Affirming LGBTQIA2S+

The Affirming program is both a process and recognition for ministries who strive to celebrate Two Spirit and LGBTQIA+ people publicly, intentionally, and explicitly. Any ministry of any kind can become Affirming! Within our Regional Council there are many such ministries- with lots of room for growth. On this page you’ll find a short list of resources and an Affirming-related newsfeed (keep scrolling down).

A group of people holding a banner and trans flags. The banner reads "Knox United Church".

Knox United Church in Brandon, an Affirming ministry, marching in Brandon’s Pride parade.

In June 2019, Prairie to Pine Regional Council voted to begin the Affirming process. This reflects its past commitments, when the former Conference of Manitoba and NW Ontario and all of its presbyteries were Affirming. Guided by a task group, the Regional Council and its members discerned how our new structure might live into the spirit and practice of being Affirming. At the October 2020 annual meeting of the Regional Council, the membership voted unanimously in favour of accepting the Vision Statement and Action Plan, and of becoming an Affirming Regional Council. This was a moment of great joy for the Affirming committee! A public celebration on May 30 2021, Our Place in the Rainbow, marked the final step in the formal journey, and the journey of growing into being Affirming began.

Click here for the Vision Statement.
Click here for the Affirming Action Plan.
And scroll down for Affirming news.

The Equity and Diversity Committee will carry the continuing work forward and welcomes conversation with you. You can find their page and membership here.

Have a look for the many Affirming ministries in our Regional Council: on the AUSE site; and on the United Church of Canada ministry locator (check under MB and NW Ontario communities for both.) Many others who are not listed are currently in the Affirming process. And you are welcome to join our private Affirming Facebook group!