An Apology to 2S and LGBTQIA+ Communities

Today, on Friday, August 8, the 45th General Council of The United Church of Canada opened with a historic and heartfelt moment: a formal apology to 2S and LGBTQIA+ communities, shared in a special worship service that was both live-streamed and held in person. 

The United Church of Canada was the first denomination in the country to affirm the full inclusion of LGBTQIA+ people in all aspects of church life. While the 1988 decision was a landmark step, many still carry stories of exclusion—both before and after that time.

This apology is part of an ongoing journey—a living commitment to radical hospitality and full inclusion. It acknowledges the harm the church has caused, and expresses a renewed promise to celebrate and affirm people of all gender identities and sexual orientations in leadership, worship, governance, and community.