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People and organizations
Corporate body · 1921-1979

In 1921, the SCM of Canada was created. It was formed through student departments in the YMCA and YWCA as well as local Student Christian Associations. In 1926, The Student Christian Movement of Canada, University of British Columbia Branch (SCM, UBC) officially became a member of the Student Christian Movement of Canada. In 1974, the Anglican-United Campus Ministry and SCM, UBC amalgamated to form the Cooperative Christian Campus Ministry (CCCM) at UBC. In 1979, the SCM, UBC left the CCCM; campus ministry continued at UBC through the CCCM and later, United Church Campus Ministry.

Person · 1928-2021

Grant Bracewell was born in Penticton, B.C. After studying at the University of British Columbia and Union College, he was ordained by The United Church of Canada, BC Conference in 1955. He served in pastoral ministry first as a student at Honeymoon Bay, B.C., and post-ordination at Bella Coola, Trinity (Merritt), and Royal Heights (Delta). Having received a testamur in 1955, he completed the thesis requirement for his Bachelor of Divinity degree while in pastoral ministry. In 1967, he earned his Master of Library Science degree and the following year became the first theological librarian at Emmanuel College (University of Toronto) and coordinator of all the libraries of the Toronto Schools of Theology. He retired with his wife, Eleanor, in 1993 to South Surrey, B.C., where both were involved at Crescent United Church.

Bracewell served the United Church in various capacities throughout his life, both in Ontario and B.C. Among his many contributions were: Boys' Work Secretary for the BC Conference Christian Education Committee; chair of the Bella Coola General Hospital Board (1955-1958); chair of Toronto Scarborough Presbytery (1986-1987); chair of the General Council Manual Committee (1980-1986); and chair of the BC Conference Archives and History Committee (1996-2005). He was a member of numerous university and church committees, but most relevant to the archival materials was his work on the Research Committee for the Working Unit on Sexuality, Marriage, and Family (Division of Mission in Canada, 1982). In retirement, Bracewell served on the Board of the Camp Kwomais Society (1994-2004) and volunteered at the BC Conference Archives for 25 years (1993-2018).

Canadian Ecumenical Action
Corporate body · 1973-

Canadian Ecumenical Action began in 1973 as People's Opportunities in Ecumenical Mission (or POEM), for the development and support of new expressions of mission, and support of the expression of faith in work and in daily life by lay people of all churches and faiths. Rev. Val Anderson served as the founding coordinator of the new organization, which was originally organized into the Planning Board and standing committees (most prominently the Executive, the Finance Committee, and the Nominations Committee), the office, and numerous smaller committees or activity groups responsible for specific programs or projects. From the beginning, POEM served as a seedbed for other ventures, providing phone and office services, information, advertising and support through its newsletter and network of volunteers, and in some cases providing space or funding support. Many endeavours began as ventures within POEM, and eventually came to be independent.

In December 1976, POEM's name was officially changed to Canadian Ecumenical Action (CEA); however, the mission, and the organization of the work, remained substantially unchanged. Programs introduced between 1976 and 1979 included Alternatives in Justice and Corrections, the local chapter of the Canada-China Program, the Single Parent Network (also known as the Single Family Network and the Single Parent Action Network or SPAN), Poverty Focus, and the SFU Campus Ministry, among others.

By 1981, CEA's activities were clearly organized into the four divisions. Communication, Education, Community Action, and Administration, each of which had its own managing committee and reported separately to the Board.

CEA was also involved in organizing the 1983 World Council of Churches in Vancouver. CEA's orientation during this time was changing more and more towards sharing and cooperation among peoples of all faiths, rather than just Christian faiths, and in 1985 constitutional changes were made to reflect CEA's emerging identity as "a multifaith community action organization." By the early 2000s, the organization became the Multifaith Action Society, dedicated to the facilitation of interfaith education and dialogue.

Bula, Omega, d. 2023
Person · d. 2023

Omega Chilufya Bula (d. 2023) was a long-time staff member of the General Council Office of The United Church of Canada. She served in the Division of World Outreach as Area Secretary for Southern Africa and Gender Justice, as the first-ever Racial Justice Minister, and as Executive Minister of the former Justice, Global and Ecumenical Relations (JGER) and Partners in Mission Units (PIM). Her commitment to partnership led to the formation of the Partner Council, and was instrumental in shaping the Principles of Global Partnership that guide the global partnership program of The United Church of Canada today. She was also a integral member of the Roundtable for Specialized Ministries. Bula was also involved with other ecumenical programs. She was involved with the World Council of Churches Ecumenical School on Governance, Economics and Management for an Economy of Life, and the Ecumenical Panel on a New International Financial and Economic Architecture. She worked with the All Africa Council of Churches as program executive of the Women's Desk and educated women across the continent on the adverse negative impact of structural adjustment programs imposed by the World Bank and International Monetary Fund in the 1980s and 1990s. She developed videos on women, economic justice, and empowerment to mitigate against injustices experienced by African women. She also gathered women to listen and learn together how to practice life-affirming strategies and tactics. Upon retirement, she established a sustainable farm and guesthouse, providing educational and entrepreneurial support for members of her community, and worked with members of her church in Zambia and Canada to host a two-week children's camp in August, dubbed "Camp Chipembi." Omega passed away in 2023.

