A unified Mission Centre rooted in generosity and shared vision

By Sandra Hunter
I served on the Budget and Funding Systems Committee. I am thankful for this opportunity to share our recommendation with you.

Our group considered the two existing models of funding—generosity and assessment—to recommend a model that will lead us Onward Together as a unified Mission Centre grounded in financial sustainability.

Switching to one Mission Centre in Canada may sound like an administrative change—but we saw it as much more. It’s a vision coming to life.

When I was in my early twenties, a group of us living in southern Ontario imagined a united Canada in our church—one mission, one family. It’s taken time, and not just time, but courage, patience, and faith. And now we are here.

I know “financial sustainability” might not sound very sacred. But friends, this church is also a kind of business. Not a business for profit—but a business for mission. We have real costs: campgrounds, retreats, staff, technology, and buildings. The things we care about. The things that support old and young, those in cities and those in rural communities.

If we want our sacred spaces to remain sacred spaces—not just memories—we need to plan wisely. We live in a time when our world—and our church—is changing fast. We’ve got a shrinking population in many congregations, rising costs, and wide distances between us. But through Beyond the Walls, we know what connection looks like. We already worship as one people across geography and time zones. Unity isn’t a theory anymore—it’s a living reality. And yet, to keep that reality alive, we need a foundation that is spiritually strong and financially sustainable.

We recommend:

1. Using a generosity model to support our Mission Centre and its campground activities.
2. Coordinating fundraising campaigns to support special projects and needs like kids going to Spectacular or refurbishing cabins.
3. Pursuing alternative sources of funding.
4. Maximizing our investments.
5. Unlocking the value of real estate assets to transform our facilities into sustainable ventures.
6. Embracing our identity as a social enterprise, applying strategic planning and professional management to meet both social and mission-driven needs.
7. Having a shared vision for the future across Canada to support meaningful projects and initiatives.

Can we imagine a church that is stronger, more nimble, more loving, more just? Can we support a structure that doesn’t just survive—but serves?

We believe we can. And we believe in the people of this church. We’ve seen our generosity. We’ve seen how deeply we care for each other.

As we continue to envision how to move Onward Together as Community of Christ in Canada, we invite you to be part of the conversation.

Camp reunions this summer will be spaces of discernment with members of the Mission Centre Design Team and Canadian leadership. We look forward to receiving your reflections by email at: [email protected].

The recommendations will continue to take form, and you can follow updates on the website.

About the Mission Centre Design Team
The Mission Centre Design Team is a group of volunteers from across Canada who answered the call to imagine how we will embody Christ’s mission through a new, unified structure—one Canadian Mission Centre that honours the Spirit moving uniquely in every region. The team was subdivided into five groups. Each group drafted a recommendation for all members and friends to review and share their feedback with the Design Team.

Read the recommendations

Watch Sandra on YouTube