In answer to number 1:

http://www.united-church.ca/exploring/marriage/affirmingcongregations

In answer to number 2:

http://www.affirmunited.ca/english/ministries_list.htm#Congregations

Though a congregation could be "affirming" in practice, even if they have not gone through the formal process of becoming an affirming congregation.

Some gay and lesbian people don't want to be part of an affirming congregation. Blew my socks off when I heard that. They said they just like being who they are and don't want special status.

Safe space is important to them, tho.

If you're looking for an actual percentage, there are 38 congregations listed on the Affirm United page, and according to http://www.united-church.ca/organization/statistics there are 3,405 individual congregations in the UCC, which gives us a percentage of 1.12 affirming congregations.

nighthawk said:
"Though a congregation could be "affirming" in practice, even if they have not gone through the formal process of becoming an affirming congregation."

I believe this describes my church. I'm sure there are MANY out there.

Yes you can be an affirming congregation without the official title - like MM said some prefer it that way

Now the title is can be a means of mission - both in the sense it tells gays and lesbians they are welcome - and a statement to the community.

My hunch on the first is most people come through word of mouth not by signs - ( it would be interesting to find out how many people this site has brought in) and also word of mouth addresses the community issue - you get known by the grapevine in a small community.

My last church was 'known' as gay positive yet not affirming in title.

The affirmunited website states:

WHAT IS AFFIRM UNITED?

Affirm United/S'affirmer ensemble is an organization of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities within The United Church of Canada. We work to provide the full inclusion of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people in the church and in society. We are a worshipping, pastoral, and prophetic community celebrating the biblical and theological liberation. We believe that all people are created in the image of God and are unconditionally loved by God.

My church is not classed as affirming because we wouldn't allow gay marriage or clergy.

Yet we welcome anyone of any race, creed or sexual orientation to be part of the family of Christ.
We love all these folks but we believe that the homosexual lifestyle is not part of what we preach.
This would apply to anyone in our church who wanted to preach while living in a lifestyle that is not recognized as alright.
It is the lifestyle that is rejected not the person. I have no problem hugging and loving my gay friends even though I don't agree with their lifestyle.
There are many things that they don't agree with about me also.

This does not appear to be a problem for any of us.
We are a family of Christ and love one another.

I don't agree with everything my brother or sister do either and they don't agree with everything I do, yet we are still a part of the same loving family.
We also are not in the position of speaking on behalf of the family unless we are all in agreement. Our mother and father make the rules for our family.

bornfree, who made the rules in your church?

God did!

Why is god making different rules in each church?...c

born - actually if your church does not allow gay clergy you cannot be inclusive - my hunch you think homosexuality is a sin - it is not. As long as your church holds it is a sin it is not welcoming.

God has not declared homosexuality to be a sin - to say so is to misuse the bible - bottom line -

funny... god made the rules in my church too, and yet we allow gay clergy and celebrate same sex marriage as equal to heterosexual marriage before god.

the lord works in mysterious ways, i guess!!

I just read all of your responses. I am grateful to all of you!! I got more of an answer(s) from the two questions than I expected, thank you!

Thank you ... nighthawk (& for the links), MadMonk, YouthWorker, Panentheism, Born Free, crazyheart, cjms, sighnootles!

There had been many changes over the decade plus since I returned to the UCC. New jargon too ... think I better get myself a manual ...and/or but then .... there is wonderful you(s)!!!

Deb_D