Origin

On June 10, 1925, the Presbyterian Church in Canada, the Methodist Church, the Congregational Union and the Western Local Union of Churches amalgamated to create the United Church of Canada. The union was celebrated by over 8000 members at the Mutual Street Arena in Toronto. It had taken more than twenty-five years to craft the statement of doctrine and polity (based on scriptural beliefs of the denominations) that has appeared at the beginning of our manuals.

Beliefs

The twenty Articles of Faith spell out the beliefs in God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit), in Prayer, Sacraments (Baptism and the Lord's Supper), Resurrection, Service and the Final Triumph. In 1966 a plan of Union was worked out with the Evangelical United Bretheren Church. The salient feature of the United Church's faith traditions have been summed up in "The New Creed" put forth by the General Council of the United Church of Canada in 1968.

The New Creed

We are not alone, we live in God's world. We believe in God: who has created and is creating,
who has come in Jesus, the Word made flesh, to reconcile and make new,
who works in us and others by the Spirit.

We trust in God

We are called to be the Church: to celebrate God's presence, to live with respect in Creation,
to love and serve others, to seek justice and resist evil, to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen,
our judge and our hope. In life, in death, in life beyond death,
God is with us.

We are not alone. Thanks be to God.

Practice

Prayers and rituals have been fairly fluid in The United Church of Canada. Music and Service Books have been revised about every twenty-five years. The Church is committed to interfaith dialogue and has standing committees working on peace and justice issues.

At present there are four "courts" within the United Church organization: the Congregation, the Presbytery, the Conference, and the General Council. In the Montreal-Ottawa Conference of the United Church there are five presbyteries. In the Ottawa Presbytery of the United Church of Canada there are seventy congregations served by almost the same number of ordained / commissioned clergy and staff associates.