The United Church of Canada has partnerships with national churches, ecumenical organizations, Christian Councils and church agencies around the world. Some of these partnerships have evolved from overseas mission work which started in the late 19th century and some from recent contact and collaboration.
In addition to the partners listed below, there are numerous indigenous church and community organizations whose work is touched and supported by these partners.
The United Church of Canada and its global partners are called to work together in God's mission for wholeness of life. The Justice, Global and Ecumenical Relations Unit facilitates the relationships that enable The United Church of Canada and global partners to work together. We are one partner among many, called to receive and to give.
Read a statement passed at the 32nd General Council in Victoria, 1988, Seeking to Understand "Partnership" For God's Mission Today. The document is foundational in terms of how the United Church of Canada currently defines and understands it's global partnerships.
- Appendix A
: 1988 United Church statement on Partnership [PDF: 2 pp/13 KB]
Directory of Global Partners
Global Partners in Africa
- CONTINENT WIDE
- All Africa Conference of Churches
- Association of Christian Lay Training Centres in Africa
- Mindolo Ecumenical Foundation
- Organization of African Instituted Churches
- Programme for Christian-Muslim Relations in Africa (PROCMURA)
- World Student Christian Federation, Africa Region
- ANGOLA
- Angolan Council of Christian Churches
- Evangelical Congregational Church of Angola
- scholarships and reconstruction
- Forum for Non-Governmental Organizations in Angola (FONGA)
- Instituto Superior Emanuel Unido (theological education)
- BOTSWANA
- Kgolagano College (theological education)
- DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
- Centre de Vulgarisation Agricole (Agriculture Extension Centre), Luozi †
- Église du Christ au Congo (Women and Family Life Department)
- Université Protestante au Congo (Protestant University of Congo, Faculty of Theology)
- KENYA
- Kenya Alliance for the Advancement of Children’s Rights (KAACR)
- National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK)
- LESOTHO
- Christian Council of Lesotho
- Lesotho Evangelical Church
- justice, peace, and integrity of creation department
- Scott Hospital
- women’s program
- Transformation Resource Centre
- MOZAMBIQUE
- Christian Council of Mozambique
- Overseas Personnel
- Bill and Karen Butt (Christian Council of Mozambique, education/development and communication)
- NAMIBIA
- Council of Churches in Namibia
- SOUTH AFRICA
- Alternative Information and Development Centre
- Institute for Contextual Theology
- Institute for Healing of Memories
- South African Council of Churches
- Surplus People Project †
- Uniting Christian Students’ Association of South Africa
- SUDAN
- Sudan Council of Churches (northern Sudan)
- TANZANIA
- Christian Council of Tanzania
- Women’s Training Centre, Morogoro (Christian Council of Tanzania)
- Bishop Kisanji Youth Employment and Food Production Foundation (YEFOFO)
- ZAMBIA
- Christian Council of Zambia
- People’s Action Forum †
- Student Christian Movement, Zambia †
- Theological Education by Extension in Zambia
- United Church of Zambia
- United Church of Zambia Theological College
- Women for Change
- Overseas Personnel
- Lynne Brennan and Douglas Varey (United Church of Zambia Theological College, education)
- ZIMBABWE
- Adult Literacy Organization of Zimbabwe
- African Forum on Debt and Development (AFRODAD)
- Christian Care †
- Zimbabwe Council of Churches
- women’s department
- youth department
- mission and evangelism
Global Partners in Asia and the Pacific
- REGION WIDE
- Asian Christian Art Association
- Asian Health Institute
- Asian Rural Institute
- Asian Women’s Resource Centre
- Christian Conference of Asia
- Documentation for Action Groups in Asia (DAGA)
- Pacific Concerns Resource Centre (Pacific Islands)
- Nuclear-Free Pacific Network
- Pacific Conference of Churches (Pacific Islands)
- Pacific People’s Partnership
- Pacific Theological College
- Peace for Life (PfL)
- World Student Christian Federation—Asia Pacific
- CHINA
- Amity Foundation †
- China Christian Council
- Hong Kong Christian Industrial Committee
- Hong Kong Christian Institute
- Hong Kong Women Christian Council
- Zi Teng (social service organization)
- Overseas Personnel
- Gary MacDonald (The Amity Foundation, education)
- Mary Fraser (The Amity Foundation, education)
- EAST TIMOR
- Protestant Church of East Timor
- FIJI
- Ecumenical Centre for Research, Education, and Advocacy (ECREA) for Pacific Region
