people about their experience with residential schools. We also talked about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the new Aboriginal Ministries Unit. It was all in one afternoon, and I was emotionally exhausted by the end of it. I went to bed early, had a good sleep, and I felt much better today. It wasn't the first time I had heard such stories, but they seem to be just as powerful every time I hear them.
I have hardly seen the kids so I assume they are having a great time. I look forward to hearing of their experiences on our drive back (if they don't sleep the whole way home!).