Affirming Ministry

In late 2010, St. Martin's congregation made the decision to begin the process of exploring what it means to be an Affirming Ministry. In early 2011, a working group was formed to begin this process.

Affirming Ministries are congregations within the United Church that publically declare their commitment to inclusion and justice for people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. Although Affirming Ministries make an explicit statement about issues of sexuality and gender, their commitment to justice is far broader. They continually grow and change as they seek to live more fully into God's way of welcome, love, and justice for all creation. Just as God rejoices in the goodness and diversity of creation, so too Affirming Ministries honour and celebrate diversity.

In order to become an Affirming Ministry, a congregation must go through an educational process that reflects on what it means to be inclusive and evaluates the ministry's openness to the ongoing work of being intentional about how it both welcomes and includes others within the life and work of the congregation. It is hoped that each congregation will look at a variety of areas that may be barriers to those coming to their community: agism, sexism, racism, ablism, classism and in particular to the Affirming Ministry the issues of sexual orientation and gender identity.

As part of the affirming process, the Steering Group does an "Affirming Moment" monthly during regular worship.

For further information, contact any one of the Steering Group members at affirm@stmartinsuc.com

  

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