- Overseas Personnel
- Scott Douglas and Nanette McKay (Ecumenical Centre for Research, Education and Advocacy [ECREA], community organization and advocacy)
- INDIA
- ASTHA (community development and work with tribal peoples)
- Church of North India
- Henry Martyn Institute of Islamic Studies
- Human Rights Advocacy and Research Foundation
- Institute of Social Sciences †
- Institute for Development Education, Madras
- Partners in Justice Concerns
- Vikas Adhyayan Kendra (advocacy and education)
- JAPAN
- Korean Christian Church in Japan
- Kyofukai (Japan Christian Women’s Organization)
- National Christian Council in Japan
- United Church of Christ in Japan (Kyodan)
- Overseas Personnel
- Keiko and Robert Witmer (United Church of Christ in Japan [Kyodan], evangelism and pastoral work)
- David and Zenora Rackham (United Church of Christ in Japan [Kyodan], education)
- NORTH KOREA (DPRK)
- Korea Christian Federation
- PHILIPPINES
- Clergy Laity Formation Program
- CONTAK (ecumenical work)
- Cordillera Peoples Alliance (Indigenous network)
- Ecumenical Bishops’ Forum
- Institute of Religion and Culture †
- National Council of Churches in the Philippines
- peace advocacy work
- program with Indigenous peoples †
- women’s desk
- Regional Ecumenical Council in the Cordillera
- United Church of Christ in the Philippines
- development and social change projects †
- SOLOMON ISLANDS
- United Church in the Solomon Islands
- SOUTH KOREA
- Korea Student Christian Federation
- Korean Association of Women Theologians
- Korean United Women Workers Association
- National Church Womens Association Jubilee House
- National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCK)
- women’s department
- reunification department
- Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea (PROK)
- Overseas Personnel
- Mary Collins (The Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea [PROK], administration)
- TAIWAN
- Presbyterian Church in Taiwan
Global Partners in the Caribbean and Latin America
- REGION WIDE
- Caribbean Conference of Churches
- Caribbean North America Council on Mission (CANACOM )
- Caribbean Regional Ecumenical Advisory and Service Centre (CREAS) †
- Council of Evangelical Methodist Churches of Latin America (CIEMAL)
- Latin American and Caribbean Communication Agency (ALC)
- Latin American Council of Churches (CLAI)
- Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas (MCCA)
- World Student Christian Federation—Latin America and Caribbean Region
- ARGENTINA
- ISEDET Theological School
- Methodist Church of Argentina
- Rural Reflection Group (GRR - ecology)
- BOLIVIA
- Network Uniting Hands for Life (development and ecology)
- BRAZIL
- Ecumenical Centre for Service and Popular Education (CESEP)
- Ecumenical Coordination for Service (CESE) †
- GTME (work with Indigenous people)
- Koinonia: Ecumenical Presence and Service †
- Methodist Church of Brazil
- National Commission to Combat Racism (CENACORA)
- Street Kids Project of San Bernardo do Campo
- Overseas Personnel
- Kathleen Stephenson (Ecumenical Coordination for Service [CESE], ecumenical officer)
- COLOMBIA
- Justice and Life Project (human rights)
- Latin American Centre for Popular Communication (CEPALC)
- Methodist Church of Colombia
- PROMESA (theological education)
- COSTA RICA
- Ecumenical Research Department (DEI)
- Latin American Biblical University
- Wesleyan Methodist Church of Costa Rica
- CUBA
- Christian Centre for Reflection and Dialogue (community
development) - Council of Churches of Cuba
- Martin Luther King Centre (popular education/theological reflection)
- Matanzas Theology Seminary
- Presbyterian Reformed Church
- EL SALVADOR
- Association for Social Economic Development (ADES)
- Emmanuel Baptist Church
- GRENADA
- Presbyterian Church of Grenada
- GUATEMALA
- Christian Ecumenical Council of Guatemala
- Ecumenical Forum for Peace and Reconciliation (FEPAZ)
- Fraternidad de Presbiteriales Mayas (Women’s Network of Mayan Presbyterials)
- education, theological reflection, health, and income-generation projects
- Guatemala Conference of Evangelical Churches (CIEDEG)
- HAITI
- Karl Lévêque Cultural Institute (community organizing and popular education)
- Methodist Church (MCCA, Haiti District)
- JAMAICA AND CAYMAN ISLANDS
- Sistren Theatre Collective (women’s issues)
- The United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands
- United Theological College of the West Indies
- NICARAGUA
- Antonio Valdivieso Ecumenical Centre (CAV)
- Baptist Theological Seminary
- IDSIM—Development Department of the Moravian Church of Nicaragua
- Los Quinchos School for child street vendors
