Our gifts for Mission & Service support the work
of Iridesce: The Living Apology Project
Our gifts for Mission & Service support the work of Iridesce: The Living Apology Project. This project was created to encourage storytelling around the 1988 decisions to welcome gay, lesbian and bisexual people into full membership and ministry in the United Church—a welcome that was expanded to include people of all sexual orientations and gender identities in 2009.
Iridesce has brought stories of challenge, conflict, and lament to light. One participant wrote, “The battles of 1988 left behind one legacy that I think has not served us well, a legacy of fearfulness of conflict.”
For many, of course, the decision was a celebration and continues to empower communities to draw the circle wide and wider still. “We are all stronger when given unapologetic, radical love,” wrote Catherine.
Dani shared, “I am a trans non-binary person… I wasn’t expecting to be so openly accepted, and it fills my heart to know that I can love God and be proud of my gender identity.”
Morgan, who grew up in the post-1988 church, wrote, “It is my hope that the church will not simply take for granted its policy… that we will recognize how far we are from embodying that policy and how much farther we are from assimilating it into the earth-shattering welcome of the people of God.”
We give thanks for the gifts of Iridesce: The Living Apology Project.
If Mission & Service giving is already a regular part of your life, thank you so much! If you have not given, please join us in making Mission & Service giving a regular part of your life of faith. Loving our neighbour is at the heart of our Mission & Service.