Being brought up a minister's kid means sometimes, like me, you do not go to church as often as I should - I brace for personal references in the sermons still - but in the last few one of our local Uniteds has seen my face a few more times than I might have guessed. Having an inclusive attitude when it is un popular to do so does not hurt and this news this morning is but an example, as reported by the alleged CBC:

United Church officials in Calgary are offering what is believed to be Alberta's first same-sex marriage preparation classes this fall. They say such classes are long overdue in Alberta, but the church waited for the provincial government to recognize the law before offering the marriage preparation course. The first seminar was to be held this past weekend, but was cancelled after only one couple signed up. Organizers blame the political climate for the lack of seminar participants on the weekend. Reverend Linda Hunter of Wild Rose United Church in northwest Calgary said the legislation is new, Alberta is particularly homophobic, and homosexual couples are still a little leery and suspicious.