Origin from 1925
The United Church of Canada was formed in 1925 by the union of the Methodist Church, Canada, the Congregational Union of Canada, most of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, and the Union Churches of Western Canada, and remains the largest Protestant denomination in Canada. It has pursued full inclusion of LGBTQIA+ people over several decades, from 1988's decision to make ordained ministry open regardless of sexual orientation to 2005's endorsement of same-sex marriage's legalization.
Facts
Belief
Position on MarriageMarriage is held to be monogamous, with remarriage after divorce sanctioned under specified conditions 3 Sourced to the subject's own accountThe Church's own current teaching welcomes the remarriage of previously divorced people on the same terms as any other marriage, alongside interfaith couples and, since 2005, same-sex couples. Individual congregations retain the freedom to set their own local marriage policies. Marriage Position DetailSourced to the subject's own accountThe Church's own live teaching page states "the United Church celebrates the marriage of same-sex couples" alongside previously divorced people and interfaith couples, and that "congregations of the United Church are free to make their own marriage policies," so that "while General Council welcomes same-sex marriage, same-sex marriage is not offered in every United Church." 3 Position on SexualitySame-sex marriage is performed and LGBT clergy are ordained on equal terms with heterosexual clergy 4 Sourced to the subject's own accountGeneral Council 32 declared in 1988 that all people are welcome as full members and eligible for ordained ministry regardless of sexual orientation. The church affirmed same-sex partnerships as a gift from God in 2000, published a congregational guide recognizing them in church documentation and services of blessing in 2003, and in 2005 formally endorsed the legalization of same-sex marriage in its own statement, "Marriage, A United Church of Canada Understanding." The Church's own record shows no marriage-specific action in 1992, only Tim Stevenson's ordination and general human rights advocacy; the marriage arc itself runs 2000, 2003 and 2005. Sexuality Position DetailSourced to the subject's own account1988: General Council 32 declares all people, regardless of sexual orientation, welcome as full members and eligible for ordered ministry. 2000: the church affirms that all sexual orientations are a gift from God and renounces its own 1960 statement that homosexuality is a sin, adopting a policy to work toward civil recognition of same-sex partnerships. 2003: "Of Love and Justice: Toward the Civil Recognition of Same-Sex Marriage" is published, recognizing lesbian and gay partnerships in church documentation and services of blessing, and the church calls on the federal government to recognize same-sex marriage in the Civil Marriages Act. 2005: the church endorses the legalization of same-sex marriage in its own statement, "Marriage, A United Church of Canada Understanding." 4 Organisation
GovernancePresbyterian: governed by elders in graded courts 2 OrdinationSourced to the subject's own account Trajectory
Membership Over TimeBy 2021 the church's own rolls had fallen to about 350,000 members. 2 Membership Over TimeCanada's 2021 census recorded about 1.2 million people identifying as United Church of Canada, more than three times the church's own 2021 membership roll of about 350,000, since the census counts self-identification rather than active membership. 2 Membership Over TimeThe United Church of Canada's own membership rolls counted about 480,000 members in 2011. 2 Membership Figure As Of Membership Figure As Of Basis of the Membership Figure Basis of the Membership Figure Origins
Origin PeriodSourced to the subject's own account Place of OriginSourced to the subject's own accountToronto, Ontario, Canada, where the union was inaugurated with a service at the Mutual Street Arena. 1 FounderSourced to the subject's own accountNo single founder. Formed by the 10 June 1925 union of the Methodist Church (Canada), the Congregational Union of Canada, about two thirds of the Presbyterian Church in Canada and the Association of Local Union Churches, under an Act of Parliament passed the year before; George C. Pidgeon, a pro-union Presbyterian moderator, became the united church's first Moderator. 1 History
Separation or DivergenceFormed in 1925 by the union of the Methodist Church, Canada, the Congregational Union of Canada, most of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, and the Union Churches of Western Canada, a founding merger rather than a split from a single parent body. 2 Practice
Liturgical Language In Other Languages (10 names)
- Iglesia Unida de Canadá
- کلیسای یونایتد کانادا
- Église unie du Canada
- Chiesa unita del Canada
- カナダ合同教会
- 캐나다연합교회
- Zjednoczony Kościół Kanady
- Igreja Unida do Canadá
- Объединённая церковь Канады
- 加拿大联合教会
Cross-Tradition Connections
Associated With
This source names United Church of Canada directly: "The United Church of Canada's own 2019 published timeline records."
This source names United Church of Canada directly: "and the magazine's continuing focus on United Church of Canada news and perspectives alongside a broader mandate."
This source names United Church of Canada directly: "Wikipedia's article on the United Church of Canada, read directly for this pass, which states the church was formed on 10 June 1925 by the union of the Methodist Church (Canada), the Congregational..."
Objects and Practices of This Tradition
Grew directly out of the 1925 union and served as the denomination's own central publication under two successive names for nearly eighty years; stance associated rather than holds because the magazine has been editorially independent under its own board since 1986 and today names a mandate broader than the church's own voice, while still carrying an ongoing covenant and partial funding relationship with it.
Sources
Reader Challenges (0 open reader challenges)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.
View At A Past Year
Choose a year to see this entry's facts and connections as the atlas records them at that moment: what it held then, what it held instead, and what it had not yet adopted. Choose Present for the current record.