The mission of the BC Conference Executive is:

• healthy congregations and ministries;
• effective leadership;
• faithful public witness.

The vision of BC Conference Executive regarding “Healthy Congregations and Ministries” is:

Mission that:

• is clear and articulated
• is rooted in United Church of Canada heritage;
• is part of the global body of Christ

Worship and Spirituality that:

• is rooted in scripture, tradition, and our lived experience;
• builds up the body of Christ;
• is inspired and inspiring;
• nurtures personal and corporate spiritual growth

Leadership that:

• is gifted and led by the Spirit
• is fittingly trained and equipped;
• has a clear, shared mission and vision;
• is empowered by and empowering of the congregation
• is able to recognize and respond to conflict

Evangelism that:

• is grounded in the gospel story, appropriated in a deep, life-giving faith
• is shared and spoken with the spirit of enthusiasm and love
• is the outpouring of a joyful life

Fellowship that:

• deepens relationships as brothers and sisters in Christ
  • is deeply joyful even when sharing sorrow
• is caring, safe and respectful
• reconciles conflict and hurts
• is welcoming of all ages and cultures

Discipleship that:

• calls every person into the faithful service of Jesus;
• honours and builds up the individual gifts of all;
• is grounded in the Christian story and responsive to the world
• calls out sacrificial giving
  • money
  • time
  • talents

Outreach and Service that:

• embodies the love and communion of Christ both locally and globally
• responds sacrificially to the needs of the world from a sense of gratitude
• initiates action in a timely manner

Organizational Structures that:

• embody the vision, purpose and goals of the congregation
• are accessible to all
  •  transparent decision-making
  •  transparent communication
• are functional and efficient
  • recognize and respond well to conflict

The vision of BC Conference Executive regarding “Effective Leadership” is:

The church longs for leadership that passionately proclaims the gospel and so we seek

• leadership that it is rooted in the biblical narrative;
• leadership that is being transformed / converted by the good news;
• leadership that is in service to Jesus Christ;
• leadership that dares to risk speaking the truth in love;
• leadership whose way of life bears witness to their faith;
• leadership with evident spiritual gifts (teaching/preaching/healing)
• leadership that is called and set apart
• leadership with knowledge and understanding of United Church polity.

This kind of leadership

• leads people into life within the biblical story;
• leads the community in its covenanted relationship with God;
• leads by building up the community, Body of Christ, Church, and the people of God;
• leads in ways appropriate to the cultural context.

The vision of BC Conference Executive regarding “Faithful Public Witness” is:

• witness that is:
  • practiced by congregations, presbyteries, conference, leaders and members
  • grounded in the scriptural and theological basis of public witness and action;
  • grounded in prayer and spiritual disciplines;
  • empowered and able to act;
  • well-informed about the major social and cultural issues facing the church and world.
• Conference and coalition-based educational and advocacy initiatives in the areas of:
  • right relationships with First Nations brothers and sisters, including just treaty negotiations
  • and residential school resolution;
  • provincial government policies;
  • racial justice;
  • HIV/AIDS.

As we work toward this vision of Faithful Public Witness, we shall:

1. act with integrity

• ensuring our faith and actions are congruent

2. respect diversity

• consulting with others, honoring the views of others

3. collaborate with others in the church and community

• in particular, in the UCC and among coalition groups

4. be pro-active

• initiating action and willing to take risks

5. be prophetic

• offering challenge to injustice, comfort to the afflicted.