Affirming Ministries Services of Celebration

Please check back for Affirming Ministry Celebrations as they are posted.  You are invited to send notes of congratulations to the ministries below for their upcoming celebrations and to those ministries listed under that for their recent celebrations

St. Thomas United Church, Calgary AB
celebrated their declaration of becoming an Affirming Ministry on Sunday, March 27,  2011 at their regular services of 9:15 am and 11  am.

Please send a note to congratulate St. Thomas United Church by clicking on this temporary email:  stthomasunited@affirmunited.ca

Parkdale United Church, Calgary AB
celebrated their declaration of becoming an Affirming Ministry on Sunday, March 20,  2011 at their regular service at 10:30 am.

Please send a note to congratulate Parkdale United Church by clicking on this temporary email:  parkdaleunited@affirmunited.ca

Annual Affirm United Conference and AGM

Coming Out of Exile
August 3-6, 2012  in Montreal, Quebec

The conference theme, Coming Out of Exile, recalls the experience GLBTQ Christians and allies have had of being “strangers in a strange land,” exiled from family or friends, faith, community, even from ourselves. But exile has also been a time rich with creativity, faith, and community. We have learned resilience. We have created new forms of worship and spirituality. As we come out of exile, we celebrate God who calls us home, not to a homeland that was but to a radically new place. Biblical stories from the period after exile, such as Ruth, Ezra, and Nehemiah, remind us that those who return from exile must always be vigilant about not ourselves creating places of exclusion and injustice for others. And we continue to seek justice for brothers and sisters everywhere who still live in exile. 

Theme speakers

Dr. Donald Boisvert. A professor in the Department of Religion at Concordia University in Montreal, Dr. Boisvert’s teaching and research focuses on religion and same-sex relations, gender, sexuality, and GLBT spirituality. An acclaimed guest speaker, Boisvert has given lectures across North America and the Caribbean. His books include Sanctity and Male Desire: A gay Reading of Saints and Out on Holy Ground.  

Rev. Dr. Ofelia Ortega.  Dr. Ortega is one of the eight presidents of the World Council of Churches. She is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian-Reformed Church in Cuba and was the first Presbyterian woman to be ordained in Cuba. She was the rector of the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Matanzas for eight years, leading it to a multi-faceted ministry of social service and community involvement.

(Link to info about Dr. Ortega  http://www.wcc-assembly.info/en/news-media/news/english-news/article/469/assembly-elects-new-presi.html  and file:///downloads/ecumenical-conversation-m-2.html  Link to info about Dr. Boisvert: http://religion.concordia.ca/BoisvertD.html)

Please revisit this page to find registration and workshop information

Affirming Ministries Workshops and Event

2011 Hilliker Preaching Lectureship:
RABBI MARGARET MOERS WENIG DD
at Chalmers United Church, Kingston ON

Free Public Lecture:  MALE AND FEMALE GOD CREATED THEM? Rereading a crucial biblical verse.

7:30 pm, Saturday November 19, 2011

Worship Service: Spiritual Lessons I have learned from Transsexuals:
Understanding another person and ourselves.

10:30 am, Sunday November 20, 2011

Workshop:  Opening our hearts, minds and sermons to people who are intersex, transgender and transsexual

2:00 pm, Sunday November 20, 2011
Please pre register for the workshop, space is limited

For more information visit: http://chalmersunitedchurch.org/programs/hilliker-lectureship/

Toronto Queer Connections:

Queer Connections is a youth video project based in three locations across the City of Toronto. Guided by professional queer video artists, youth will learn the ins and outs of video making. Using state of the art high definition gear, youth will have the opportunity to produce 7 short videos from concept development to post-production - all in a queer positive, collaborative and
supportive environment. Building on themes surrounding identity and sexuality, youth will use their videos as pieces in an artistic dialogue between the three
groups. Queer Connections is looking for 5 LGBTTI2QQ youth between the ages of 14-21 in each of its three locations. The videos will be screened at the AGO in
December upon completion of the project and each participant will receive a $500 honorarium. Each group meets twice a week for 10 weeks. In Etobicoke meetings are Mon & Thurs from 4-6pm at Lakeshore Arts, 2422 Lake Shore Blvd. West. For more information please go to our website: www.queerconnection.blogspot.com .  For an application click here