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Affirm United / S’affirmer Ensemble

PO Box 57057
Ottawa, ON, K1R 1A1

communications@ause.ca

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Affirm United / S’affirmer Ensemble AGM & Summer Conference 2023 REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!

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What’s New

Affirming celebration for Bermuda-Nova Scotia Regional Council of The United Church of Canada! April 11, 2024
Affirming celebration for Rockwood-Stone United Church Pastoral Charge! April 8, 2024
Trans Day of Visibility / Easter Sunday March 31, 2024
Affirming celebration for Mark Street United Church! March 14, 2024
Affirming celebration for Central United Church! March 14, 2024
Affirming celebration for Lakeshore United Church! March 14, 2024

I N S T A G R A M

affirmunited

Today is International Day Against Homophobia, Tra

Today is International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia, which means it’s a great day to live out loud! Here at Affirm United/S’affirmer Ensemble, we support and love you no matter who you are or who you love.

It’s also a day to take action. 2SLGBTQIA people deserve safety and welcome, and we still have to fight for it. How can you help take action against homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia?

To find some concrete ways to support the 2SLGBTQIA community, please visit our website! https://affirmunited.ause.ca/

Hi, I’m Alix (she/her), your new Executive Direc

Hi, I’m Alix (she/her), your new Executive Director of Affirm United/S’affirmer Ensemble! I am thrilled to be joining the AU/SE team, and can’t wait to help lead this organization into a bold new chapter of growth and advocacy.
A bit about me: I grew up and live in B.C., attending my local United Church. I have always felt called to justice-seeking, and working in a way that allows me to live out my faith values. My prior experience is varied, but includes leadership and frontline work with anti-violence organizations, fundraising, and United Church camping ministry. I have a Master of Arts in Human Security and Peacebuilding, a Bachelor of Arts in History, a Bachelor of Social Work, and am a certified Sexual Health Educator. First and foremost a follower of Christ, I am also a parent, a social worker, a performer, and an activist.
Have questions for me? Feel free to reach out to executivedirector@ause.ca. I can’t wait to learn and grow with you all!

Beaconsfield United, just outside of Montreal, QC,

Beaconsfield United, just outside of Montreal, QC, will be our host for our first in person AGM in three years! More information will be coming, but we wanted to let you know the location ASAP so you can make your plans!
Are you an organized and motivated volunteer who wants to help us plan out the AGM? Please email M at communications@ause.ca to see what you can do to help!

Happy PIE Day!!

Happy PIE Day!!

Happy International Women’s Day!

Happy International Women’s Day!

Tag us in your Year of Intention videos!!

Tag us in your Year of Intention videos!!

Join us on March 7th for our Year of Intention pan

Join us on March 7th for our Year of Intention panel discussion!

Please visit the link in our bio to learn more and

Please visit the link in our bio to learn more and see our job posting!

Join us for: United Against Hate: faithfully respo

Join us for:
United Against Hate: faithfully responding to anti-2SLGBTQ+ actions

Wednesday, February 15
6:00pm MT, 7:00pm Central, 8:00pm ET, 5:00pm PT

As a special United In Learning event, join Affirm United/ S’affirmer Ensemble and Affirming Connections to learn about the malicious misinformation campaign and threats that have been launched against the drag and 2SLGBTQ+ communities across Canada - and what you can do.

Our panelists will address some of the dangerous myths circulating around drag, trans and other queer identities; look at recent Canadian online and in-person instances of anti 2SLGBTQ+ hate, some of which include Christian groups; and explain how these connect to wider hate, racist, and extremist anti-vaccination movements.

They will also share some ideas on what you and your community of faith can do to bring a faithful public response in your context, as well as support and care for those who need it.

Our panelists:
- Toddy, Drag artist, standup comedian and musician
- Rev. Nobuko Iwai, Grosvenor Park United Church
- Hazel Woodrow, Education Facilitator at the Canadian Anti-Hate Network

Registration is free and required through the United in Learning website at the link below.

https://catalog.churchx.ca/product?catalog=UILX1151&fbclid=IwAR2Yq__myAN5SLY4o5n2Dk1ZIiPlTKT6M6JQiSXR7JMxixuBjz7f1NQXiOo

Affirm United / S'affirmer Ensemble is pleased to

Affirm United / S'affirmer Ensemble is pleased to announce our new Strategic Plan! Informed by engagement with our members, volunteers, and community, this document will help provide direction, ideas, and inspiration for AUSE in the coming years.

To learn more about the plan, including how you can contribute to its success, please join us for an online presentation on January 26. Brian Hoessler of Strong Roots Consulting, who co-led the engagement and planning process, will walk us through the plan and facilitate discussion on next steps for AUSE.

Date: January 26th, 2023
Time: 8pm EST
Location: Zoom
Registration Form: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwvcuCoqz4vHdGEajWBu_VkPf32Tu80ZZOL

We are so blessed to have all of you in our commun

We are so blessed to have all of you in our community. Merry Christmas!

New statement in response to the rise the hatred w

New statement in response to the rise the hatred we’re seeing. Link in the linktree in our bio.

Reminder that PIE Day is coming up!

Reminder that PIE Day is coming up!

The Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDoR), also kn

The Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDoR), also known as the International Transgender Day of Remembrance, has been observed annually (from its inception) on November 20 as a day to memorialize those who have been murdered as a result of transphobia. It is a day to draw attention to the continued violence endured by transgender people.

Transgender Day of Remembrance was founded in 1999 by Gwendolyn Ann Smith, a transgender woman, to memorialize the murder of transgender woman Rita Hester in Allston, Massachusetts. It has slowly evolved from the web-based project started by Smith into an international day of action. In 2010, TDoR was observed in over 185 cities throughout more than 20 countries.

