Largest protestant denomination in Canada. Formed of the amalgamation of the Methodist, Brethren and some Presbyterian churches in the first half of the twentieth century. A largely liberal denomination, led by lay people in much of its policy, the United Church is one of the first in Canada to have openly gay ministers, and has a strong social justice bent in political activism. It also has such a mix of incoming theologies that it's very hard to determine what are the core beliefs of the church.