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. In this journey, we are guided by our Vision Statement, our Action Plan, and by our community partnerships, United Church global partners, and responses to emerging needs and opportunities in NWT, Northeast BC, and northern Alberta.
A committee will guide the continuing work of living into our commitments. Members: Mary Annan; AJ Janewski, 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
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,...
Affirming Leaders Day 2021
Join from anywhere in the world for Affirming Leaders Day on May 22nd from 10:00-4:20PM. A faith-based development & connection day for allied and LGBTQ2S+ folks! Featuring Civil Rights...
International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia & Biphobia
You are invited to join Affirming Reflections for an International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia & Biphobia Livestream Event on May 17th from 2:00-3:30PM. This event will feature songs,...
You’re invited to an Affirming check in
Calling all ministries and people who are LGBTQIA+ and Two Spirit-affirming, or 2SLGBTQIA yourselves. We know COVID is making Affirming work harder, even as it also makes life harder for trans, non-...
Solidarity with Rev Lee Dong-hwan, Methodist Church in Korea
The United Church of Canada has many rich and long-standing partnerships with Christian denominations in South Korea. Here in Canada, we are blessed by many Korean and Korean-Canadian ministers, lay...
Transgender Day of Remembrance, November 20
Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) is internationally recognized on November 20th every year. This day raises public awareness of hate crimes against transgender people; it is a day to publicly...
