Affirming Ministry

Resources

Trans Experience and Gender Diversity

CELEBRATING GENDER DIVERSITY: A toolkit on Gender Identity and Trans Experiences for Communities of Faith
A resource to help communities of faith explore gender identity and deepen their understanding of gender and the integral role it plays in creating welcoming and affirming communities. Includes plans to create a gender-inclusive washroom policy, workshop modules, handouts and a glossary of key terms and concepts. Download this PDF.  [PDF | 87 pages | 2019]  Link to United in Learning webinar on animating this resource.

CREATING AUTHENTIC SPACES: A Gender Identity and Gender Expression Toolkit
From the 519 Community Centre in Toronto, a  part of their efforts to challenge transphobia and to foster environments that are inclusive of gender identity and gender expression. The kit includes a set of infographics that can be downloaded on pronouns, allies, creating a welcoming environment and more. Download the kit.

TRANS AND GENDER IDENTITY RESOURCES CHART
A listing compiled by The United Church of Canada. [PDF | 12 pages]

RUTH’S STORY
Ruth Wood talks about her life journey as a trans person and her theological reflection on love and acceptance [YouTube Video | 6:44 |  2012]

Doctrine and Policy

MOVING TOWARD FULL INCLUSION: Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in The United Church of Canada A detailed resource that documents the church’s history intended to enable dialogue with partners and promote respectful sharing. [PDF | 67 pages | 2014]

MARRIAGE: A United Church of Canada Understanding A comprehensive overview of the United Church position on marriage, including same-sex marriage.  Highlights changes in the church position over the years and the current theological understanding of what our church believes about marriage. [PDF | 12 pages | 2005]

THE AUTHORITY AND INTERPRETATION OF SCRIPTURE  Theology and Faith Committee, The General Council of The United Church of Canada [PDF | 49 pages | 1992]  Results of a church-wide study on the authority of scripture.

Affirming Resource Team

Responsibilities

The Affirming Resource Team’s work is to guide the Regional Council through the required Affirm United process to be recognized as an Affirming Ministry and to hold the Regional Council to the commitments made in that process.

The team consists of a Team Lead and eight to ten members to be elected by the Regional Council, with intentional recruitment of representation from the LGBTQ2S+ community.

Responsibilities:

• Support to Affirming Communities of faith;
• Support to Communities of faith exploring Affirming Ministry designation;
• Holding the Regional Council accountable for keeping Safe Space;
• Encouraging the Regional Council in entering into a process of discernment regarding Affirming Ministry.

Affirming Ministries in The Canadian Shield Regional Council

• Emmanuel United Church – Sault Ste. Marie
• St. Andrew’s United Church – North Bay
• St. Andrew’s United Church – Sault Ste. Marie
• St. John’s United Church – Marathon
• St. Paul’s United Church – Thunder Bay
• St. Peter’s United Church – Sudbury
• Trinity United Church – Capreol 
• Westminster United Church – Thunder Bay

Rainbow Minute

As your Affirming Ministry Resource Team we plan to use this to let you know what is happening in the CSRC. At times it will contain articles that will open minds and hearts to what it means to be an Affirming Region and hopefully start a conversation within your own Community of Faith and amongst your family and friends. As your Affirming Ministry Resource Team we are here to educate and support you whether you are an Affirming Community of Faith, thinking about being Affiriming or not there yet. All issues of the Rainbow Minute will be available below.

Rainbow Minute – October 2024 (PDF – 2 pages)