The existing statement about property ownership is found in the Congregational Board of Trustees Handbook pp. 15-18,
http://www.united-church.ca/
search "trustee handbook"

It is difficult to appreciate the implications of the United Church statement when one expected more substance.

With reference to the provincial statute
An Act incorporating the Board of Trustees of the Presbyterian Church in Canada
Assented to 30th April, 1900
"5. All lands and premises which have been or shall hereafter at any time be held by any trustee or trustees for any congregation which shall have ceased to exist or has become disorganized shall vest in the said Board of Trustees..."
the statement reads
"The only exceptions are for ...Real Property of some former Presbyterian congregations
"The exception does not apply to the Real Property of a former Presbyterian congregation, except in Alberta and Saskatchewan, as elsewhere the provincial statutes incorporating the Board of Trustees of the Presbyterian Church in Canada vested a reversionary interest in such property in the denomination, should the congregation cease to exist. (By-Laws, subsection 266(a))"
note with respect to properties of former Presbyterian congregations
a. the only real property excepted is that of former Presbyterian congregations in Alberta and Saskatchewan, which could be excepted only if real property of former Presbyterian congregations did not vest in the denomination
b. the rationale for properties of former Presbyterian congregations being vested in the United Church is not that real property was vested in the denomination but that previous legislation gave reversionary interests "for any congregation which shall have ceased to exist or has become disorganized"

The statement does not dissent
An Act respecting the union of certain Presbyterian Churches therein named
Assented to 21st December, 1874
"6. But all such property, real or personal, as is affected by this Act, shall in all respects, save as aforesaid, be held and administered, as nearly as may be, in the same manner and subject to the same conditions as provided by the Deeds of Trust, Acts of Incorporation, or any other instruments or authority under which the same is now held or administered."
An Act respecting the Union of certain Presbyterian Churches therein named
Assented to 18th May, 1861
"...whose property is held under conveyance to the Trustees and their heirs or to the Trustees and their successors or otherwise ...shall ipso facto become vested in such newly elected Trustees jointly with the remaining Trustees, if any; and such Trustees, and their successors, to be appointed as aforesaid, shall have full power and authority to hold and administer the trust or corporate property of such congregation"
The United Church of Canada Act
"6. Subject to the provisions of section eight hereof, all property, real and personal, belonging to or held by or in trust for or to the use of any congregation of any of the negotiating churches, shall, from and after the coming into force of this Act be held, used and administered for the benefit of the same congregation as a part of The United Church in the manner and upon the trusts and subject to the terms and provisions set forth in Schedule B to this Act..."
"8. Any real or personal property belonging to or held by or in trust for or to the use of any congregation, whether a congregation of the negotiating churches or a congregation received into The United Church after the coming into force of this Act, solely for its own benefit, and in which the denomination to which such congregation belongs has no right or interest, reversionary or otherwise, shall not be subject to the provisions of sections five and six hereof or to the control of The United Church, unless and until any such congregation at a meeting thereof regularly called for the purpose shall consent that such provisions shall apply to any such property or a specified part thereof."
but rather interprets the 1900 legislation as an interest which precludes the exception "subject to the provisions of section eight hereof" and requires "all property, real and personal, belonging to or held by or in trust for or to the use of any congregation of any of the negotiating churches, shall, from and after the coming into force of this Act be held, used and administered for the benefit of the same congregation as a part of The United Church in the manner and upon the trusts and subject to the terms and provisions set forth in Schedule B to this Act" for properties of former Presbyterian congregations, except in Alberta and Saskatchewan.

At question is whether such reversionary interest commences "from and after the coming into force of this Act" or as understood by the former Presbyterian Church in Canada after "any congregation which shall have ceased to exist or has become disorganized".

I am appalled that a church which stands for justice would argue thus!
--
Don Anderson
rev@magma.ca
http://www.axz.ca/