The United Church of Canada Act
provides
26. The Basis of Union set forth in Schedule A to this Act is hereby
ratified and confirmed as such, and in so far as the terms and provisions
thereof relating to polity and administration are not inconsistent with
the provisions of this Act they shall have the same force and effect as
if expressly set out herein.
28. Notwithstanding anything in this Act contained, it is hereby declared:-
(b) That nothing in this Act contained shall be deemed to limit the independent
and exclusive right and power of The United Church to legislate in all
matters concerning its doctrine, worship, discipline and government, including
therein the right and power from time to time to frame, adopt, alter, change,
add to or modify its laws, subordinate standards and formulas and to determine
and declare the same or any of them, but subject to the conditions and
safeguards in that behalf contained in the Basis of Union.
(c) That the United Church by virtue of its independent and exclusive right
and power to legislate in respect of the matters mentioned in the next
preceding sub-section has the right to unite with any other church or religious
denomination without loss of its identity upon such terms as it may find
to be consistent with the principles, doctrines and religious standards
set forth in the Basis of Union, or any amendment thereof made by the General
Council under the provisions of the Basis of Union.
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Schedule A [The Basis of Union as subsequently revised]
8.6 The General Council shall have full power:
8.6.2 (1) to legislate on matters respecting the doctrine, worship, membership,
and government of the Church, subject to the following conditions:
(a) First, that before any rule or law relative to these matters can become
a permanent law, it must receive the approval of a majority of the Presbyteries,
and, if advisable, Pastoral Charges also. It shall be considered advisable
to obtain the approval of a majority of Pastoral Charges also only if the
General Council has determined that the proposed rule or law involves a
substantive change that, in the opinion of the General Council:
i. alters the nature of the courts of the Church;
ii. significantly changes the structures of the Church;
iii. redefines the Church's understanding of ministry;
iv. affects the articles of faith except for gender language applied to
human beings;
v. changes the baptismal formula or vows made upon ordination or commissioning;
vi. moves a section from this Basis of Union to the By-Laws; or
vii. alters the Church's understanding of membership.
(b) Second, that no terms of admission to full membership shall be prescribed
other than those laid down in the New Testament.
(c) And third, that the freedom of worship at present enjoyed in the negotiating
Churches shall not be interfered with in the United Church;
(2) to legislate on all matters respecting property, subject to the limitations
elsewhere provided in the Basis of Union, and subject also to the approval
of the Conference in which the property is situated; |
and
...anything done in pursuance of this Act shall not be deemed to be
a breach of any such trust but shall be deemed to be in compliance therewith
and a performance thereof, and the entry of any congregation into The United
Church shall not be deemed a change of its adherence or principles or doctrines
or religious standards within the meaning of any such trust; [The
United Church of Canada Act article 15] |
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