Westminster United in suburban Whitby, Ont., is a congregation that isn’t afraid to experiment.
They always say “let’s try that,” says lead minister Rev. Michelle Robinson. “They have an openness of heart that guides how the church operates.”
Even though the congregation welcomes new ideas, its commitment to inclusion is a constant.
“Our inclusivity is a huge draw,” says Robinson, who has been at Westminster since 2012. “People see our Pride flag and our Pride bench and it brings them in to worship, because they are looking for an inclusive community for themselves and their children.”
Congregants of Westminster United see its Affirming status as a key factor in the church’s growth, rising from 356 registered participants (members and adherents) in 2022 to 408 in 2024. With an average of 150-160 people attending each worship service, 41 children in its Sunday school and eight teenagers in the confirmation class, Westminster is an increasingly important pillar in the community.
Robinson also suspects that it’s “a search for meaning and connection” that is drawing a constant stream of new people to a place “that is not afraid to take risks and has an openness of heart.”
In addition to its outreach programs — which include a weekly food bank that serves over 70 families and winter wear and Christmas Hamper initiatives — Westminster United actively supports the 2SLGBTQ+ community. It has created an Affirming Places of Worship group and participated in Pride events.
For Kristen Walsh, who, along with her spouse and two children, began worshipping online before attending in-person services this past September, the family’s church experience has brought them closer together. Although Walsh was not raised in the church, her husband came from a United Church background, which sparked her curiosity about the church experience. “Everything fit,” she shared in an interview. “It’s an Affirming and progressive church and the sermons resonate and are meaningful. Each Sunday after worship, she says her family reflects on what they experienced together.
Board chair Ava Tomlinson describes Westminster as family. “[Rev.] Michelle shares wonderful messages about how we are to take our faith outside into the world.” Past chair Margaret Suepaul shares this sentiment, saying, “it’s always been home and we have great leadership that is very transparent, so politics within the congregation is kept to a minimum.”
Longtime member Larry Laycock credits a history of strong leadership as a key to Westminster’s success, as well as a courteous congregational culture.
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“Like any church, we have varied opinions on different issues, but all opinions are respected and given respect,” he says.
While Westminster’s Pride flag and bench attract new congregants, they have also drawn hostility — especially in the era of Trump. Robinson says that the church has received phone calls and emails attacking their pro-2SLGBTQ+ stance, and that these negative responses have only grown over the past year. Unfortunately, Westminster is not the only Affirming church facing this challenge, and it reflects a concerning trend in an increasingly polarized and hostile world.
“In times like ours, gathering together to worship, to light candles and pass the peace to people that you don’t know is huge. We are catching a glimpse of something that’s more true than the current chaos we are living in,” says Robinson.
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Rev. Christopher White is a United Church minister in Hamilton.
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