Social Justice In Our World
Increasingly in recent years our notion of social justice has evolved and grown to encompass a broad spectrum of concerns. In each of the areas The United Church of Canada through the London Conference Office recognizes and willingly accepts that there is a meaningful role to perform in advocacy, reform, accompaniment, and moral support.

The following is not intended as an all-inclusive or exhaustive listing, but rather an example of some of the ways in which our faithfulness compels us to respond to social justice concerns

Justice issues:
· disclose and focus attention upon instances of both domestic and foreign injustice;
· publically stand in solidarity in denouncing all unjust practices;
· meaningfully and faithfully advocate on behalf of the victims of injustice;
· work in collegial co-operation with other agencies promoting social justice;
· seek effective methods of applying pressure for legislative reform;
· engage in educational programmes to increase awareness of unjust policies and practices;
· assist in the provision of sanctuary and humane immigration for refugee victims of foreign political/military injustice;
· assist in the repatriation of former refugees for whom it is now safe to return to the place of origin, and who have expressed a wish to do so.  

Armed Conflict & Peace:
· be vigilant in denouncing any resort to armed conflict or military intervention;
· actively advocate for the cessation of all armed conflict;
· support the efforts of appropriate international judicial agencies in the prosecution of senior level belligerents;
· work in collegial co-operation with other agencies promoting the peaceful resolution of conflict;
· continuously advocate on behalf of civilians unavoidably caught within conflict;
· support the safe and humane repatriation of all persons displaced by conflict;
· denounce the use of “child-soldiers”, and advocate for their effective treatment and full re-integration into society;
· denounce the perpetration of sexual harassment/assault as a form of  military/political intimidation, and advocate for the effective treatment and full re-integration of victims into society.

Global Imperialism:
· promotion of Fair-Trade products and companies;
· elimination of “sweat-shop” and child labour practices;
· actively support and encourage indigenous commercial endeavours;
· advocate for the elimination of restrictive foreign indebtedness;
· ensure that to as great a degree as possible, all overseas mission funding is expended in support of local enterprises in the host community;       
· enhance consumer awareness of the positive effects of enlightened purchasing practices;
· be vigilant in denouncing any corporation that utilizes unacceptable production standards;
· support the boycotting of items that do not conform to acceptable production standards;
· oppose all attempts, domestic or foreign, to privatize the supply and distribution of water;
· maintain opposition to the commodification or inclusion of water in any international trade or treaty negotiations;
· monitor and enforce the exclusion of bottled water in all United Church facilities;
· encourage the exclusive use of locally grown foods in all United Church hosted events.

Equality:
· be vigilant in denouncing any domestic or foreign instances of inequality;
· increase awareness of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights;
· demand the acceptance and ratification by the Government of Canada, of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples;
· seek effective measures to pressure for the reform of inequitious legislation;
· support and advocate on behalf of those who are the victims of inequality;
· work in collegial co-operation with other agencies promoting equality;
· encourage the broader recognition and prompt amelioration of potentially inequitious policies and practices;
· increase understanding and appreciation of racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity;
· foster enhanced relations with faith communities drawn from other religious traditions;
· promote the expansion of right relationships between Native and non-Native individuals and communities;
· Insist that the Government of Canada establish a policy framework for the negotiation and full implementation of contemporary treaties between Aboriginal peoples and the Crown.

Marginalization:
· acknowledge that any form of marginalization ultimately seeks to deny the unalienable rights of an individual or group;
· stand in solidarity with all persons who have experienced any form of marginalization;
· speak clearly and articulately on behalf of those whose voice has been silenced or ignored through marginalization;
·  engage in educational programmes to increase awareness of policies, practices, and terminology that serve to marginalize, alienate, or disenfranchise individuals or groups;
· advocate for the appropriate inclusion of all individuals and groups into the overall fabric of contemporary multi-cultural society.

Poverty:
· publically acknowledge that within the Canadian context poverty amounts to a systemic social injustice and failure of public policy;
· stand in solidarity with all persons who have been victimized by policies, practices, and legislation that serves to perpetuate poverty;
· tacit recognition that ceaseless acquisition of material wealth by the majority of society, inevitably results in the increased impoverishment of a constantly growing minority;
· relentlessly pressure for the total elimination of poverty through socially responsible legislation;
· advocate fair and realistic levels of financial support for income assistance programmes;
· engage in educational initiatives to increase awareness concerning poverty, and what processes might be engaged to bring about its ultimate elimination.

