TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY EDITION November - 2007 “Never doubt” CONNECTING AND INFORMING GAY, LESBIAN, BISEXUAL, AND The following is an edited version of an address TRANSGENDER PEOPLE AND given by Anne Squire, former moderator of The THEIR FRIENDS ACROSS THE United Church of Canada, at St. Andrew’s UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA. United Church, Peterborough, Ontario, at the WORKING FOR JUSTICE AND THE 25th anniversary conference of Affirm United on FULL PARTCIPATION OF PEOPLE August 5, 2007. OF ALL SEXUAL ORIENTATIONS AND GENDER IDENTITIES IN THE s I thought about the Margaret UNITED CHURCH AND THE Mead quote that inspired this WORLD. conference (”Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful Aconcerned citizens can change the world.”) I INSIDE THIS recalled when I met the famous ISSUE anthropologist. I heard Mead speak at the 1978 meeting of the Religious Education 2 Reflections from the Association in St. Louis, where she received co-chairs the William Henry Harper Award. It’s given each year to an educator who Anne Squire, former moderator of the United Church, 3 Alyson’s angle “promoted understanding between spoke at Affirm United’s 25th anniversary. cultures, nations, sexes, races and 4-9 Conference 2007 generations.” Photo: Lyn Miller in Peterborough Mead’s speech addressed the question of why religions which claimed to be encompassed a new social vision that 18 Conference 2008 devoted to “peace and brotherhood” had included all of those left out of the society spent much of the past thousand years of his day. So many of the stories and 10-12 Affirming ministries fighting each other and praying for the parables of Jesus give us descriptions of this death of their brothers. When she asked her realm, or simply the world as it would be if Affirm United/S’affirmer daughter to critique a paper she was God’s way really ruled the world. Jesus had ensemble celebrates 25 years: preparing on that subject, the daughter a vision of what that world might suggested that “brotherhood” was not a encompass, and it certainly included the 13 Reflections from United good figure of speech, not only because it poor, the leper, the blind, the tax collectors, Church moderators left out sisterhood. This led Mead to change the widows, the Samaritans—all who were her language about brotherhood, and to say excluded from the society of his day. 15 Affirm across the years that no community is complete if it If that vision is to be brought up‐to‐ excludes others from its circle. date and relevant in today’s world it must 16 Reflections by pioneers That is the question which I addressed include gays, lesbians, bisexual and in a chapter in the book, The Emerging transgender people — all of those who are Christian Way: Thought, Stories and Wisdom still, much too often, experiencing and for a Faith of Transformation. My contribution witnessing hurtful exclusion in society and was entitled “Radical Inclusion,” which I the church. defined as the practice of including in any Twenty‐five years ago, a small group community those who are normally of thoughtful concerned citizens were excluded. My main point in that chapter is determined to change that world, and that Jesus is the model of one who lived and officially that has happened in both our taught “radical inclusion.” nation and our church. Never doubt that The main focus of Jesus’ ministry was the day will come when we do not have to “the kingdom of God,” and although that remind people that the struggle is ongoing, P.O. Box 57057 Somerset Stn. word “kingdom” has fallen into disrepute, and still needs vocal support. Ottawa, ON K1R 1A1 the kingdom of which Jesus spoke Never doubt! INSIDE consensus Consensus is the newsletter of Affirm United/S’affirmer ensemble, an Your $5 donation can adjust the sails organization of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and Someone once wrote, “The pessimist Support and Global Partners by giving a transgender people and their friends complains about the wind. The optimist surpragift of ONLY $5.00 earmarked for within The United Church of Canada. expects it to change. The realist adjusts the this campaign. Send a cheque made out to Opinions expressed are those of the sails.” And so as an organization and as a The United Church of Canada Mission and authors and do not necessarily reflect council we adjust our sails to the changing Service Fund to: the views of Affirm United/S’affirmer times of the United Church. This adjusting Direct Giving Program ensemble. Your news stories, articles, was very evident at our 25th Anniversary The United Church of Canada and letters are always welcome. celebration in Peterborough and we are 3250 Bloor Street West, Suite 300 Consensus reserves the right to edit