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Governance

Three Courts: a new governance model for The United Church of Canada

As of January 1, 2019, The United Church of Canada adopted a three-council structure, consisting of communities of faith, regional councils and a denominational council.  Eastern Ontario Outaouais Regional Council is one of 16 new regional councils in The United Church of Canada, replacing former conferences and presbyteries.

The Manual of The United Church of Canada, 2024 edition, effective January 1, 2024.

Executive and General Meeting Minutes
Executive and Leadership Teams

EOORC Executive and Leadership Teams

EOORC Executive

(L) – Lay member; (MP) Ministry Personnel

1. President –Susan DeHaan (MP) (2026)
2. Past-President – Sue Hutton (MP) (2026)
3. President-Elect – Rev. Cindy Casey (MP)
4. Indigenous Community Representation – Rev. Nancy Best (MP)

Members at large:

5. Cathy Ryan (L) (2026) second term
6. Rev. Erin McIntyre (MP) (2026) first term
7. Liz Church (L) (2027) second term
8. Nancy Hazen (L) (2025) second term
9. Sue Smarkala (L) (2027) First term
10. David Debenham (L) (2028) First term
11. Frank Emanuel (Candidate) (2028) First term
12. Julee Pauling (Candidate) (2028) First term
13. Rousseau Whiteley (Youth) (2028) First term

Full member: Rev. Éric Hébert-Daly (Regional Council Executive Minister)

Corresponding Members: Joel Miller (Assistant to RCEM and Secretary of Region), Rev. Natalie Matkovsky (Communications), Dana Ducette (Youth), vacant (Visioning, Clusters & Networks), Rev. Whit Strong (Pastoral Relations), Rev. Caroline Penhale (Office of Vocation, Candidacy Pathways), Rev. Brian Cornelius (Treasurer), Nikki Nel (Camp Awesome Director), and Rev. Mary Royal-Duczek (Community of Faith & Network Support).

