Our Vision
To seek, experience, and express God’s love together in an open community which embraces diversity and demonstrates by faithful actions the love of God through the teachings of Jesus.
Our Mission
To seek, experience, and express God’s love together in an open community which embraces diversity and demonstrates by faithful actions the love of God through the teachings of Jesus.
Central Okanagan United Church is a Community of Faith within the United Church of Canada. We are a welcoming and Affirming congregation that honours and celebrates all people from all walks of life, all genders, all sexual orientations and all abilities.
The Statements of Faith of the United Church of Canada can be found here:
https://united-church.ca/community-and-faith/welcome-united-church-canada/what-we-believe
Central Okanagan United Church is a vibrant, busy Community of Faith with two physical locations. Our main worship, Outreach (community food program) and office site is located at 721 Bernard Ave, in the heart of downtown Kelowna.
The Fitzpatrick / Rutland Road site is used by two other Evangelical congregations, as well as a daycare on weekdays. The Bernard Ave location, amid the downtown core is the site of our Community Ministry, as well as home to several nonprofit groups, such as AA, NA, SPCA garage sales, and Scottish dancers, to name a few.
To seek, express and experience God’s love in beautiful diversity, we commit ourselves to:
Create an appreciative and open community of faith that:
- Recognizes faith is a journey illuminated by God’s love;
- Calls us to create sacred space that offers security and respect; and
- Affirms that our faith calls us to express God’s love to All, celebrating age, diverse abilities, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, social status, ethnicity, family configuration, state of faith and All Our Relations.
- Encourages and offers leadership opportunities for the full participation of all in the life, work and ministry of Central Okanagan United Church.
Our Community Ministry programs include:
- Providing meals and groceries for those in need of assistance every Tuesday.
- The much-loved Bernard Thrift Shop. Hours of operation: Tues and Thurs, 10am – 2pm
- Partnering with other non-profits to assist with mental health and housing issues
- working toward developing strong right relations with our indigenous neighbours and implementing the calls for action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
- Participating in the Interfaith collective, working toward realizing our common ground and challenging religious intolerance.
- Partnering with Amnesty International on justice issues
- Selling Palestinian Fair Trade products
- Partnering with El Triumfo, a sister city in El Salvador – providing scholarships for young people, as well as emergency food support when their crops failed.
We also have many smaller projects and social groups, such as the Men’s Group*, Friday Women’s group*, Walk and Talk – a fall prevention program, and groups who make Prayer Shawls, toques and scarves for Community Ministry.
(*Please Note: All sexual orientations, and gender identities across the binary and beyond are welcome in our Men’s and Women’s groups, as you feel comfortable!)
In addition to our current activities, we have a wish list of programs and ministries we would like to undertake, including but not limited to:
- Reaching further into the community to engage with young adults and families who don’t currently attend or perhaps even know about the congregation.
- Connecting with the “spiritual but not religious” to find ways to provide for their spiritual needs
- Active support programs for the LGBTQ2+ members of the area, including work with Advocacy Canada and involvement in the Kelowna Pride festival.
- Working with other nonprofits to develop programs that train and support people living on the edge, so they can enhance employment skills and get a hand up instead of just a handout.
- Tax assistance program, to help those in need file taxes year round.
These programs and many more are attainable if we have support through the sharing of time, talents, and treasures.