A Letter from the Council: Part 2

Hello,

We hope this finds you enjoying the beautiful fall. The changing leaves are a sweet reminder that the world around us goes through seasons, and so do we. Each season brings new life and growth, as well as times of rest and reflection. As we mentioned in our last letter, our heart is to share with you what we, as a council, have been hearing and praying about over the past year.

Transition and Shared Leadership

Brant’s transition from senior pastor has been healthy and purposeful. After Brant’s shift, people from across UChurch came together to support our church family through the transition. Because of this, the Council has increasingly moved toward a model of shared and distributed leadership, recognizing that different people have different roles in shepherding, ministry, governance, and service. It’s important to note that the Council is not the permanent model of leadership for the church. We are serving in the interim until the Lord leads otherwise.

Brant has shared his interest in serving in broader ministry, including eldership at UChurch, campus ministry, Fatherheart ministry, support for Every Nation churches, and teaching. We are so excited to cheer him on.

The Council has also experienced a growing sense of freedom and responsibility to lead UChurch without depending on a single individual for final approval. We continue to seek God and surrender to Him as we ask how He wants us to steward UChurch.

We are also continuing to clarify the distinct roles of elders, deacons and ministry leaders, the Council, and the Board:

• Elders: spiritual leadership, theological oversight, shepherding, and protecting UChurch’s culture
• Deacons and ministry leaders: responsibility for specific areas of service and ministry
• Board: legal, charitable, financial, and governance responsibilities
• Council: temporary leadership, stewardship, and operational management of UChurch

Discovering What UChurch Carries

As this season of transition has progressed, the Council has begun looking beyond immediate stabilization toward UChurch’s future identity and calling. A central question has emerged:

What does UChurch carry, and what can we offer the church and the world around us?

The Council has been naming the qualities and ministry expressions that flow naturally from who UChurch is. Themes that have emerged include biblical theology, transformation, sonship, hospitality, prayer, outreach, community, and genuine relationship.

Rather than trying to do everything, the Council is prayerfully discerning what belongs in this season, what should come first, and who might carry each area.

Gatherings

We are choosing, in faith, to keep booking the hall in Bowness and gathering in person every other Sunday. Online gatherings will continue on the alternate Sundays, where many people who call UChurch home stay connected with the wider community.

How we gather is a significant conversation, and it isn’t finished. We’ll share more in the coming weeks and months, starting at the Family Huddle.

Family Huddle

So what is a “family huddle”? The idea comes from Barry and Jenna, who are hosting us. Their family has a rhythm of sitting down together to check in. Everyone shares their highs and lows, and there’s room to talk honestly about anything that feels tense. Then they look at the bigger picture: plans, finances, and the dreams in each person’s heart. In short, what is God doing in their family?

Our church family huddle will work the same way. As a council, we’ll share what we’ve been praying about and hearing over the past year. A huddle goes both ways, though. Each of you is part of this family, and we want to make room to hear from every one of you too.

Between now and then, we encourage you to take what we’ve shared in these letters to God in prayer. Ask Him what He is saying to you in this season, and bring that with you.

Sunday, October 18, 10 am to 12 pm, at the Shankland Shire. We’ll share the address in a separate email and in the Announcements group of our UChurch WhatsApp community. The Huddle replaces our online gathering that morning. The teens will run childcare outside, so please dress your kiddos for the weather. Snacks and drinks will be provided.

Can’t make it? Let us know what’s on your heart by emailing council@uchurch.ca, sending a text to any of us on the Council, or talking with us after a Sunday gathering. We want to hear from you too.

Sincerely,

The Council: Tara, Rowena, John, Jan, Bob, Jodie, Erick, Brant, Catharine, Dave, Sandi, Chelm, Barry & Jenna

Staff: Donna, Barb, & Erick

Board: Barb, Brant, Dave, Rob

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“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”  Acts 2:42–47 (NIV)
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