Non-binary minister brings inclusive message to rural Ontario for Pride month

Glen Morris United Church in Glen Morris, Ont. isn't a LGBTQ church.

It's not an affirming congregation either — not officially — but Rev. Michiko Bown-Kai has been working to bring an inclusive message to the rural hamlet by hosting 2SLGBTQ+ services during Pride month for the last two years. 

During this year's service, Bown-Kai, who is non-binary, discussed two-spirit, transgender, and other queer identities, and invited the congregation to ask questions about topics or words that they might not be familiar with. The service also included songs, hymns, and prayers. 

"I think there's sort of maybe an understanding that it's an anomaly to be queer and Christian," Bown-Kai told CBC News. "And so what I've really appreciated in my ministry is just being able to say: 'This is who I am.' And the more that I'm able to be public and share that, the more I'm able to find other people who are also happy to share in celebrating." 

June is Pride month across Canada. The hamlet of Glen Morris, located in the County of Brant just south of Cambridge, observes their Pride month in June and had its flag raising earlier in the month but Pride celebrations in cities like London, Ont., and Montreal continue through to August. 

A 'happy accident' 

Bown-Kai had said they "felt this call to ministry" after finishing up a degree at Western University in London. It took them to seminary at University of Toronto's Emmanuel College next, where they came out as non-binary. 

Bown-Kai decided to stay in the big city for the next decade or so, but describes their subsequent move to southern Ontario as a "happy accident." 

"[Glenn Morris United Church] were initially searching for someone to support them during a maternity leave, and I was in need of work and just sort of one thing led to another and I was here," they said.

Bown-Kai has been open about their gender identity with the congregation in Glen Morris since they first started over two years ago. 

"I found in ministry the best thing is to be open about it and share that," they said. 

"And so when I was first getting to know the congregation, I think one thing that I kind of said was, 'This is who I am. I understand that it might bring up questions. You might not necessarily know what it means, but my promise to you is that we will journey through this with a desire for a compassion and understanding of one another and where we're coming from.'"

'Inspired and challenged' 

Lynn McRuer has been playing the organ at the church since the early 2000s, and said that her family has been a member of the Glen Morris church since it was established in 1849. She was at this year's Pride service. 

"No matter where we are in this spectrum of community, we heard today words that inspired and challenged and caused reflection and process and hopefully encourage us to move out as allies and supporters in a new way," said McRuer.

McRuer chose the song that the choir sang, called, "We Are a Rainbow," which was written by Bown-Kai's father.

"It just acknowledges that all are welcome here, and whilst we are not, at this point, an officially affirming congregation in…the way the organization acknowledges, I believe that our congregation has always had that."

An affirming congregation is one that officially states that it's open to all gender identities and sexual orientations, but despite not having that status, Bown-Kai, hopes they — and these services — act as a lighthouse to other rural and religious folks in the region who might otherwise feel alone.