Transgender People and Their “This Was a Groundbreaking, Is Making Something Possible
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CONSENSUS A newsletter of Affirm United / S’Affirmer Ensemble CONSENSUS P.O. Box 333, Stn. Q. Toronto, ON SPRING 2 0 0 4 M4T 2M5 www.affirmunited.ca Aboriginal United Church leader Stan McKay to lead August conference in Winnipeg ormer moderator Stan McKay, daughter Rebecca McKay, a Fnow a leader of the church’s professional forester who is Aboriginal conference, and five dedicated to social justice and has family members will be featured just returned from an assignment speakers at Affirm United’s 2004 in Guatemala; son Daniel McKay, conference July 30-Aug. 2 in an LGBT activist; and son-in-law Winnipeg. (The gathering was Scott Douglas, a playwright who originally slated for Montreal). focuses on faith and social justice. Under the theme “Justice is Workshop topics include Indivisible,” the McKay team and diversity in aging and in LBGT other facilitators will focus on spirituality, breaking barriers in justice, healing and reconciliation, churches, victimization and Former moderator Stan McKay and networking with minority recovery, transformation, groups in the church. also helped the United Church in Affirming ministries, and United The moderator of the United its journey of reconciliation with Church resources. Worship, song, Church from 1992 to 1994, Aboriginal peoples. and fun are always part of the mix McKay is acting speaker of All Joining the former moderator at national conferences, say Native Circle Conference. Until at the Affirm United conference organizers. recently, he led an educational will be his wife, Dorothy McKay, The Rainbow Ministry of institute that combines Christian an educator; daughter Nanette Winnipeg Presbytery is hosting the theology and spirituality with McKay, a minister who heads a event at Young United Church, a Aboriginal traditions. McKay has community renewal body; downtown Affirming congregation. Child care and billets are being ON EQUAL MARRIAGE arranged. The cost for four days, Moderator wins mixed review including meals, is $150 before oderator Peter Short was greeted with a mix of criticism and June 30 ($180 afterward). The fee Msupport for his leadership on the equal marriage issue when he met for one day is $60. with Affirm United’s executive body in February. Registration material is In articles on pages 2 and 3, the executive takes Short and other available through conference co- church leaders to task for not celebrating General Council’s August chairs, Laura Fouhse and Wilson decision to lobby for equal marriage. And they express concern that the MacLennan, at Winnipeg Moderator said dissenters to equal marriage are not homophobic. Presbytery, 301-G Weston St., The executive also argues that the Moderator and other church Winnipeg, MB R3E 3H4. Phone: leaders were shortsighted by deciding last fall not to speak at the (204) 954-2904. Supreme Court when it deals with equal marriage. However, they praise E-mail: <rainbowministry@ winni Short for publicly expressing his personal support for equal marriage. pegpresbytery.org>. And they welcome him as an honorary member of Affirm United. CONSENSUS 1 SPRING 2004 ‘WHY DIDN’T WE CELEBRATE?’ Short quizzed for weak response to vote for same-sex marriage t a February meeting with “We, as the church, seem to AModerator Peter Short, Affirm beliving out of fear, not love,” ABOUT United’s executive complained that DeLisle said. “Is this just fear of Short and church leaders seemed conflict? People who are not with CONSENSUS “almost apologetic” about General us have already had over 20 years Council’s 165-5 August decision to to discuss the issue.” Consensus is the newsletter of ask the federal government to Any process of change has two Affirm United, an organization legalize same-sex marriage. key elements, Short replied: “One of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and their “This was a groundbreaking, is making something possible. The friends within The United marvellous, important decision,” other is making it work. It has Church of Canada. We work for said membership co-ordinator Ron taken three generations to make justice and full participation of Coughlin. “Why didn't we women in ministry work. people of all sexual orientations celebrate?” “General Council has made and gender identities in the Some church members do not gay and lesbian marriage possible. church and the world. agree with the decision to support It is up to congregations to make it equal marriage, the Moderator work.” Opinions expressed are those of said. He has adopted a low-key “Young people won’t wait,” the authors and do not approach and is working said Marcie Gibson, an Affirm necessarily reflect the views of pastorally, “the way I would in a United council member at large. Affirm United. congregation,” to bring dissenters “The church will have to pick up Your news stories, articles, and on board. the pace.” letters are welcome. Consensus “People do not learn well The Moderator also came reserves the right to edit them when they are under attack,” Short under criticism for his comments for length, clarity or style. Please said. “We have to create a good at General Council that people send your material by e-mail to learning environment first. I hope who oppose same-sex marriage [email protected] to get to a place where there will should not be called homophobic. or by mail or courier to be transformation for all.” “Is there any reason to oppose The Editor Referring to a Jan.31 article in equal marriage rights that isn’t Consensus the Globe and Mail in which he homophobic?” asked Huntly. 