Hello maryfergie.  A quick answer is to go on Wikipedia and enter Presbyterian Church in Canada as well as the  United Church of Canada.  That will give you some basic background information and a whole list of resources and sources for further information.  If you can find books by John Webster Grant, a former professor at Emmanuel College, Toronto, you would be provided with a great overview of the whole church movement in Canada.  I wish you success in your studies.  -Rev Dr. P.J.

Also, try the United Church of Canada website. there is the history there.

By the way there is also one more denomination that joined later - forget the name. Someone will know.

United Brethren

Hello maryfergie92 and welcome to WonderCafe.

As well as the Evangelical United Brethren (EUB) and almost (in 1972) The Anglican Church of Canada.

These were non-concuring congregations.  They simply refused to join the Union and the governance of the Presbyterian Church allowed for that option.

There are differances.  Most are subtle.  The reason why most stayed out was that they feared a watering down of the faith.

Grace and peace to you.

John

EUB joined in 1968. 

But it's funny that you phrase the question in terms of "belief". In fact many of the "beliefs" are the same - it's the practice (and even institutional structure) that more often makes for the difference. And you probably won't find a detailed listing of beliefs anywhere that would allow you to discern differences, because they would probably be subtle (not to mention the wish to avoid a shopping list approach to faith).  Other than a very limited number of big ticket items like gay ordination, that is. Does the Presbyterian Church have anything like the New Creed? Or do they still rely on the Apostle's or Nicean Creeds?

Hello, spiritbear.  From my research, and correct me please if I'm wrong, the Presbyterian Church in Canada uses the Apostle's Creed with a couple of changes.  Instead of "His only Son our Lord", the say "God's only Son our Lord"; and "He descended into hell" is changed into "He descended to the dead."  The Nicene Creed is the original.  One main difference in denominations is the form of government; is it congregational centered, regionally governed or centrally governed?  The appropriate websites would be able to answer the finer points of faith and practice.

Mary, I think the United Church was initiated by an act of parliament. Anybody?

A book that I found very helpful in learning about the United Church of Canada was "This United Church of Ours" by Ralph Milton.  If you google search that book, you will find a link to a website that actually has a copy that can be read on line.  I hope this helps.

Good luck!

I checked that one out.

When the churches joined, there were many properties that had to change owners, having papers, titles, trusts, etc, changed.  It would have tied up courts for a long long time.

Rather than doing that, an act of parliament was done, thereby making the process simpler. 

I attended a Presbyterian church until I was 18 (6 years ago), and they were using the Apostle's creed (I don't remember ever using the Nicene creed).  The minor adjustments retiredrev mentioned sound familiar.  The differences, as mentioned, are subtle; from what I recall, structure of governance is similar to the UCC, but I don't know which level receives the most focus.  Though I do wonder if there is a preference for closer adherance to Reformation ideals; I recall an episode where a visiting minister removed the candles from the communion table, saying something about being "on the road to Rome".  This might be a single individual's preference, not a reflection on the denomination.

The United Church of Canada was founded on articles of faith called "The Basis of Union". It was founded as a "non-creedal church" even though we keep coming up with creed-like documents and even a "new creed" which we use constantly.

Anyway, the Presbyterians who stayed out of union are still pretty big on their Westminster Confession of Faith and the other statement they like very much...something about church and state - circa 1958. They also like their system of government with sessions-presbyteries-synods-general assembly. The UCC kept that for the most part but incorporated much of the power of the Conference (like the PCC "synod" but with much more power, including the power to ordain clergy). So we have board/council-presbytery-conference-general council.

The presbyies are much more sticklers for their laws and acts and proceedings. Pretty formal. They have General Assembly every year because they have no national structure in place where any decisions can be made between assemblies. We have a General Council Executive that can do that.

I could probably go on and on. I was a presbyterian from before birth to 1996 (6 years after Iwas ordained), and have been 13 years in the UCC now.

I'd be really surprised to find it in my town but is there an American equivalent under a different name? I know what we call Anglican in the U.S. in called Church of England in England for example. I've wondered if United Church of Christ was the same thing as U.C. of Ca. . Thanks.

No, the United Church of Canada is not the same as the United Church of Christ.  I believe that the UCC is unique to Canada, although there are churches in Burmuda in the Maritime Conference of the UCC. 

When I was in Florida I visited both the Methodist church and the Presbyterian church.  I found out that there are divisions in the Presbyterian church in the states - I found a little one that very much reminded me of the UCC - in fact it had the United Church creed taped inside the cover of each hymn book and used it on alternate Sundays (with the Apostles creed on other Sundays).  That is the one I choose to attend for the duration of my stay.

The United Church of Canada is very similar to the United Church of Christ and to the UnitING Church of Australia. Similar in history and "ethos" and perhaps even theology. Although "United Church theology" is always up for grabs.

LoveJoy,

You're correct about the Uniting Church of Australia. I'm a member of the Uniting Church of Australia - and, like the Canadian church, we are comprised of Methodists, Congregationalists, and the less conservative Presbyterian churches. Perhaps we're more optimistic calling it the Uniting Church - possibly hoping that other denominations will join us?

I do hope that the United Church of Canada is proud of wondercafe - you are leading the way in a significant area of fellowship.

Thank you all for responding.

Thanks Lovejoy for clarifying that point.

The United Church of Christ USA is the congregationalist church, and is not an interdenominational union like the United Church of Canada or the Uniting Church of Australia.

There is also the United Reformed Church UK which is the 1972 merger of the Congregationalist Church in the UK with the Presbyterians . About 2/3 of their congregations joined the union.

RevJM said "The [UCC USA] is...not an interdenominational union like the [UCC of Canada]"

I'm calling you on this one: according to their web site, "On Tuesday, June 25,1957, at Cleveland, Ohio, the Evangelical and Reformed Church,  [joined with]  the Congregational Christian Churches...."  .  I would call this a union, as the predecessor churches ceased to be after union.  (And the Congregational Christian Churches were themselves a merger of the Congregational and Christian Churches in 1931. Same for the Evangelical and Reformed Churches in 1934).

Since they were both Calvinists, I didn't think it counted, but I will concede the point. Let the records show I was wrong. (hangs head, says the Man's Prayer: I'm a man, I can change, if I have to, I guess.")

Hi RevJamesMurray,

Getting two different Calvinists to come together is surely proof of a supernatural interventionist God.

Grace and peace to you.

John

lol

LOL, good one.