Indigenous Rights Working Group
On-going efforts by this committee work towards increasing our understanding of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and its calls to action. As Treaty people, Bloor Street seeks to understand how to develop a healing relationship with Indigenous communities by acting locally and nationally with Indigenous guidance. Working actively to increase our understanding of the brokenness of our relations with Indigenous communities and to work for healing, initiatives are undertaken in cooperation with other congregations to educate and advocate for improved conditions for all Indigenous peoples. You can see the United Church of Canada resources on reconciliation and Indigenous justice here.
Gibimishkaadimin
Gibimishkaadimin, an Anishinaabemowin word meaning “traveling together by boat”, is a five-year pilot project to encourage reconciliation for Indigenous and non-indigenous youth within the United Church of Canada. The project is centered on a seven-day canoe trip including youth from across Canada. In addition to contributions from other United Churches, and the United Church of Canada, this project is mainly funded by a bequest from a member of Bloor Street, Helen Ricker.
Click here to visit the Gibimishkaadimin website.
Learn more about the latest trip at https://vimeo.com/888548368
2SLGBTQIA+
As an inclusive community and Canada’s second Affirming Congregation in the United Church (since 1995), we strive to continue to address on-going issues with those who might otherwise be excluded or marginalized. We actively affirm our status as an inclusive community annually; we proudly wear our rainbow colours inside and outside our building; we educate ourselves about current issues, and welcome members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities as members and staff.
Our Affirming Statement is as follows:
AFFIRMING STATEMENT OF OUR FAITH AND ACTION
We believe that all people are created in the image of God, and are unconditionally loved by God.
All persons are free to enjoy God’s gifts of love, joy, and intimacy.
We lament injustice done to 2 Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual +people in church and society.
We seek to use the gifts of all persons, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, in every aspect of congregational life, including designated ministry.
We, the people of Bloor Street United Church, are committed to creating a community where people of all ages, gender expressions and identities, racial identities, sexual orientations, differing abilities, ethnic backgrounds and economic circumstances are welcome.
We pray for God’s spirit to guide us as we work for reconciliation, justice, and right relations for all persons in both church and society.
Adopted at the Congregational Meeting of Bloor Street United Church, February 21, 1995. Revised May 30 2021.
Click here to learn more about the Affirm United program.
From 2013: AN AFFIRMING MINISTRY: OVER THE YEARS WITH BLOOR STREET UNITED CHURCH
Even without a formal written plan, the Affirming “spirit” has been continually flowing in our midst. Back in the late ‘70’s, Rev. Clifford Elliott held discussion groups in his home and in 1987/88, a group led by Bloor Street’s Rev. Don Gillies issued a report on the United Church’s “Sexual Orientations, Lifestyles and Ministry”.
The flow continued into the Fall of ’88 when Reconcilers was created as our own precursor to the Affirming program. We sponsored a gay and lesbian literature table each Sunday from ‘89 to ‘92 and hosted a variety of weekend and Sunday morning workshops.
In 1992, Reconcilers originated a proposal that found its way through Church courts to General Council, resulting in the provision of Covenanting Services for same-sex couples.
Once the “Affirming Congregation” program was received by General Council in 1992, many of us were ready to start the process of becoming an affirming congregation at Bloor Street. Although some voiced opposition, we knew we had to “stand up and be counted”. Following a year of study, we became an Affirming Ministry, the first in Toronto and second in Canada, on June 25, 1995.
From that time on, we have displayed the rainbow symbol on our street-side sign board and a large rainbow flag hangs above the centre door entry from the narthex to the sanctuary. Our Affirming Certificate hangs on the opposite wall. In addition, the worship team included special recognition of our Affirming status annually on “Pride Sunday” where the congregation recited our commitment to inclusion and diversity. Often members participated in the City’s Pride parade or a United Church sponsored march of support.
In order to show support and encouragement for congregations in Toronto that subsequently became Affirming, we sent small groups to attend their Covenanting Services: Trinity-St. Pauls United (October 29, 1995), Glen Rhodes United (February 25, 1996), and Bathurst Street United (October 20, 1996).
Periodically visitors to Bloor Street are single or coupled gay males with whom gay and other members of the congregation have connected over coffee hour after the Sunday service. This frequently leads to going for lunch off-site and later personal invitations to homes for a meal or other social gathering. Often these folks return, meet other members of our congregation and get involved in church activities – sometimes leading to membership. Personal one-on-one contact is very powerful in drawing gay and lesbian newcomers into community particularly when there is no agenda to “to get people involved”. It happens if it meets their needs and where they are in their personal journeys.
Bloor Street has always celebrated the arts as part of its worship and outreach. “PRAYERS FOR BOBBY” tells the true story of a young man’s suicide as the result of the inability of his church, his family and himself to accept his emerging gay identity. This choral work served as the centre piece for the weekend of Saturday Feb. 21 and
Sunday Feb. 22, 1998. The “Singing Out Chorus of Toronto” performed the two concerts while Bloor Street United hosted the event and arranged panel discussions and workshops for the Saturday.
In the years following our Certification in 1995, we often received calls to visit out-of-town congregations as they journeyed to become Affirming. Two such examples are Westminster United in Waterloo (certified on Sept. 19, 1999) and Sydenham United in Kingston (certified on (March 14, 1999).In each of these cases, we sent small delegations to join in their Sharing Circle as they initiated their quest and returned years later as guests for their Covenanting Services. In 2013 we are meeting with members of Royal York Road United to share experiences and offer support as they make their way to becoming an Affirming Ministry.
Even before the legalization of same-sex marriages by the courts of British Columbia, Ontario and Canada, Rev. Warren McDougall was performing Covenanting Services for Canadian (and American) couples. These were then entered into Bloor Street’s Marriage Registry.
While preparing this brief sketch of one of the facets of congregational life at Bloor Street United, we are once again reminded that although there was never a formal written plan, under the current guidance of the Rev. Dr. Martha ter Kuile we continue to evolve as a community that celebrates diversity of sexuality, gender and race – one that is so richly blessed by all who gather with us.
