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 the Pastoral Oversight Committees in Presbyteries.

COMMITTEE ON COMMUNITY OF FAITH SUPPORT MANDATE

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

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, re-imagining or ???
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/services/taxes/charities.html

COMMITTTEE 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. Recently, I have been Co-Chair of the Regional Council and Chair of the Annual Meeting Planning Committee (2026).

Heather Sandilands

Notekeeper for the Committee

Heather is a Diaconal Minister serving Urban Rural Collaborative Ministry, including McClure United Church, Winnipeg and Rosser-Grosse Isle United Church.

SILAS LEE

Retired from work but not retired from serving the church. I attend the Chinese United Church of Winnipeg and am currently the chair of the steward committee.