November 21-23, 2012 Queen of the Apostles, Mississauga, ON
The Canadian Council of Churches Governing Board brings together representatives from Anglican, Evangelical, Free Church, Orthodox, Protestant and Catholic member churches to review and coordinate the work of its Committees and Commissions, appoint officers, obtain funds for its work, and determine external relations to other religious and secular organizations and movements.
The Canadian Council of Churches is the largest ecumenical body in Canada, now representing 24 churches of Anglican; Evangelical; Free Church; Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox; Protestant; and Catholic traditions. Together we represent 85% of the Christians in Canada. The Canadian Council of Churches was founded in 1944.
At this semi-annual meeting we:
- Voted to welcome a new member, the Apostolic Catholic Church to join The Canadian Council of Churches. After 6 months, if no objections are received, they will become the 25th member church.
- Discerned two proposed priority themes for the work of the Commission on Faith and Witness in the coming years: Theological Foundations of Religious Freedom and Creation, Stewardship Climate and Ecology.
- Suspended the work of the National Advisory Group on Emergency Planning (NAGEP) while maintaining their on-line presence.
- Agreed to proceed with the organization of a major Assembly event in 2014 and invite new Steering Members to lead the organization of the event.
- Accepted an Operational Statement with Project Ploughshares that documents and affirms the very close relationship between Project Ploughshares (www.ploughshares.ca) and The Canadian Council of Churches they are us and we are them.
- Were graced by the visit of Bishop Armash Nalbandian, Primate of the Syrian Armenian Orthodox Church of Damascus, Syria. His message was: “Please tell people in your churches and pray for Christian communities and people in Syria. Work to end outside military intervention in Syria.”
- Launched a new congregational learning resource on faith and genetics. The Biotechnology Reference Group members each facilitated a table workshop on faith, genetics, and human dignity.
- Celebrated our new Communications Officer, Erin Green, and a revitalized, strengthened, and focused Communications Office that drives the Facebook, Twitter, website, email, and print outreach of the CCC.
- Received a report from the Christian Interfaith Reference Group on their plans for the coming 3 years.
- Noted that the leadership of the Canadian interfaith conversation, both at a leadership and secretarial level, has been taken up by the Bahá’í Community of Canada.
- Adopted a budget for 2013 and celebrated the stable financial situation of the CCC.
- Received a briefing on the reminder letter received by the Mennonite publication from the Canada Revenue Agency concerning political activity and charitable status.
- Remembered the important contributions of Margaret O’Gara, a Canadian ecumenist of global status in the Catholic tradition who passed away this year.
- Prayed for one another’s church communities.
- Sent the Rev. Marta Benavides from El Salvador to the COP18 UN Conference on Climate Change in Doha, Qatar, beginning next week.
- Affirmed the 2012-15 program plan of the Commission on Justice and Peace which has as its top priorities climate, poverty in Canada, and indigenous rights.
The next meeting of the Governing Board is scheduled for May 22-24, 2013 in Ottawa. Visit us on Facebook.