An Affirming Ministry

You are wanted and celebrated

St. Paul’s is an Affirming Ministry within The United Church of Canada: a public, intentional and explicit welcome to people of every sexual orientation and gender identity.

Affirming Ministry poster at St. Paul’s United Church
Affirming since 2016

Draft note: Updated Affirming Ministry copy and final affirming branding are being confirmed. This page will be refreshed when they arrive.

What affirming means

Love with no small print

Being an Affirming Ministry means our welcome is not quiet or assumed. It is public, intentional and explicit. We welcome the full participation of all people regardless of age, gender, gender identity, ability, sexual orientation, race, or social or economic circumstance.

We held our first Affirming service in April 2016, and we have flown the colours proudly ever since. It takes courage to be an affirming church on the prairies, and courage translates into love.

All we were asked to do was to love one another. No small print, no conditions, just pure, unconditional love.

Our friends at the GSA

Stepping forward into growth

The Boissevain & Area Gender Sexuality Alliance began in 2016, creating a safe, confidential space for the 2SLGBTQ+ community and its allies, now reaching several dozen people from age 15 through 80-something. St. Paul’s has been proud to stand alongside the GSA from the very beginning, including our annual Pride service.

“In any given moment we have two options: to step forward into growth, or to step back into safety.” We chose to step forward.
Shared at our GSA Sunday service
Pride flags at the St. Paul’s affirming celebration
Why it matters

A safe place to belong

When your gender identity or sexual orientation is questioned and judged, it becomes increasingly difficult to know who you can trust. A safe and confidential place to express pain, frustration and joy can be life-saving. At its core, this work is about suicide prevention.

If you or someone you love needs a community that will simply love you as you are, our doors and hearts are open. Join us any Sunday at 11:00 AM, or reach out in confidence.

“Keep loving people. It’s the antidote to all that afflicts us.”
John Pavlovitz