Committee on Community of Faith Support
This committee provides oversight and support to communities of faith, especially pastoral charges in their day to day mission and ministry and guidance with matters of transition such as structural changes, amalgamation, realignment and closure. This committee with a minimum of 3 members reports to the Regional Council through the Executive, making recommendations on matters requiring decisions to these bodies. In the former structure, much of the work of this committee was done by Pastoral Oversight Committees in Presbyteries.
Committee on Community of Faith Support Mandate
Denominational Policies and Resources
Note: The most current versions of the following handbooks and resources should be used and can be found at https://united-church.ca/handbooks-and-guidelines
- United Fresh Start
- The Manual 2024
- Financial Handbook for Congregations 2017
- Governance Handbook: Policies and Terms of Reference March 2019
- Ministry and Personnel Committees: Policies, Procedures and Practices, January 2019
- Ministry and Personnel Committees: Resources, January 2019
- Sexual Misconduct, Prevention and Response Policy and Procedure (November 2020)
- Congregational Board of Trustees Handbook
- What Do the Archives Want? A Basic Guide for Congregations
- Copyright Guide for Congregations
- Models of Board Governance 2010
- Faithful Footsteps: Screening Procedures for Positions of Trust and Authority in The United Church of Canada
- A Tender Trust: Helping Churches to Provide Safe Service
- Workplace Discrimination, Harassment, and Violence Prevention and Response Policy
- Code of Ethics for Youth Ministry
- Sacraments Elders Handbook
- What you need to k now if you have a cemetery
- Worship Resources
- Stay in Touch, be informed, share ideas
- United in Learning
- EDGE
- Rural Ministry Network
Regional Council Policies and Resources
Regional Council Policies and Resources
- Covenant documents (between Communities of Faith and the Regional Council)
- FAQ
- Guidelines for Self-assessment of Community of Faith – The Committee on Community of Faith Support will be preparing resources / guidelines in 2021 to help communities of faith complete their self-assessments. When they are completed, information will be available in the weekly news and offered in other ways as well.
- We can’t continue like this – closing amalgamation Jan 29 2020
- Breaking Up a Pastoral Charge Jan 29 2020
- Best Practices- helpful hints for preparing great annual reports, to be developed
- Governance documents -checklist for community of faith covenants, to be developed
- Governance Basics – a draft document especially useful for multi-point pastoral charges trying to develop a written governance document
Government Policies
- Provincial and federal regulations, policies, etc.
- Charitable Status – Getting, keeping, restoring, revoking it (https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency.html)
Committee on Community of Faith Support Members
Pat Bird
Chair/Rep to the Regional Council Executive
Retired Laboratory Technologist.
I have been a member of the UCC since 1982 having started my church life in the Roman Catholic Church. I attended Young United Church and worked with West Broadway Community Ministry. My partner, Barry and our daughter, Melanie transferred membership to Selkirk United Church in 2001.
I have been active in my congregation on various committees and served as Selkirk Presbytery Rep for many years.
I developed a love of the wider church and really enjoy the opportunity to connect with people. This committee has been a joyful experience.
I currently am co-chair of the PtoP Regional Council Executive.
Heather Sandilands
Notekeeper for the Committee
Heather is a Diaconal Minister serving in a rural multi-point Pastoral Charge. Originally from southern Quebec (in unceded territory of Haudenosaunee and the Wabanaki Confederacies), with extended stints of living in New Brunswick and southern Ontario, she has lived in MB and SK since 1999. Commissioned by MNWO Conference in 2004, she has served primarily small rural congregations as solo ministry personnel since 2002. Primarily a teacher-at-heart she is certified as a Spiritual Director/Companion and an SME Facilitator and has worked formally with students in all 3 streams of ministry, as well as doing education and support with Lay volunteers. She unwinds from work with music, movies, as an intermittent 4H Project Leader, and long walks with her new companion Shadow, a 1-yr old Retriever.
Silas Lee
Retired from work but not retired in serving the church. I attend the Chinese United Church of Winnipeg and am currently the chair of the steward committee. Prior to rejoining the Chinese United Church I was involved with a different church denomination where I taught Sunday school as well served in multiple different board positions. I also served as a board member at the District and North American Association levels.
Irene Chabluk
Bill Millar
Staff Support
Judy Hare
Pastoral Relations Minister
Cherry Abad
Administrative Support
