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81St General Meeting May 26-29, 2011 Penticton Convention Centre BC CONFERENCE the UNITED CHURCH of CANADA

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81St General Meeting May 26-29, 2011 Penticton Convention Centre BC CONFERENCE the UNITED CHURCH of CANADA 81st General Meeting May 26-29, 2011 Penticton Convention Centre BC CONFERENCE THE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA TABLE OF CONTENTS 6 President’s Message 9 President Elect’s Message 10 Executive Secretary’s Message 12 General Council Representative 13 Theme Speaker and Music Leadership 14 Anniversaries 16 Retirees 31 Memorials BC Conference 39 Ends Policies 47 Executive Members 48 Executive Summary of Actions 52 Office & Staff Directory 53 Business Committee Motions 55 Guidelines for Business Procedures 57 Proposals: An Explanation 58 Nomination for President-Elect Presbytery Reports 60 Cariboo 61 Comox-Nanaimo 62 Fraser 63 Kamloops-Okanagan 64 Kootenay 65 Prince Rupert 67 Vancouver-Burrard 68 Vancouver-South 69 Victoria 70 Westminster 2011 Reports & Agenda - Page 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS Work of Conference 71 Archives & Historical Committee 72 Camp Future Project 74 Mobile Counsellor 75 United Church Women 76 Youth & Young Adult Ministry Councils & Their Committees 79 Finance Council 80 Grants Committee 81 Home Missions 82 Stewardship 83 Ministry Personnel Council 84 Campus Ministry 85 Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Sexual Misconduct 86 Conference Interview Board 87 Education & Students Committee 88 Interim Ministry Committee 89 Internship & Educational Supervision Committee 90 Pension & Groups Insurance Committee 91 Settlement Committee 92 Spiritual Care Network Education Centres 93 Centre for Christian Studies 94 Vancouver School of Theology Proposals 96 BC Conference 2011-1: Social Justice 97 BC Conference 2011-2: Ethically Raised Meats 98 BC Conference 2011-3: UBC Campus Ministry 2011 Reports & Agenda - Page 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS 99 BC Conference 2011-4: Environmental Stewardship Regarding the Proposed Raven Underground Coal Mine 100 BC Conference 2011-5/6: Theological Education & Formation For Ministry in BC Conference 102 BC Conference 2011-7: Facility Fee at BC Conference General Meeting 102 BC Conference 2011-8: Support for the Ongoing Work on InSite 103 BC Conference 2011-9: Employing a Social Justice Staff Person 103 BC Conference 2011-10: Food Justice 104 New Ministry Profiles attached Settlement Report attached Financial Statements—Consolidated and PDC 2011 Reports & Agenda - Page 5 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE REV. DAN CHAMBERS In Short If you, too, are late for something right now and don’t have time for the full meal deal, here’s a quick summation of my two year term serving as President: Though I know serving as President ranks for some of you on par with getting a root canal, believe it or not it’s been a privilege and I thank you for the opportunity. In the last two years, I’ve heard your frustrations, your concerns, your appreciation and your hope. There is no question the United Church in BC (and beyond) is going through a radical shift right now. This is not groundbreaking news. But it dramatically affects who we are and how we live into our discipleship following the way of Jesus. As we watch our UCW groups shrink or disappear, as fewer children are counted in Sunday school, as our roofs sag in need of repair and our budgets seem drained dry, as we find ourselves attending more memorial services than weddings, baptisms or new member celebrations, we know we’re living in what Parker Palmer calls “the tragic gap” between what has been and what will be. We’re fairly clear about what has been – at least how we like to remember it. As for what will be…not so clear. But alongside the fear and grief, for example, of losing long established United Church congregations in rural areas where there’s no other United Church for many miles, I also hear an eager hope: A hope that in this rupture of the familiar ways of being church, a fresh expression of discipleship can be found. A hope that rather than losing our soul with a diminishing Church, we find it in an Emerging Spirit. A hope that for every end of time as we know it, there’s a new beginning. I think that’s scriptural. It’s also inspiring to be part of this conversation and this embodied movement of faith. And then some If you still have a quarter cup of coffee left and time for a few paragraphs, here are a few things I’ve been up to in our shared ministry that reflect some of the ministry happening in our midst: Reconciliation Sixty-five years ago, when members of the Japanese United Church were released from their internment camp, they returned to Vancouver to find many of their possessions had been sold – including their church. The BC Conference made an official apology to the Japanese United Church, publically spoken at our last General Meeting in 2009, in a service of confession and reconciliation led by Rev. Dan Kierkegaard and Executive Secretary, Doug Goodwin and at at the General Council meeting in Kelowna, where those in attendance solemnly stood as a way of embodying the apology. