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A New Creed, The United Church of Canada We are not alone, we live in God’s world. We believe in God: who has created and is creating, who has come in Jesus the Word made flesh, to reconcile and make new, who works in us and others by the Spirit. We trust in God. We are called to be the Church: to celebrate God’s presence, to live with respect in Creation, to love and serve others, to seek justice and resist evil, to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen, our judge and our hope. In life, in death, in life beyond death, God is with us. We are not alone. Thanks be to God. |
JOHN’S SPEECH FOR THE ELECTION OF MODERATOR AT THE 38TH GENRAL COUNCIL
Prepared by John Lee for the election of the Moderator at the 38th General Council Meeting, The United Church of Canada
It is a great honour and awesome privilege to stand for the position of moderator of The United Church of Canada. When I decided to say "yes" to a call to stand for this position of moderator, I realized that it was a bold and courageous move. As a member of the United Church, I learned what it means to be bold and courageous. What I have learned is when we say “yes” to the call of God by responding faithfully to the call through the signs of our time then it is imperative to be bold and courageous. I proudly can say that the seed of this boldness and courage in me was sown by committed United Church people in Canada and overseas who faithfully devoted their lives, and even risked their lives.
We, The United Church of Canada, have been bold and courageous to stand strong on justice, reconciliation and healing. We have faithfully committed ourselves to heal and to be healed together with the First Nations communities on our resolution of the residential school issues. We still are called to continue to search for the just way. We courageously affirm that we are all the same children of God regardless of different sexual orientation. We compassionately reach out to be with the homeless and children in poverty; to overcome violence, to keep our environment clean and safe, to be with the pains of the world; and to mend the world for peace. We have been faithful to this ministry throughout the history of our church, and we are so proud of it. This is where we are going to continue to move as we venture further into the reign of God.
In this our fast changing world, the “change” is the word we hear most frequently. Change in the world disturbs us. Change of ourselves is fearful. Change of church’s declining membership is painful. But a more painful issue is the isolation of ministers in ministry, congregations of rural and urban, and individual members of young and old, old timers and new comers. At this point in our Church’s history, we are seeking hope in despair, challenged by change on a grand scale. Hope out of despair will be actualized by change with God’s inspiration, with the new communication ways and tools, to become connected as one body. This is what Ezekiel’s vision shows in our contemporary world. Through this new vision, we affirm that change is a blooming of beautiful flowers out of a small seed. Change is the growth of a big tree out of a small mustard seed to give nests to the birds in the air. In this change, the gifts of remarkable diversity in our United Church, will be woven into one beautiful body. We will recognize our great potential and gifts to serve the world.
This is a blessing. This is how we become one body as the body of Christ. Through this vision, The United Church of Canada becomes a comfortable home, a welcoming community that moves boldly and courageously into the ends of the world. When we say “yes” to this prophetic vision as we breathe together in one Spirit, with one Hope, we find God’s beauty in each other, and will say to each other, “You are beautiful.” We are now ready to move out to the world with this welcoming spirit. In this our journey of responding faithfully, boldly and courageously to the call of times, to the call of hope, I see a vision of a burning bush, the flame of the Holy Spirit that grows and spreads from coast to coast to coast throughout the whole of Canada, and to the ends of the world.
In this our journey together, we raise our voices in joy and praise, and say together, “We are not alone. God is with us.” Thanks be to god!