By Joel Den Haan, Regional Ministries Director
Merle Ann May
On Labour Day weekend, I had the opportunity to join with a wide range of United Church and St. Andrew’s folks as part of Pride Calgary 2018. Merle Ann May and I held the St. Andrew’s and Deer Park banner as part of the Affirming Ministries network, and Kiran McKee from Deer Park led logistics to get the group together for the Pride parade. Shelley Den Haan was on hand taking photos and videos which you can enjoy on the St. Andrew’s website and social media channels. Liz Duguid was decorating the Affirming float. Thank you, Merle Ann, Kiran, Liz, Shelley, and all the others who were part of the experience!
YYC Campus Ministry
Throughout the United Church presence at Pride Calgary 2018, St. Andrew’s and Regional Ministries showed we are having an impact:
• YYC Campus Ministries were on hand and lively, with Rev. Tim Nethercott, Robert Massey and Zoe Say actively involved along with a great group in the parade. St. Andrew’s and Regional Ministries are longstanding supporters of this great work for young adults in our city.
• CQC (Calgary Queer Church) representatives rode on the Affirming Ministries float, and were heavily involved in putting participation together. Regional Ministries supports CQC as an outreach to our friends in the LGBTQ+ community.
• A little further into the Pride in the Park displays, we found Pam Rocker with her promotion for the Affirming Connections ministry. This is a key new initiative linking Regional Ministries with Calgary Presbytery to facilitate connections amongst Affirming faith groups and other community groups across the city. Pam was having a great time, and it was good to see people in the crowd really responding.
- Liz Duguid
- Merle Ann May
- Even the Regional Director Joel Den Haan needs a bit of decorating for Pride! Thanks, Merle Ann!
- Heather and Pam at the Affirming Connections booth
- A few of the St. Andrew’s and Deer Park folks at Pride
- Organizer Kiran McKee!
- McKellars
- Joel Den Haan and Merle Ann May
- Pam Rocker
- YYC Campus Ministry
- YYC Campus Ministry
- Bryon Delarue at the Affirming Network of Faith Communities booth
More Photos of Affirming Faith Communities and Ministries at Calgary Pride on the United Church of Canada’s ANW Conference website Click HERE