Petition... based on the final release of Bearing Faithful Witness.

Theological Basis
He has showed you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? MIC 6:8 RSV

"Justice... must not only be done but also be seen to be done. There can be no shalom without justice." (The Manual 065(b)).

"We believe in and confess the Lord Jesus Christ, the only Mediator between God and man..." (The Basis of Union article 2.7).
WHEREAS statements of General Council can have the effect of changing doctrine or polity with many persons not being aware that a change is being made.

WHEREAS the introduction to Bearing Faithful Witness states, "...nor are amendments to the Basis of Union being put forward."

WHEREAS the recommendations in Bearing Faithful Witness propose a statement by General Council which includes:
... The United Church of Canada
... b) rejects and repudiates:
belief in the displacement or replacement of the covenant of God with Israel;
supersessionist understandings of God's action in Christ and in the Church;
all mission and proselytism seeking to convert Jews to Christianity;

WHEREAS Bearing Faithful Witness expresses these recommendations in, "The United Church does not seek to convert Jews... it is recognized that conversion from Judaism to Christianity is not needful for salvation" [appendix c].

WHEREAS this represents a departure from The Basis of Union article 2.7, "We believe in and confess the Lord Jesus Christ, the only Mediator between God and man..."

WHEREAS The Basis of Union is the authority under which the United Church of Canada functions.

WHEREAS the United Church of Canada appears to be making decisions by increment.

WHEREAS justice requires that decisions which effect change within our church be deliberate, not by increment or default.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT General Council recognize that approval of the recommendations as proposed in Bearing Faithful Witness for adoption as a statement to be issued by the 38th General Council of the United Church of Canada would only be valid with a remit to Presbyteries and Pastoral Charges to determine if the majority approve of replacing the words in The Basis of Union article 2.7 "Jesus Christ, the only Mediator between God and man" with "Jesus Christ, a mediator between God and man".