Affirming Ministry

Affirming Ministry

Affirming Ministry

Since our congregation voted to become an Affirming Ministry on May 6, 2018, we have endeavored to make this a public commitment through our BUC website, signage at the entrances of our building, our rainbow stained-glass window, our participation in the Muskoka Pride Festival, and our banner with the Affirm logo on our float in the Santa Claus Parade.  We continue to add books in our library that focus on persons of various sexual orientations and gender identities. 


Affirming Statement
  • We recognize that congregations have historically condemned and excluded some persons and groups of persons through active effort or complicit silence.
  • We believe all people of every age, race, ethnic origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, or religious background are part of God's community.
  • We acknowledge that couples may be married regardless of race, creed, colour, gender, gender identity or sexual orientation. We also celebrate the union of previously divorced people and couples with differing religious backgrounds.
  • We will work constantly to be a safe, accessible, inclusive, and affirming church.
Affirming Ministries work in many different ways toward the healing and wholeness of creation — challenging bias and discrimination based on appearance, culture, class, or age; working to end racism; promoting economic justice; increasing accessibility; or caring for the planet. These ministries declare, in words and actions, that God loves and celebrates all people. And they call upon the rest of the church and society to do the same. 

Although the Affirming Ministry program focuses on issues of sexual orientation and gender identity, it encourages ministries to broaden their understanding, awareness, and action to include justice, healing reconciliation for Aboriginal people and First Nations, and work to end racism. 

Affirming Ministries acknowledge that God’s love is wider and more inclusive than they can imagine, let alone live out, and they commit themselves to sharing that news with others who may have heard a quite different message about what it means to be church. Because voices of condemnation, exclusion, and hatred are loud and persistent within the church and in society, Affirming Ministries make a public statement about who they are and what they believe. By doing so, we declare that it is important to be a public witness and to be a role model for other ministries.
Affirming Statement
  • We recognize that congregations have historically condemned and excluded some persons and groups of persons through active effort or complicit silence.
  • We believe all people of every age, race, ethnic origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, or religious background are part of God's community.
  • We acknowledge that couples may be married regardless of race, creed, colour, gender, gender identity or sexual orientation. We also celebrate the union of previously divorced people and couples with differing religious backgrounds.
  • We will work constantly to be a safe, accessible, inclusive, and affirming church.

Affirming Ministries work in many different ways toward the healing and wholeness of creation — challenging bias and discrimination based on appearance, culture, class, or age; working to end racism; promoting economic justice; increasing accessibility; or caring for the planet. These ministries declare, in words and actions, that God loves and celebrates all people. And they call upon the rest of the church and society to do the same. 


Although the Affirming Ministry program focuses on issues of sexual orientation and gender identity, it encourages ministries to broaden their understanding, awareness, and action to include justice, healing reconciliation for Aboriginal people and First Nations, and work to end racism. 


Affirming Ministries acknowledge that God’s love is wider and more inclusive than they can imagine, let alone live out, and they commit themselves to sharing that news with others who may have heard a quite different message about what it means to be church. Because voices of condemnation, exclusion, and hatred are loud and persistent within the church and in society, Affirming Ministries make a public statement about who they are and what they believe. By doing so, we declare that it is important to be a public witness and to be a role model for other ministries.

Stained glass created by Peter Wood and presented to BUC 2018
(Click on window to learn about its creation.)
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