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Overview

Historical Timeline

The United Church was inaugurated on June 10, 1925 in Toronto, Ontario, when the Methodist Church, Canada, the Congregational Union of Canada, and 70 percent of The Presbyterian Church in Canada entered into an organic union.

1800s

Date Event
1829 Methodist Book and Publishing House is founded in Toronto.
1874 Quebec Diocese of the Church of England appoints a committee to promote church union.
1875 Union of four sections of Presbyterianism into The Presbyterian Church in Canada.
1884 Union of four sections of Methodism into The Methodist Church (Canada).
1885 A proposal for discussion on church union in Canada originates from the Church of England (Anglican), with a conference on the subject held in 1886.

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1900-14

Date Event
1902 Formal union discussions begin among Congregational, Methodist, and Presbyterian churches.
1904-08 Representatives of uniting churches work on Basis of Union.
1906 Several Congregational Churches form the Congregational Union of Canada.
1912 Joint theological education begins among Anglicans, Presbyterians, Methodists, and Congregationalists in Montreal.
1914 World War I begins and church union efforts subside.

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1921-29

Date Event
1921 Canadian School of Missions begins (later the Ecumenical Forum) with the purpose to train people for overseas missions (Anglican, Methodist, Presbyterian, and later, Baptist).
1925 On June 10, in the Mutual St. Arena in Toronto, The United Church of Canada is formed by a union of Presbyterian, Methodist, Congregational, and the General Council of the Local Union Churches.
1925-26 1st General Council, Toronto, Ontario, Moderator: The Right Rev. George C. Pidgeon.
1926-28 2nd General Council, Montreal, Quebec, Moderator: The Right Rev. James Endicott.
1925-29 Congregations, colleges, and offices of the uniting churches merge.
1928-30 3rd General Council, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Moderator: The Right Rev. William T. Gunn.
1929 The Depression begins.

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1930s

Date Event
1930s Youth work develops with many different programs: Canadian Girls in Training, which had begun in 1915; Trail Rangers for boys 12 to 14; Tuxis Boys for 15 and up; and Older Boys Parliament.
1930-32 4th General Council, London, Ontario, Moderator: The Right Rev. Edmund H. Oliver.
1930 Union with the Synod of The Wesleyan Methodist Church of Bermuda made it a presbytery of Maritime Conference.
1932-34 5th General Council, Hamilton, Ontario, Moderator: The Right Rev. T. Albert Moore.
1934 Fellowship for a Christian Social Order (FCSO) is founded in Kingston, Ontario, as a "an association of Christians whose religious convictions led them to the belief that the capitalist economic system is fundamentally at variance with Christian principles; and who regard the creation of a new social order to be essential to the realization of the Kingdom of God."
1935 "On this its Tenth Anniversary, The United Church of Canada reaffirms before the world its faith in the ideals and principles which brought it into being. In the light of ten years' experience it has found these ideals to be eminently practicable in their out-working, and in the quest of them its members have found an enriched and deepened fellowship, human and divine. In a renewed conviction of the worth of inclusive Christian fellowship, The United Church of Canada enters its second decade, prepared, as the opportunity may offer and as God may direct, to seek with other Christian communions further development of its ideals, whether by increased co-operation, organic union, or otherwise, and so fulfill its purpose of being not merely a united, but a uniting church."
1934-36 6th General Council, Kingston, Ontario, Moderator: The Right Rev. Richard Roberts.
1936-38 7th General Council, Ottawa, Ontario, Moderator: The Right Rev. Peter Bryce.
1936
  • The publication of R.B.Y. Scott and Gregory Vlastos, eds., Towards the Christian Revolution.
  • Ordination of the first woman minister in the United Church, the Rev. Lydia Gruchy.
  • Baptists adopt United Church Hymnary with some revisions.
  • Conversations take place among United, Anglican, and Presbyterian churches about a "recovery of fellowship."
1937 Baptists appoint a representative to United Church Publishing House to consult on Christian education materials.
1938-40
  • 8th General Council, Toronto, Ontario, Moderator: The Right Rev. John W. Woodside.
  • General Council affirms rights of conscience in war.
1939
  • World War II begins.
  • United Church engages in chaplaincy effort.
  • 65 United Church clergy sign a Witness Against War outlining their pacifist views.

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1940s

Date Event
1940-42 9th General Council, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Moderator: The Right Rev. Aubrey S. Tuttle.
1940
  • A Statement of Faith is published. By 1950, 75,000 copies are sold.
  • Church retires Depression debt with war loan. "A loan to your country and a gift to your church."
1942-44 10th General Council, Belleville, Ontario, Moderator: The Right Rev. John R.P. Sclater.
1942 United Church resists pressure to support conscription.
1943 Anglicans in Canada mark their jubilee by inviting other denominations to union conversations. The United Church responds with willingness.
1944-46
  • 11th General Council, London, Ontario, Moderator: The Right Rev. Jesse H. Arnup.
  • A commission is appointed on the Christian Marriage and Christian Home.
1944
  • The Catechism is published.
  • United Church Publishing House renews agreement with Toronto Allied Printing Trades Council, allowing all eligible staff to become members of their respective unions.
  • The Canadian Council of Churches is formed with the United Church a member.
1946-48 12th General Council, Montreal, Quebec, Moderator: The Right Rev. Thomas W. Jones. A commission is appointed on Canadian Culture.
1946 A joint proposal from United and Anglican churches on mutual ministry is issued.
1948-50 13th General Council, Vancouver, British Columbia, Moderator: The Right Rev. Willard E. Brewing.
1948
  • World Council of Churches is formed with the United Church a member.
  • Church residential schools begin to close.

