Affirm Committee

Mandate:
We commit to being an inclusive and affirming sign of the incarnation of the living Christ by working to remove barriers to participation of all people in the life and work of our region. We seek to co-create a society that embodies the love of God where individuals can live free from harmful ideologies rooted in fear and hate.

Membership:
Chair
Secretary
8 Volunteers
Executive Minister – Staff Support
We strive to have members that reflect the diversity of God’s world, and representatives of both clergy and laity.

Duties:
As Bermuda-Nova Scotia Regional Council we commit to removing barriers to full participation of all people in the life and work of our region by:
• prioritizing that all future meeting spaces for Bermuda-Nova Scotia meetings/gatherings are barrier free and utilize signage (including the presence of ramps/chair lifts, baby change station, hearing loops, gender neutral washrooms, etc.);
• amplifying diverse voices that belong to communities that have traditionally been marginalized through respectfully employing resources, leadership and wisdom originating from these communities;
• encouraging appointment of an equity support person(s) for any meetings or gatherings; and
• directing the Pastoral Relations Committee and ask the Atlantic Candidacy Board to inform Inquirers, Candidates and Applicants for ministry within BNS that we are an Affirming Region as they actively pursue their call to ministry.
We commit to co-create a Bermuda-Nova Scotia Regional Council and society that embodies the love of God where individuals can live free from harmful ideologies rooted in fear and hatred by:
• learning and using language, personally and regionally, that is just, as it relates to definitions, terminologies, and understandings in reference to ability, language, economic status, cultural background, age, creed, race, skin colour, gender expression, sexual orientation, or any other difference that has led to marginalization and exclusion; and
• offering educational opportunities, with the support of our Affirming committee; and
• nurturing of the creation of networks/clusters of discerning and established Affirming Ministries.

We commit to being an inclusive and affirming sign of the incarnation of the living Christ by:
• participating fully, faithfully and with humility in ongoing efforts to reach reconciliation with those we have harmed. (For example, participating in local Pride events, fulfilling the calls to the church originating from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, intentional learning about the history of marginalized groups, unlearning ableist language, etc.);
• encouraging communities of faith (COF) within BNS to become Affirming Ministries;
• identifying ourselves as an Affirming Ministry through the use of the Affirm United logo on our website and letterhead; and
• paying our annual membership to Affirm United and recognizing our yearly anniversary of become an Affirming Ministry.

Skills/Experiences:
Must have passion/be an advocate for the belonging of all people, including but not limited to, people of all sexualities, gender identities, skin colour, race, age, creed, cultural background, economic status, language, (dis)ability.
We welcome peoples of diverse skills and experiences to work together on our shared goals of making God’s vision for us a reality.
Accountability/Reporting: To the Regional Council through The Division of Regional Services and Support, to the Regional Council.

Powers: Must refer decisions to the Division of Regional Services and Supports, except the following:
• Any matters contained within the approved budget.

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