1120 Moselle Cresc. personally supported same-sex “Our culture speaks with an Ottawa ON K1C 2T2 (613) 841-1743 marriage, Short said, “In that accent of homophobia,” Short article, you're seeing my process replied. “And it will take a lot of Editor: Andrea Nugent unfold.” courage to move beyond that.” Writer: Alyson Huntly Communication co-ordinator “Homophobia has occasional Alyson Huntly argued that simply violent manifestations. There is Desktop Publishing bringing people “on board” was homophobia at two levels. When I Gerry Chamberlain not adequate. “Justice cannot be said, ‘You are not homophobic for achieved by trying to get the holding different opinions,’ I Contributors to this issue Ruth Bramham, Ron Coughlin, majority to agree to give human should have been more specific.” Ken DeLisle, Sally Harris, rights to the minority.” The Moderator added, “I have Yuri Horie, Wilson MacLennan, Treasurer Ken DeLisle said the been accused [by people opposed Read Sherman, Anne Tinker church’s stance is seen as an to equal marriage] of spouting the overly cautious approach to avoid party line and of caving in to the upsetting people. interests of the administration.” CONSENSUS 2 SPRING 2004 Short wins kudos for newspaper article General Council’s decision in Moderator named favour of gay and lesbian honorary member marriage. In the article, Short wrote: ffirm United’s national “The General Council of The Acouncil has commended United Church of Canada has Moderator Peter Short for “coming made clear its response. All those, out” in support of equal marriage. regardless of sexual orientation, Recognizing that such a stand who are willing to give themselves has its risks and costs, members to transformation by love in the also awarded the Moderator an honourable estate are welcome in honorary membership in the marriage. organization. “I am aware that among At a meeting with Short during ecumenical and interfaith Moderator Peter Short (right) receives their annual mid-winter session in responses to equal marriage, the an honorary membership from Affirm United’s Ron Coughlin. Toronto, Affirm United’s executive United Church is mostly alone. praised the Moderator’s Jan.31 “Nevertheless, and with great Council has made the right article in the Globe and Mail, in respect for our partners and response, true to the gospel and which he personally supported the friends, I believe that the General true to our tradition.” ‘WHY AREN’T WE AT THE SUPREME COURT?’ Moderator queried on missed opportunity oderator Peter Short has told Affirm United that Church reverses 2003 MUnited Church leaders last fall decided it was not important to seek intervener status at Supreme decision on Supreme Court Court hearings on same-sex marriage. In early March, United Church leaders reversed Short said leaders believed the Supreme Court their 2003 decision to not intervene when the would likely support equal marriage, and they Supreme Court considers questions about same-sex preferred to put time and money into lobbying MPs to marriage referred to it by the federal government. change the laws that prohibit it. Church staff are consulting with Affirm United and The national church has written to all pastoral Canadians for Equal Marriage on a petition for charges suggesting ways for them to press the federal intervener status. government to pass laws supporting equal marriage, the Moderator said at a meeting with Affirm United’s church staff last fall prepared a budget, met with legal national council in February. staff, and were ready to apply for intervener status. However, members of Affirm United’s executive But the senior leadership team, which includes pointed out that several United Church members have the new general secretary, Jim Sinclair, and the new argued that visibility is important — that since the United Church moderator, Peter Short, decided to church is lobbying MPs it needs to be seen doing the drop the plan. same in Canada’s highest court. Staff said they were told that congregations were Currently, only two religious voices supporting “in different places” on the issue. Staff were also told equal marriage are official interveners — a coalition that such a move might not sit well with the delegates of rabbis and Metropolitan Community Church, a to last summer's General Council — who voted 165 GLBT-positive Christian denomination.