- Moravian Church of Nicaragua
- Overseas Personnel
- Peter and Cathyann Hoyle (Moravian Church of Nicaragua, pastoral/health work)
- PANAMA
- Methodist Church (MCCA, Panama, and Costa Rica District)
- Valiente Mission (Indigenous ministry)
- PERU
- Andean Women’s Association (community development)
- Centre for Hope, Chiclayo
- FEDEPAZ (human rights organization)
- Manuela Ramos Women’s Movement †
- Proceso Kairos (women, evangelism, and popular education)
- Recinto Universitario (theological education)
- Overseas Personnel
- Leif Vaage (Recinto Universitario-Lima, theological education
Global Partners in the Middle East
- REGION WIDE
- Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees
- Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)
- ISRAEL/PALESTINE
- Jerusalem InterChurch Centre
- Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Centre
Ecumenical Partners (Canada and Global)
- The World Council of Churches
* is a fellowship of over 349 churches in more than 110 countries around the world, including The United Church of Canada. Through programs, conferences and assemblies, networks, resources, and financial support, the WCC brings a Christian witness to the world. - Overseas Personnel:
- Chris and Susan Ferguson (UN Liason Office, New York)
- Ecumenical and Interfaith Partners (Global)
- Action by Churches Together
- Canadian Christian Jewish Consultation
- Caribbean and North American Area Council (CANAAC)
- Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance
- Ecumenical Church Loan Fund
- Ecumenical Disability Advocate Network
- Ecumenical Stewardship Centre
- Ecumenical Water Network
- Frontier Internship in Mission
- National Muslim Christian Liason Committee
- North American Interfaith Network
- World Alliance of Reformed Churches
- Overseas Personnel:
- John Asling (Associate, World Alliance of Reformed Churches, Geneva)
- World Association for Christian Communication
- World Methodist Council
- World Student Christian Federation (WSCF)
- Ecumenical and Coalition Partners (Canada)
- Anglican United Refugee Alliance
- Canadian Centre for Ecumenism
- Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
- Canadian Churches' Forum for Global Ministries
- Canadian Council for International Cooperation (CCIC)
- Canadian Council for Refugees
- Canadian Council of Churches
- Canadian Health Coalition
- Canadian Inter-Church Stewardship Committee
- Canadian Parish Nursing Association
- Christian Task Force on Central America
- Church Council on Justice and Corrections
- Common Frontiers (hemispheric free trade issues)
- Ecumenical Health Care Network
- KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives/Initiatives canadiennes ecumeniques pour la justice
- Project Ploughshares
- Women's Inter-Church Council of Canada
- World Conference on Religion and Peace (Canada)
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Gender Justice and Global Partnership Guidelines
In 1998, the former Division of World Outreach of The United Church of Canada (UCC) held a four-day consultation to engage in a process of looking at gender justice and its relationship to partnership. The consultation was an attempt to further deepen the DWO's commitment to living out the goals of the Ecumenical Decade of Churches in Solidarity with Women in Church and Society. There were 30 participants, including nine global partners, members of the United Church from across Canada and several staff from The United Church of Canada. The result of that process is a document we refer to as the Gender Justice and Partnership guidelines.
In 2002 much of the work of the former Division of World Outreach, including staff support of the Gender Justice and Partnership work, was moved to the newly created Justice, Global and Ecumenical Relations Unit of The United Church of Canada. The Gender Justice and Partnership Guidelines continue to be a living embodiment of our commitment to transform structures and systems within the United Church to be faithful to God's vision for humanity and to engage with global partners in a mutual struggle to promote gender justice. Work continues on the implementation and tracking of how the guidelines are being used.
The Gender Justice Guidelines [PDF: 14 pp/62 KB]. The Guidelines are also available at no charge from UCRD (Product #400 000 058).
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Government Funding for Global Partner Work
Three Canadian government sources provide valuable co-funding support for the development work of UCC global partners.
The United Church of Canada/L'Église Unie du Canada
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.