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)

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

 

2021 Minutes

2020 Minutes

2019 Minutes

Contact

Co-Chair – Dale MacArthur

Co-Chair – Vicky Austin

Recording Secretary – Cheryl Sellsted