IRIDESCE 
THE LIVING APOLOGY PROJECT

THIS MONTH I AM INSPIRED TO SHARE from a book by African theologian Emmanuel Katongole called Born From Lament: The Theology and Politics of Hope in Africa. In it, the author reflects on the work of Maggy Barankitse, a Christian Burundi woman who survived a massacre in 1993 as part of the Tutsi-Hutu conflict, and who was moved to activism for her country’s orphaned children. When asked why she insists on returning time and again to the gravesite of the seventy-two people she buried, Maggy replied, “I must return to the gravesite not to relive the trauma but that I may see the future more clearly.” Katongole comments that Maggy’s process of lamentation illuminates “with a harsh and steady light the questionable nature of things we have apparently come to terms with.”

 

Remembering serves “as a guide to the future”, Katongole writes,
as we are reminded of the promises
made by God 
and the “hopes that are experienced 
as a result of those promises.”

 

AS WE RELAUNCH Iridesce: The Living Apology Project 2.0, we hope to inspire renewed thinking about the faith-work of lamentation. How do we, the post-1988 United Church, remember this time in our history? What were the hopes, fears and community dynamics we lived through when we voted in 1988 not to exclude LGBTQ2+ people from membership and ministry? How has the dream of this radical inclusion played out (or not played out) in our communities of faith over the last 30 years? Can remembering and lament bring us to the place of justice and peace that we yearn for as Christians? 

 

I PRAY THAT OUR SHARING will open us to God’s invitation into “a deeper and more enduring way of realizing peace… born of, deepened through, and carried forth by lament” and through the way of forgiveness and love that we know in Jesus Christ. 

 

If you would like to read this complete article, or would like to respond to my thoughts here, please be in touch at livingapology@gmail.com

 

~ Aaron Miechkota, 
Iridesce Project Coordinator

 

All of the quotes above are from the book entitled Born from Lament:
The Theology and Politics of Hope in Africa
, by Emmanuel Katongole (2017). 
To know more about this book, click here. 

STORIES & CONTRIBUTIONS

 

I was there in ’88 and ’84 and before, and I remember… grace. Yes, there was fear, lots of it. I’d been captive to it earlier, but I was a convert —> from vehemently anti-gay converted like Paul…  I’d had some bad experiences with a priest...

 
Keep reading
 

There were only three of us on the sub-committee of the Church Board who studied the issue to present it to the Board with our recommendation. I remember that we never did present it to the Board, but one evening

 
Keep reading
 

I remember....

Theological school...
the last semester and reading/hearing about the movements against the church if it accepted homosexuality. My class felt like we were going to be lambs to the slaughter.

I finished my degree and the process for ordination. 

 

I remember...
Conference Annual Meeting...

 
Keep reading
 

Dear Ken, I read your story — your and John’s story — and I am overwhelmed. It was as if all the “rules of civility,” all the respect and grace and love with which we are called to live, were completely ignored and/or discarded. I realized that...

 
Keep reading

ON THE IRIDESCE WEBSITE

HISTORY  •  STORIES  •  SPIRITUALITY & WORSHIP  •  THEOLOGY • EVENTS  •  RESOURCES  •  NEWS

IRIDESCE
"MINUTE FOR MISSION"

VIDEO & BOOKLET

This February 17th, share about the work and ministry of this project with the "Minute for Mission" resources created by Mission & Service. We are so grateful to be the feature of a video and included in this year's "Loving Our Neighbours" booklet which outlines the many diverse ministries funded by Mission & Service. 

 

LINK to our VIDEO on YouTube
DOWNLOAD the PDF at

https://www.iridesce.ca/resources

or email us at livingapology@gmail.com

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES with IRIDESCE

We are happy to be expanding our team this year, with contract positions for Local Facilitators, a National Coordinator, and a Researcher. To read the full job descriptions, please click here or visit iridesce.ca/news or request the PDFs by email.

 

 

UPDATE ON IRIDESCE 2.0

THE WORK OF THE FIRST YEAR of the Iridesce Project culminated in a theatre play, a workshop, a poster-art installation, and a report at GC43, with excellent engagement from commissioners. "We were so pleased with how the stories of 1988 and beyond, collected by this Project, were received," noted the Project Coordinator, "The work that people across the country put into the Iridesce Project was inspiring, but we knew we still had people and communities to engage with who we hadn't reached." After GC43, we took some time to reflect on the work we had done in communities across the country. "We engaged in sincere prayer and reflection," noted the Coordinator, "seeking to understand the why and how of our successes in connecting with people and our challenges." The result is what we are calling Iridesce 2.0. Together the project partners are committed to outreaching to engage more voices into both the work and the process of Iridesce. We want to support our new Regional Councils, and we want to help our churches utilize the creative tools available, so they can bring the Iridesce project into their communities.

 

TOGETHER, Affirm United/S'Affirmer Ensemble and The United Church of Canada, decided to expand the Iridesce team to share the work of engaging and supporting communities of faith across the country. Local Facilitators (paid contract positions) will build relationships and collect stories locally across the Regions, focusing on marginalized communities and focusing on communities who have not deeply engaged in LGBTQ2+ dialogues in our church. A National Facilitator will provide support for faith communities wishing to present our self-guided workshop, put on our theatre play, borrow our posters, etc. (For a complete list of our resources please visit here.). A Researcher will conduct research into our 1988 history and collect theological resources relating to our LGBTQ2+ story. Finally, the work of the Project Coordinator will shift to supporting the Regional Councils who may be creating Interim Action Plans to continue to be or become Affirming Ministries. The Project Coordinator will continue engaging with folks sharing their personal stories and histories; sending out communications concerning Iridesce, such as this newsletter, on our website and on social media platforms. 

 

Iridesce is funded by Mission & Service and is very grateful for the opportunity to continue this work and ministry. "We want to support our church in the best way we can as we discern together if a possible apology is needed toward LGBTQ2+ people, their family, their friends, their communities... our communities. We're hoping that with the vision of Iridesce 2.0 we can do that together." With God's help we know we can bring this vision to life together

 

 

PRAYER CIRCLE REQUEST

Seeking group and solo prayer enthusiasts to hold this project in prayer. We are hoping to have prayers from each Region of our church. To be involved, please email livingapology@gmail.com

 

DONATE TO MISSION & SERVICE

If you would like to support this project and other worthy projects, please add to the collective pot by making a donation. Click here for more information on making a donation. Thank you!

 

 

SHARE YOUR STORY

 

What is your experience or perspective

about our 1988 vote and/or

about membership and ministry of LGBTQ2+ people

in the United Church?

Iridesce is called to be a faith-filled, collaborative journey. The whole church is invited to
participate. What is your experience, point-of-view, concern or gratitude around the 1988 vote or around LGBTQ2+ welcome in your community of faith, past or present? 
All points-of-view are important and will be gratefully received.

Please email our Coordinator Aaron at livingapology@gmail.com

 

Iridesce: The Living Apology Project is a joint project of Affirm United/S'affirmer Ensemble and
The United Church of Canada. It is funded by Mission & Service.

 

(Photo credits. Iridesce and Wix Commons.)

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