What is a Remit? - In the United Church of Canada, Remits are special types of Votes that give our General Council permission to alter the Basis of Union.
To read more about this in detail, search through the online copy of the latest edition of the Manual that just came into effect on September 28, 2016. This definition of a remit involves a highly technical church use of this common english word. You cannot find it properly defined in the Manual, or in a dictionary. In fact, it is defined only by context in the Manual . Its first use in the Manual occurs in Section F. INITIATING ACTION OR CHANGE (page 116, The Manual, United Church of Canada), beginning with the words:
"The courts* of the United Church work in relationship with each other in different ways on governance matters. Two of those ways are through
(a) proposals; and
(b) remits. "
*(The United Church is organized into four levels, or courts. The four courts are
(a) the governing body of the pastoral charge;
(b) the presbytery;
(c) the Conference; and
(d) the General Council.)
In fact a proposal (different from a remit ) is defined explicitly by the words:
A “proposal” is a formal request for a court to take action. It is one way that a United Church member may raise an issue that is important to them and ask for the church to take action on it.
The only definition of remits is given on Page 125 of the Manual :
The General Council may change the Basis of Union only if the change is approved through a remit. A “remit” is a vote (or ratification of special classes of proposals - added by R.F. Code) by presbyteries or by presbyteries and pastoral charges to change the Basis of Union.
To make matters even more confusing, there are three categories of remits, which are in turn contextually defined on page 125 of the Manual .
But what do I really need to know? - click on the following links and read the recent documents entitled A letter to Pastoral Charges (Feb 2016) and Frequently asked questions about the eight remits now before the church .
For more complete UPDATED JAN 2017 FAQs and Document information, click on the link http://www.gc42.ca/remits .
EUC study sessions on the United Church Remit Process: The United Church of Canada is currently discerning and voting on several remits, which, if passed, could dramatically alter the structure of the national denomination. Our church council will be voting on these remits in the coming months, but we would appreciate the feedback and questions of the congregation. We want to provide you with several opportunities to learn about and discuss the remits. We will have 3 one hour long sessions from 9-10am on Sundays March 12th, 19th and April 2nd before church, and one "power session" for two hours either on a weeknight or Saturday morning (exact time and date TBD). Please speak to Rev. Brenna or John Hurst with any questions.