Affirming Ministry - Orchard Valley United Church

Mandate

Following the Affirming Process used by the United Church of Canada, the Committee’s mandate is to understand the need for, and the issues surrounding, congregational inclusion of the LGBTQ+ community. The Committee then supports the congregation and other committees in their understanding of the issues in order for them to be prepared for a congregational vote on becoming a member of Affirm United.

Resources

ORCHARD VALLEY AFFIRMING RESOURCES AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Definitions:

Affirming Definitions

What is an Affirming Church?

For Watching:

Rev. Paula Stone Williams:
– I’ve lived as a man and a woman. Here’s what I learned.
https://youtu.be/lrYx7HaUlMY

– The story of a parent’s transition and a son’s redemption.
https://youtu.be/9NZCWeBNPeE

Thomas Lloyd:
– Why am I so Gay?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_U1foLW8h54

Dr. James Makokis:
– Two Spirit Cree medical doctor cares for his transgender patients.
https://www.facebook.com/607271319/posts/10158096800106320?sfns=mo

For the Bible Tells Me So, a film by Daniel Karslake
The Bible has been often used against people who are LGBTQ+. This documentary film deals with biblical passages and themes of sexual orientation as told through the lives of five families.
* DVD is available for borrowing from Orchard Valley

For Reading:

– Bible, Gender, Sexuality: Reframing the Church’s Debate on Same-Sex Relationships, by James Brownson.
A copy is available for borrowing from Rev Don Sellsted.

– Open Hearts: Resources for Affirming Ministries in the United Church of Canada, by Alyson C. Huntley
www.affirmunited.ca

– Becoming an Ally: Breaking the Cycle of Oppression in People, by Anne Bishop

– Love Lives Here. A Story of Thriving in a Transgender Family, by Amanda Jetté Knox]
A copy is available for borrowing from Orchard Valley

– We Have Always Been Here: A Queen Muslim Memoir, by Samra Habib
(Winner of Canada Reads 2020)

– What Does the Bible Say About Transgender People? by Austen Hartke and Myles Markham.

Centre for Action and Contemplation (cac.org)

- - Richard Rohr’s Daily Meditations Archive
    - - Final Court of Appeal, October 22, 2019
      - A Deeper Tenor, October 23, 2019
      - True Self and False Self, October 24, 2019
      - For the Good of the World, November 6, 2020

Queergrace.com
“Queer Grace is a curated encyclopedia of information and ideas around the life of LGBTQ+ people and Christian faith. We hope to offer a safe space full of resources for all those navigating their journey in the church.”

www.iridesce.ca
The Living Apology Project: A project of Affirm United and the United Church of Canada.
“Illuminating gender and sexual identities and expressions.”
Note: You can subscribe on the website to the free newsletter.

For Children, Youth and Families:
These books are all available for borrowing from Orchard Valley.

- - A Church for All, by Gale E. Pitman
  - A Princess of Great Daring, by Tobi Hill-Meyer
  - All Kinds of Families, by Suzanne Lang
  - And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Robertson and Peter Parnell (disk included)
  - Freedom Soup, by Tami Charles
  - I am Jazz, by Jessica Hershel and Jazz Jennings
  - I am Perfectly Designed, by Karamo Brown
  - Is That For a Boy or For a Girl? by S. Bear Bergman
  - It’s Okay to be Different, Todd Parr
  - Let’s Talk About Race, by Julius Lester
  - Love is in the Hair, by Syrus Marcus Ware
  - M is for Mustache: A Pride ABC Book, by Catherine Hernandez
  - My Divided Family, by Diane Guerrero
  - My Two Dads and Me, by Michael Joosten
  - My Two Moms and Me, by Michael Joosten
  - Out of Wonder: Celebrating Poets and Poetry, by Kwame Alexander
  - Red: A Crayon’s Story, by Michael Hall
  - The Boy in the Dress, by David Williams
  - The Bread Pet: A Sourdough Story, by Kate de Palma
  - The Little Red Shed, by Adam & Jennifer Young
  - The Newspaper Pirates, by j wallace skelton
  - The Zero Dads Club, by Angel Adehoya
  - When Aidan Became a Brother, by Kyle Lukoff
  - The Fabulous Zed Watson, by Basil Sylvester and Kevin Sylvester