Moderators letter to the United Methodist Church:
Message from The Executive of General Council, The United Church of Canada
To the Special Session of the General Conference The United Methodist Church Gathered in St. Louis, Feb. 23-26, 2019
Dear friends,
Like other Christian churches around the world, we watch in prayerful hope as the Special Session of the General Conference prepares to gather in St. Louis. The United Church of Canada—our country’s largest Protestant church with about 3,000 congregations—values its many-layered relationships with the United Methodist Church. Our churches are frequently partners in mission in diverse parts of the world, and we increasingly engage with United Methodists who have come to Canada from Philippines, Korea, Ghana, Zimbabwe, and many other places. Each connection reminds us of our historic roots in several streams of Methodism that continue to shape the church we are becoming today.
The United Church of Canada came into being in 1925 as the first union in the 20th century to cross historic denominational lines. While union discussions in Canada first began at the end of the 19th century, the Methodist Church in Canada, the Presbyterian Church in Canada (about one-third of Presbyterian churches in Canada stayed out of union), and the Congregational Union of Canada, along with a large number of Local Union Churches which had formed in anticipation of union, formally celebrated the formation of the new church on June 10, 1925 in Toronto. In 1968, at the time of the formation of the United Methodist Church, the Canadian Conference of the Evangelical United Brethren Church also joined the United Church.
The drive for unity is a significant part of our identity. Our motto—Ut Omnes Unum Sint (“That All May be One” in Latin)—is based on Jesus’ prayer in John 17:20-21: “I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”
We share with the United Methodist Church a Wesleyan emphasis on social holiness, justice, fairness, and inclusion. Those values were significant in the process leading up to the decision of The United Church of Canada in 1988 that sexual orientation was not a barrier to church membership, and that all members were eligible to be considered for ordination. In decades since then, we have continued to talk with other churches, with global partners and with newcomers to the church.
We understand from experience that such conversations are not easy, and celebrate the patience that United Methodists have shown one another. We acknowledge the pain felt by many in the face of misunderstanding and blaming. Our prayers for good outcomes are joined with yours. In a spirit of ecumenical solidarity, we will encourage the people and congregations of The United Church of Canada to pray for the United Methodist Church in the weeks and months ahead.
We recall words of John Wesley, in his Sermon 114, The Unity of the Divine Being: “It is in consequence of our knowing God loves us, that we love him, and love our neighbour as ourselves. Gratitude towards our Creator cannot but produce benevolence to our fellow creatures. The love of Christ constrains us, not only to be harmless, to do no ill to our neighbour, but to be useful, to be zealous of good works….”
We offer our loving prayers for all in the United Methodist Church in this time of discernment.
Richard Bott (The Right Reverend) Nora Sanders Moderator/Modérateur General Secretary, General Council
