The United Church of Canada (UCC) has a long history of being present in the world. What this means to us is that we are Called to advocate whenever there is an injustice perpetuated against God’s Creation and the Creator’s people. This understanding has been framed from various ways of talking about God: theology. Two primary lenses for talking about God are: social gospel and liberation theology.
The Social Gospel arose during the early twentieth century when it became clear that the economic systems were benefiting those who had at the expense of those who did not. From this recognition, the United Church of Canada came to understand that it was one human institution that could actively pursue change. This was grounded in an understanding that our Sacred Scriptures explicitly direct God’s people to address inequities to foster a better world for everyone!
One of the ways that the UCC has pursued making the world a better place has been by establishing the Mission & Service Fund. This fund is an opportunity where our collective abundance is pooled in order to be able to better respond to injustices & natural calamities wherever they may occur through assisting our Global Partners anywhere in the world.
UCiM itself has established a Small Group that is focused on gardening. This work allows us to recognise the need for sustainable farming techniques as well as to share the produce with those who cannot afford and do not have access to affordable produce. As well, UCiM has an ongoing relationship with West Broadway Community Ministry in Winnipeg. This relationship allows us to assist men and women who are unable to effectively care for themselves.
Some examples of the United Church of Canada’s active participation in recent social justice issues confronting all of us in the twenty-first century are:
- Climate Change: “The United Church of Canada, together with other churches in Canada and around the world, is deeply concerned about climate change. This issue has profound ethical and moral dimensions: climate change is being caused largely by the polluting emissions from richer, over-developed countries but the consequences will be suffered disproportionately by poorer developing nations, vulnerable ecosystems, and future generations;”
- Indian Residential Schools: “In the past 20 years, the United Church has begun a directed, prayerful, and concerted effort to become more informed and responsive to the harmful affects of the residential school policy;” and,
- Globalization & Empire: “’Globalization’ means economic, political, cultural, and social systems becoming interconnected and supporting each other. Many processes of globalization are at work, both positive and negative.
The United Church is particularly concerned with ways in which the world’s interconnected political and economic systems (including trade agreements) work to benefit the few at the expense of the many. This impoverishes the vast majority of humanity and the Earth itself. Often, these systems are kept in place by violence or by the threat of violence, including military force.”
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