What is a remit? -Gay Boese, Board Chairperson

A remit is simply one part of a decision making process for the United Church of Canada. When the UCC wants to make a change to the Basis of Union (the church constitution) they must consult the wider church. If a majority of the presbyteries and congregations vote in favour of a motion, then it goes back to the General Council for one last vote. The remit is the motion that is being proposed.

Remit 6 is the current remit that we are asked to consider. It has been sent out to all congregations and presbyteries to “test the will of the church” regarding the doctrines or beliefs of the United Church of Canada.

When the UCC was formed in 1925 an agreement known as the Basis of Union outlined the shape of this new church. Within the Basis of Union is a doctrine section, the 20 Articles of Faith, which outline what we believe as a community of faith within the UCC. Since 1925, three different statements have been created to express our understanding of faith using the words and imagery that are relevant for that time. These have been approved by the General Council. The three statements are:  Statement of Faith (1940)  A New Creed (adopted in 1968, revised in 1980 and 1994)  A Song of Faith (2006)

Remit 6 asks us to consider expanding the doctrine section of the Basis of Union to include these three statements as “subordinate doctrines”.

What does that mean?

A subordinate doctrine means that a statement of faith is subordinate to, or lesser than, scripture but is in basic agreement with the teachings of the scriptures.

By considering this remit the church is acknowledging that we are on a journey and that our formal beliefs can, and need to be expressed anew in each generation in ways that are faithful to scripture and reflect the language and meaning of the time.

So, we are being asked if we agree that the three statements that have been created and approved since 1925 should be added to the Basis of Union. Our congregation will be asked to vote on the remit by the end of April.

There are several questions to consider as we respond to the remit. Do these statements point to a deeper truth? Do they reflect the practice of the UCC? Do they reflect the faith of our congregation? Do they reflect my faith? These questions and more need to be considered.

During Lent we will be reflecting on what we believe, on what our faith is all about using the statements mentioned above. There will be much food for thought!

For more information please go to www.united-church.ca/files/beliefs/statements/ our - words-of- faith .pdf