John McLachlan was a Methodist and later United Church minister in Saskatchewan and Ontario. He was born and raised in the fishing village of Tarbet, Scotland. He immigrated to Canada, and was a probationer in Adanac, Saskatchewan, in 1909, before being ordained, in 1910. He studied at Wesley College, Winnipeg, 1911-1915, and served charges in Saskatchewan and Ontario until he retired in 1953.

Fred Martin was a Methodist minister, who served in Saskatchewan at North Portal, Dinsmore, Piapot, and Swift Current. He was received on trial at North Portal in 1908 and attended Wesley College (Winnipeg), from 1909 to 1914, before being ordained in 1915. He was minister at Piapot (1916–1917) and supplied at Swift Current (1918–1921).

John MacLean was a Methodist minister and missionary to Indigenous communities, serving in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, and Manitoba. He edited The Wesleyan for 1902-1906, served as Archivist of the Methodist Church and Librarian of Wesley College, Winnipeg, 1918-1928. He also studied native culture, and wrote numerous books and pamphlets on the history of Methodism, Western Canada, and native peoples.

The Joint Committee officially convened in April 1904, in Toronto, bringing together appointed representatives from the Congregationalist, Methodist and Presbyterian Churches, to negotiate church union. Meetings continued through to 1908, when the terms written in the Basis of Union were agreed upon and sent to the negotiating churches, for discussion and approval. By 1912, both the Congregationalists and the Methodists had agreed to the terms. The decision was more contentious for the Presbyterian Church, though in 1916, their General Assembly decided to go ahead with the union.
Between 1916 and 1925, the Joint Committee worked to complete the union and defeat those opposing it, including the newly formed Presbyterian Church Association.