The United Church of Canada
Will Offer an Historic Apology on August 8th

~ adapted from two posts on The United Church of Canada website:  June 19th and July 24th

The United Church of Canada will offer an historic apology for ways in which the denomination has hurt and harmed 2S and LGBTQIA+ communities within and beyond the United Church.  The apology will take place during a special live-streamed worship service on Friday, August 8 as part of the General Council 45 meeting in Calgary.

The service will be held at Knox United Church, 506 4 St. SW, Calgary, Alberta at 9 am MT (8 am PT), on Friday, August 8.  The service is open to anyone who would like to attend in person; it will also be available on Zoom, with live interpretation in English and French.  Register here.

The June 19th post provides some historical background and the rationale for the apology.

The July 24th post provides information for both those attending in person and those joining online.  Following the service, there will be opportunities for further conversation.  As well, the post explains how chaplains will be available for anyone who may need some pastoral care following the service.

On the morning of the Apology, the full worship liturgy will be posted online, particularly so that online participants can follow along with the hymns.  Online participants are invited to have a bowl of water and branches with them, for a blessing at the end.  The worship bulletin is bilingual in English-French.  The liturgy will be available in the following ways:

• online on the General Council website
• online in the Zoom chat
• online on the apology webpage
• online in YouTube
• shared on United Church social media