We Are an Affirming Church

The St. Paul’s Affirming Committee had a big year in 2019 with moments of both little and tremendous inspiration. Affirm United, the organization that guides the affirming process, tells churches the affirming process will take about two years, the first year spent mostly on education and the second on action. 2019, being our first year as a committee, we learned a lot about being an affirming ministry working in and out of our community. Our committee is currently made up of the hardworking committed team of Kate Labelle, Gary Davis, Chris Lee, with the help of both our ministers Carolyn and Deborah and our co-chairs Judy DeMone and Thea Sheridan-Jonah.  

In the past year our committee has spent most of our time educating ourselves on the affirming process and why affirming is important. We held an affirming ‘Lunch and Learn,’ and met with other committees to talk about what affirming means in their committees. Our first event in 2020 happened on March 8 with “PIE Day.” PIE stands for Public, Intentional, and Explicit (and also coincides with March 14 - or 3.14). We explored these themes during worship and then gathered after worship for lunch and, of course!, pie and we had further conversations on what it looks for our our church to be public, intentional, and explicit of our engagement and support of the LGBTQIA+ and Two-Spirit Community (see here for terminology.)

We were also featured in our local paper. Check it out!

On Saturday, March 13, 2021, a special PIE Day event was hosted by St. Paul's United Church in Oakville, Port Nelson United Church in Burlington, and Applewood United Church in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. General Secretary, the Revered Michael Blair, was our guest speaker and he spoke on Intersectionality. Watch the event on YouTube.

Deborah (Minister) and Thea (Co-Chair of the Affirming Team) wrote this letter on behalf of the executive of Horseshoe Falls Region of the United Church of Canada to the Halton Catholic District School Board on May 4th, in response to their vote to not raise a rainbow flag during Pride month. They also wrote a letter of support to PFLAG.

If you have any questions about affirming or the work of the affirming committee, do not hesitate to email affirm@stpaulsoakville.com or talk to the affirming committee members.  

Below is our projected action plan for 2020.

Goal: That we, as a community and congregation, have learned what it means to be public, intentional, and explicit

about our affirmation of all people and that we vote this year to be an Affirming Church

and that we continue to strive to fulfill our vision statement (as stated above).

Steps Required by Affirm United

☒ Inclusive Marriage Policy 

☒ Affirming Vision Statement 

☐ Action Plan for After Vote 

☐ Vote to become affirming

☐ Celebration of Affirming

Our Steps and Goals 

☒ PIE Day

☒ Start more conversations about affirming

☒ *Change washroom signage 

☒ Have PSN contact make video for anniversary Sunday

☒ Pride Day Celebration 

☒ *Use inclusive Bible during services for readings

☐ *Make rental agreement inclusive 

☐ *Educational Workshop with PSN around September 2020

*the Asterix represents goals we got from PIE day feedback 

Our Future 

Vote: 18th October 

Celebration: November 15th