UCC 101 What We Believe and Why It Matters
Webinar Notes and Links
Contents
Words of Welcome
Acknowledgment of the land where we meet
Getting to know each other
Hopes for the time together
Overview of the workshop
Worship/ Centring time
What We Believe
Foundational Documents
Structure
Order of Ministry
Social Action/Justice
What We Believe – Faith Formation
What We Believe – Worship
What We Believe – M&S
UCC Trivia Game
Using the Content with a Confirmation Program
Closing – Share together in the reading of A New Creed – in French or English
Workshop Outline
Words of Welcome
Acknowledgment of the land where we meet
“We recognize that we are on Cayuga Territory …on the traditional lands first loved and cared for by the Haudenosaunee peoples. We are grateful for this place to meet .”
(note the importance of recognizing the land – living into the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action)
Getting to know each other
- Naming Ourselves – take a moment to think about the following invitation – in order to provide as safe a space as possible for all participants – we begin with our naming of ourselves – I invite you to share with the group as you are comfortable – your name, where you are from, your preferred pronoun and what you need to participate fully in this workshop (we do this to welcome, to honour the uniqueness of each person, and to not make assumptions about who people are or what they need)
These first two pieces could form the beginning of every gathering with youth
Hopes for the time together
- Invite people to name what they hope will happen in this workshop and how their hopes might be addressed
Overview of the workshop
- Setting context (what we have just done)
- Worship / Centring time
- What We Believe
- History
- Foundational Documents
- Structure
- Order of Ministry
- Social Action/Justice
- Worship
- Faith Formation
- M&S
- Why it Matters
- How to Use in a Confirmation Class
- UCC Trivia Game ( I did not share but if you would like a copy to play with the youth please be in touch)
- Closing – A New Creed
Worship/ Centring time
Read Psalm 46: vs 10a “Be still and know that I am God”
Invite participants to share the use of this verse of the psalm by the Peace Pilgrim:
Be still and know that I am God
Be still and know that I am
Be still and know
Be still
Be
Light the candle – invite people to sit and close their eyes and to take a few deep breaths.
Read Ephesians 3:16-19 (three times)
- Provide each person with a small piece of paper and pen/pencil
- Take a break between each reading – in the reading and in the silence invite people to write or draw words or thoughts that speak to them from this reading
- Share why I choose this reading – invite others to share if they wish (for me captures the blessing of the UCC it has rooted and grounded me in faith and supported and encouraged and challenged me to grow in faith and living it out – embodying God’s love in word and deed)
What We Believe
The UCC Crest (hand out from the General Council website - permission has been received from the General Secretary – Nora Sanders for the use of the crest and it’s break down for use in this workshop and whenever this workshop is used)
See also the PowerPoint slide where the different parts of the Crest come onscreen one at a time: click HERE
Shape – shape of the fish – Greek acronym for an early faith statement, Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour
X – Chi – greek letter – first letter for the name of Christ
Quadrants – shape of St. Andrew’s cross – each quadrant speaks of our faith – founding denominations – Methodist – dove; Congregationalists – open Bible; Presbyterians – burning bush; Alpha and Omega – first and last letters of the Greek alphabet – God is and always will be – eternal nature of God
Words – The UCC - in 1980 added the words in French, also are little maple leaves reminding us of our uniquely Canadian context
UtOmnesUnimSint – “That all may be one.” – speaks to our commitment to being a United and uniting church
41st GC (2012) acknowledged the presence and spirituality of Aboriginal peoples in the UCC - revised the crest by adding the Mohawk phrase “akweNia’Tetewa:neren” (aw gway—nyah day daywaw—nay renh), which means all my relations
Also added the background colours in the quadrants – this incorpates the colours often associated with the Medicine Wheel – which reflects respect for diversity and interdependence and is often represented in the four traditional colours of yellow, red, black and white, which incorporate important teachings from the four directions, the four stages of life and the four season. The placement of these colours will vary according to the traditions of the nation. The Medicine Wheel teaches us to seek balance in the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of the circle of life. (choose Mohawk as representative of the first Methodist congregation with Mohawk peoples)
The UCC Crest – why it matters – it speaks to us of the founding denominations and faith communities and how they have shaped us as a faith – it speaks of grounding in Jesus, commitment to inclusiveness, by changing our openness to change, need to be grounded in faith/biblical knowledge/prophetic message/nurturing in faith, etc
Check out the “Welcome to the United Church” section of the General Council Website:
Foundational Documents
(provide copies of the Doctrine and supporting Documents from pages 11ff from The Manual, 2013) please note The Manual2016 is now available on line:
The United Church recognizes the primacy of scripture. ( refer to the Authority and Interpretation of Scripture)
The United Church recognizes the following standards subordinate to scripture:
The 20 Articles of Doctrine (The Basis of Union)in the Manual of The United Church of Canada
The 1940 Statement of Faith
A New Creed – not creedal people but it is a thumbnail sketch of what we believe
The Song of Faith
Briefly describe each of the documents – invite participants (this could be done in small groups) to take 10 minutes to focus on one of the subordinate standards and to choose something from the resource that they would want to share with the other participants – provide time for the participants to share what they found; or compare from the documents a common theme - i.e. what it says about God, or Jesus etc
Foundational Documents – why they matter – remind us that God has created and is creating, God’s revelation continues to be revealed, familiarize participants with some of these great foundational statements that have shaped us and continue to shape us. We do have faith!!!!
