Corporate body

United Church of Canada. Board of Men

1954–1972

The Board of Men was established in 1954 as a successor to the National Committee of United Church Men, itself a successor to the Committee on Lay Activities. In 1964 the Board became part of the Division of Congregational Life and Work while maintaining its independence of action. It was absorbed into the Division of Mission in Canada in 1972.

Its purpose was to lead laymen into a deeper spiritual life and involvement with the Church's work and programmes. A main function was to promote the formation of men's groups, not only by working with existing United Church Men's clubs, fellowships, and brotherhoods in the pastoral charges, but also by working with newly created United Church Men's Councils at the Presbytery and Conference levels. The goal was to integrate all men's work programmes, in particular by bringing the Western Canada-based AOTS men's club movement fully into the Board structure. This was accomplished in stages: first by making the AOTS National Council a department of the Board (since 1952), then by changing this department into a more integrated National Association of United Church AOTS Men's Clubs in 1959, and finally by making this the Men's Club Committee (more directly responsible for all types of U.C. men's clubs) of the Board in 1964. The first National Conference of United Church Men was held in Muskoka, Ont., in 1953, and became an annual event; annual national conferences were also held in Western Canada (Banff) starting in 1955, and in Atlantic Canada from 1964. The Board had additional responsibilities for leadership development (Elders and Stewards Schools), "Christianity and Daily Work" concerns, and for producing pamphlets, booklets, national newsletters, and printed materials for Laymen's Sunday. It worked co-operatively with many Church departments and agencies, particularly in the areas of recruiting Church workers and lay employees, Boy's and Youth Work, the Lay School of Theology, Lay Foundations for assisting theological students, and Operation Crossroads Africa.

Secretaries of the Board were: Ralph C. Young, 1954-1961; Donald Cameron (Acting Secretary), 1961-1964; Ralph F. Wilson, 1965-1969; and Donald G. Smith (Associate Secretary), 1970-1972.

United Church of Canada. Division of Congregational Life and Work (1964–1973)

United Church of Canada. AOTS (ca.1923–)

United Church of Canada (1925-)

United Church of Canada. Division of Mission (1972–2001)

SCAA-UCCS-0224

United Church of Canada Living Skies Region Archives

SCNUCSC

Final

2018-April: added to SAIN, based on authority description by the United Church of Canada Archives (Toronto).

• English

United Church of Canada Archives (Toronto), "United Church of Canada. Board of Men," accessed 2018-04-09, via Archeion website (Archives Association of Ontario).