Town Hall:  

Draft Apology to LGBTQIA2S+ Communities  

January 21, 2024  1:00 – 2:30 pm ET

The United Church of Canada’s Apology Task Group invites you to a town hall meeting to present a draft of our upcoming apology to members of the 2S and LGBTQIA+ communities by The United Church of Canada.

A volunteer apology task group was appointed in November 2023. As a part of the larger project to live into an apology.  with explicit action,, the Task Group has drafted the words to be shared by the national church to continue the next step of the journey. The United Church of Canada recognizes that it is complicit in harms experienced by members of the Two Spirit and LGBTQIA+ communities. We are exploring concrete ways to repair broken relationships and seek wholeness in reconciliation, and we’re hoping that a final version of this apology will be ready by late Spring 2024.

Now we need your help!

Join us on January 21 to get an update on where we’re at. Help us discern what’s already working and what needs more attention. Get a preview on the direction that the Task Group has been moving, and a first take on the wording that’s emerging from their discussions.

Then spend some time in small groups brainstorming ways that the church we could invite Communities of Faith across the country to live into the apology. We’re looking for ways to do this in worship and in outreach, speaking to our membership and also people outside our churches. Your input will make this apology live in important and lasting ways!

Background

 
At the 42nd General Council, the church approved support for a national process of a Living Apology installation project for dialogue, story-telling, education, and reconciliation with persons who identify as sexual or gender diverse including but not limited to Two-Spirited, Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, Transgender, Queer persons. The Iridesce: The Living Apology Project launched in 2017 and was a collaboration between the General Council Office (GCO) and Affirm United/S’affirmer Ensemble (AU/SE).  

Over three years, the project gathered stories from across the United Church and submitted its final report to the General Secretary in July 2020. Upon review of the report, it was recommended that the General Council Office (GCO) form a working group to recommend follow-up actions to the General Council Executive. The working group concluded and submitted formal recommendations for follow-up on the Iridesce Project in January 2023. Among the recommendations was the crafting and offering an apology to 2S and LGBTQIA+ communities.
 

Leadership

Christine Dolson (she/her) (Lay Person, Kamloops United Church) Christine Dolson has served as coordinator of Kamloops United Church Affirming Ministry since 2016. In addition to her Affirming work and some Reconciliation initiatives, she also serves as the Lay Marriage Minister at Kamloops United Church and has served on many committees and hospitality opportunities. She is currently on the Council Circle (having served as vice-Chair and now Secretary). She also has a fifty-year history of involvement with church camping.

Rev. Michiko Bown-Kai (they/them) (Ordained Minister - Western Ontario Waterways Regional Council - Glen Morris United) Rev. Michiko serves in full-time ministry at Glen Morris United Church. Michiko has a long work history and experience with 2SLGBTQ+ justice and advocacy work within the United Church. They have been involved in a variety of capacities over the years with The United Church, including as a Program Coordinator at the General Council Office, as co-chair of Affirm United, and as a volunteer in the committee that prepared the Iridesce: The Living Apology Project report to the General Council Executive.

Rev. Fred Monteith (Ordained Minister) Western Ontario Waterways Regional Council - Parkminster United Church, Waterloo, Ontario  Fred is ministry personnel with the United Church. Fred served for fifteen years on the Hamilton Conference staff team; five years as Minister of Congregation Support and ten years as Executive Secretary. Prior to that, he served as the Conference's ministry representative on the General Council Executive and during that time was a member of the writing team for the 1998 Apology for the Church's Role in Residential Schools. Since his retirement in 2013, Fred served as the Business Coordinator for the General Council in Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador. He has completed a number of short-term appointments at the Conference and Regional level as well as serving in several supply positions in Communities of Faith.

Rev. Aaron Miechkota (Ordained Minister) Cressy Glenora and South Bay United Churches in Prince Edward County Rev. Aaron is currently serving in ministry with Cressy Glenora and South Bay United Churches in Prince Edward County, Ontario. Aaron is a first-generation Canadian of Ukrainian and Irish immigrants, and was raised in both rural and urban settings. Aaron is interested in the theology of friendship with people and the earth. In ministry, Aaron leads with a creative and collaborative approach to engage our faith with heart, soul, mind and strength.

Rev. Tricia Gerhard (She/Her). Ordained Minister Prairie to Pine Regional Council - Westworth United Church Tricia has been in ministry with the United Church for more than 20 years. She is an active leader in the church community, currently serving as Minister at Westworth Church in Winnipeg. Tricia has served in various other including; Member of the Prairie to Pine Executive and Commissioner at General Council 43 and 44, where she also led small group discussions. She is a Past Chair of the Living Skies Regional Council Executive, Member of the Living Skies Regional Council and Transition Team, and Member and Recording Secretary for the Saskatchewan Conference. She also participates in various presbytery and conference committees.