Broad View United goes beyond seeing the Affirming Ministry as just a statement. We’re dedicating time to create a safe space within Broad View United for Two Spirit and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer people, and allies. We aspire to build and transform our community and to engage further in meaningful activities in solidarity with Two Spirit and LGBTQ+ Christians, queer people of faith, and newcomers in the region. With this hope, we’re introducing new programs for 2023-24. Whether these are new activities or groups under a year old, we invite First Met community members to join us!
Date: Sunday, Nov. 19th, with a ritual during Sunday worship
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The BVU Affirm Team will commemorate the Transgender Day of Remembrance with a candle-lighting vigil during Sunday worship on November 19th. We invite you to join this service to mourn and reflect on the ongoing violence against transgender individuals. If you have lost loved one(s) due to prejudice, rejection, hatred, and violence towards the transgender community, let us come together to light candles, honouring the luminous lives and contributions of transgender individuals.
The Winter Holidays can be a difficult and lonely time, especially for those who are estranged from the family and faith traditions of their youth. The Reconstructing Christmas Retreat recognizes and holds space for that pain, while sharing hope, creativity, acceptance, encouragement, and love to LGBTQ+ Christians, queer people of faith and newcomers this Christmas season.
The Reconstructing Christmas Retreat is a time to come together and re-imagine this time of the year through a philosophy rooted in resting, introduced by the Nap Bishop, Tricia Hersey.
We will re-envision Christmas and the season as a spacious time that allows us to connect with our personal truth, land-based practices, and emphasize the importance of taking time for oneself and one another in acts of radical resting.
In the theme of “resting”, away from the white supremacist, capitalist, and heteronormative ways of upholding traditions, we can blend traditions within the rainbow community to re-story Christmas.
This retreat is a space for LGBTQ+ Christians, queer people of faith, queer people of colour, allies, and newcomers to imagine a holiday season with hope, peace, joy, and love, queer imagination and collective resting.
The Affirm Team of BVU will be hosting a Learning Event in the spring of 2024. With guest speakers and group discussions, we will deepen our understanding about the Transgender Community and talk about transformative possibilities and practices we can develop and engage as an affirming congregation. Stay tuned!
Inter-View is envisioned as a safe space for Broad View United’s queer and transgender members and allies to connect, learn and support each other. Come as you are, embracing every aspect of your self: faith, spirituality, culture, race, personal journeys (migration, mental health, disability and other topics), and more.
Inter-View offers two main lenses: Inter-Spiritual and Queering. “Inter-spiritual” lets you imbue your Christian faith with wisdom from global cultures and traditions. “Queering” gives freedom to see queer narratives in texts, even the Bible, without heteronormative, transphobic, or harmful biases.
Date: Unannounced yet but likely Sunday July 7th, 2024
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Each Year BVU is proud to march in the Victoria Pride Parade in support and celebration of LGBTQ2S+ members of our community and Victoria as a whole. We also walk together with other United Churches of Southern Vancouver Island. A planning group will come together in late May. Talk to Mark or Ha Na if you’d like to be a part of this planning group.
Join us for 1, 2 or all 3 movies that explore and celebrate LGBTQ2S+ context, realities, stories of struggle and triumph. Regardless of your orientation you are invited to this community film festival where such themes are explored and an opportunity to chat afterwards is provided. Concession will also be available.