From Empty Pews to Full Hearts: Reflecting on 100 Years of the United Church of Canada

I had a bit of a reality check this week.

As I watched CityTV cover the United Church of Canada’s 100th anniversary service at Knox United Church, I heard the anchor proudly announce that over 400 people were in attendance. A beautiful celebration, no doubt—but a small number. In Calgary alone, we currently have 13 United Church congregations. Not long ago, we had 16. A decade earlier, over 20. What happened?

Even if every one of our 13 Calgary congregations had 100 active members, that’s 1,300 people in a city of 1.4 million—less than 1% of the population. By contrast, I’ve heard stories of Parkdale’s Sunday School in the early 1960s overflowing with 300 children, and sanctuaries filled with 500 adults every week. Of course, Calgary was a much smaller city back then—around 260,000 people—so that still only represented about 3.8% of the population. Even in our so-called glory days, we were never a majority.

And maybe that’s okay.

Later that same day, Neil and I made our way to the Cavalry soccer game at Spruce Meadows. The place was alive: food trucks, a buzzing market, live music, kids running around, show jumping—and yes, a pretty packed stadium. As I stood in line for lemonade, I turned to Neil and said, “I wish every game felt like this.” The woman behind us laughed and asked if it was unusual. I explained that while the games usually pull in about 4,000 fans, the extra festivities weren’t typical. We got chatting, and she mentioned that her church had actually held their Sunday service on the field that morning. Curious, I asked which church. “Calgary First Alliance,” she said. “We have multiple campuses, so we came together this one Sunday—about 3,500 of us.”

Neil turned to me and said with a grin, “Well, I guess Parkdale has a new goal.”

It was a lighthearted moment, but it got me thinking.

We may not be packing stadiums. But numbers aren’t the only measure of a church’s impact. If anything, the 100th anniversary of the United Church of Canada reminds us of just that.

This centennial isn’t just about looking back. It’s about lifting up what truly matters. For 100 years, the United Church of Canada has walked a unique path in Canadian Christianity—sometimes quietly, often courageously—championing justice, inclusion, and radical love.

We were the first mainstream denomination in Canada to ordain women and 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals. We’ve stood at the frontlines of social justice movements, while also wrestling with and naming our participation in systems of harm—most notably, our role in colonization and residential schools. The centennial theme, Deep, Bold, Daring, calls us to be exactly that in this moment: rooted in faith, brave in action, unafraid to reimagine.

Sure, it’s easy to get discouraged when attendance numbers dwindle. But we weren’t called to fill pews—we were called to follow Jesus. And Jesus’s ministry wasn’t about building cathedrals or amassing crowds. It was about being with, showing up, healing, challenging, loving, and welcoming all—especially those on the margins.

In a time when some churches are doubling down on exclusion and fear-based theology, the United Church continues to offer something countercultural: a spacious, justice-seeking, inclusive faith. That kind of faith won’t always go viral—but it will transform lives.

As we mark 100 years, we also look forward. Across the country, churches are trying new things: intergenerational worship, affirming ministries, climate justice initiatives, partnerships with Indigenous communities, online gatherings, and outdoor worship.

No, we may never have 3,500 people worshipping in a stadium. But we will keep showing up. In hospitals, at Pride parades, in food banks, at refugee welcome centers, and at communion tables where no one is turned away.

Because this is who we are.

This is what 100 years of the United Church has taught us: faith is not about size, but substance. Not about perfection, but presence. Not about numbers, but neighbouring.

So here’s to another century of being the church, not the biggest, but maybe the boldest.