Corporate body · 1982-2001

The Inter-Church Coalition on Africa (ICCAF) was established in 1982 by Canadian churches as a response to issues of human rights, and social and economic justice in Africa. Member Canadian churches collaborated and shared resources in order to work in solidarity and partnership with churches in Africa. The coalition aimed to support and initiate cooperative action between Canadian and Africa churches and to provide opportunities for mutual learning. ICCAF also worked with secular organizations both in Canada and Africa. Areas of work included: research and analysis of issues related to Africa; establishing dialogue on policy to promote creating policies that support human rights and equitable and sustainable development; producing resources for Canadians to learn about Africa in order to mobilize work in solidarity with Africa; networking and strategic coalition building to enhance opportunities to work in solidarity with Africa. The ICCAF consisted of a volunteer Board representing member churches, staff, working groups, and an informal cross Canada network to support and contribute to its work. In 2001 the work of ICCAF was absorbed by KAIROS.

Corporate body · 1946-1965

The Ontario Council of Christian Education (O.C.C.E.) was an inter-church run organization for religious education in the province of Ontario with roots dating from the late nineteenth century. To provide background into the organizational history, cooperative Christian education was being organized at the provincial and local level in connection with national parent bodies. The Sunday School Association was the first cooperative organization on Christian education, originating in Quebec in 1836 and in every province by 1915. S.S.A. groups existed at the provincial, county, township, and city levels with conventions taking place annually at which time officers were elected. At the national level, the Canadian Council of Sunday School Associations, created in 1914, morphed into the Religious Education Council of Canada (ca. 1917) which also saw the formalization of denominational representation on local council groups and was established in every province by 1921. R.E.C.C. would operate under the umbrella of the Canadian Council of Churches (est. 1944) and become known as the Department of Christian Education in 1950.

For the province of Ontario, the Sabbath School Association of Canada was first established in 1865. This name would later change to the Sabbath School Association of Ontario in 1887. By 1903, the group underwent another slight name change as the Sunday School Association of Ontario. In 1914, the Ontario Advisory Committee for Cooperation in BoysÍ Work (later called Ontario BoysÍ Work Board) was formed and a year later the Ontario Advisory Committee for the Cooperation in GirlsÍ Work was also established. A few years later both these Committees would be more simply known as the Ontario Boys'/Girls' Work Boards (O.B.W.B., O.G.W.B.), respectively. These groups carried out religious education programming for children and youth, including Older BoysÍ Parliament and Canadian Girls In Training (C.G.I.T.). In 1919, the Sunday School Association of Ontario changed its name to the Ontario Religious Education Council (O.R.E.C.). In addition to Boys' and Girls' Work Boards, general programming for youngsters was under the direction of the Children's Work Board, that ran until 1963. O.R.E.C. changed its name a final time in 1946 to become the Ontario Council of Religious Education (O.C.C.E.). Established committees of the O.C.C.E. included Ministry with Older Youth, Research and Action in Cooperative Leadership Training, Rural Church in Ontario, Church and Public Education, and Church Camp/Leadership Training Committees. Formal reports released through O.C.C.E. committee work included the Brief to the Select Committee on Youth of the Ontario Legislature and Brief to the Aims and Objectives of the Public Education Committee of the [Ontario] Department of Education.

In the early 1960s, there was a shift away from cooperative programming as denominations increasingly administered their own GirlsÍ and BoysÍ work and, for instance, the joint supply depot of educational publications was discontinued. At the end 1965, the O.B.W.B. and O.G.W.B. of the O.C.C.E. were disbanded and local groups were left decide the future of their organization. At the provincial level, the O.B.W.B. became the Ontario BoysÍ Work Committee and the O.G.W.B. continued through the Ontario Provincial C.G.I.T. (C.G.I.T. also continued through the C.C.C.) with neither unit having any direct ties O.C.C.E. By 1967, the O.C.C.E. dissolved completely with denominations carrying out their own Christian education work.

Corporate body · 1921-

The Student Christian Movement of Canada (SCM), formed in 1921, is a national, student-based ecumenical organization that grew out of the Student Volunteer Movement for Foreign Missions (US) and the Young Men’s Christian Association and Young Women’s Christian Association in Canada.

In 1919, prior to the Des Moines Quadrennial Convention of the Student Volunteer Movement, Canadian delegates held a one day conference to discuss issues specific to Canadian students. At the first Canadian National Student Conference, held from December 29, 1920 to January 2, 1921 in Guelph, the Student Christian Movement of Canada was formed. The Basis and Aim of the SCM was approved at that time.

The SCM has over time focused on many social issues, including capitalism and labour; international relations and peace; race relations, including French Canada, Japanese and other minorities, Indigenous peoples; student and people’s solidarity; women’s rights; and gay and lesbian rights.

The SCM continues to be an active organization across Canada.

Canadian Council of Churches
Corporate body · 1944-

The Canadian Council of Churches was founded in 1944 as a means for Christian denominations in Canada to come together. It was founded by ten original members, and has grown to include 26 member churches representing virtually all Christian traditions.