1938: United Church Of Canada, The

The United Church of Canada, merging the Congregational Churches of Canada, the Presbyterian Church in Canada, the Methodist Church (Canada), in 1938 raised a total of $11,500,000 for all purposes. The membership, divided up into 7,423 congregations, stood at 700,000, with 1,800,000 persons receiving pastoral oversight. The total value of property owned is over $110,000,000.

During the year the most important events in the life of The United Church were the adoption of the constitution of the proposed World Council of Churches; the decision to amalgamate The New Outlook and The Church Record so as to form a new national Church paper; an agreement with Presbyterians who did not enter union in 1925, enabling them to use legally the name 'The Presbyterian Church in Canada'; a provision to change the tenure of the Moderatorship from two years to one year to enable pastors to occupy the office; the launching of a campaign to raise $4,000,000 in order to wipe out an accumulated deficit on the Missionary and Maintenance Fund and to increase the reserves of the Pension Fund.

At the General Council held in September, the Rev. John W. Woodside of Ottawa was elected Moderator; Rev. Charles Endicott was appointed Acting Secretary of the Missionary and Maintenance Committee; Rev. J. R. Mutchmor was chosen to head the Board of Evangelism and Social Service. The Rev. Jesse Arnup represented the Church at the International Mission Council at Madras.

The United Church of Canada has increased confidence in the purpose which over thirteen years ago brought about Church union. In spite of a severe economic depression every area of settlement in Canada and Newfoundland has received the ministrations of the Church during the year. The Foreign Missionary enterprises have also been maintained in South China, West China, Central India, North Korea, Trinidad, Honan and Africa.