Leadership Teams

    1. Nominations: Sue Hutton, DLM, (Chair), Jim Allen, Rev. Susan DeHaan – as President, Rev. Takouhi Demirdjian-Petro, Bronwen Harman, Karen McLean, Rev. Michelle Robichaud, Paul Whiteley (Resource: Rev. Éric Hébert-Daly, Joel Miller) 2 vacancies (diversity in the Regionsmissing)
    2. Pastoral Relations Commission: Wayne Harris (Chair), Jim Allen, Rev. Elaine Beattie, Ina Bromley, Rev. Teresa Burnett-Cole, Rev. Patsy Henry, Charlotte Hoy, Sharon MacDonald, Karen McLean (recording secretary), Micheline Montreuil, D.M., Rev. Blair Paterson, Rev. Michelle Robichaud, Rev. Don Stiles, Linda Suddaby, and (Resource: Rev. Whit Strong)
    3. Future Through Property Team: Phyllis MacRae (Chair), Jim Allen, Charles Barrett, Ted Brett, Rev. Takouhi Demirdjian-Petro, Joe Smarkala, Rev. Andrew Love, Sue Smarkala (Resource: Rev. Mary Royal-Duczek) 2-4 vacancies preferably from Seaway Valley and Upper Valley
    4. General Meetings/Educational Event Planning Team: vacant (Chair), Gary McKay (Interim Chair), Rev. Susan DeHaan (President), Sue Hutton, DLM, (Past-President), Pat Mayberry, Karen McLean, David Patterson, – 6-8 vacancies (diversity to include youth leadership)
    5. Church Extension Council: Directors: David Debenham, Alan Gale, Don Reynolds, Mike Velichka; Members: Ted Brett, Catherine Grant, Judy Harms-Potter, Kevin Moratz, Linda Suddaby; EOORC Appointments: Brian Cornelius (Resource: Rev. Éric Hébert-Daly)
    6. Communications: Rev. Takouhi Demirdjian-Petro, Lois Leroux, John McDougall, and David Patterson (Resource: Rev. Natalie Matkovsky)
    7. Finance: Brian Cornelius (Treasurer), Rev. Cindy Casey, Bruce Jackson, Christine Kilburn, Joe Smarkala, Evered (Ev) Zytveld (Resource: Rev. Éric Hébert-Daly) – 1 vacancy
    8. Licensed Lay Worship Leaders (LLWL): Rev. Dr. Teresa Burnett-Cole, Terrie Chedore, DM, Rev. Georgina Fitzgerald, Sharon MacDonald, Julee Pauling, Cathy Ryan, Sharon Sanderson, and Paul Whiteley (Resource: Rev. Whit Strong) – 3 vacancies, 1 more LLWL and 2 Lay non-LLWL
    9. Scrivens-Baillie: Malcolm Collins (Chair) Ryan Babcock, Ken Browness, Rev. Brian Cornelius, Larry Richardson, and Ev Zytveld (Resource: Rev. Éric Hébert-Daly) – 2 vacancies
    10. Vision & Transformation: Rev. Michelle Robichaud (Chair), Charles Barrett, Rev. Cindy Casey, Rev. Melany Cassidy-Wise, Christine Cross-Barkley, Phyllis MacRae, Rev. Sheryl McLeod, Janice Peron, Deb Poirier, and Rev. Laura Springate (Staff Resource: Rev. Mary Royal-Duczek)
    11. YAYA: Rev. Tiina Côté, Cathy Ryan, Hazel Ward-Moreau, Janet Currie-Kelk (Resource: Dana Ducette)
    12. Equity Leadership Team: Rev. Michelle Robichaud – 4 vacancies
    13. Social Justice Network of Ontario Regional Councils: Charles Barrett (Chair) (Resource: vacant)
    14. Stewardship: Carolyn Ruda, Charlotte Hoy, Ray Lebeau, Nancy Hazen, Paul Sales and Carolle Dallas-Arbuckle and David Charles (Resource: Rev. Roger Janes)
    15. Representative to The Ottawa School of Theology and Spirituality: Paul Whynacht
    16. Affirming Leadership Team: vacant (Chair), Linda Stronski, Cathy Ryan, Bronwen Harman, Kim Baird, Rev. Michelle Robichaud, Rev. Ed Gratton and Roxanne Akhtar (Resource: Rev. Mary Royal-Duczek)
    17. Representatives to Multi-Faith Housing: Sue Smarkala
    18. Spiritual Care Hospital Ministry Leadership Team: Sandra Copeland (Chair), Jane Burgess, Doug Collins, Rev. Brian Copeland, Jeremy Geelen, Richard Johnston, and Margaret Joyce.
    19. Ministry Personnel Support Leadership Team: Terrie Chedore DM, Rev Paul Dillman, Rev Lynne Gardiner, Rev Jenni Leslie, Rev Zacharia Mandara (Resource: Rev. Whitman Strong)
    20. 100th Anniversary Service Planning Leadership Team: Rev. Alwin Maben, David Patterson, Paul Whiteley, Liz Church, Rev. Takouhi Demirdjian-Petro, Rev. Cindy Casey, Cathy Ryan, Rev. Erin McIntyre, Rev. Mary Royal-Duczek
    21. Racial Justice: Joëlle Morgan (Can.), Paul Whiteley (Resource: vacant)
    22. Keeping in Touch Team Leadership Team: Alan Herbert, Paul Whiteley, Julee Pauling, Laurie McKnight, Grant Gilliland, Cathy Ryan, Shelley Roberts, Michelle Robichaud, Larry Richardson and Joëlle Morgan (Can)
Governance Handbook

Governance Handbook

Download the Governance Handbook (English)

Le Manuel de gouvernance (2025) sera traduit dans les prochains mois. Pour le moment, veuillez contact Joel Miller ou Rev.  Éric Hébert-Daly si vous avez des questions ou vous aimeriez qu’on traduise une politique spécifique ou des termes de référence.

 

Report Book

EOORC Report Book

2025 EOORC Report Book + Addition to Report Book – EOORC Strategic Plan Report

2024 EOORC Report Book

2023 EOORC Report Book

2022 EOORC Report Book​

2021 EOORC Report Book

2020 EOORC Report Book

 

Finance Reports

Finance Reports

Holy Manners

What We Say and How We Say It — A message from the EOORC Executive — January 2022

With a new year just beginning, we feel this is a good time to remind EOORC members of the importance of communicating with each other in the manner that befits a Christian community. When speaking at meetings, worship services, on the phone, in emails and surveys, honest and respectful communication will always help us achieve our goals more effectively. It is particularly important to be mindful of what we say when so much of what we do at this time is virtual or electronic, and, as such, seems faceless and even anonymous.

The United Church of Canada has adopted Holy Manners as a way to effectively support communication within our faith community. Holy Manners remind us that we are called into community with God at the centre. It describes healthy ways to speak with each other so that love and respect are first and foremost in our minds. Some of the Holy Manners are:

  • keep God at the centre of everything we do,
  • each speak for ourselves,
  • speak for a purpose,
  • separate people from problems,
  • welcome the conflict of ideas,
  • honour the decisions of the body, and
  • commit to holding one another to account when we do not keep our holy manners

Holy Manners can be found on p. 192 of the 2022 Manual. Please take a few moments to prayerfully reflect on them and consider how we can be a healthy and loving community. Thank you.