Heather Latter
Although Knox United Church here has been performing same-gender marriages for more than five years, it hadn’t officially completed all the requirements to officially be deemed an “Affirming Ministry” within the United Church of Canada.
But the local congregation voted earlier this month to complete those requirements, which includes updating the mission statement.
“At our annual meeting, we voted to change our mission statement to make it specifically affirming,” said Rev. Barb Miller.
“It always has been affirming because we talk about welcoming all people, but we wanted to include the wording that ‘Affirm United’ recommends you have in order to be specific,” she explained.
“Affirm United” is an organization within the United Church of Canada that sets the standard about what it means to be affirming and how you get there.
“Over the years, churches have been that entity that has been most exclusive of gays, lesbians, and transgendered people,” Rev. Miller noted.
“We believe it is churches that need to be in the forefront of saying to society, in general, that God loves everybody, especially and including people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgendered.
“So we changed our mission statement to specifically say that,” she added.
The original mission statement read, “We welcome everyone to join us in creating an inclusive congregation committed to growth and responsible stewardship.”
It was changed to say, “We are an Affirming Ministry and we celebrate diversity welcoming all people, regardless of ethnic origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, differing abilities, economic circumstances, or age to join us in creating an inclusive congregation committed to growth and responsible stewardship.”
Rev. Miller said 39 people voted in favour of changing the mission statement.
“No one voted against and no one abstained in any of the motions,” she noted. “So it was very well-received.
“There was not any kind of hesitation around it.
“It was a very heart-warming experience to be part of that—to be part of a congregation that is forward-thinking and welcoming and sees it as important,” she added.
In addition to changing the mission statement, the other requirements to becoming an Affirming Ministry include joining “Affirm United” and developing an action plan to indicate how it will live out its intention to be one.
These motions also were brought forward during the Feb. 8 meeting and passed with an overwhelming majority.
“The action plan talks about what you are going to do in an ongoing way to lift up the concerns of being an affirming ministry and supporting the LGTB community,” Rev. Miller explained.
She added they’ve been doing this kind of work, but hadn’t officially laid it out in a plan.
For instance, one thing Rev. Miller has done is update the order of service for weddings to be sure it is inclusive.
“I thought it was and then I got looking at it . . . so I went through and made some changes,” she said.
“So [the action plan] is the piece we’re still missing,” she added.
“It means that once we have the action plan done, which I hope to have done before May, we can have a service of celebration—celebrating that we are an affirming congregation.”
So far within the United Church’s Cambrian Presbytery, which consists of 25 pastoral charges in the region, Rev. Miller said there are three churches that are Affirming Ministries—St. John’s United Church in Marathon, Westminster United Church in Thunder Bay, and St. Andrew’s United Church in Sioux Lookout.
“I know there are more that are in the process of becoming affirming,” she added.
In fact, Rev. Miller believes there are other churches in Fort Frances that are beginning discussions about their equivalents to becoming affirming congregations.
But she said Knox is the forerunner on the issue.
“I think one of the things that is new to the journey is talking about transgender identities,” Rev. Miller remarked.
“I think that is something that is probably newer here than it is in other parts of Canada, but I know that there are significant issues facing people with transgender identities and I think it is harder for them,” she said.
“So that is something that ‘Affirm United’ is lifting up for people to be thinking about.”
Rev. Miller cited the high rate of suicide among people struggling with gender identity and sexual orientation issues.
“And that’s not okay,” she stressed.
“It is our obligation as a society, and particularly as a church, to help people to know that God loves them regardless of their orientation or gender identity,” she reasoned.
“That is not anything people have control over.
“That’s how we’re born—Lady Gaga had it right!” Rev. Miller said.
“We’re born that way and God loves us just the way we are,” she reiterated.
Rev. Miller said we should celebrate our diversity rather than be ashamed of it.
“It is wonderful to be part of a congregation that whole-heartedly embraces that call,” she enthused.
“It was a blessing for people to be so open and supportive.”