Structure
Courts of the church – at the present time we speak of 4 courts of the church – In 2013 there were - 3016 - congregations/pastoral charges; 86 – Presbyteries; 13 – conferences; 1- General Council
Each of the courts have specific responsibilities – for example – congregations/pastoral charges have responsibility for the sacred and temporal work of the church – worship and daily functioning; may call ministers with the guidance and approval of Presbytery; Presbyteries provide pastoral oversight and pastoral relations and is the court where order of ministers have their membership; conference ordains and commissions; general council sets policies/directions for the denomination
Membership – of each of the courts is both ordered and lay
GC 42 remit re changing structure – move to three council model – Congregations/Pastoral Charges/ Communities of Faith; Regional Councils and Denominational Council
Conciliar model – authority does not lie with one person but with a group of people who consult and discern with the guidance of the faith community and God’s Spirit
Decision making – shared – lay and ordered votes count equally
Information about all the Proposed Changes to the Church Structures – throughout 2016-17 the General Council has 8 different proposals currently out for voting by Congregations and/or Presbyteries. These would substantially change how the church is governed. Information about each of these proposed changes can be found here:
Structure – why it matters – ensures participation in decision making is shared (not only clergy or GC driven though we are often the loudest voices), provides opportunity for nurturing and sustaining of the faith community.
Order of Ministry
- At present one of ministry – two expressions – diaconal ministry and ordained ministry
- At 42nd GC approved a study re: One Order of Ministry and a remit see
Order of Ministry – why it matters – as a church we are committed to educated leadership who are encouraged to share this education/training/faith formation with the laity. Knowledge meant to be shared not hoarded. Order of ministry membership lies in the presbytery not in the congregation – place of accountability to UCC standards
Commitment to Continuing Education – one way to do this is through United for Learning
Social Action/Justice
What are some of the Social Action/Justice work that the United Church of Canada has been/ is involved in … examples …
Aboriginal rights
Ecology
Gender Identity and/or Sexual Orientation/ LGBTQ
Israel/Palestine
Same Gender Marriage
Residential Schools
Bring copies of Mandate and Observer magazines to explore some of the materials that relate to justice issues -
Share the refugee video
Share the climate change calls to action
Talk about “United for Justice” – other issues – mining, watershed theology
An e-newsletter – contact to be included in the emails
Social Justice – Why it Matters? - commitment to and working to create a world where all God’s people experience abundance of life. Affirmation that we are our brothers and sisters (our kins) keepers and we are called to seek justice! Who is our neighbour – everyone is our neighbour.
What We Believe – Faith Formation
Life long faith formation – never too old or too young to be nurtured in the faith
Priesthood of all believers – the whole people of God – do not need intermediaries to read scripture or to speak with God; we all have roles in the Body of Christ
Faith Formation – why it matters – way we are nurtured in faith and grounded in faith empowered to live our faith. Applies to all of us whether we are 9months or 95 years, regardless of gender, race, creed, education etc. how we are formed to live as disciples of Jesus.
What We Believe – Worship
Basic components – hymns, anthems, music, prayer, scripture and reflection, sending forth
Leaders who are educated
Worship is the work of all the people
Believe we gather to worship God
opportunity to be nurtured in faith and to deepen our call to discipleship
Communion and community
Worship – why it matters – place where we gather to worship God, to be nurtured in faith so we can live our calling to be disciples of Jesus every day.
Gathering Magazine – UCC worship resource
What We Believe – M&S
God’s Mission / Our Gifts
Gifts for the mending and healing of God’s world
Ways to be the hands of feet of Christ when we can’t be their physically
Gifts local, nationally, globally
M&S logo
Share M&S video from Called to Be the Church, week 3
M&S – why it matters – how we contribute to the mending and the healing of the world when we can’t be there personally. Shared resources – thanksgiving for all God’s gifts to us. Response from abundance not scarcity.
UCC Trivia Game
A way to engage some of the things we believe – a quick review
What we Believe and Why it Matters
Uniquely Canadian context
Foundational theology grounded in a God of love who seeks relationship with God’s people
Seeks to twin relationship with social justice
Honours leadership and participation of lay and ordered people
Allows for seeking, questions, broad diversity of theologies
Seeks to be inclusive and honouring of diversity
Takes seriously the call to be God’s witness in this corner of God’s creation
Deeply ingrained in our DNA that we are to love God and love our neighbour’s as ourselves
Willing to risk
Open to change
Not afraid to admit when we are wrong
Honour tradition but not limited by it
We are United and uniting …
There is a place for each one of us and we can participate and shape the mission and ministry of the church
And all you added!!!
Using the Content with a Confirmation Program
•Explore the history of the UCC using the Crest
•Base the program on a New Creed – explore the nature of God, Jesus, Spirit; what it means to be the church (I am working on this with two presbyteries in the Bay of Quinte Conference – if you would like to see the outline and some of the content, I should have it in a shareable form after November 5th)
•Focus on Mission and Justice – encourage the participants to engage in a mission/justice hands on experience and connect it with their faith (in confirmation programs I have always planned for a missional experience – usually encouraging youth to design a missional project, execute it, and then reflect on why it is an expression of faith – great learnings)
•Also note now two new staff in the Communities in Ministry group / Partners in Ministry subgroup - helping groups to make connections re mission partners both within Canada and beyond – contact Amy for names and contact info
•Encourage the participants to work on a faith statement that they can own with integrity, can speak from their heart (use the foundational documents to help youth explore some of the beliefs – see what resonates in their own experience)
•UCC Trivia – a card game I developed that can be used with youth (I’m glad to share it)
Closing – Share together in the reading of A New Creed – in French or English
Thank you for sharing in this webinar.
If you have any questions please be in touch
; 613-967-0150
Jackie
Jackie Harper
Bay of Quinte Conference Minister: Youth and Programs