Gender & Sexual Orientation Rights:
· publicly acknowledgement of any form of discrimination based upon distinctions of either gender or sexual orientation, as sinfully opposed to the intended inclusivity of all humanity;
· engage in educational initiatives to increase awareness of the policies, practices, and terminology that serve to discriminate on the basis of gender or sexual orientation;
· publically stand in solidarity in denouncing any organization or individual whose policies or practices serve to promote discrimination based upon either gender or sexual orientation;
· promote the meaningful participation and integration of all persons within society without regard for either gender or sexual orientation;
· advocate against any legislation, or any attempt to re-introduce amendments, that would serve to limit or restrict the rights of individuals based upon either gender or sexual orientation;
· support equal remuneration for work of equal value without consideration to either gender or sexual orientation.

Mission & Service Fund

Mandate:
The unified budget and financial resources of the Mission & Service Fund is the method by which The United Church of Canada ensures that its commitment to both domestic and overseas mission achieves practical reality. Through the combining of contributions from each and every congregation of the church, significant and sustainable mission initiatives can be undertaken.

Duties:   
· Engage in an ongoing programme of education concerning the efforts and accomplishments of the Mission & Service Fund.
· Visitation of congregations during Sunday worship to enhance appreciation of how their contributions are utilized by the Mission & Service Fund;
· Foster and expand a functional collegial relationship between those engaged as Mission & Service Fund Enthusiasts in every congregation;
· Provide support and resources to all those engaged as congregational Mission & Service Fund Enthusiasts;
· Ensure the routine distribution of Mission & Service Fund promotional material and updating of current statistical information.

Stewardship

Mandate:
Stewardship in all its many forms, involves the careful and responsible supervision, management, and utilization of all that has been entrusted into our care. Faithful stewardship invites every congregation to rethink and re rationalize every aspect of their existing programme and service delivery to meaningfully address the ever evolving needs of their home community.

Duties:   
· Encourage within every congregation, a vibrant and growing sense of mission.
· Expand enlightened stewardship that is actively aware of our environmental responsibilities, and is constantly seeking ways to lessen our "footprint";
· Foster effective stewardship by developing a functional collegial relationship between those engaged in the process elsewhere;
· Seek innovative and effective methods to expand revenue generation capacity, while maximizing the efficient utilization of existing human and financial resources;
· Promote and assist congregations, pastoral charges, and presbyteries in the restructuring and reallocation of resources to better serve the dynamic reality of contemporary society;
· Lend support to innovative approaches in the expansion of non-facility based  programme and service delivery;
· Assist in the emergence of new ministries and congregations;
· Aid congregations in celebrating  the dignified conclusion of long-standing ministries and the retirement of facilities.

World Outreach

Mandate:
To educate the church in London Conference about the work of The United Church of Canada with its overseas partners in God's mission.

To advocate on behalf of all people for justice and peace.

To facilitate opportunities for churches and church members to engage/participate in global mission through a variety of projects and programs.

Duties:
· Organize workshops on current themes relating to global mission;
· Communicate with Presbyteries and congregations about the United Church's work with global partners;
· Promote support for Mission & Service Fund;
· Facilitate and organize orientation for Conference education and exposure visits;
· Organize arrangements for hosting of overseas visitors and overseas personnel on home assignment as needed;
· Facilitate interfaith and inter agency dialogue and action.

Church in Society

Mandate:
The work of the Church In Society Committee centres around issues of social, economic and political justice in Canada. The committee attempts to
a)  identify current justice issues before us as a culture;
b)  encourage individuals and congregations within London Conference to address these issues in light of the gospel of Christ.

Duties:
· While the committee focuses its work primarily around the annual meeting of London Conference, it also offers occasional workshops and provides materials for use in worship;
· The committee is intentional about its relationship with other interfaith, ecumenical and United Church groups such as ISARC (Interfaith Social Assistance Reform Coalition) and SJNOC (Social Justice Network of the Ontario Conferences.);
· Ideally each presbytery within London Conference has one representative on the Church In Society Committee; however, any within London Conference who have an interest in justice issues are always welcome

Right Relations

Mandate:
To foster, encourage, and promote the expansion of right relationships between congregations, pastoral charges, presbyteries and the conference as a whole; and the Aboriginal persons, congregations, and communities within the geographic boundaries of London Conference, in accordance with the principles and programmes authorized by the General Council of The United Church of Canada.

Duties:
· To provide educational opportunities to congregations, pastoral charges, presbyteries, and conference concerning the importance of fostering, encouraging, and promoting right relationships;
· To maintain a routine and regular flow of information on the topic of right relationships to congregations, pastoral charges, presbyteries, and conference through print, electronic, and personal contact methods available;
· To maintain and regularly update an appropriate Internet presence for public dissemination of information;
· To provide such advice on the topic of right relations as may be appropriate to congregations, pastoral charges, presbyteries, and conference.