When The United Church of Canada was formed in 1925, each of the foundation denominations—Methodist, Presbyterian, and Congregational—had funds to which individuals could designate gifts to support the wider mission of the church beyond the local congregation.
At first, the church’s wider mission fund was known as the Maintenance and Extension Fund. In an effort to make it clearer that gifts to the fund supported “mission,” the name of the fund was changed in 1928 to the Missionary and Maintenance Fund. This was the name used for the next 40 years.
In 1968, all the work of stewardship and revenue generation were combined into one administrative unit in the United Church’s General Council Office. To reflect this change and better reflect what the church’s mission fund was doing, the name was changed to the Mission and Service Fund in 1969. This is the name we have used in the church ever since.
Regardless of the name changes, the role of Mission and Service remains the same: It is the unique way through which United Church people and others direct their gifts to support the wider mission of the church in Canada and overseas.
Mission and Service is the way we as United Church witness to God’s love, whether it is with overseas partners, in Canadian outreach, in hospital or university chaplaincies, in supporting small congregations, or in assisting new ministers. Mission and Service cannot be compared to any charity—it is much bigger and more encompassing than any charity. Mission and Service is the church.
Mission and Service represents our collective way to be God’s presence in the world—to be the church, to love and serve, to seek justice, to live with respect in creation. It gives us a collective voice in advocating change, justice, and peace, whether through the Canadian government or in work with our ecumenical partners. Mission and Service ensures that we are participating together in all of this work and more. And every dollar given goes to support mission. All administrative costs are covered through revenue from investment income.