for length, clarity or style. grateful for the respectful and articulate Toronto, ON M8X 2Y4 discussions that were evident both at our State on the cheque that the donation workshop and at the AGM. How blessed is “designated equally for the 2009 Mission Send to; the United Church is to have the history Support Grants and Global Partner [email protected] and the persistent voice of Affirm United/ Grants.” Consensus Sʹ affirmer ensemble. This is not a protest or a sign of 1120 Moselle Cresc. As we go forward into our second support for General Council Executive Ottawa, ON quarter century we will remember that at decision to let 20 staff positions cease, but times we need to sail with the wind, at K1C 2T2 an active way for all of us to express our other times we need to sail into the wind concerns for the most vulnerable partners 613-841-2354 and when appropriate we need to work to in and outside of Canada. Mission and influence the direction of the wind. To that Service donations are not a weapon but a Contributors to this issue: end we invite you to participate in a tool of love. In faith and in hope and in Jim Abel, Colleen Adair, Ruth, Blaser, Sally campaign initiated within the church to solidarity let us act to reduce the impact of Boyle, Dominique Gauvreau, Nicole Hamel, lessen the amount (currently set at these reductions on our brothers and Sally Harris, barb janes, Anne Hebb, Wilson $900,000 for Global partners and another sisters. MacLennan, Don Ross, Yves Samson, Read $900,000 to Canadian partners) needing to Blessings from the co‐chairs Sherman, Malcolm Spencer, Al Stewart be cut in 2009 grants to the Mission Sally Harris and Wilson MacLennan Managing Editor: Alyson Huntly Editors: Pierre Chartrand, Heather Menzies, The Affirming ministries of Affirm United work for inclusion and justice for people of all Andrea Nugent, Read Sherman, D’thea Webster sexual orientations and gender identities within the United Church and in society. For a list of Layout: Colleen Adair Affirming ministries across Canada, see page 19. For information on how your ministry can Design: JAC Design become Affirming, contact the program co-chairs c/o Brian Mitchell-Walker [email protected]. Words of Congratulations Blessings on Affirmʹs twenty‐fifth. Congratulations to Affirm United /S’affirmer ensemble Eldon Hay and Anne Pirie, Sackville, NB on your completion of one quarter century of working for Along with the satisfaction of supporting a just cause, we justice and equality within The United Church of Canada have enjoyed the bonus of many wonderful and lasting and the broader Canadian society. friendships. Congratulations, Affirm! Wilson MacLennan Don and Mimi Gillies Congratulations and thanks to Affirm United! It has been a journey of wonder and hope. Celebrating 25 years of intentional ministry with Alyson Huntly and Andrea Nugent Affirm United. Thank you for the many hands that have We are delighted to be able to offer our congratulations drawn the inclusive circle wide! and thanks to Affirm United for all the hard work done over the many years. Trinity United Church Trinity United in Vancouver ‘in the heart of Kitsilano’ Vancouver. In gratitude to Affirm, Friends of Affirm, and Affirm Proudly celebrating 10 years as an United/Sʹaffirmer ensemble for 25 years of witness to Affirming Congregation! Godʹs inclusive vision of church and society. Read Sherman 2 consensus November 2007 Is our work finished? It has scarcely begun grandparents are members of United Church Affirming by ALYSON HUNTLY congregations. They have known gay and lesbian people all their lives. As they grow up they will enjoy greater aiden and Alyssa (age four and freedom and acceptance for gender and sexual identity five) are sorting toy people into than ever before in Canadian history. two yellow school buses, one But that is not all these children know. Deeper than J bus for girls and one for boys. the changes that ripple the surface of public No matter that these toys could be consciousness lurk homophobia, heterosexism, sexism, sorted by a host of other and transphobia. These are not words these children categories—the figures are Asian, know, of course. But they know words that mean much Black, White; some have yellow the same thing, words like “queer,” “fag,” “homo,” bottoms, some red or blue; some use wheelchairs, one “sissy,” and “lesbo.” They know the playground; they wears glasses; some are children, some adults—no know the dangers of being different; they know that matter, only gender matters. certain forms of gender and sexual expression are taboo. “What about the kids who aren’t a boy or girl?” I For 25 years, Affirm/Affirm United/S’affirmer ask, “Or ones who are both?” ensemble has been working for sexual justice. Along with Two pairs of eyes scan my face.