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WE ARE AN OPEN, AFFIRMING, AND WELCOMING CONGREGATION
We embrace Two-Spirit, gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, queer, asexual, intersex, and questioning (2SLGBTQ+) people into our spiritual community. We work to promote acceptance, inclusion, understanding, and equity for 2SLGBTQ+ people and families in Ottawa and society at large. We fight homophobia, transphobia, biphobia and other forms of hatred and oppression. |
Get Involved!
Interested in making our church more accessible, physically and socially? Want to learn more about our Embracing Diversity Committee? Email [email protected] |
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What We Do
Our Embracing Diversity Committee works to promote equity, inclusion and diversity within the congregation. We design and oversee the implementation of an annual plan of educational, advocacy, outreach, and community-building activities, and recommend policy/procedural/structural changes in Congregation operations.
We host an annual Pride service, present film screenings and have hosted an interfaith panel of queer clergy for Pride Week. We present workshops - like "Beyond Tolerance" on creating safer spaces, and our Intern Minister, E.N. Hill's, home grown workshop series, "No More Kyriarchy". Previously the committee has supported fundraisers for community organizations (e.g. the Ten Oaks Project in Ottawa), organized workshops for congregants about power, privilege and unconscious bias. Upcoming plans include continued collaboration with local 2Slgbtqia+ choirs and other community groups, creating a Welcoming Guide to provide FirstU's teams, groups, and committees with guidance on furthering their inclusivity, and inviting Branch Out Theatre to present their workshops at FirstU. |
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Check out our forum on anti-racism, featuring Councilor Rawlson King:
