Draft:Affirming Ministries

Affirming ministries is a program by Affirm United - partner of the United Church of Canada. An Affirming Ministry is a faith community or organization within the United Church that declares itself to be fully inclusive of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. Become an affirming ministry means that the church would intentionally looking at their relationship with queer and gender diverse people, and how they can better serve those people.

History
The affirming ministries program, originally named as the Affirming Congregations Program, was launched in 1992 and officially endorsed by the United Church of Canada in 2000.

Augustine United Church became the first affirming ministry on February 26, 1995. As of 2020, there were over 225 affirming ministries across the United Church.

Process
The Affirming Process required the church to start a educational, discernment and decision process, including examine the wording in its record books, to explore the meaning to reconcile with Indigenous People, to look at racism within the church and to expand the conversation about justice and inclusivity within the community.

Celebration
National Affirming/PIE Day is an initiative inspired by the Pi Day. Pie will be served and the full inclusion of the LGBTQ and two-sprite people in faith communities across Canada will be celebrated. This date is to encourage people and community to be public, intentional and explicit when looking to become welcoming, affirming and inclusive.

Controversies
In December 2023, the Libertas Male Choir rented Port Hope United Church for a concert. They requested the removal of Pride flags in the sanctuary. Despite the opposition from the church board, the flags and several other symbols were discarded. The rent was later donated to the local Port Hope Rainbow Network for helping their Pride festival