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1950s

Date Event
1950-52 14th General Council, Toronto, Ontario, Moderator: The Right Rev. Clarence M. Nicholson.
1950 Reaffirmation of the 10th Anniversary Declaration on the 25th anniversary of church union.
1952-54
  • 15th General Council, Hamilton, Ontario, Moderator: The Right Rev. Alexander A. Scott.
  • General Council supports medicare and makes a de facto recognition of People's Republic of China.
  • The decision is made to begin a New Curriculum.
  • The Central Archives of the United Church are formally established, housed at Victoria University, Toronto.
1954-56 16th General Council, Sackville, New Brunswick, Moderator: The Right Rev. George Dorey.
1955-65 Development of New Curriculum by the board of Christian Education (David Forsyth, Alvin Cooper, Frank Fidler) and the Board of Publication (Peter Gordon White, Wilbur K. Howard).
1956-58 17th General Council, Windsor, Ontario, Moderator: The Right Rev. James S. Thomson.
1958-60
  • 18th General Council, Ottawa, Ontario, Moderator: The Right Rev. Angus J. MacQueen.
  • United Church queries the Anglican Church on its wish to continue or withdraw its 1943 invitation; decision to continue.
1959 General Council Executive approves the New Curriculum theological and educational presuppositions in November.

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1960s

Date Event
1960-62
  • 19th General Council, Edmonton, Alberta, Moderator: The Right Rev. Hugh A. McLeod.
  • Council approves policy that abstinence from alcohol is the "wisest and safest course," but moderate usage is acknowledged. Total abstinence is not a condition of membership.
  • The Rev. Arthur Packman works as padre of the pubs in Toronto. The Rev. Gordon Winch follows.
  • Growth in Understanding, a joint Anglican-United study guide on union, is published.
1962-64
  • 20th General Council, London, Ontario, Moderator: The Right Rev. James R. Mutchmor.
  • The New Curriculum publication program begins with Donald Mathers' book for adults, The Word and the Way, becoming a bestseller.
1962 Woman's Association and Woman's Missionary Society join to form United Church Women.
1964 A plan of union is proposed jointly by London Conference and the Anglican Diocese of Huron.
1964-66
  • 21st General Council, St. John's, Newfoundland, Moderator: The Right Rev. Ernest M. Howse.
  • Commission on Ministry in the 20th Century appointed in response to growing frustration from congregations, presbyteries, and ministers about the role of ministry.
1965
  • Principles of Union between the United Church and the Anglican Church are published.
  • Pierre Berton's book The Comfortable Pew is published at the request of the Anglican Church of Canada.
  • Why The Sea Is Boiling Hot, a United Church symposium in response to Berton's book, is published.
1966-68 22nd General Council, Waterloo, Ontario, Moderator: The Right Rev. Wilfred C. Lockhart.
1966
  • General Council approves Plan of Union with the Canada Conference of The Evangelical United Brethren Church to be effective in 1968.
  • The United Church Renewal Fellowship is founded.
  • For the first time since union, United Church membership drops: a loss of 2,027 members is recorded this year.
1968 The Rev. Ray Hord, secretary of Evangelism and Social Service, offers emergency aid to American Vietnam draft dodgers; General Council Executive disassociates itself from the decision but within two years it becomes church policy.
1968-71 23rd General Council, Kingston, Ontario, Moderator: Dr. Robert B. McClure.
1968 January 1: Union with the Evangelical United Brethren is formalized.
1969 The Service Book is published.

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1970s

Date Event
1971-72 24th General Council. Niagara Falls, Ontario, Moderator: Right Reverend Arthur B.B. Moore.
1971
  • Plan of Union approved by joint commission (Anglican, United, Disciples of Christ).
  • The Hymn Book is jointly published by the United Church and the Anglican Church.
1972-74 25th General Council, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Moderator: The Right Rev. N. Bruce McLeod.
1974-77
  • 26th General Council, Guelph, Ontario, Moderator: The Right Rev. Wilbur K. Howard.
  • Task Force on Ministry concludes that there is one ministry, "the ministry of God himself, into which ministry he calls his whole church (the laity)."
1975
  • Taskforce on the Churches and Corporate Responsibility is founded, followed by the formation of the Conference of Church and Business People.
  • Anglican House of Bishops and National Executive Council declare Plan of Union unacceptable.
  • Anglican, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, and United churches agree to recognize the validity of Christian baptism in all of these traditions.
1977-80
  • 27th General Council, Calgary, Alberta, Moderator: The Right Rev. George M. Tuttle.
  • A further report on ministry shows increased inclusiveness of lay people in ministry.

