Yesterday was our 95th birthday – well for the United Church that is. 95 years ago thousands crowded into the Mutual Street arena in Toronto to witness the coming together of the Methodist, Congregationalist and 70% of the Presbyterian congregations of Canada as well as some Union Churches that had been fledgling cooperative ventures in the west.
It was a day of high excitement and celebration but it did lead to a season of bewilderment and confusion as congregations re-organized and lived into the new reality. Some congregations had too many ministers, organists and Sunday School superintendents when people left one congregation to join another. Some were left bereft as the newly minted denomination sorted things out. Neighbours squabbled as some remained firmly where they had always worshiped and others joined this new denomination.
The United Church has always had as it’s underlying attitude the words written on its crest, “That all may be one”, a line of scripture from John’s gospel. And over the years since union has engaged in conversations with other denominations to consider broadening the union. The United Church has always witnessed with the theology that we are stronger together and has always tried to broaden the umbrella, or lengthen the table, whichever is your metaphor of choice, in order to offer people a place to explore and grow in faith and spirituality. It has not always been easy. The United Church has often been at the forefront in its challenge to prevailing social issues and that has sometimes resulted in discomfort and unease for it’s members, despite that, it has tried to stay true to its social gospel roots.
I love the United Church, despite its shortcoming and foibles. I was baptized into the United Church when I was 3 months old and it has been in my blood and livelihood all my life. Like any institution it has been strong and weak, had successes and failures, increased and declined, done things right and done things wrong. Throughout, it has always looked to the future.
There was no cake, no balloons, no singing yesterday for a 95th birthday party but one friend sent an email, “Happy 95th Birthday United Church, always part of my life.” So today, the delight of remembering lingers. Over the years there have been The Basis of Union, The Statement of Faith, The Creed, The Song of Faith, each, in their own nuance, reminding us that “we are not alone”. Thanks be to God.
