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Ecumenical Shared Ministries Handbook

First developed collaboratively in 2009 and updated in 2019, the Ecumenical Shared Ministries Handbook supports Anglican, Lutheran, Presbyterian and United Church communities exploring shared ministry at the congregational level. These ministries arise where local circumstances call churches to work together, offering a practical way to strengthen witness, steward resources and serve their communities in partnership.

The handbook outlines key models of ecumenical shared ministry in Canada and provides guidance on governance, agreements, worship life, property considerations and the responsibilities of each partner denomination. It also includes real-life examples, sample covenants and practical questions to help local leaders discern whether a shared ministry is the right fit for their context.

Suggested uses

  • Discernment within parishes or congregations considering an ecumenical shared ministry arrangement
  • Orientation for clergy, wardens, councils and committees in existing shared ministries
  • Support for diocesan and synodical leaders guiding communities through restructuring or local mission planning

Key themes

  • Ecumenical collaboration in worship, mission and congregational life
  • Governance models and shared leadership across denominations
  • Practical frameworks for agreements, property and finance
  • Local mission, rural ministry and community-based partnerships

Best suited for: parishes and congregations exploring ecumenical partnership, diocesan and synodical leaders involved in local ministry planning, clergy and lay leaders serving in shared ministry contexts and anyone interested in models of ecumenical collaboration in Canada.

Cover of the Ecumenical Shared Ministries Handbook, featuring a group of diverse hands joined together in the centre over a maroon background with the title text below.

Acknowledging the land and God’s creation

This acknowledgement is crafted in light of the Principles of Reconciliation by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, as we seek to live faithfully in Christ and in right relationship with all. 

We give thanks to the Creator for this land, its waters, forests and all living beings, and for the abiding presence of Christ among us. From coast to coast to coast, these have been cared for and nurtured by First Nations, Inuit and Métis through countless generations. 

We honour the enduring relationship Indigenous Peoples have cultivated with these lands and waters, and the treaties and agreements that reflect these sacred bonds. We acknowledge the harms caused by colonial expansion, through frameworks like the Doctrine of Discovery and structures like the residential school system. We recognize our past failures as a Church, including disruption of connections to the land and suppression of Indigenous spiritualities. 

Guided by the gospel of Jesus Christ, we confess our need for healing. We commit ourselves to seeking truth, pursuing reconciliation and nurturing harmony with all creation. We place our trust in Christ, through whom all things are reconciled to God. 

May God strengthen us to live faithfully as stewards of the Earth. Let us walk in love, justice and reconciliation, joining in God’s work to restore all creation.