Becoming Affirming

Public, Intentional, Explicit (PIE) inclusion for ALL is the goal of the Westminster Affirm Team.

What is “Becoming Affirming”?

The Westminster community of faith is a welcoming place. In late 2019, we decided to work towards taking that “welcome” a step further with education and awareness around becoming an Affirming Ministry, member of Affirm United/S’affirmer Ensemble, a proud partner of the United Church of Canada.

An Affirming Ministry supports all people and declares its commitment to education and action towards:

  • Inclusion and justice for people of all sexual orientations and gender identities.
  • Challenging bias and discrimination based on appearance, class, culture or age
  • Working to end racism
  • Promoting economic justice
  • Increasing accessibility
  • Caring for the planet

Through discernment, education and reflection, the Westminster Affirm Team, Westminster Council and the community of faith hope to discover what it means to be truly inclusive and justice seeking. 

Affirming Ministries’ work often expands as they search for ways to live more fully into God’s way of justice, love and welcome for all creation. 

With our words and actions, the Affirm Team works to provide information, acceptance, and support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning, intersex, agender, two-spirit and all 2SLGBTQ+ people.  

We challenge our community of faith to expand our learning and action concerning racism, ageism, ableism, mental health stigma, and systemic marginalization and oppression. We call on the wider church and community to do the same.*

*adapted from Open Hearts: Resources for Affirming Ministries of the United Church of Canada

Meetings & Action

The Affirm Team meets monthly. New people are always welcome. Contact the church office to find out more about meetings.

A “Minute for Affirm” is prepared for Sunday services, and educational inserts for the Announcements are provided on a regular basis. 

Contact:  call/text Allison (306)231-7663 or Lou (306) 229-8634 to connect with the Westminster Affirm Team or email westminsteruc@sasktel.net

Workshops & Events:

Workshops and events are planned throughout the year; for example:

  • PIEDAY COFFEEHOUSE – March 13, 2022: 13 performers and many tart bakers (and tart-eaters) helped celebrate a delicious, inclusive Public, Intentional, Explicit welcome for all at an afternoon coffeehouse. Performers included children, teens, adults, seniors, LGBTQIA+ and cisgender folks. Heartfelt stories were told and (as usual) there was an abundance of talent shared.
  • What if Westminster were Affirming? Workshop – January 16, 2022. Definitions and Case Studies were presented, and “What If” discussions followed.
  • Mug & Muffin – August 15, 2021. Muffins, Coffee, a short video and “meet the Affirm Team” social gathering
  • PIE Day – March 14,   2021 Drive-Thru Pie Sale, and 2020 Coffeehouse Event serving up PIE & information about being Public, Intentional and Explicit about inclusion and welcome. 
  • “Homosexuality and the Bible” Workshop – June 7, 2020: presented by Rev. Michael Webster
  • Humboldt Pride Week 2020 and 2021 – Virtual Flag Raising, Diversity Worship Service, StoryTime and Talent Show
  • Finding One’s Spirit – “There are No Closets in Tipis”, November 5, 2020:  online presentation by Jack Saddleback YouTube: https://youtu.be/Wu2RvFjgcoU
  • What is Intercultural Church?  – January 17, 2021, Zoom Workshop addressing “Why Become an Affirming Ministry? and How are LGBTQ2S+ Welcome and Anti-Racism Connected?”with guests Rev. Keith Hall and Very Rev. Jordan Cantwell.  For More Information: https://fb.me/e/10enHKkn7

Westminster Allyship:

Westminster United Church in Humboldt has been an active advocate of the LGBTQ+ community since 2012 when they provided assistance to the fledging Humboldt PFLAG group and the first Pride Flag Raising in the city.  Since 2015, Westminster has hosted a yearly Diversity Worship service and co-hosted the newly formed Humboldt & District Pride Network’s PRIDE WEEK ecumenical service.  Rainbow Bakery at Streetfest is supported by Westminster bakers.  Westminster provides a safe space for Rainbow Coffee, a youth group for LGBTQIA2S+ people, to meet monthly.

Affirm United/ S’affirmer Ensemble works for the full inclusion of people of all gender identities and sexual orientations in the United Church of Canada and in society.

Important Resources and Links:

United Church of Canada – Gender, Sexuality, and Orientation: https://united-church.ca/community-and-faith/being-community/gender-sexuality-and-orientation

United Church of Canada – Anti-Racism: https://united-church.ca/social-action/justice-initiatives/anti-racism

Affirm United:  https://affirmunited.ause.ca/

United Church’s Timeline (lgbtqia2S) https://www.united-church.ca/sites/default/files/lgbtqia-two-spirit-timeline.pdf

Celebrating PIEDAY: https://affirmingconnections.com/pie-day

Humboldt & District Pride Network:  https://www.facebook.com/HumboldtSKPride/

Virtual Pride Diversity Service Hosted by: Westminster United Church, St. Andrew’s Anglican Church. Humboldt & Area Pride Network

2020 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAnLz19ZJvo&feature=youtu.be

2021 https://youtu.be/xAzFThbM4Ws

Virtual Story Time! “A Is for Activist. Written by: Innosanto Nagara. Read by: Brenda Curtis (She/Her) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEu7kFC_0QE

What is Intercultural Church?

Recorded workshop link: