Photo Credit Hannah Voggenhuber via Unsplash
Feedback on a draft apology to members of the 2S and LGBTQIA+ communities by The United Church of Canada
The United Church of Canada’s Apology Task Group invites feedback on a draft apology to members of the 2S and LGBTQIA+ communities harmed by The United Church of Canada. This is a part of the United Church’s commitment to continued learning, reconciliation and action. A volunteer apology task group was appointed in November 2023, to draft an intentional living apology that moves beyond a statement to explicit action. Recognizing the need for apologies to be lived into with action, the apology task group has developed this statement in response to the findings of Iridesce: The Living Apology Project and the 2011 National LGBT Consultation, for which feedback is welcome. Further engagement with communities of faith is planned in town hall meetings commencing later this Fall.
The draft and feedback survey can be found here.
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.
The apology task group members are Rev. Tricia Gerhard , Rev. Michiko Bown-Kai, Christine Dolson, Rev. Aaron Miechkota and Frederick Monteith. Further inquiries can be directed to Rev. Tricia Gerhard at minister@westworth.ca or through the GCO liaison to the task group, Jane Thirikwa at jthirikwa@united-church.ca.