On November 20, we remember and honour Two-Spirit, trans and non-binary people killed around the world because of hatred and oppression. Affirm United/S'Affirmer Ensemble renews our commitment to fighting transphobia in all its forms.

Registration is open!! https://docs.google.com/for

Registration is open!! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScK54A_drtC5k4-wz1iA0lrcyipYjDz5ozZWH_Id_V6Hgnttw/viewform Please fill out this form to attend our AGM on July 14-17!

Let’s create together! I would love for all of

Let’s create together!

I would love for all of the Affirming Ministries across Canada to send me a short and simple video clip!

I will use these clips to create a montage of Affirming Ministries sharing their love!

What should you do?

Take a video of your Affirming Ministry blowing a kiss. It could be one member, two members or the entire community. In the video, you will (1) reach out to your left to grab a kiss (2) turn to your right and blow a kiss in that direction. Super simple.

Please be sure to have your phone/camera landscape view.

The video file should be short enough that you can easily email it to me at laura@mcclureunitedchurch.org. If you have any problems uploading, please send me an email and we’ll find another way.

I need all videos by end of day on Sunday, June 12th.

I will put them together and have a completed video by Friday, June 17th. Feel free to use it in your Pride or Affirming Ministry services.

Join us on July 14-17 for our AGM! Come as a votin

Join us on July 14-17 for our AGM! Come as a voting representative from your community of faith, or grab your own membership and represent as yourself with a vote! More details to come, stay tuned! See you there!

Affirm United / S’affirmer Ensemble is working w

Affirm United / S’affirmer Ensemble is working with two consultants, Brian Hoessler and Kit Loewen, to help us imagine what our organization can be and develop a plan for the coming years. Over the next few months, Brian and Kit will be consulting and engaging with the AUSE Council, staff, members, and other key stakeholders to identify the organization’s root causes of success, articulate new directions, and identify pathways forward.

Today, you’ll meet Kit!

Kit Loewen (She/Her, B.Sc., B.Ed., M.Ed) lives with her family in Saskatoon, on the traditional territory of the Plains Cree (Nēhiyawak), Saulteaux, Dakota and Nakoda people bound by the commitments made in Treaty 6. Kit’s home rests on land settled by La Prairie Round/Prairie Métis settlements, including Road Allowance communities.

Among other things, Kit is a consultant committed to working with non-profit organizations to support their vitality in their communities through a variety of organizational development approaches (which include governance refinement, strategy work, and non-profit life cycles). Kit is an active member of St. Martin’s United Church, where she is currently a member of the Affirming Action Group and Chair of the Ministry and Personnel Committee. Currently, she is pleased to sit as an ally-member of the Board of OUTSaskatoon, whose mission is to “To uplift 2SLGBTQ people by leading, serving, and supporting in a dynamic community.”

Affirm United / S’affirmer Ensemble is working w

Affirm United / S’affirmer Ensemble is working with two consultants, Brian Hoessler and Kit Loewen, to help us imagine what our organization can be and develop a plan for the coming years. Over the next few months, Brian and Kit will be consulting and engaging with the AUSE Council, staff, members, and other key stakeholders to identify the organization’s root causes of success, articulate new directions, and identify pathways forward.

Today, you’ll meet Brian!

Brian Hoessler (He/They, B.Sc, M.A) is an independent consultant who enjoys working with individuals, groups, organizations, and communities to build their capacity to make positive change in the world. He is the Founder and Principal Consultant for Strong Roots Consulting, a firm based in Saskatoon on Treaty 6 territory and the traditional homeland of the Métis.
Over the past decade, Brian has worked with over 30 non-profit organizations, government agencies, and multi-stakeholder initiatives in the areas of program evaluation, organizational capacity-building, and strategic planning.
Brian grew up in Winnipeg and as an adult has lived in Toronto, Kitchener-Waterloo, and Kingston (Ontario) before moving to Saskatoon in 2012. He is currently an adherent with SSUC-Saskatoon (formerly Meewasin Valley United Church), where he participated in the congregation’s process of becoming an Affirming Ministry.

This week, you’ll be meeting Michelle! Originall

This week, you’ll be meeting Michelle!
Originally from Portland, Oregon; Michelle came to Vancouver, BC in 2011 as a student at Capilano University. Shortly being introduced to St. Andrew's Wesley United Church by a friend who was part of the gospel choir, Michelle quickly felt at home as she became involved in the choir which led her to reignite her love of singing.

Becoming a member of St. Andrew's Wesley United (STAW) in 2014, has given Michelle the space to flourish spiritually by becoming involved in ministries such as the Word Is Out (LGBTQ2S+) as an ally and helping with the planning of their summer conference of SpiritPride that takes place leading up to Pride Weekend in Vancouver; acting as Chair of the Affirm Committee when STAW decided to embark on the journey of becoming an affirming congregation in 2013, to becoming involved in various events for the TRC, helping refugees and their families settle into Canada to supporting community ministries such as The Chapel, a space within STAW that offers a place for the community to come together in storytelling, faith and music. She also sits on the church board as Secretary. (Michelle jokes fondly that she is an uber church geek 🤓)

Having found that Vancouver was where her heart was, she became a permanent resident in 2020 and looks forward to becoming a citizen in the future. Most recently she has stepped into the role of Office Administrator at Pacific Spirit United (formerly: Ryerson/Dunbar United) and loves working with the ministry team and getting to know the welcoming congregation there.

In her spare time, Michelle enjoys discovering new music, going to concerts, volunteering in the community, singing in SummerChor and traveling with friends.

*Little known fact: Michelle is in the Guiness Book of World Records for being part of the largest Zombie Walk in the US, that took place in Seattle, Washington***

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