LGBTQIA+ Affirming

A tipi with a rainbow feather painted on it, in front of Saskatoon's Bessborough hotel

OUT Saskatoon’s Two Spirit tipi at Saskatoon Pride 2017.

The Affirming program is both a process and recognition for ministries who strive to celebrate LGBTQIA+ and Two Spirit 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. Keep scrolling down this page for more resources, and for the latest news and Affirming opportunities.

In May 2019, Living Skies Regional Council voted to begin the Affirming process. This reflects its past commitments, when the former SK Conference and one of its presbyteries were Affirming. And it reflects the need to revisit and renew those commitments. Guided by a task group, the Regional Council and its members will discern how our new structure can live into the spirit and practice of being Affirming. Task group members are: Joy Cowan, Bob Hayes (chair), Shelly Manley-Tannis, Allison Saraurer, Yoonjoo Shin, Tony Thompson, and Jackie van’t Voort. Staff support is Julie Graham. Please contact the task group any time through jgraham@united-church.ca or livingskies@united-church.ca (we don’t post members’ emails in order to protect privacy, but the Regional Council will put you in touch directly and confidential conversations are welcome.)

Have a look for Affirming ministries in Living Skies Regional Council: On the AUSE site; and on the United Church of Canada ministry locator (check under SK communities for both.) Many others are currently in the Affirming process.

Affirming news

Regional Council Meeting 2024

The 2024 Living Skies Regional Gathering will be held 13-15 June 2024 at the Saskatoon Travelodge hotel and conference centre. Sunday June 16 our service of praise will be held at Knox United Church, Saskatoon. See all details under Governance/ Regional Gathering.

United Church News

During Earth Week, April 21‒28, let’s show up For the Love of Creation. Read More

Letter expresses gratitude for restored funding to UNRWA, but urges an immediate and permanent ceasefire. Read More

On March 21, International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, and every day there are many practical ways to work towards anti-racism. Read More

The Manual, 2024, is on the Handbooks and Guidelines page of this website, while older editions have been collected into a folder on the United Church Commons. Read More

The United Church of Canada joins Affirm United/S’affirmer Ensemble and Affirming Connections in urging individuals and communities of faith to commit to concerted efforts to be Public, Intentional,… Read More