Rev. Michael Blair has been appointed the new general secretary of the United Church of Canada, replacing Nora Sanders, who is retiring.
Blair has worked for the past eight years as the executive minister for the Church and Mission Unit in the General Council Office, according to a United Church press release. The Church in Mission Unit upholds relationships with the church’s global partners, runs advocacy campaigns and develops faith formation resources for the church.
He will start his new role on Nov. 1.
Sanders said in the release that she has worked with Blair for 12 years.
“I know his deep faith and sense of call to continue the life and work of the United Church in this time, with all its complexities,” she said. “He is also well known in ecumenical circles and to many of our international partners, so he brings a broad horizon of expertise to the role.”
The general secretary is the top administrator of General Council, the denomination’s highest court.
Sanders announced her retirement last fall. In the position since 2007, she shepherded the United Church through major structural changes that took effect last year. Under her watch, the church moved from four courts to three — Presbyteries were eliminated, and Conferences became Regions, albeit with new boundaries.
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Emma Prestwich is Broadview‘s digital editor.
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Comments
Sheldon LeGrow says:
He is well known in ecumenical circles and to international partners. That's good. Hopefully he will also understand that love, compassion, acceptance, empathy, sharing, forgiveness, love, justice and living a life attuned to the teaching of Jesus are the qualities of a good minister rather than thinking that one must adhere to a particular "right" belief. God is real but these gifts of God go beyond what is formulated by religious people. One doesn't have to "believe" in a particular way of seeing or experiencing God in order to provide comfort and spiritual guidance. One must only ask God, however they experience her/him to work through them in offering guidance and love and respect. This is the basis of good ministry. Congratulations Michael.
Gillian MacLean says:
Your support of the black lives movement, funneling our money (mission and service) into their cause is racist. All lives matter, that is the Christian way, especially in this pandemic. In Christian Love, Gillian MacLean.