affirming

English

Etymology

From Middle English affermynge; equivalent to affirm +‎ -ing.

Verb

affirming

1. present participle and gerund of affirm

Noun

affirming (plural affirmings)

1. The act of one who affirms something; an affirmation.

Adjective

affirming (comparative more affirming, superlative most affirming)

1. That affirms.

   an affirming smile and approving nod

2. (Christianity) Accepting of same-sex/same-gender sexual relationships – or, more broadly, the gender identities, sexual orientations, and sexual relationships of LGBTQ people – on the same terms as those of cisgender, heterosexual people.

   Synonym: open and affirming

   • 1992, William R. Johnson, “Protestantism and Gay and Lesbian Freedom”, in Betty Berzon, editor, Positively Gay: New Approaches to Gay and Lesbian Life‎^[1], updated and expanded edition, Berkeley, California: Celestial Arts, →ISBN, page 150:

     We remain because we are not without hope that the liberating spirit of Christ will make itself known through our insistence upon sharing fully in the life of the church as lesbian and gay Christians. We also stay because of the vital experiences of community with other lesbian, gay, bisexual and affirming Christians — community made possible by our mutual willingness to become visible to, and vulnerable with, one another.

   • 1998, Stanley J. Grenz, Welcoming but Not Affirming: An Evangelical Response to Homosexuality, Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster John Knox Press, →ISBN, page xii:

     For Paul would readily admit that as a Christian who is gay he knows first-hand what it means to experience the grace of God, divine grace that is received in the context of a welcoming—but not automatically affirming—church.

   • 2018, Carol A. Shepherd, quoting Connor Gwyn, Bisexuality and the Western Christian Church: The Damage of Silence, Cham, Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan, →DOI, →ISBN, page 245:

     The majority of Episcopal churches that you’re visiting will be fairly affirming.

   • 2023, Katie A. Donaldson, “The Spirit Transforms”, in Thomas Jay Oord and Alexa Oord, editors, Why the Church of the Nazarene Should Be Fully LGBTQ+ Affirming, [United States]: SacraSage Press, →ISBN:

     The Church of the Nazarene should be an affirming church because, as Wesleyans, we believe the Spirit shapes us and can even help us enter the process of reconciliation when we have been wrong.

Derived terms

• affirmingly
• gender-affirming surgery
• neuro-affirming
• neurodiversity-affirming
• open and affirming
• unaffirming

 

See also

• Side A