GC

Congregational Meeting ~ Sunday, December 8 following worship service In 2019 the Shining Waters Regional Council of the United Church of Canada was formed to provide support for Ministry Personnel and Faith Communities. Earlier this year, at the request of delegates from Fairlawn Avenue United Church, the Region was asked to develop a strategic plan for all of the communities of faith. The Region agreed to do this, reporting twice, in October of this year and June of next year, before presenting that plan in October of 2025. A simplistic survey was circulated by the Regional Executive that, in our opinion, dodges the responsibility of creating that strategic plan. It does not address allocation of resources, including finances. There is no immediate impact on Fairlawn but it does impact ministry in our Communities of Faith, particularly in the GTA (e.g., Saint Luke's). We would like to take this out to other churches, creating momentum for change. Our request to Fairlawn is that you endorse this wider action and provide some insight we can, collectively, take to the Region. This may or may not include a recommendation that we communicate to the Region that they need to resource this process properly, perhaps even the dedication two staff to do this work.