United Church of Canada Rejects Vosper Appeal, Gives No Reasons

After deliberating for more than three months, having received ten volumes of materials consisting of approximately 1700 pages of written submissions, this week the United Church of Canada appeal court (the Judicial Committee Executive) issued a one-page decision refusing, without reasons, to hear Reverend Gretta Vosper’s appeal.

Rev. Vosper is the Minister of West Hill United Church (“West Hill”), located in Scarborough and within the Toronto Conference of the UCC. Rev. Vosper is a self-described atheist who believes in a metaphorical god instead of the traditional theistic vision of god. Rev. Vosper has openly applied her views throughout her ministry since 2001 and has the full support of her Congregation.

Falconers LLP acts as legal counsel for Reverend Vosper.

Related Documents

United Church of Canada Appeal Decision   March 30, 2016
Reverend Vosper’s Press Release   March 31, 2016

Falconers LLP Submissions to the United Church of Canada:

Statement of Argument to General Secretary   September 18, 2015
Affidavit of Randy Bowes, Chair of West Hill Board   Sworn September 18, 2015
Exhibits to Affidavit of Randy Bowes   Sworn September 18, 2015
Book of Authorities   September 18, 2015
Reply to General Secretary   October 30, 2015
Reply Affidavit of Randy Bowes   October 30, 2015
Final Reply to General Secretary Sur-Reply   December 10, 2015

Video

Gretta Vosper: The Atheist Minister   CBC, March 25, 2016

In the News

United Church upholds decision to review fitness of atheist minister   Winnipeg Free Press, March 31, 2016

Can an atheist be a United Church minister?   CBC, March 25, 2016
Meet the United Church minister who came out as an atheist  Toronto Star, February 21, 2016
Meet the ordained minister who doesn’t really believe in God   CTV, January 13, 2016
Q and A: Gretta Vosper, the United Church minister who doesn’t believe in God   Toronto Life, November 25, 2015
Atheist Clergy Colleagues Agree on Many Things, but…   Bob Ripley, August 31, 2015
Atheism, the Bible and sexual orientation   Community- The News, August 25, 2015
Why I Support This ‘Atheist’ Minister   Junaid Jahangir, August 18, 2015
How not to cross a boundary   The Christian Century, August 14, 2015
This Christian Minister Doesn’t Believe in God — And She’s Not the Only One   Vice, August 10, 2015
I Dont Believe in God’: Atheist Minister Resists Efforts to Boot Her from United Church of Canada   Christian News Network, August 9, 2015
Atheist Minister Continues Fight to Remain Ordained in United Church of Canada   Christian Post, August 8, 2015
Shuck and Jive:  God?   John Shuck, August 7, 2015
Colby Cosh: The heretical minister to help her flock evolve out of the need for church   National Post, August 7, 2015
Atheist minister’s ‘effectiveness’ being evaluated   OneNewsNow, August 6, 2015
Atheist United Church minister challenges review that could lead to firing   Toronto Star,  August 5, 2015
Atheist minister fighting United Church’s effort to fire her   The Globe and Mail, August 5, 2015
Atheist clergy should remove masks   Vancouver Sun, July 4, 2015
Atheist minister faces Conference review   UC Observer, July, 2015
Atheist church minister being reviewed for her ‘effectiveness’   Christian News on Christian Today, June 3, 2015
The United Church Canada Makes Bold Move to Crack Down on ‘Atheist Minister’   Charisma News, June 2, 2015
United Church of Canada to Investigate ‘Effectiveness’ of Minister Who Professes Atheism   Church and Ministry, May 30, 2015
Atheist Rev. Gretta Vosper to be “reviewed”   Vancouver Sun, May 26, 2015
Who or What Is God   Jim Burklo, February 2, 2015
Atheist Minister May Face ‘Review’ by United Church of Canada Leaders Who See Her as a Heretic   richarddawkins.net, Undated

 

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