Becoming an Intercultural Church in Western Canada/ Turtle Island
The Western Intercultural Network: Who are we? We are people and communities in the United Church of Canada committed to a fully inclusive and intercultural church, from northwestern Ontario to the Pacific, and north to Yellowknife. Anyone of any identity is welcome!
We hold gatherings and online conversations that focus on the communities named below. We work in our own Regional Councils across Western Canada, and we gather as the Western Intercultural Network in person every fall. An executive from the five Western Regional Councils of the United Church offers us leadership. Please see our 2020 Mandate and Terms of Reference here.
Our vision of becoming an intercultural United Church encompasses:
Racialized people and communities, which includes ethnic churches within the United Church, racialized lay leaders and ministry personnel, and more.
Indigenous people and communities, within the United Church and beyond, of all traditions.
People with disabilities.
LGBTQIA+ and Two spirit people and communities.
We honour these identities, and the spaces where they intersect. Our ministry includes courageous (and awkward!) conversations about our diversity, and about the social privilege and history that hinder right relationships. We believe the Good News of Jesus Christ calls us into such conversations and relationship.

Interested in knowing more?
Sign up for our email list here (all information is confidential and will not be shared with anyone else. You can leave the list at any time.)
More resources
Overview of the United Church’s intercultural vision
Intercultural worship resources
Round the Table: personal intercultural reflections
Racial justice training program of the United Church (open to all); further details about the online format are here.
Deepening Understanding for Intercultural Ministry program, Canadian Council of Churches
Disabilities and inclusion
Affirm United/ S’affirmer Ensemble, the LGBTQIA2S+ and ally movement within the church
Intercultural news

Jesus and the Marginalized conversation and learning
Please join the Western Intercultural Ministries Network for a discussion and a brief AGM! You're invited to help this grassroots network thrive, and find new expressions of its ministry here in...

Healing Haunted Histories land and community gathering, Aug 27-28
All are invited to this time of land-learning, teachings, listening, and decolonizing: Decolonizing Ourselves: Healing Haunted Histories gathering Muskeg Lake Cree Nation SK, 27 August 2022, 1:00PM-...

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...
Anti-racism action planning for communities of faith
Anti-racism action planning for communities of faith weekly in June: register now! Northern Spirit, Living Skies, and Prairie to Pine Regional Councils invite at least one lay member and one...

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+...

Anti Racism Common Table – Open Letter
Anti Racism Common Table letter on Hate Symbols at Recent Protests The recent protests and border blockades have made for a very tense few weeks. This open letter from the General Council’s Anti...

Korean Peace Appeal
The Korean War began in 1950. While open clashes ceased in 1953 with the signing of an armistice, a peace treaty has not yet been established and the war is not over. For more than 70 years, the...

Western Intercultural AGM plans for the future
November 2 the Western Intercultural Ministry Network held a workshop and its annual general meeting, bringing us together in community, learning, and storytelling at the end of another strange...

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...