The United Church of Canada/L'Église Unie du Canada3250 Bloor St. West, Suite 300
Toronto, ON M8X 2Y4 Canada
Toll-Free: 1-800-268-3781
Fax: 416-231-3103
Website: www.united-church.ca
The United Church of Canada/L'Église Unie du CanadaConsider responding to a request from a global partner of the United Church. The list of invitations for overseas personnel and volunteers does change periodically—continue to visit this page for up-to-date information. Also, please read Why the United Church Sends Personnel to Overseas Partners.
The United Church has three streams of Overseas Personnel postings:
Stream A positions are for an initial term of three years that may be renewable. These positions receive compensation similar to United Church clergy, including full benefits and pension. Travel, housing, and insurance are also provided.
Stream B positions are for terms of six months to two years. Individuals receive a basic living allowance, as well as travel, insurance, housing, and other support. Individuals may contribute to financial costs.
Short-term Stream C positions are usually six months or less. Individuals may contribute to their financial support. Travel, insurance, and accommodation are usually provided.
Volunteer opportunities are also offered by global partner organizations of the United Church. These opportunities are usually short-term (four to six weeks), and focus on learning and exposure as well as skill-sharing. All costs are the responsibility of volunteers.
Group visits to global partners are also possible.
Switzerland—The World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) seeks an Executive Secretary for Communications to coordinate all WARC's communications operations, including the website, newsletters, press releases, reports, occasional publications, and relationships with church and secular press. This person would also have a key responsibility for raising funds for WARC, and would link WARC with the Canadian community, especially The United Church of Canada, through regular correspondence. This is an Overseas Personnel Associate appointment for two years. The deadline for applications is October 15, 2008.
Palestine/Israel—The World Council of Churches' (WCC) Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI) seeks short-term human rights monitors (three months) to be Ecumenical Accompaniers in Jerusalem and communities in the occupied Palestinian territories. The EAPPI is a WCC initiative under the Ecumenical Campaign to End the Illegal Occupation of Palestine: Support a Just Peace in the Middle East. Its mission is to accompany churches in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories in their non-violent actions and concerted advocacy efforts to end the occupation and support a just peace in the Middle East. Participants in the program monitor and report violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, support acts of non-violent resistance alongside local Christian and Muslim Palestinians and Israeli peace activists, offer protection through non-violent presence, engage in public policy advocacy and, in general, stand in solidarity with the churches and all those struggling against the occupation. Experience in conflict resolution, mediation, and human rights work is an asset; good health and willingness to work in tough conditions is required.
Much more information on the EAPPI and regular updates from the Ecumenical Accompaniers are available at the EAPPI website
*. This is a Stream C appointment for a three-month term.
KOREA—The Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea (PROK) requests a program staff person from the United Church to be part of the staff team in their Overseas Ecumenical Relations Department. This staff person would be based in the PROK General Assembly Office in Seoul and work in a close, collaborative way with other members of the Overseas Ecumenical Relations Department. Responsibilities include coordination of English-language communications, assisting in the coordination of global partner visits to PROK, relating to other ecumenical co-workers assigned to PROK, and a variety of other program and administrative involvements. Good administrative experience and excellent English writing and editing skills are required, as well as willingness and ability to learn Korean.
For information on the history, mission, and current program and priorities of this long-time partner of the United Church, visit the PROK website*. This is a Stream A appointment for a three-year, renewable term that would begin in mid-2009.
Angola—The Evangelical Congregational Church of Angola (IECA) seeks educators with skills in English as a Second Language teaching, music, and computers to work with the church in Lobito in the Benguela region. This request would ideally be filled by a person or couple with complementary skills, experience in teaching and leadership development, a passion to live very simply, and a willingness and ability to learn Portuguese. This is a Stream B appointment for a two-year term.
China—The Amity Foundation invites English as a Second Language teachers for post-secondary institutions throughout both urban and rural China. Teaching experience is required. Amity's Teachers Program is a project through which people from around the world are recruited and sponsored by church agencies working in partnership with Amity and sent to China to teach English, Japanese, or German. A typical Amity placement is in a college that prepares future middle school teachers, usually in a small or medium-sized city. In these schools, Amity teachers most often teach oral skills courses and/or writing, although there is variation from school to school.
