How we relate to other Christian Denominations
The original vision of The United Church of Canada was that it should be both a United and a Uniting Church. This vision arose from Jesus' prayer for his followers in the 17th chapter of John's gospel. The church's motto "that all may be one" is a quotation from John 17:21. Jesus prayed for his disciples saying, "I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me."
(John 17:20, 21)
The unity of the church is based on the eternal unity of the Father and the Son in the Holy Spirit. The church is included in that self-giving unity within God, not for its own sake but "so that the world may believe..." Just as the Father sent the Son into the world, so the Father and the Son send the church into the world to invite everyone, everywhere to join in eternal fellowship of love, light life.
The church is to be in the I world, but not of the world. Covenanting Congregations recognize all Christians, of all denominations, of all the centuries, all around the world to be our brothers and sisters in Christ. We join with them in proclaiming the exciting news that through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God's only Son, and through the work of the Holy Spirit, we come into the presence of our heavenly Father with joy. We are eternally united with all these on earth and in heaven who share in the fellowship of the Living God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
The strategy of the founders of the United Church of Canada in 1925 was to covenant around a Statement of doctrine in the Basis of Union. This statement of doctrine contains the core beliefs of the biblical, apostolic, evangelical, reformed church. All those who shared this faith were invited to join with the United Church in the expanding mission and this remained largely true until 1965. Since that time an exclusive liberal spirit has progressively excluded those who confess the core beliefs of the Christian faith contained in the Basis of Union. Simultaneously, an intolerant Unitarianism has destroyed dialogue with other evangelical, biblically-based Reformed Churches.
A Covenanting Congregations we are committed to restore that dialogue at the local, regional and national levels. We have gladly renewed our covenant with the original vision of our church as a United and Uniting Church.
This pamphlet is one of a series prepared as
commentaries on issues and topics which are of
interest and concern to individual members of
member congregations. They are provided with the
intent of stating the traditional Christian Faith
and Morality which are upheld by the congregations
of the NACC.
[Printed September 1997, revised April 1998].