The Living Presence Ministry is the name that has been given to a new initiative of Living Waters Presbytery and the congregations in and close to the Queensville area. The project, led by a local steering group and facilitated by staff from Council’s Centre for Church Development & Leadership, is designed to strengthen the existing congregations and to establish a new form of ‘pioneer’ ministry in what will eventually be a new town of 30,000 people. Learn more about this unique project, and check out the job description for the new community pioneer minister here.  

Five new Baillie Volunteer Service Award recipients were named by Council’s Church Development Committee earlier this summer. The new group includes young people from congregations in Toronto, Markham, Brampton and Barrie. As well as being very engaged in their local congregations, the new award winners have shown leadership in a wide range of service activities: hospital councils, peer tutoring, the creation of emergency weather resilience hubs, Syrian refugee work, peer career days, and university campus initiatives. Click here to find out more about the recipients, and how you could nominate a young person or young adult from your congregation. 

United Church camps are in session! A recent Toronto Star article explored Camp Big Canoe's preparations to receive this summer's campers. It's a big job! Some of the kids who will attend Big Canoe this year are among the 600 who will receive assistance with their camp fees from Council's Camping opportunities fund. Council's most recent e-newsletter shares the story of how camp made a difference in the life of a youth who was struggling and offers information on how you can help send kids to camp.

The 8th annual Heart & Vision Awards Concert was presented on Monday May 9th 2016 to great acclaim. Roberta L. Jamieson and Marie Wilson were honoured for their work contributing to the process of reconciliation between First Nations and Canadians of immigrant heritage. You can view a video recap of the concert here or read about it in the July/August edition of Insight.

The Vincent Alfano Fund is ready to receive its first applications. Congregations, mission units or individuals can now apply for internship or other project funding that meets the Fund’s focus on learning opportunities for future church leaders.  Up to $10,000 per annum will be available, plus an amount for training programs. Click here for application guidelines and forms.

Council's Partners publications focus on how planned giving can help further the work of the church. The most recent issue highlights Council's endowment funds - how they got started and how you can help them continue. Click here to view Partners Issue 3 or contact Council to request a print copy.

Council is now accepting donations on our website! Click here to visit our donation page and make a gift to the fund of your choice (online donations will still be processed by Canada Helps).

On October 16 2016, Council's Pass It On! team and teams from our five partner camps will participate in the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon's Charity Challenge to raise funds for United Church camping. Contact Ali Hayes at (905) 771-5124 if you would like to walk or run. You can choose from three distances - marathon, half-marathon, or 5k - and fundraise for one of the camps or for all of them!

Sign up for Council's Connecting Resources with Ministry Newsletter or watch a new video about Council's work here.

Did you know that Council is on facebook? "Like" Council's facebook page to receive event invitations, and view photos and videos of Council events.