Affirm
UNITED

S'affirmer
Ensemble

Who We Are

Affirm United/S’affirmer Ensemble is a justice-oriented organization of people in The United Church of Canada.  Membership is open to those who support our work, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity.

Action - to work to end discrimination against people in church, society and our own organization.

Support - to help people of all sexual orientations and gender identiities find support and community within the United Church. 

Affirming Ministries Program - We established and continue to operate this church-wide network

Website, www.affirmunited.ca

Newsletter, Consensus

Three-day conference featuring speakers, workshops, entertainment, and worship, in a different Canadian location each summer, in conjunction with our annual general meeting.

Advocacy and information.  We write letters, submit briefs and proposals, and meet with church and government decision-making bodies.  Our displays, information tables, workshops, and educational resources support this work.

In 1982, Affirm was formed to support individual lesbian and gay members of The United Church of Canada and to
advocate with the church for their full inclusion. As Affirm worked with the support of allies within Friends of Affirm, we submitted briefs, spoke at church meetings, and offered
educational events and resources. These two groups joined to become Affirm United/S'affirmer Ensemble
with an ever expanding understanding of diversity and language.
Since 1982, we have both struggled and collaborated with the United Church. Now we celebrate the changes in the denomination, and we continue to challenge the church
to be true to its calling — to seek justice and resist evil.

Affirm United is a voice and a support for people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. We draw strength and hope from biblical stories of liberation; from the prophetic
call to live justly, love tenderly, and walk humbly with God; and from Jesus’ witness to God’s inclusive love.

Join Us

We welcome your time, talents, gifts, and graces to support the ongoing efforts of Affirm United/S’affirmer Ensemble.  We seek to build a fully diverse organization – people of all
ages, races, abilities, economic status, cultures, and ethnic backgrounds. We work in both French and English.

Each United Church organization that is an Affirming Ministry declares itself to be fully inclusive of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities — and they back up their words with action. Our Affirming Ministries Program encourages United Church bodies (congregations, presbyteries, conferences, educational centres) to study what it means to be publicly welcoming and inclusive. The program provides support for sexual orientation and gender identity issues. It also encourages the study of other United Church resources that promote the inclusion of other marginalized groups. Please go to the menus above to find out more about this program, to locate an Affirming Ministry near you, or find out about upcoming celebrations of newly declared Affirming Ministries. Our site includes a link to Affirming Ministry websites, where you’ll see their public declarations and their ongoing education programs and other activities.

Since the first day I walked in here, I have been included…this church tells me I am valued. And to be valued is to belong!

—A member of Trinty United, an Affirming Ministry in Vancouver

Email address: affirmunited@affirmunited.ca
Mailing address: P.O. Box 57057 Somerset Station, Ottawa, ON, K1R 1A1
Website address:  www.affirmunited.ca

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