United Church of Canada

The United Church of Canada was formed by Act of Parliament in 1925. It was the merger of four prominent Protestant denominations, the Presbyterians, the Methodists, the Congregationalists and the Unionists[?]. This merger was unprecedented in world history, Canada was the first country where the Protestant churches elected to pool thier resources and become one large non-dogmatic church.

The United Church is one of the most accepting of the world's large Protestant denominations. It was quick to allow female ministers[?] and has long shied away from a rigid interpretation of the bible. The United Church is also very open to homosexuals allowing homosexual ministers and just recently applauded the federal government's decision to legalize same-sex marriage.

In 1999 the limits of the Church's openess were tested when the Church's moderator, the Rev. Bill Phipps[?] commented that he was not sure the resurrection of Jesus was a scientific fact. This sparked great debate in the church, and many congregations passed motions asserting their faith in Jesus' resurrection.

Churches

Halifax Presbytery

• St. Matthew's United Church[?]

Montreal Presbytery

• Eglise Unie Saint-Jean[?]
• Erskine and American United Church[?]
• St. James United Church[?]
• Union United Church[?]

Ottawa Presbytery

• Dominion-Chalmers United Church[?]
• Glebe-St. James United Church[?]
• MacKay United Church[?]
• Merivale United Church[?]
• St. Paul's-Eastern United Church

Quebec-Sherbrooke Presbytery

• Centenary United Church[?]
• Chalmers-Wesley United Church[?]
• Eglise Unie Saint-Pierre[?]
• Plymouth-Trinity United Church[?]

Toronto South Presbytery

• Bloor Street United Church[?]
• St. Andrew's United Church[?]

Toronto West Presbytery

• Parkdale United Church[?]