United Church Celebrates Centennial with Global Impact: IDW 2025 Highlights

Press Release

February 7, 2025

As International Development Week 2025 comes to a close, we reflect on the inspiring stories and impactful work shared throughout the week. This year, as part of The United Church of Canada’s Centennial celebrations, we not only looked back on a century of faith-driven advocacy but also recommitted to a future shaped by love, justice, and sustainability.

Together with Mission and Service and Canadian Foodgrains Bank(opens in a new tab)

partners, we shared stories that showcased how the United Church and global partners are addressing some of the most urgent challenges of our time: inequality, hunger, climate change, and poverty.

Stories from International Development Week 2025:

• February 3 – Building Resilience and Food Security in Zimbabwe
• February 4 – Solidarity in the Time of Climate Change
• February 5 – Mercury Justice for Grassy Narrows
• February 6 – Clean Water and Renewable Energy in Guatemala

We invite Communities of Faith to share how you celebrated at

 . We’d love to share your stories!

How Can You Contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals?

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a roadmap to build a healthier global future for people and the planet. Here’s how you can help contribute:

• Advocate for change to climate policies with the Canadian government and other decision-makers. Urge the Canadian government to scale up its contributions to the Loss and Damage Fund.
• Write to the provincial and federal governments urging them to clean up the mercury-contaminated waters, compensate the community, and halt harmful industrial practices on Grassy Narrows land.
• Read more about the church’s climate change(opens in a new tab) efforts.
• Give to Mission and Service to help support Canadian and global partners working towards meeting the Sustainable Development Goals.
• Support initiatives in your local community that alleviate poverty and support youth. Many United Church community and social justice ministries offer grassroots programs and services.
• Learn more about the work of Indigenous Ministries by following the Indigenous Ministries Facebook page(opens in a new tab)
• . Visit the  Indigenous Ministries webpage and support their advocacy initiatives.
• Learn more about and donate to the Healing Fund to support healing initiatives for survivors of the residential school system and its ongoing intergenerational impacts.
• Support United Church programming at the Canadian Foodgrains Bank(opens in a new tab)

. Many United Church people and congregations contribute to CFGB by supporting growing projects in their local areas,(opens in a new tab)Follow United Action for Justice on Facebook(opens in a new tab), Twitter/X(opens in a new tab), Instagram,(opens in a new tab)

• and United Church News and the Round the Table(opens in a new tab) blog for more information on how your community of faith can learn more, participate, and #goforthegoals!

Prayers for a Just Future

Share these prayers in support of building a healthier global future for people and the planet.

• A Prayer for Growing a Better, More Just World
• A Commitment to Creation Care
• She Who Is
• Let Us Work Together and Uplift Each Other
• A Meal Time Blessing

As we close International Development Week 2025, we are reminded of the strength of our collective efforts over the past 100 years and the hope we carry forward for the next century.

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