The United Church & the Indigenous Church

Rev. Elenor Thompson expresses her joy at hearing that proposals to support the creation of a self-determining Indigenous United Church have passed. (Screenshot: The United Church of Canada/YouTube)

Hello, over here!...take a look over here!...

Pope Francis was in Canada last week to apologize on behalf of the Roman Catholic church to Indigenous peoples for more than a century of abuse through the Residential School system. Well, it was sort of an apology on behalf of the church. Many Residential School survivors were less than satisfied by the wording.

During the same period Pope Francis was in Canada two important decisions were made by the United Church, the country's largest Protestant denomination. First of all, we elected the Reverend Dr. Carmen Lansdowne as the first Indigenous woman Moderator for the United Church or any other denomination in Canada. 

A few days later the decision was made to create a self-determining Indigenous church. For decades Indigenous congregations were part of the various Conferences across the country. Then the All-Native Circle Conference was created with Indigenous congregations from across Canada, although some chose to stay within other Conferences.I took part in national committees with representatives from All-Native Circle and it was a shifting perspective in respecting Indigenous participation and autonomy. When the United Church restructured its governance model the National Indigenous Council was created. 

This is an important next step. Here is the press release from Broadview magazine: 

United Church votes to support creation of a self-determining Indigenous church

The co-chair of the denomination's National Indigenous Council says it marks a watershed moment 

by Julie McGonegal July 26, 2022

The United Church of Canada has made the historic decision to support the creation of a self-determining Indigenous church within the denomination. During a virtual session on July 24, General Council commissioners approved a proposal that the Indigenous church says will help chart a new way forward based on partnership rather than “missions to the Indians.”

The proposal, brought forward by the National Indigenous Council directs the general secretary to “remove structural barriers toward developing and sustaining an autonomous Indigenous church” within the wider church. It also supports continuing a dialogue on right relations and reparations with the National Indigenous Council.

Members of the Indigenous church responded enthusiastically to the news of the decision. Rev. John Thompson, co-chair of the National Indigenous Council, says that it marks a watershed moment for Indigenous people in the church — and for the wider United Church. Indigenous people have not had an equal nation-to-nation relationship with the United Church, he says. “Coming out from under that to a new day of self-determination is exciting and life-giving.” 

According to the National Indigenous Council, moving forward on this proposal means that the United Church will be keeping its commitment to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which it adopted in 2016.

                                               Indigenous Ministries logo United Church of Canada