Pastor Christina Reflects on some key moments at the ARW Regional Council Fall 2025 Meeting…
The ARWRC meeting, held under the theme of “Seasons”, was a powerful moment of spiritual and vision assessment. It was deeply refreshing and invigorating. Despite the sobering data that reminds us of institutional challenges, the spirit moving through our conversations was undeniably hopeful. Witnessing the diversity—youth, elders, Indigenous individuals, and minorities collaborating—affirmed that our church is in good hands if we continue to mentor.
The gospel calls us to a ministry of radical belonging. Our regional council is grounded in the Affirming Ministry Vision of safety, sanctuary, and unconditional love. The profound significance of the United Church’s apology to the 2 Spirit and LGBTQIA+ communities was a highlight for many GC45 commissioners, moving beyond mere words to becoming a catalyst for meaningful action over the coming years. As Moderator Kim Heath reminds us, living into our vision requires us to be bold in following Jesus and daring in standing with courage in places of injustice.
The “Towards 2035” initiative forced us to look honestly at current trends, causing some initial shock, but ultimately providing comfort that the General Council and regions are focused on solutions. We must heed the ancient wisdom to “perceive” the new thing God is doing.
As we map out our mission, we are invited to ponder on the question: “How can we be the church that Canada needs in 2035 and beyond?” Our strategy must be driven by faith, not fear. We are urged by our UCC “growth animators” to stop obsessing over the “rocks” (the unavoidable crises like building expenses) and instead fix our focus on the clear path we want to ride. The goal is a resilient and inspired diverse church. This resilience is built through intentional actions, such as developing tools to accompany local churches, providing neighbourhood profiles for discernment, and equipping leaders to strengthen humility and confidence in sharing faith.
If we are co-creating a new future, we must plant high-yield seeds today. Brenna Baker’s presentation on Planned Giving emphasized that this work creates “shade” in the future. This means considering how our generosity ensures the long-term sustainability of vital ministries.
We are called to action particularly for the First Third Ministries (ministering to the 0–30 age range). Camping ministry continues to be the front line for Christian Education and Leadership Development. To solidify this investment, a proposal was accepted to establish a 5% Camping Ministry Fund derived from the proceeds of regional property sales. This steady income is essential to help camps meet operational costs and continue providing faith-filled communities.
Saturday included a touching “In Memorial” segment. This segment served to remember the “saints that have gone before us”, highlighting several individuals: Rev. Douglas Hall, Kevin Coad, Matthew Etches, Ted Alexander (GC 39 Commissioner), Rev. Victor Brown, Lise Landsborough (General Council Commissioner), and Rev. Dr. Joseph Driskill.
The message from President Richard Auckland echoes throughout: whether we feel we are in the “spring” of a new role or the “autumn” of a career, we all have a role to play in God’s world. We are encouraged to breathe deeply, acknowledge what we’ve accomplished, and heed the call to get involved in this hopeful season of transformation.
From the heart of Siloam … reaching out to God’s world,
Pastor Christina