United Church predicts future growth
WOLFVILLE, NS-It has been 15 years since a bitterly contested landmark decision by the United Church of Canada (UCC) removed any obstacles to the ordination of openly gay ministers. At the time some traditionalists left the church, and others who remained predicted its swift decline.
But in August 2003, as almost 400 commissioners gathered in Wolfville, Nova Scotia for the 38th General Council of what is still Canada's largest Protestant denomination, there were signs that the church is moving out of a period of retrenchment.
Although the hot-button issue of same-sex marriage was on the agenda, the council drew little media attention, unlike recent years. Its support for the federal government's move to redefine marriage is already well-documented, with no change expected on the UCC position.
But perhaps more important than the absence of controversy at General Council was the move toward new leadership rooted strongly in congregational ministry.
While figures from the 2001 census confirm the number of active United Church members remains in decline, the number of Canadians who identify with it remains a source of inspiration for those in the church who want to build new churches and expand existing ones.
Peter Short, minister at Wilmot United Church in Fredericton, New Brunswick, has been a minister for 25 years and was elected as the new moderator of the UCC.
Congregational care
"I care about congregational life-that's what I've done all my life," Short, 55, said after his election. "I'm a spiritual leader and that's what I do. That's who I am and I have no particular program to offer."
Short is regarded as moderate in the church. He was one of five candidates for moderator, defeating Brian Thorpe, an openly gay candidate who was a senior adviser to the church on native residential schools issues, on the fourth ballot.
Also elected was Jim Sinclair, 62, as the General Secretary of the General Council, the church's senior administrative position. Sinclair , who has spent most of his ministry in congregations, has been acting general secretary.
The confirmation of his election prompted a spontaneous, long and jubilant standing ovation.
Alan Hall, search committee chair, said Sinclair "has demonstrated an ability to lead the senior leadership team in its role of caring for the whole United Church of Canada, praying for and exploring theologically God's will and direction for the church."
Sinclair's election follows a period of sometimes bitter internal struggle in the church's national office, significant restructuring and downsizing the past few years.
Orville James, minister of Wellington Square United in Burlington, Ontario, says these are some good signs of change after a period in the church's life that has been both "tumultuous and chaotic."
At his Burlington church, membership is growing and there are now two services instead of one, with the early Sunday service devoted to seeker style contemporary worship.
James says there seems to be a new receptivity and curiosity in the church about evangelism and church growth that just wasn't there about a decade ago. "People are really looking at contemporary worship and reaching the unchurched."
But his optimism isn't universally shared. David Shearman, minister at Central-Westside Church in Owen Sound, Ontario wrote in a recent issue of a Church Development newsletter published by the Toronto United Church Council: "If I hear the words 'the United Church is dying' once more from any of my peers and colleagues, I think I'm going to scream."
Shearman goes on to point out that the United Church is only reaching a small percentage of people who identify with it, according to census data. For instance, in Barrie, Ontario, 17,250 people claim to have some affiliation with the United Church. But there are only 2,900 members in five Barrie UCC congregations.
"We are afraid," says Shearman of the problem. "We don't think we should be building churches to meet the needs of people in growing communities because we're dying as a church. That's wrong! ...There are congregations to be started and churches to be built. Let's get on with it!"
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