Minute for Mission - Video

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Minutes for Mission: February 17, 2019. The Iridesce project encouraged storytelling around the 1988 decision to welcome gay, lesbian, and bisexual people into full membership and ministry in the United Church. Supported through your generous donations to the Mission & Service of The United Church of Canada.

Interview with Project Coordinator

at General Council 43, on July 21, 2018

In 2015, General Council 42 voted for a national project of story-sharing and dialogue with people affected by the Church's 1988 decision to not exclude gay and lesbian people from eligibility for ministry and membership. Iridesce: The Living Apology Project is the embodiment of of this vote. It is an invitation for story-sharing from before, during and after the 1988 decision. Over the past year, Aaron Miechkota has travelled across the church, gathering stories and created spaces for open sharing and vulnerability. Interviewed by Lauren Hodgson.

Intervu avec la coordinatrice d'Irisation

à Conseille Générale 43, le 21 juillet 2018

En 2015, le 42e Conseil général a voté pour la création d’un projet national de témoignage et de dialogue avec les personnes touchées par une décision que l’Église a prise en 1988, celle d’ouvrir aux gais et aux lesbiennes la possibilité d’être pleinement membres de l’Église ou de la servir en tant que membres du personnel ministériel. Le projet Irisation : faire briller les excuses parmi nous est la suite de ce vote. Irisation invite les gens à partager ce qu’ils ont vécu avant, pendant et après la prise de cette décision en 1988. Au cours des deux dernières années, Aaron Miechkota a visité de nombreuses constituantes de l’Église à cette fin. Elle a recueilli des témoignages et créé des espaces permettant le dialogue dans un climat sécuritaire. Stéphane s’est entretenu avec elle au sujet d’Irisation et sur la façon dont cette initiative sera présentée au 43e CG. Intervue avec Stéphan.

Iridesce Theatre Play

Premiere at General Council 43

YouTube Video: The Iridesce Theatre Play is a play in three acts. All the words of the script have emerged from the Iridesce Project, and are the memories and words of Iridesce participants. The play starts just before our 1988 vote to welcome gay and lesbian people in membership and eligibility for ministry in our church. The play respectfully dramatizes some of the struggles and challenges some in our church faced around this vote.

Our Moderator Calls the Church to partcipate in Iridesce

Moderator Jordan Cantwell invites all people affected by The United Church of Canada’s 1988 decision to share their stories. The whole church is invited to participate, no matter how they identify—as straight, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, Two-Spirit, and more. For more information see www.iridesce.ca or contact the project coordinator at livingapology@gmail.com.

Video to Introduce the Project

A short 1-minute video to introduce the project. Watch below, or watch on YouTube at https://youtu.be/vfVqLJ1-39Q

Self-Guided Workshop Kits

​Iridesce now has available Self-Guided Workshop Kits, for groups who would like to engage in the Iridesce project.

Good to know:

• In the spirit of honouring and respecting people's stories and testimonials, the workshop kit will be "on loan" to your communities for your event. We will send it to you two weeks before your event, and ask that you return the kit within two weeks after your event. There is a fee to cover postage and return-postage. All materials must be returned after your workshop, including any additional stories, testimonials or contributions that are to be shared with Iridesce going forward.

For more information, please contact our coordinator at livingapology@gmail.com