Delegates of United Churches from across Quebec and Eastern Ontario will focus next weekend on reflection, reconciliation and healing in the church’s relationship with the people of Canada’s First Nations.

The Montreal and Ottawa Conference of the United Church has its annual general meeting at John Abbot College in suburban Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue May 28 to 30. The theme of this year’s meeting is Living in Right Relationships – Vivre des relations justes – Non kwe shon ha.

Theme speakers include Rev. Maggie McLeod, Coordinator of the Aboriginal Ministries Circle of the United Church of Canada, Jeff Copernace from the Ontario Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs and Francine LeMay, sister of Corporal Marcel Lemay of the Quebec provincial police who was killed at Oka in 1990.

Other highlights include the celebration of eight newly appointed ministers, the installation of a new Conference president and some discussion about future directions faced by the church in the context of significant budget restrictions.

There will also be information and decisions on international events of interest to the Church, reports from Conference committees and networks, the honoring of recently deceased ministers and a celebration of the careers of church personnel who have retired, along with special programs for children, young people and young adults.

The Montreal and Ottawa Conference of the United Church of Canada is a regional body that represents 120 English-language, French-language and ethnic congregations belonging to five local presbyteries across Quebec and Eastern Ontario.

UPDATE: a report about this meeting is now available.