Welcoming affirmation key to United Church legacy

Working together for the betterment of society was a founding principle for the United Church of Canada, and in local congregations that sentiment remains strong.

Both Steinbach and Niverville United Churches have been celebrating the church’s 100th anniversary this year, and are planning a celebration on Sunday, Nov. 2.

The service planned for 10:15 a.m. at the Steinbach United Church will reflect on 10 decades, but the story of the church goes back much farther.

The United Church was inaugurated on June 10, 1925, in Toronto, when the Methodist Church Canada, the Congregational Union of Canada and 70 percent of the Presbyterian Church in Canada entered into a union. Also joining was the small General Council of Union Churches, centered largely in Western Canada.

“It was the first union of churches in the world to cross historical denominational lines and received international acclaim,” The United Church of Canada said on their website. “The movement for church union began with the desire to coordinate ministry in the vast Canadian northwest and for collaboration on overseas missions.”

Other unions followed, and the United Church continues to live up to its name.

The Steinbach United Church traces its roots back to 1879 when a Presbyterian church was built in the district of Clearsprings. There a log building served as a church and school for 14 years until a new frame church was built.

In 1905 another Presbyterian church was opened in Giroux, (then called Steinbach Station).

In 1925, both joined the union of churches and became the United Church of Canada.

Initially summer services were held in Giroux and Clearsprings, while winter services were in Steinbach.

The church in Steinbach worshipped in various locations over the years.

In 1947 they met in the basement of Steinbach Elementary School, located where the civic centre is now. They moved to the basement of the Steinbach High School, today Steinbach Arts Council after that.

On Dec. 2, 1956, the official opening of the Steinbach church took place at their current location in the former Chortitzer Church which was moved to their property.

Steinbach and Niverville have always been entwined. The two churches were operated as the Steinbach Niverville Pastoral Charge from 1964 to 1990.

In a meeting with The Carillon in the Steinbach United Church, members of clergy and both congregations discussed their success and challenges over the years.

Clergy member Simba Mazhara serves both congregations and he reflected on how the church brought different groups of people together despite their varied views, interests and preferences.

“It’s not an easy thing,” he said. “But when you bring three institutions that come together and manage to stay together, to worship, to do ministry with different traditions and different visions. I think that’s a great thing to celebrate.

Retired clergy Jan Van Aertselaer was ordained in 1980 and served until 2013 in her official capacity, though she remains involved. She said the United Church has always been engaged in events and issues outside their walls.

“I was impressed with the way that we responded to what was going on in the world in each decade,” she said. “We pay attention to what’s happening in the world, and we find ways to respond to it or to invite people to think about it.”

“We’re not just hiding from the world but confronting it, challenging it, engaging with it and analyzing the issues in terms of Biblical knowledge and our faith stance and history,” she added. “We were rooted in the social gospel movement.”

Faith stances that are common in many churches today, often began in the United Church.

They were first to ordain a woman in 1935.

They also were the first to issue a statement affirming LGBTQ rights in 1988, though local congregations adopted that at their own pace.

Steinbach became officially affirming in 2021.

Member Gay Boese admitted that being first can attract some negative attention.

“That has created some problems for us,” she said, adding they were the subject of hateful emails and phone calls when the affirmation was announced.

But opening their door to everyone is important.

“We’re committed to being there for people no matter who they are,” Boese added.

These decisions are made based on what is sometimes decades of study and discernment and being open means also welcoming those with more traditional beliefs.

“The United Church takes anybody” is something most members have heard from people posing it as an insult.

But Mazhara said that’s something they feel is important.

“We have people who disagree with some of the fundamental positions of the national church, but they’re part of the community and we have to find a way of becoming part of the congregation as siblings in Christ as we live our faith here or in Niverville,” he said. “We treat that with respect and love.”

And affirming means much more than just the acceptance of one particular group.

“It’s race, it’s age, it’s culture, it’s economic status, ability,” Boese said.

For another congregant, Dennis Coley, what happens outside the walls of the church is very important.

“How do we partner with other faith communities to do what we’re called to do as followers of Jesus?” he asked. “We try to find ways to work together.”

The impact of the United Church on the community has been big.

Church members or the church itself have been key in Steinbach for taking part and creating World Day of Prayer, Meals on Wheels, Agape House (Steinbach and Niverville United churches), South East Helping Hands, Eden East, Steinbach Family Resource Centre, Steinbach Neighbours for Community, and the South East Equity Coalition.

Their members support a community Christmas, the family resource centre, enVision, Steinbach Community Outreach, Band of Colours, 4H, Girl Guides, Iral youth group, pick up and walk, Special Olympics, Soups On, 1Just City, Oak Table, and West Broadway Community Services.

Their members can be found donating their time Saturday mornings by helping with community compost.

In Niverville, the United Church manages and maintains the local cemetery created by their church and the Chortitzer Church for those who could not afford to inter their loved ones.

They support the Niverville Heritage Centre personal care home, Niverville Service to Seniors with Christmas care packages, prayer shawl ministry, a Christmas mitten tree with donations made to Agape House, Siloam Mission, Oak Table or elementary schools.

They also help out the local thrift shop and support Niverville Helping Hands by gathering food stuffs and offering monetary donations.

But even this list only scratches the surface for a church that believes in making the world a better place.

The United Church of Canada has also marked the occasion, creating a photographic interpretation of The Last Supper which they say celebrates diversity, faith and bold belonging, “where everyone has a place at the table”.

The image, unveiled in April on Holy Thursday or Maundy Thursday includes people of a variety of backgrounds and identities at the table.

“This reimagining calls us to rethink what it means to be a faith community – one that evolves with the times, embraces diversity and actively fosters spaces of bold belonging,” Rev. Michael Blair, general secretary of the United Church of Canada said. “It’s not enough to simply have a seat, one must have a voice and the space to bring the fullness of all who gather.”

A defining feature of this reimagining of the last supper is the absence of Jesus in physical form.

According to the United Church of Canada it underscores their ongoing commitment to advocacy, including support for LGBTQ rights, reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, racial equality, disability justice engagement in struggles for peace and human rights.

“It affirms that true belonging requires more than just tolerance; it requires action, dialogue and intentional creation of spaces where all are truly welcomed and valued,” the UCC said.