04501
November 10, 2004

Canadian clergy plan to join trade union to protect their interests 

by Ferdy Baglo 
Ecumenical News Service

VANCOUVER — The Canadian Auto Workers Union has accepted a request from some United Church of Canada clergy in Ontario to represent ministers of religion and is to launch a campaign to unionize the 4000 ministers of Canada’s largest Protestant denomination. 

      “There have been decades of clergy abuse,” said the Rev. David Galston, minister at Eternal Spring United Church in Hamilton, Ontario, who initiated the action. “When clergy try to defend themselves they have been caught up in the legal apparatus of the church — and rather than defending the rights of their employee, the church will engage in prosecution and leave the minister with high legal bills.” 

      Galston told Ecumenical News International that some clergy had been driven from their pulpits, forced to mortgage their homes and been left with thousands of dollars in legal costs. 

      “The basis of an accusation is often defamation — simply unsubstantiated defamation,” he said, noting that many clergy did not speak out because of the “fear factor.” He said: “We need a union. We need some body that ensures the church is accountable to its own policies, fairness and the law.” 

      In a statement released Nov. 9, the United Church said there were “many questions that arise in light of the proposal to form a union of United Church ministers. These include theological, pastoral and legal issues.  

      “The church is considering these matters in relation to the Canadian Auto Workers’ initiative and will be prepared to release a more complete statement within the next week.” 

      In a previous statement on its Web site, the church had stated: “Our commitment to social justice and advocacy often brings church and labor unions to the same table. We anticipate no change in that relationship.” 

      The denomination also said a number of programs had been initiated “to meet the challenges and stresses that affect the well-being of the church’s ministry personnel.”