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission is working at a national level to educate, inform and hopefully transform the general public about the abuses of the Residential schools, with the hope that greater understanding and appreciation of the culture and experience of First Nations people. A national event of reconciliation is scheduled to happen here, in BC, likely in Vancouver in September, 2012. 2011 Reports & Agenda - Page 6 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE (CONT’D) REV. DAN CHAMBERS It’s been a privilege to be part of our own work of reconciliation and to come to know better some of our Aboriginal Leaders, who, in my opinion, show extraordinary patience and compassion with the Church and live from a courageous and forgiving heart. The Prince Rupert Presbytery meeting held in Haida Gwaii also involved a gathering of the Native Ministry Council and was attended by our Moderator, Mardi Tindal. This gathering closed with a First Nations feast, where the Moderator read once again the apology from 1986 first offered by then Moderator Bob Smith, and I read the apology addressed specifically to Residential School survivors, first offered by The Very Reverend Bill Phipps in 1998. Clearly, there were some in the room who were hearing these apologies for the first time, and those who had heard them before but heard it differently this time, a reminder that reconciliation is a process without a terminus, and apologies need to be made more than once. Leadership The mission of BC Conference is Healthy Congregations, Effective Leadership and Faithful Public Witness. At a General Meeting of BC Conference several years ago, Leadership was lifted up as our priority, because healthy congregations and faithful public witness depend on effective leaders. Hundreds of people in BC have benefitted from the insightful and challenging work of Keith Howard and his team with Emerging Spirit to help us all hone our skills as leaders in uncertain times. More specifically for ministry personnel, I’ve been privileged to be part of two initiatives, both under the excellent leadership of Treena Duncan: After years in the making, a leadership development program came to birth. It was called Sowing Seeds, Growing Leaders and involved 45 ministry personnel who were inspired, challenged, stretched and deepened by the work of Former Moderator Peter Short, mentors and other speakers and facilitators. The Spiritual Care Network continues to build relationship and enliven the network that connects ministry personnel. Often kidnapped by overloaded schedules and the administration of the church, the Spiritual Care Network strives to foster a professional environment of trust, support and care of the soul. Each Presbytery has one or two people who are called to further this important work. Also, to support leaders in challenging times and to foster creative ways of being the church in the 21st century, Executive Secretary Doug Goodwin has recommended the formation of a Ministry Fund. As we free-up assets from the sale of buildings, this fund will allow programs to be developed and people/congregations to be supported who are willing to explore and engage ministry in a non-traditional manner. Youth The youth in BC are amazing. It was a delight to lead a few workshops and to be part of the energetic vibe at both the 2009 and 2010 Evolve gatherings, artfully organized by Doris Kizinna. My faith is deepened and hope lifted by time spent with our children and youth. 2011 Reports & Agenda - Page 7 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE (CONT’D) REV. DAN CHAMBERS Witness From time to time the President is asked or feels compelled to voice concern or protest. On behalf of the Conference, I have voiced protest against the proposed Casino development in downtown Vancouver, the Health Care cut-backs that removed most chaplains from hospitals under Fraser Health Care, and have written in support of Bill C393 (reducing the cost of medicine for HIV infected people in Africa) as well as other important concerns. Highlights Though serving as President comes with no salary, no extra-benefits, not even a cushy office, there have been many highlights. Here are a few: Attending the General Council meeting in Kelowna and see our national Church at work and talk with people from around the country, as well as our mission partners abroad. Being in touch with Conference Presidents around the country, as well as our leaders in the National Office, clarifying for me our deep-grained connection even with those we do not see and may not know by name. Visiting you, in different parts of the Province with its varied history and beauty. Even as Presbyteries deal at times with great challenge, there was always an abundance of laughter, perhaps pointing to of all things a joy-filled Presence of Christ. Engaging conversations about how the Conference supports and helps facilitate theological education in BC.
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