The United Church of Canada is a mainline protestant denomination formed in 1925 through a union of Methodist, Presbyterian, Congregational, and other Christian churches. Our membership in the World Council of Churches links us to a fellowship of churches that confess the Lord Jesus Christ as God and Saviour according to the scriptures. The Bible is the shared standard for our faith.
From time to time, The United Church of Canada produces statements of faith that articulate our theology in the language of the time. Four faith statements have been recognized as doctrine (subordinate to the primacy of scripture): A Song of Faith (2006), A New Creed (1968), A Statement of Faith (1940) and Twenty Articles of Doctrine (1925).
- Members are not required to adhere to any particular creed or formulation of doctrine, but are asked to profess their faith in the triune God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - and to commit themselves to faithful conduct in the church and in the world.
- Ministers are required to be in "essential agreement" with the four statements of faith.
As a pastoral charge of the United Church of Canada, and as an affirmation of our collective faith, Grace United Church recites A New Creed (1968) during Sunday worship service. Additionally, our pastoral charge has occasionally produced statements of purpose or vision.
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.
We are called to be the Church;
People of all sexual orientations and gender identities
In full participation in the life and work of our ministry.
To celebrate God’s presence;
Gathered around a safe and open table and font.
To live with respect in Creation;
Committed to inclusion and celebrating diversity.
To love and serve others;
Respecting and celebrating differences.
To seek justice and resist evil;
Challenging the power of class, race, sex, age, and ability.
To proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen, our judge and our hope;
Confident that God will guide us.
God's grace shines in our celebrating people.
We grow in faith together and share our love of Jesus Christ.
We welcome challenges, confident that God will guide us.
In response to God's call, and in accordance with God's plan the purpose of Grace United Church is to be a community of faith and love celebrating God's presence and forgiveness, united in God's spiritual gifts to draw all people to God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.