United Church, indigenous congregations work on a new path
In the second week of April, something remarkable happened.
The United Church of Canada announced that the majority of its congregations and communities of faith had voted in favour of a request by indigenous congregations and leader that an autonomous National Indigenous Organization within The United Church of Canada be established.
Why?
When the United Church underwent restructuring in 2019, little consideration was given to the inclusion of indigenous ministries, congregations and relationships. Since then, the United Church’s indigenous congregation has spoken to the church at large through the Proposal
process.
The proposal said, “It is time for us to move towards a dierent relationship. It is time to set aside the notion of 'missions to the Indians’ and truly move towards being 'partners in God’s call to all the earth.'”
It went on to say, “This means a change in structure for The United Church of Canada. The Haudenosaunee speak of the Two-Row Wampum. This covenant speaks of our two peoples travelling down a river, each in their own canoe. With respect, we need to allow one another to simply be who we are. It is time to remember this covenant and work as two bodies, side by side – the United Church with all its complexity, the National Indigenous Circle with similar complexity. Together we will support each other’s journey.”
The most clear explanation of this idea was “The Indigenous Church wants to paddle down the river beside the non-Indigenous church — as it should have been able to from the very beginning.”
The proposal was that both parts of the church – the Indigenous Church and the non-Indigenous church – will continue to be in relationship with one another, on two parallel, connected paths.
Indigenous ministries have been a part of the United Church since the beginning in 1925, with roots in the 19th century work of Methodist and Presbyterian ministries.
In Grey and Bruce, Wesley United Church formerly Methodist, at Saugeen First Nation, dates from 1834.
A plaque in front of First United
Church, Owen Sound tells another part of the story.
“Following the Indian treaty of 1836, a Reserve along the western shore of Owen Sound was set aside for the Band headed by Chief Newash. In 1842, the Indian village of Newash, established here previous to the founding of the adjacent community of Sydenham (now Owen Sound), was rebuilt by the government. It contained fourteen log houses, a school and a barn. Wesleyan Methodist missionaries ministered to the Indians, and in 1845, a frame chapel, the predecessor of the present church, was completed. In 1857, the Reserve, containing some 11,000 acres, was ceded to the government and most of the Indians moved to Cape Croker.”
The Methodist Church went with them to form the beginnings of Cape Croker (Neyaashiinigmiing) Methodist, later United Church.
Both churches have given significant leadership to the wider church and locally.
And the Remit?
The National Indigenous
Council and the 16 voting regional councils: Yes: 17 No: 0. Local Communities of Faith: Yes: 1,482 No: 93.
The Remit carried overwhelmingly.
What’s next?
The 44th General Council Annual Meeting, on October 19, 2024 will be asked to enact the remit. In preparation, the National Indigenous Council, the National Indigenous Elders Council, and the Executive of the General Council of the United Church will work together to identify and lay out a framework for the autonomous Indigenous organization within the United Church.
The final word should be left to the elders of the National Indigenous Council. In a response to the Remit, they said, “We thank our Ancestors and All Our Relations who have brought us to this moment. We are all spirit first. The work of Right Relations continues. We commit to moving forward together in a good way.”