The Affirming Program
The Affirming program is a process and recognition for ministries who strive to celebrate Two Spirit and LGBTQIA+ people publicly, intentionally, and explicitly. Any ministry of any kind can become Affirming, and within our Regional Council there are many such ministries- with lots of room for growth. Learn more about the Affirming Program on Affirm United/S’affirmer Ensemble. Scroll down for the latest Affirming news in Northern Spirit.
Northern Spirit is now Affirming
In June 2019, Northern Spirit Regional Council voted to begin the Affirming process. In June 2024, after being guided by a task group through the process and after a positive vote of the full Regional Council in May 2023, the Regional Council completed the Affirming process with a public celebration. Now a commitee will guide the continuing work of living into our commitments. Members: Mary Annan; Wilson MacLennan; Louise Rogers; Gary Simpson; Mickey Wilson; Rachel Young. Julie Graham (Regional staff). Please contact the task group through northernspirit@united-church.ca to protect members’ privacy.
More Resources and Information
To find Affirming ministries in Northern Spirit Regional Council:
On the AUSE site; and on the United Church of Canada ministry locator
(check under AB/ BC/ NWT communities for both.)
Affirm United/ S’affirmer Ensemble
Affirming PIE Day (14 March annually)
Transgender Day of Remembrance (November 20th annually)
The United Church of Canada: resources
Celebrating Gender Identity Toolkit, second edition, United Church of Canada
Moving Toward Full Inclusion-Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in the United Church of Canada (second edition)
Affirming Ministries Resource List
Affirming Ministries Printable Resources
YouTube Affirming Playlist
Affirming news
Background on 2SLGBTQIA+ hate movements in Canada
This article accompanies a June 2023/ Pride season letter sent to all ministries in Northern Spirit, Living Skies, and Prairie to Pine Regional Councils. In light of vandalism and angry...
From the Affirming Task Group: A Note of Thanks to the Region
A Note of Thanks to the Region... The Affirm Task Group celebrates with Northern Spirit Region on our decision to become an Affirming Region. The Spirit has called us into Bold Discipleship, Daring...
Northern Spirit Affirming Vision Statement
Northern Spirit Region of the United Church of Canada: Affirming Vision Statement, adopted May 2023. Northern Spirit Regional Council of the United Church of Canada acknowledges and laments that the...
Affirming PIE Day 2023 updates and invitations
To see this post in newsletter format, click here. And click here to see a January 2023 update from the Regional Council's Affirming Task Group. Greetings across the Prairies and North this cold...
Regional Council Affirming Task Group updates
(Please also see the PIE Day 2023 update and events invitations here.) The Affirming task group for the Regional Council continues its work. Next steps will be a draft Vision Statement and Action...
Action call: Letters of support for Rev Lee Dong-hwan
June is Pride Month, and your solidarity is invited. In 2020, Rev. Lee Dong-hwan of the Korean Methodist Church accepted an invitation to bless the crowd at the Incheon Pride Festival. As a result,...
Video invitation to Affirming ministries: Let’s create together!
This is your invitation to a video project for Pride Month, June 2022! Rev Laura Fouhse at McClure United, Saskatoon, Treaty Six, writes, “I would love for all of the Affirming Ministries across...
PIE Day 2022 resources
Why PIE? PIE = Public. Intentional. Explicit. Those are the standards we hold ourselves to when we seek to live into being Affirming people and communities by, for, and with Two Spirit and LGBTQIA+...
Transgender Day of Remembrance
You are invited to join Affirming Ministries for the Transgender Day of Remembrance Vigil Service on November 20th from 2:00-3:00PM. Join us in-person at Robertson-Wesley United Church or watch...
PRIDE 2021
Join in on the Pride month celebrations! Many Pride societies are offering online or distanced events in communities large and small. Support from your community of faith makes a difference,...
