Highlights of the meeting of the Executive of Toronto Conference held
January 13, 2007, and meetings of the sub-Executive
held December 13 and December 20, 2006

The Executive of Toronto Conference met at Fairlawn Heights United Church in Toronto South Presbytery on January 13.  The sub-Executive met at the Conference Office on December 13 and by conference call December 20.

1. Racial Justice:  Following a presentation on Racial Justice in the Workplace led by Wenh-In Ng, Conference Minister of Social Justice and Ethnic Ministries, the Executive.  passed a motion encouraging presbyteries and congregations to implement the documents: Ending Racial Harassment: Creating a Healthy Workplace, and That All May Be One, the UCC’s Anti-Racism Policy.

2. Assets from the Sale of Church Property: The Executive established a fund to use the interest generated from the sale of church property to support experimental ministries. The fund will be managed by the Mission Support Committee but separate from their other mandated work. Applications will be received by the Mission Support Committee for consideration at their annual consultation.

3. Marriage Policy:   From time to time Conference is required to up-date its marriage policy to keep it in compliance with Province of Ontario regulations or changes in Conference practices.  The draft document- proposed changes to Conference marriage policy was referred to the MPE Committee. The updated version of the document will be brought to the March 31 Executive meeting.

4. Committee for Racial Justice: Survey Report: John Young Jung Lee presented the Survey Report for the Committee and requested that feedback be sent to him at johnleeucc@simpatico.ca.

5. Emergency preparedness: Materials available on the Church website http://www.united-church.ca/duty/ were presented to and discussed by, the Executive.

6. Beverly Hills property interim report: This report was received for information. The Executive was asked to consider the recommendations in preparation for the presentation of a final report at the March 31 meeting.

7. Annual meeting planning: Catherine Hions updated the Executive on the planning for the Annual meeting. Considerable table group time has been included in the proposed agenda for discussion and decision regarding the reports from the task groups on governance and presbytery concerns. During February and March the task groups will be in consultation with presbyteries and Conference committees.

8. Designation of a historic site: Elizabeth Lundy, archives, submitted a notice of motion proposing that the 1845 Victoria Square chapel be designated as an historical site. In addition, Elizabeth called for submission of suitable buildings for designation as historic sites.

9. Nominations:  Cathie Ellarby was appointed the Conference’s representative to Ontario CGIT. (Dec. 13.)

10. Affirming Ministry Report: The sub-Executive, acting upon the recommendation of the task group on the Conference becoming an Affirming Ministry, made a decision to take no action at this time on entering a process of becoming an Affirming Ministry, and referred to the Division of Ministry Personnel and Education and the Conference Staff Committee the recommendations from the task group’s report. (Dec. 13.)

12.Archival agreement: the sub-Executive affirmed that the Conference accept the November 27, 2006 proposal from the General Council regarding the payment for archival services (Appendix B), and that the shortfall be taken from the five percent of money received from the sale of church property, i.e. the five percent of money available for archives and other Conference purposes. (Dec. 13.)

The Executive of Conference will meet again on March 31, 2007.  The sub-Executive will meet as required.

To receive excerpts from the minutes as noted above, please contact Larysa Kazyeva at lgray@torontoconference.ca.