Mutually Affirms The United Church of Canada’s and the United Methodist Church’s Clergy

Logos courtesy of United Methodist Communications and with permission of The United Church of Canada – from the United Methodist News website

~ from a post dated June 9, 2026 on The United Church of Canada’s Facebook page

The United Church of Canada General Council Executive and the United Methodist Council of Bishops, at separate meetings this spring, each approved an interim covenant that mutually affirms both denominations’ clergy and opens the door to greater cooperation across national borders.

The covenant also declares the leaders’ intention to propose a formal relationship between the two denominations to their top policymaking bodies — the United Methodist General Conference and the Canadian church’s General Council. Both assemblies are next set to meet in 2028.

The denominations’ leaders see the interim agreement as a crucial step toward full communion between the two denominations.

“I think that it’s a critical step forward in building the relationship with The UMC,” said United Church General Secretary Michael Blair. “But also, I think one of the payoffs will be how we support migrant Methodist communities here in Canada.”

For more information, see this post dated June 8, 2026 on the United Methodist News website.