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1980s

Date Event
1980-82
  • 28th General Council, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Moderator: The Right Rev. Lois M. Wilson.
  • After reviewing the latest study on ministry, Project: Ministry, a General Council Sessional Committee concludes: "As a church we are still on our journey toward a more complete understanding of ministry."
1982-84 29th General Council, Montreal, Quebec, Moderator: The Right Rev. W. Clarke MacDonald.
1982 In Lima, Peru, theologians associated with the World Council of Churches issue a joint document of considerable faith consensus, Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry, and find agreement to celebrate Lord's Supper together (the Lima Liturgy).
1984-86 30th General Council, Morden, Manitoba, Moderator: The Right Rev. Robert F. Smith.
1985 Union talks between United Church and Disciples of Christ end.
1986-88
  • 31st General Council, Sudbury, Ontario, Moderator: Dr. Anne M. Squire.
  • General Council ends South African investments.
  • General Council apologizes to Native congregations of the United Church for past denial of Native spirituality.
1988-90
  • 32nd General Council, Victoria, British Columbia, Moderator: The Right Rev. Sang Chul Lee.
  • The All Native Circle Conference is inaugurated.
  • General Council declares that "all persons, regardless of sexual orientation, who profess their faith in Jesus Christ are welcome to be or become members of The United Church of Canada" and that "all members of the United Church are eligible to be considered for ordered ministry."

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1990s

Date Event
1990-92 33rd General Council, London Ontario, marks 65 years of the United Church. Moderator: The Right Rev. Walter H. Farquharson.
1992-94 34th General Council, Fredericton, New Brunswick elects The Right Rev. Stan McKay, a Native Canadian, as Moderator.
1994-97
  • 35th General Council, Fergus, Ontario celebrates Church Fair Day; Moderator: Dr. Marion Best.
  • In August 1994, the United Church establishes The Healing Fund to help First Nations communities respond to the painful legacy of residential schools.
  • In March 1995, the General Council Office moves from 85 St. Clair Ave. East, Toronto, to rented facilities at 3250 Bloor St. West.
  • The Ethnic Ministries Council is officially inaugurated in June 1996.
  • A new hymn book, Voices United, is published in 1996.
1997-2000
  • 36th General Council in Camrose, Alberta, elects The Right Rev. Bill Phipps as Moderator.
  • In October 1997, comments made by Bill Phipps in conversation with a newspaper editorial board spark a heated national debate over the divinity of Jesus.
  • In October 1998, The United Church of Canada offers an apology to former students of United Church Indian Residential Schools.

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2000-

Date Event
2000 The United Church of Canada celebrates its 75th Anniversary.
2000-03
  • 37th General Council in Toronto, Ontario elects The Right Rev. Dr. Marion Pardy as Moderator.
  • General Council adopts the anti-racism policy "That All May Be One," recognizing the need for the United Church to address racism both within and outside the church.
2001 The General Council Executive authorizes a restructuring of the General Council Office. The work of the five Divisions and the Ethnic Ministries Council is subsequently re-apportioned to 11 "working units."
2002 The position of General Council Minister, Racial Justice, is created to assist the church to live out its commitment to becoming an anti-racist church and walking a new path toward reconciliation with Aboriginal peoples.
2003
2004 The United Church's two-year education, advocacy, and fundraising initiative, the Beads of Hope Campaign, draws to a close. This highly successful campaign was launched in December 2002 as an emergency response to the global HIV-AIDS pandemic. In addition to raising awareness and advocating for changes to public policy, over $2.3 million dollars, more than twice the original goal set for the campaign, was raised.
2005
  • The United Church launches an emergency appeal asking its congregations for donations designated for relief and reconstruction following the devastating tsunami that struck Asia and East Africa on December 26, 2004. Over $1.5 million is raised.
  • The United Church urges the Canadian Parliament to vote in favour of same-sex marriage legislation.
  • The United Church welcomes the Agreement in Principle announced by the Government of Canada and the Assembly of First Nations, which outlines a comprehensive resolution package for former students of Indian Residential Schools.
2006
  • The United Church of Canada agrees to sign the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement.
  • The 39th General Council meets at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario, and elects the Rev. David Giuliano of Marathon, Ontario, as Moderator.
  • The United Church says no to re-opening the debate over same-sex marriage in the House of Commons and speaks out in defence of the existing legislation.
2007 The United Church of Canada launches its United for Peace Campaign. The two-year campaign, which will focus on education, advocacy, and fundraising, set a financial goal of $2 million. Half of the monies raised will be designated to peacebuilding initiatives in Israel and Palestine, and the remainder will be used to support peace projects that are proposed by the United Church’s partners in Canada and around the world.

Related Pages

Last updated:
2008/07/23
Created:
2000/03/09