Q: What is happening with the creation of the 100 new communities of faith announced in the strategic plan?
A: As we continue to close churches, the creation of new communities of faith has taken on a new urgency. But as Rev. Cameron Fraser, director of growth and ministry development for the General Council office, told me in an email, creating new communities is not all of the plan. He calls the goal of 100 new faith communities “attention grabbing.” And he adds that the six regionally deployed growth animators have been supporting existing communities of faith through workshops and conversations.
As for how many new communities have been started? None so far. But church leaders like Fraser have identified 40 potential opportunities in high-priority areas. These are identified as migrant, diasporic and francophone communities.
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Potential opportunities are important, but the key question for me is where the money will come from to support them. Hillhurst United in Calgary has launched a second site, which is rare these days. When it approached its region and the national church for financial assistance, it was told there were no funds available. Fraser says the church hasn’t allocated money for this purpose right now, but that growth animators are working with regions to identify “possibilities for new communities in regional priority areas,” as well as the internal and external resources needed to pursue them.
I hope the money to support this effort can be found soon. Without appropriate and sustainable funding, not one of these new communities of faith will happen.
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Rev. Christopher White is a United Church minister who lives in Hamilton. Do you have a query for Question Box? Email christopher.white143@gmail.com.
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