Our Vision

"Learning, Changing and Growing Together"

We are all spiritual beings seeking wholenesswithin ourselves,within community,within creation.

Guided and inspired by the life and teachings ofJesus and other sources of great wisdom,we seek to provide opportunities tolearn, change and grow.

We are committed to providinga safe, welcoming and accepting gathering space toworship God,foster connections,nurture wholeness,strengthen relationships,build partnerships,inspire change in community.

We work toward healing the wounds ofisolation, marginalization and injustice, togetherwith strength in diversity.We Value:community that is caring, welcoming, inclusive, diverse and respectful of allspiritual nurture that inspires us, deepens our faith and transforms us through multiple means of expressioncompassionate engagement with the broader community to build shared understanding, partnerships and social justiceopportunities for growth in broadening our understanding of the stories of our faith and what they mean in our lives and our world.

Our History

In 2014, four south Edmonton congregations with common challenges and purposes, began a journey together to forge a future of hope, renewal and relevance. Avonmore, Knox-Metropolitan, Pleasantview and Ritchie United Churches became member congregations of the new United on Whyte Pastoral Charge, approved by Edmonton Presbytery in November of 2015.

Beginning in January of 2016, they began worshipping together in the building located at 7909 82 Avenue NW. On January 1, 2018, the four congregations officially amalgamated to form United on Whyte United Church.

As part of our transition process, in late 2018 we re-examined our church’s name, inviting members to submit suggestions that reflect the congregation as it had become; resonating with our mission, vision and values and providing a clearer public indication of our focus on spirit and hope. At our Annual Congregational Meeting on March 3, 2019, our congregation approved the new name, Spirit of Hope United Church. This name was subsequently approved for use by the Northern Spirit Region of The United Church of Canada. In September of 2019 our congregation approved the Spirit of Hope logo.

An essential part of any change in the structure of a pastoral charge is an intentional focus on the transition process. With the support of Edmonton Presbytery, Reverend Heather D. Wright was appointed as Intentional Interim Minister to provide leadership through the many stages of coming together. A Transition Team was selected (five members of the United on Whyte Pastoral Charge and one member of Edmonton Presbytery) to guide the transition process. Their work ended on June 30, 2019 when the formal transition was over. Our deep gratitude and appreciation to them for their tireless and creative work during this transition period, a time when the health and spiritual life of the congregation has improved significantly.

For the last six months of 2019 we were very fortunate to have Reverend Donald Koots as our temporary Minister while the search for a permanent minister was completed. Reverend Blaine T. Gregg accepted the call and on January 1, 2020 joined us.