Congratulations on the United Church of Canada’s 100th anniversary

This letter in PDF format

Dear siblings in Christ,

The season of Pentecost is always a fresh opportunity to call to mind and give thanks for the movement and inspiration of the Spirit of God, which is at the source of the community of faith we call the Body of Christ, the Church. In the context of the Church in these lands we call Canada, this Pentecost is special as an occasion to celebrate the 100^th anniversary of the formation of the United Church of Canada (UCC).

From the very beginning in 1925, as the organic union of the Methodist Church, Canada, the Congregational Union of Ontario and Quebec, two-thirds of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, and the Association of Local Union Churches, together with the Evangelical United Brethren Church some years later, the United Church of Canada has been an icon of the Good News that disciples in the way of Jesus can learn to live and share together in unity alongside of diversity. This ecumenical foundation has since been a source of profound inspiration to United Church leaders and faithful over the decades to continue to “draw the circle wide” and “draw it wider still” — to quote from a beloved hymn which our two traditions share.

The UCC has long been a leader among the Christian churches in Canada in many different social and ecological justice concerns, in the work of anti-racism, the rights of women, 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion, interfaith dialogue and partnership, and the list could go on. Anglicans have certainly been blessed by and have learned from many aspects of this deep, bold, and daring witness, and we are honoured to walk together with our United Church siblings in serving and responding to these and other challenges and needs of our time.

While there is much for Anglicans to celebrate in our common life with the United Church, we must not fail to recognize that there is also an inheritance of hurt and harm which we likewise share. The Anglican and United churches were both complicit in supporting and providing justification for the colonial project across this land, and, often in the name of their faith, members and leaders of both communities helped to initiate and perpetuate systemic abuses of Indigenous peoples, communities, cultures, languages, spiritual traditions, and more. Our faith communities therefore also carry a special joint responsibility to make sure that the truth is told about these injustices, that we repent of and work to repair the damage that has been done through generations, and that we strive to learn from Indigenous siblings today what it means to truly live together with respect and in right relations on this land now.

Over the years, the Anglican and United churches in Canada have been involved in active ecumenical dialogues intended to help us grow in understanding of the historical and theological divisions that have to this point prevented us from recognizing our full visible communion as fellow followers of Jesus Christ. There have been high points and low points in that effort through the decades. While there are still several areas for us to continue to work on in this regard, it is fair to say considerable progress and significant rapprochement has been made. Thanks be to God, today there is tremendous potential for us to speak and act in ministry and witness at local, regional, and national levels, not as competitors or rivals, but as companions on the journey.

As Acting Primate, and on behalf of my fellow Anglicans from coast to coast to coast, I offer my warm congratulations on the occasion of this 100^th anniversary of the United Church of Canada. May God continue to partner with you in witnessing and sharing to the Gospel’s enduring power to transform, heal, and draw all things together in the fullness of time.

Come, Holy Spirit,

The Most Rev. Anne Germond
Acting Primate, Anglican Church of Canada