Alas, I must replace the original post under this title. I had written more than was appropriate. What was in this post might have damaged Ed's negotiations and I don't want to do that. I deeply apologize to Ed and all others working for inclusion.
I will discuss with Ed what might be safe to say and what isn't. If and when that happens I might post an alternate version of the events.
With humble apology,
Your citizen scribe
Monday, September 29, 2014
Sunday, September 28, 2014
Church Acceptance Project
I had some time this morning to talk to Rev. Jeff Nelson about Rev. Ed Rowe's meeting with the Michigan Bishop tomorrow. As part of that Jeff mentioned that Ed will be basing his Just Resolution on ideas he had learned from the Ruth Ellis Center (where I'm a volunteer) about the Family Acceptance Project. I won't go into how Ed will use it as a way of resolution.
However, I can say more about the Family Acceptance Project. I learned about it one evening two years ago at the Center. Caitlin Ryan of San Francisco State University gave a presentation to the staff and I was asked to sit in. I wrote about it in my other blog, the one I use to share LGBT news with friends and family. The post is here. Replace every reference to "parent" with "church" and you get an idea where Ed is headed.
Jeff said Ed's big goal is to reduce, hopefully eliminate, harm. And he means real, serious harm. Jeff does not want to see another forum where our harm is put up against the "harm" that conservatives in the denomination claim when the issue is discussed. It is time to end that nonsense.
Just before I talked to Jeff I chatted with another member of the congregation, an ally. She had talked to a friend who has a gay son. The friend has expressed remorse that her son will be going to hell when he dies. She has probably said as much to her son. That is the harm, to both mother and child, Jeff is talking about.
Jeff had another bit of news. There is a second pastor in Michigan who performed a same-sex ceremony. This one is from the more conservative West Michigan Conference. His meeting before the bishop is Thursday.
However, I can say more about the Family Acceptance Project. I learned about it one evening two years ago at the Center. Caitlin Ryan of San Francisco State University gave a presentation to the staff and I was asked to sit in. I wrote about it in my other blog, the one I use to share LGBT news with friends and family. The post is here. Replace every reference to "parent" with "church" and you get an idea where Ed is headed.
Jeff said Ed's big goal is to reduce, hopefully eliminate, harm. And he means real, serious harm. Jeff does not want to see another forum where our harm is put up against the "harm" that conservatives in the denomination claim when the issue is discussed. It is time to end that nonsense.
Just before I talked to Jeff I chatted with another member of the congregation, an ally. She had talked to a friend who has a gay son. The friend has expressed remorse that her son will be going to hell when he dies. She has probably said as much to her son. That is the harm, to both mother and child, Jeff is talking about.
Jeff had another bit of news. There is a second pastor in Michigan who performed a same-sex ceremony. This one is from the more conservative West Michigan Conference. His meeting before the bishop is Thursday.
Thursday, September 25, 2014
United Methodists and marriage equality in Michigan
Rev. Jeff Nelson of Redford Aldersgate UMC told me about this situation back in July. He kept me updated in short conversations. Yesterday, he emailed me to say it is time to expand the circle of support.
A while back a same-sex couple came to Rev. Ed Rowe of Central United Methodist Church in Detroit to ask him to perform their wedding. The couple are members of the Central congregation. They made the request knowing current denomination policies prevent Ed from officiating. As I understand it, the couple intentionally wanted to force the issue with Michigan Bishop Deborah Kiesey. Would she insist in punishing those who violate church law, perhaps even hold a church trial, or would she follow the lead of other bishops in saying those who perform same-sex ceremonies will honored and not punished?
I first encountered Bishop Kiesey during General Conference in 2012 in Tampa. That day the Conference had affirmed by over 60% the statement that homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching. I was part of a protest of that vote I wrote about my experience here. That evening during the communion service Bishop Kiesey was the preacher. She did an admirable job of offering healing to all of us. She expanded on the scene after the Resurrection in which Jesus serves breakfast to the disciples on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Three times Jesus commands Peter to "Feed my sheep." Bishop Kiesey expanded the phrase a bit: "Feed my sheep. All of my sheep." Many of us in Michigan were delighted when she was appointed as bishop of the Michigan Area just a couple months later.
In that email to me Jeff wrote:
As usually happens a complaint against Ed was filed by the Dean of the Cabinet and the Superintendent of the Detroit Renaissance District (essentially, Ed's boss). Ed was asked to describe what a just resolution would look like to him. I understand he wrote a letter spelling out his views. Ed selected former District Superintendent Tom Robinson to be his support person.
Last week, Ed and Tom met with Bishop Kiesey, her clergy assistant, and the two who filed the complaint to begin the just resolution process. During the meeting about 30 people from both Michigan Conferences met for prayer, support, dialogue, and worship.
A second conversation of the two teams is scheduled for Monday, September 29th at 1:30 pm to be held at the Michigan Area Office, 1011 Northcrest Rd. Lansing, MI 48906. Ed has requested that all willing people come to be part of a prayerful witness during this second dialogue. Jeff wrote:
Any news on this issue I will post to the Dedicated Reconciling United Methodists blog in the same manner as this post. Please check back for updates (and perhaps join some of the DRUM events described in the blog).
http://dedicatedrum.blogspot.com/
Jeff says that Ed closes his notes by writing:
Grace, Peace, Power and Pride
A while back a same-sex couple came to Rev. Ed Rowe of Central United Methodist Church in Detroit to ask him to perform their wedding. The couple are members of the Central congregation. They made the request knowing current denomination policies prevent Ed from officiating. As I understand it, the couple intentionally wanted to force the issue with Michigan Bishop Deborah Kiesey. Would she insist in punishing those who violate church law, perhaps even hold a church trial, or would she follow the lead of other bishops in saying those who perform same-sex ceremonies will honored and not punished?
