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. Keep scrolling down this page for more resources, and for the latest news and Affirming opportunities.
Our key commitments
Photos from our Regional Affirming celebration, 1 June 2024. Thank you to all the beautiful people who made this service of worship and praise a sacred time.
In May 2023, Living Skies Regional Council voted to become Affirming, after a three year process. As part of this commitment, we offer you this Affirming statement (video version). Click here for the text version of our Vision Statement, which represents our overall commitments. And click here for the Living Skies Affirming Action Plan (2024, PDF), which will guide how the Regional Council will live into being and becoming Affirming in its work, ministry, and structures.
Being Affirming builds on 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 permanent committee, and by Affirming and supportive ministries, people, and partners throughout SK, the Regional Council and its members will discern how we live into the spirit and practice of being Affirming.
Committee members
Current Committee members (we welcome more!) are: Rev Sarah Giles, Charlotte Snyder and Lilac Colibaba.
Past Committee members are: Rev Shelly Manley-Tannis, Allison Sarauer, Rev Jackie Van’t Voort and Owen Wright. Past task group members: Rev Joy Cowan, Bob Hayes, Rev Shelly Manley-Tannis, Allison Sarauer, Yoonjoo Shin, Rev Tony Thompson, Rev Jackie Van’t Voort.
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. We welcome conversation and cooperation! Please get in touch with the committee through the Regional office, at livingskies@united-church.ca
Resources and info: Affirming partners
Affirm United/ S’affirmer Ensemble (AUSE)
The United Church of Canada: resources
AUSE private Facebook group
Affirming PIE Day (14 March annually)
Affirming Connections
Affirming news
Regional Council condemns recent abuses in SK Christian institutions
Printable version Living Skies Regional Council, the United Church of Canada within Saskatchewan, condemns the abuse that has recently come to light at Legacy Christian Academy in Saskatoon and at...
Introducing Korean Rainbow United Network
Korean Rainbow United is a network of The United Church of Canada for Korean queer people and allies, with involvement and leadership in our Regional Council. Members of the network work along with...
Action call: Letters of support for Rev Lee Dong-hwan
June is Pride Month, and your solidarity is invited. In 2020, Rev. Lee Dong-hwan of the Korean Methodist Church accepted an invitation to bless the crowd at the Incheon Pride Festival. As a result,...
Video invitation to Affirming ministries: Let’s create together!
This is your invitation to a video project for Pride Month, June 2022! Rev Laura Fouhse at McClure United, Saskatoon, Treaty Six, writes, “I would love for all of the Affirming Ministries across...
Living Skies Affirming gathering: Preparing for Pride
Join us Tuesday May 10, 7:30– 8:30PM June is Pride Month and Sunday, June 5 is United Church Pride Sunday! What are your rainbow plans? How can we support Pride activities in the community? Come...
PIE Day 2022 resources and events
Why PIE? PIE = Public. Intentional. Explicit. Those are the standards we hold ourselves to when we seek to live into being Affirming people and communities by, for, and with Two Spirit and LGBTQIA+...
First United in Swift Current featured in the news
Congratulations to our friends at First United Swift Current for a local story featuring their thorough and creative Affirming process! Knowing that the journey to this point has already sent a...
An introduction to Living Skies Affirming Task Group
In John 13:34 Jesus states “and now I give you a new commandment: love one another as I have loved you, so you must love one another”. As children of God through our thoughts and actions each of us...
Conversion therapy ban petition to the SK government
The Affirming committee of Grosvenor Park United Church in Saskatoon, Treaty Six, invites the people of Living Skies Regional Council to share in its call to the provincial government to outright...
Call for a provincial ban on conversion therapy
Click here for a PDF version of this letter. From: Living Skies Regional Council of The United Church of Canada, Rev Tricia Gerhard, chairperson. To: Hon Scott Moe, Premier; Hon Paul Merriman,...
