Faith United Church Affirming Journey

Affirm United/S’affirmer Ensemble is a partner of the United Church of Canada which advocates for the full inclusion of peoples of all gender identities and sexual orientations in the United Church of Canada and in society at large.

In the spring of 2022 Sally Weir, our ECORC member, inspired by their decision to become an Affirming regional council, asked Faith Council if she could invite volunteers to form a committee to explore a path to Affirming status for Faith United. Sheryl Gillespie, Barb Lovitt, Mary McColl, Judy Mercer, Jacquie Simpson, and Ursula King answered the call. The “A Team” was born with Sally as the Chair. 

Led by the A Team, the congregation embarked on a program of education into the history of LGBTQ2S+ discrimination within the United Church, within the Christian community per se, and within societies at large in our world. Through readings, videos, guest speakers, and a workshop, the congregation became more and more conscious to the need for a public, intentional, and explicit commitment to the LGBTQ2S+ community.

The A Team worked with Council to prepare a new vision statement, a marriage policy statement, and an action plan for the future.  Our wonderful congregation voted to accept all these documents, and on May 14, 2023, voted unanimously to seek membership in Affirm United. On June 11, 2023, Linda Hutchinson, on behalf of Affirm United, presented the congregation with a certificate of membership in Affirm United during a beautiful celebration service. Our advocacy work begins……