Kamloops United Church Affirming Workshop

September 30, 2017

Time: Main workshop 8:45 – 2 pm, follow up conversation 2 – 3 pm

Purpose: To create an opportunity for members of the United Church, and other allied faith communities:

to explore current context for ongoing Affirming Ministry,

to draw learning and wisdom from the history of becoming a                  more affirming denomination,

to identify what it means to be a truly inviting and welcoming                  community of faith at this time

Come and join us for a day of story, history, conversation, and learning together as we consider anew what it means to be people committed to Affirming Ministry, and to truly Welcoming community.  It has been almost 30 years since the United Church of Canada stated that sexual orientation would not be a barrier to Ministry, and there has been much to celebrate over these years as we have discovered how to be faithful followers. Who were we as a church community then? And now what? Where is the Spirit calling out for us to pay attention, to change, to grow in understanding? Is it Gender Identity? Pronoun use? Transgender experience? Engaging the emerging context of our society gives us the opportunity to deepen faith as we learn together, wonder together, and commit together to the deepening of our life in community. 

Over the course of the day we will glean wisdom from our lived history of becoming more affirming, root the conversation in God’s vision for community, and engage with some of the emerging realities which will help set the path for who we are becoming as God’s people.

Allison Rennie is currently serving as the Conference Minister for Kamloops Okanagan Presbytery.  She brings a passion for honest conversation, deep learning, and faithful practice that engages head and heart.  Allison has been involved in education and advocacy in gender and sexual diversity through personal experience as a queer Christian, and in work at Naramata Centre and other ministries of the United Church.  Allison will share some stories of being ‘the lesbian’ resource person to the 1988 General Council meeting in Victoria, as well as support and encourage us to keep open to the surprise and challenge of God in the present.