Ralph Connor Memorial United Church celebrated its new designation as an Affirming Ministry, during the service of Worship on Sunday, October 27, 2019. The dramatic rainbow banner from Lakeview United Church, Calgary, adorned the sanctuary, the ‘High Strung’ ukuleles led off the service with “over the rainbow/what a wonderful world”, the Affirming Vision Statement was repeated by all, official Affirming Ministry certificate was received, and a human rainbow chain surrounded the Church building after the service (featuring the 125-foot rainbow flag from the Calgary Unitarians)! Many thanks to everyone involved in the Affirming process, and in this special celebration.
With this new designation, RCMUC commits itself to be Public, Intentional and Explicit in its invitation to and support of all LGBTQ persons, and all who experience marginalization in our community.
AFFIRMING VISION STATEMENT of RALPH CONNOR MEMORIAL UNITED CHURCH, CANMORE – a community of faith on the traditional lands of the Stoney Nakoda First Peoples:
We affirm Christ’s love and desire for justice, inclusion, and affirmation for all, and Christ’s identification with those who have been marginalized.
- We strive to be a community of faith in which all persons are fully included in all aspects of our life and work. We strive to publicly and explicitly welcome, care for, and learn from all persons, regardless of ethnicity, gender, age, ability, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, social or economic circumstance.
We affirm the present RCMUC Mission Statement, which shapes the choices and priorities of this community of faith:
- “Ralph Connor Memorial United Church’s Mission as a Church Community is:
- to nurture the spiritual exploration and growth of all our members and adherents;
- to be an intentionally inviting Christian community that seeks, welcomes and embraces new members;
- to reach out and become an agent for social justice in our neighbourhood and in the global community”.
We affirm our need to connect and align with other communities, within and beyond our faith tradition, who desire to actively work for inclusion and justice.
- We will continue to engage in study, education and dialogue through workshops, advocacy, events and broader partnerships as we continue our journey.
We understand that these commitments are essential for a thriving, healthy Affirming Ministry.