The Amity Teachers Program emphasizes Christian service, and encourages Christian participants to bear witness to their faith through their teaching work and through participation with Chinese churches, rather than through efforts to proselytize. Teachers interact with Chinese teachers, students, and the wider Chinese community while they live in China. Amity sees the primary contribution of the foreign teachers in China as arising from their teaching work. Candidates must have at least a BA degree. Training and experience in language teaching are highly recommended. Important attributes include patience, tolerance, flexibility, optimism, ability to get along well with others, a desire to serve, and willingness to live cheerfully at a simple living standard.
For more information, see the Amity Foundation* website. The positions are suitable for a single person or a couple if both teach. This is a Stream B appointment for a two-year term.
China—If you are a fluent English speaker interested in offering a month of service in China, think about volunteering with the Amity Foundation's Summer English Program. Participate in cross-cultural dialogue as an English-speaking volunteer working with rural middle school Chinese teachers of English to develop their listening and speaking skills. Chinese participants see foreign friends engaged in service that directly benefits their communities, while volunteers gain a deeper understanding of an important and growing nation that is often misunderstood and misrepresented in their own countries. Seemingly small seeds of friendship and communication are sown in these summer classrooms, but taken together they point the way to a greater harvest of development and understanding.
A college or university degree is required, previous teaching experience highly recommended, and overseas experience is an asset—as well as good health and willingness to work in tough conditions.
The program runs each summer for six weeks in July and August. Deadines for applications each year are April 11. This is a volunteer opportunity. For more information, see the Amity Foundation* website.
El Salvador—The Asociación de Desarrollo Económico Social (ADES) invites an individual to work in rural El Salvador in community development work, which could involve work with women's groups, in popular education and/or agricultural development. Required is a passion for simple, community-based living, a preference for collaborative teamwork, and facility in at least basic Spanish. This is a Stream B appointment, for a term of one to two years.
Zimbabwe—The United Church of Christ in Zimbabwe seeks a physician for its rural Chikore Hospital. Experience in rural, community, or public health would be a strong asset. This request would ideally be filled by a person or couple with complementary skills, experience in leadership development, and a commitment for simple, community-based living. This is a Stream B appointment. for a term of one to two years.
Ecuador—The Council of Latin American Churches invites an individual to assist the staff of the Communications Desk in their regional Quito office. The position requires a working knowledge of Spanish plus editorial skills in the production of publications, resources, and electronic communications. Visit the Council of Latin American Churches* website for more information. This is a Stream B appointment for a term of one to two years.
China—The Chinese Amity Foundation invites young people (ages 18–30) with good oral English skills, willing to teach Chinese students oral English, and interested in learning Chinese and exploring Chinese culture and society to take part in its Young Adult Program, which places university students and graduates in secondary and middle schools in China. The Amity Young Adult Program aims to build friendships and enhance cross-cultural understanding between young people in China and overseas. The program involves exposure to Chinese language, history, and culture as well as teaching responsibilities. Its specific aim is to promote cross-cultural competence for young people from overseas by giving them a chance to live and serve in China. It also promotes greater cross-cultural awareness in Chinese young people through interaction with their foreign guests.
Visit Amity's Young Adult* page for more information. This is a volunteer opportunity for a six-month term, and begins in late July.
Philippines—Young adults are invited to participate in the learning and exposure programs of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines and National Council of Churches in the Philippines. The programs will consist of exposure and immersion in communities to get a good understanding of the context, issues, and local struggles; and placement with partner organizations or communities to provide an opportunity for interns to contribute to their varied areas of work including human rights, Indigenous peoples, development, environment, and ecumenical work. Applicants must be willing and able to live very simply and travel extensively.
Visit the National Council of Churches in the Philippines* website to learn more about their work. This is a Stream B appointment for a period of one year, beginning in mid-August 2008.
The United Church is in relationship with a number of global ecumenical partners that regularly offer exposure, learning and service opportunities for young adults. These include:
***, based in Geneva, which offers a variety of international internships for young adultsFor more information about any of these overseas opportunities:
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Supported by donations to the Mission and Service Fund.
© 2008 The United Church of Canada/L’Église Unie du Canada. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives (by-nc-nd) Licence. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.5/ca. Any copy must include this notice.