What is a Remit?
In case you haven’t heard there are significant changes being proposed to how The United Church of Canada is structured. Over the next year the Joint Pastoral Charge Board is being asked to vote on a number of Remits. It is important that all members and adherents in Young’s Point and Lakefield understand what these votes are about and express your thoughts and concerns to the members of the Joint Board to assist them in their decision-making. While members of the Board are entitled to vote as they see fit, it is important for them to have a sense of the thoughts of the congregation. In order to help us understand what the votes are about the Rev. Wendy Bulloch has agreed to write a few educational pieces that will appear in the church bulletin and on our new website.
So what in the world is a Remit? In 1925 when the founding denominations (The Methodists Presbyterians, and Congregationalists) joined to form The United Church of Canada, they created a governing document called “The Basis of Union”. From that time on, if the church wants to make a change in the Basis of Union, the General Council must first approve a remit. The remit question is then put to the presbyteries and sometimes pastoral charges, which must approve it by absolute majority. (An absolute majority is a majority of all those entitled to vote and not just those who do vote). Any Pastoral Charge or Presbytery who chooses not to vote are automatically counted as a negative vote. If the vote is approved by the voting bodies, the third step is for the next General Council to also agree to the proposed change.
There are two distinct kinds of remits. Category 3 remits are those which will result in a significant change to the Basis of Union. They must be approved by both an absolute majority of pastoral charges and presbyteries, then by the next General Council. In comparison, category 2 remits are for proposals that will not bring significant changes to the Basis of Union. This might include minor wording changes or a change to an existing policy that is not substantive. They need only be approved by presbyteries and General Council.
Please watch this corner for further information or check out the material on The United Church of Canada website at http://gc42.ca/remits, under Resources and view the attachments.
REMIT CORNER #2: WHO VOTES ON A REMIT?
REMIT CORNER #3: REMIT 1- THREE COUNCIL MODEL
REMIT CORNER #4: REMIT 4- FUNDING THE NEW MODEL
REMIT CORNER #5: REMIT 6- ONE ORDER OF MINISTRY
REMIT CORNER #6: REMIT 3- OFFICE OF VOCATION
REMIT CORNER #7: REMIT 2- ELIMINATION OF TRANSFER & SETTLEMENT