I first encountered Bishop Kiesey during General Conference in 2012 in Tampa. That day the Conference had affirmed by over 60% the statement that homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching. I was part of a protest of that vote I wrote about my experience here. That evening during the communion service Bishop Kiesey was the preacher. She did an admirable job of offering healing to all of us. She expanded on the scene after the Resurrection in which Jesus serves breakfast to the disciples on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Three times Jesus commands Peter to "Feed my sheep." Bishop Kiesey expanded the phrase a bit: "Feed my sheep. All of my sheep." Many of us in Michigan were delighted when she was appointed as bishop of the Michigan Area just a couple months later.
In that email to me Jeff wrote:
In June Ed Rowe performed a same gender wedding for two members of the Central congregation. He did this will the full support of Central’s church council and leadership. He informed Bishop Kiesey and his District Superintendent of this pastoral act prior to performing the wedding.In July Ed officially retired from the ministry.
The wedding was a joy-filled, healing and gospel centered event where the love of Christ was on full display and power of the inclusive community evident to all who attended.
As usually happens a complaint against Ed was filed by the Dean of the Cabinet and the Superintendent of the Detroit Renaissance District (essentially, Ed's boss). Ed was asked to describe what a just resolution would look like to him. I understand he wrote a letter spelling out his views. Ed selected former District Superintendent Tom Robinson to be his support person.
Last week, Ed and Tom met with Bishop Kiesey, her clergy assistant, and the two who filed the complaint to begin the just resolution process. During the meeting about 30 people from both Michigan Conferences met for prayer, support, dialogue, and worship.
A second conversation of the two teams is scheduled for Monday, September 29th at 1:30 pm to be held at the Michigan Area Office, 1011 Northcrest Rd. Lansing, MI 48906. Ed has requested that all willing people come to be part of a prayerful witness during this second dialogue. Jeff wrote:
We believe that our bishop wants to do the right thing and our prayerful presence has served to bolster her courage.Please share this post with all your friends and fellow congregants. Ed needs our support.
Any news on this issue I will post to the Dedicated Reconciling United Methodists blog in the same manner as this post. Please check back for updates (and perhaps join some of the DRUM events described in the blog).
http://dedicatedrum.blogspot.com/
Jeff says that Ed closes his notes by writing:
Grace, Peace, Power and Pride
Saturday, September 20, 2014
Upcoming Fall Events
For the First Sunday program on October 5th our guest will be Jerry Peterson, Executive Director of the Ruth Ellis Center. The Center provides a broad range of services for sexual minority youth, many of whom are homeless because of their orientation or identity. As part of his program Jerry will talk about how we can be involved and how important it is for the youth to see church people helping them. There is fellowship time at 7:00 and program at 7:30.
Our annual DRUM Fall Potluck and Program will be on November 2nd. The speaker will be Matt Berryman, Executive Director of Reconciling Ministries Network. He will talk about his personal journey and the progress of the Reconciling Movement within the United Methodist Church. RMN is a growing movement within United Methodism working for full inclusion and participation of all people within the denomination. Matt received his M.Div from Emory University and has served congregations in Jacksonville, Florida and the United Kingdom. We look forward to his message. The evening will begin with a potluck dinner at 6:00. Please bring your own table service and a dish to pass. The program and worship will be at 7:00.
The program on December 7th will feature Rev. Paul Melrose. There will be fellowship at 7:00 and program at 7:30.
All of these programs will be at Nardin Park United Methodist Church, 29887 W. Eleven Mile, Farmington Hills. This is just west of Middlebelt. Please use the west entrance.
Our annual DRUM Fall Potluck and Program will be on November 2nd. The speaker will be Matt Berryman, Executive Director of Reconciling Ministries Network. He will talk about his personal journey and the progress of the Reconciling Movement within the United Methodist Church. RMN is a growing movement within United Methodism working for full inclusion and participation of all people within the denomination. Matt received his M.Div from Emory University and has served congregations in Jacksonville, Florida and the United Kingdom. We look forward to his message. The evening will begin with a potluck dinner at 6:00. Please bring your own table service and a dish to pass. The program and worship will be at 7:00.
The program on December 7th will feature Rev. Paul Melrose. There will be fellowship at 7:00 and program at 7:30.
All of these programs will be at Nardin Park United Methodist Church, 29887 W. Eleven Mile, Farmington Hills. This is just west of Middlebelt. Please use the west entrance.
Thursday, September 4, 2014
First Sunday Program, September 7
The First Sunday program in September will have a little different format. We will do a very brief service of an opening hymn, prayer, scripture followed by communion liturgy and communion. Our principal speaker will be Rev. Sue Melrose of First Presbyterian in Farmington Hills. However, her message will not be a sermon. It will be a report of the processes Presbyterian Church USA went through recently at the General assembly held in Detroit in June to arrive at their totally open stance on marriage and ordination for our LGBT brothers and sisters. The discussion will follow the brief service.
Please plan to be there Sunday — bring friends and family to hear the good news of our sister church. This program will be in our usual location, the chapel of Nardin Park United Methodist Church, 29887 W. Eleven Mile Rd., Farmington Hills. That's just west of Middlebelt. We meet at 7:00 for fellowship and 7:30 for the service.
Please plan to be there Sunday — bring friends and family to hear the good news of our sister church. This program will be in our usual location, the chapel of Nardin Park United Methodist Church, 29887 W. Eleven Mile Rd., Farmington Hills. That's just west of Middlebelt. We meet at 7:00 for fellowship and 7:30 for the service.
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