Equity, Diversity and Belonging

In 2022, Rebecca Whiting, a candidate for Designated Lay Ministry, joined Westminster in a 15 hour/week position (split with Christian Education work). In January 2023, the Phase 2 team began meeting monthly. The current Equity, Diversity and Belonging (EDB) team includes Brian Black, Dona Harvey, Scott McGaire, Kim Brabazon, Sydney Scott, Joan Tuchlinsky and our student minister, Rebecca Whiting.

Phase 2 Commitments

Identify two or three areas of focus for our work, with the understanding that this focus will not exclude work in other areas as they arise.
Identify five concrete actions we can take to educate about equity, diversity and belonging and/or do active community work.
Incorporate EDB practices and education into existing events, services and the general life of church.
Engage the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action for the Church in relation to Westminster United Church.
Commit to furthering discussion and action regarding disabilities and accessibility within the church.

Three Areas of Focus

1. Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action, especially those directed to the church.
2. Inclusion of people of all abilities. Work on how to be a more welcoming church for those with disabilities.
3. Continue Affirming work through intentional actions in our congregation and wider community.

EDB Promotional Video

Thank You

Thank you to our generous funders.

Using our EDB lens...

Candles

Indigenous and Affirming candles lit weekly with relevant messages of acknowledgement.

Practices

Incorporation of EDB practices and education into faith community life.

Library

EDB-specific resource library created and promoted to congregation

Workshops

Three-part workshop series provided in May/June; each being on one of the
areas of focus.

Participation in worship and community life

Listening to congregation’s needs, accessibility changes - loop, braille,
sending out dictated bulletin with hymn links etc., transportation provision and
securing grants.

Black History Month

Throughout February, Black History Month Facebook posts and bulletin
inserts with more localized history.

Interfaith

Interfaith event with Temple Shalom to discuss the role of the modern state of Israel and deepen our relationship.

P.I.E. Day March 2022

PIE = Public. Intentional. Explicit. These are the standards to which we hold
ourselves and our welcome to when we became an Affirming congregation. This
date in March is a chance to serve some pie, have some fun and roll out the PIE by
celebrating the full inclusion of LGBTQIA+ and Two Spirit people in our faith
community and in other faith communities.

Affirming Ideas

Affirming ideas identified and explored at annual meeting.

Menstrual Products

Menstrual products provided in all church bathrooms.

Truth and Reconciliation work

Connecting with Indigenous organizations and continued education;
Joint Waterloo churches Indigenous service, Orange Shirt Day service, participation in Crow Shield
Lodge event, remit to establish an autonomous national Indigenous organization.

EDB Phase 1 History

A team of twelve Westminster members met virtually in 2020 and 2021 to unlearn, listen, benchmark, and strategize to enhance equity and inclusion in our church. This crew, with support from community advocates, immersed themselves in questioning, reframing, and justice-seeking. It's not a secret; we need and want to do better!

On June 15 2021, Westminster Council approved the team's recommendations including five goals and related actions for this year. On November 28 2021, the congregation participated in a presentation and agreed to the proposal to move forward with hiring a suitable candidate for ministry with a focus on Equity and Christian Education initiatives.

Rebecca Whiting has been called to fill this role. A candidacy support team has been recruited and trained. The next step is to widen our team and do this work as a congregation.

Are you curious what we have been up to?
Click on the links below to review related outputs from the team, which highlight the current impact of this ongoing process.

EDB PHASE 1 TEAM

Team Facilitator: Laura Black (foreground)
Team Members: Left to right - Courtney Scott, Dale Scott (sitting), Brian Black, Dona Harvey, Kim Brabazon, Jacki Yovanoff (sitting), Diane Greenhalgh-Vosding, Janice Greenhalgh.
Missing: Rev. Andrea Allan, Laura MacGregor, Scott McGaire