Our next gathering is a worship service with communion on Sunday night, December 6 at Nardin Park UMC in Farmington Hills. Please join us for fellowship and snacks at 7:00 and a Communion Service at 7:30. An inspiring message will be given by Rev. Becky Wilson. Becky is a deacon in the Detroit Annual Conference. She has served Newburg UMC and is presently Director of Justice and Mission Engagement as well as head of Detroit Flood Recovery Ministries.
Update: Becky Wilson had to postpone her time with us. Dale Milford will be coming in her place.
Nardin Park United Methodist Church is at 29887 W. Eleven Mile Rd., Farmington Hills. The church is just west of Middlebelt. The fellowship time will be in the meeting room on the west side of the church and the service in the nearby chapel. Come and bring a friend!
Monday, November 30, 2015
Thursday, October 29, 2015
First Sunday Worship, November 1
Our next gathering is a worship service with communion on Sunday night, November 1 at Nardin Park UMC in Farmington Hills. Please join us for fellowship and snacks at 7:00 and a Communion Service at 7:30. An inspiring message will be brought by Cecil Deramus, who is working toward ordination. We know his message will be inspiring and uplifting. Cecil and his wife, Amy, are coming to us from Detroit Central UMC.
Nardin Park United Methodist Church is at 29887 W. Eleven Mile Rd., Farmington Hills. The church is just west of Middlebelt. The fellowship time will be in the meeting room on the west side of the church and the service in the nearby chapel. Come and bring a friend!
Also remember to set your clocks back Saturday night before going to bed. Daylight Savings Time ends this weekend.
Nardin Park United Methodist Church is at 29887 W. Eleven Mile Rd., Farmington Hills. The church is just west of Middlebelt. The fellowship time will be in the meeting room on the west side of the church and the service in the nearby chapel. Come and bring a friend!
Also remember to set your clocks back Saturday night before going to bed. Daylight Savings Time ends this weekend.
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
Forcing the issue
A year ago Rev. Mike Tupper of the West Michigan Conference was in the news because he had officiated at his daughter's same-sex wedding in violation of the Book of Discipline. At that time the complaint was resolved with a Just Resolution, requiring Tupper to participate in the Truth and Reconciliation process developed along with Rev. Ed Rowe.
In July of this year Rev. Benjamin Hutchinson was charged with being a practicing homosexual (one with a partner) and forced from his church in Cassopolis. Shortly after that Hutchinson married his partner and Rev. Tupper was the lead officiant – "lead" because nine pastors took part in the service. The names of all nine pastors were turned over to their District Superintendent for disciplinary proceedings.
Now Tupper has issued a statement he will not agree to a just resolution as a way to resolve the complaint. That means the process may now go to a trial. If it does, Tupper said he would plead guilty, not contest any penalty, and would waive his right to appeal.
In a letter to the bishop, Tupper wrote, "God’s called me to highlight the need for a change in our Discipline at General Conference. But God has also made it clear to me that I should be willing to pay the price for my disobedience to the present Book of Discipline."
Part of Tupper's reason for his stance is because Rev. Hutchinson did not have the due-process protections that Tupper has available. In addition, Ginny Mikita, who also participated in Hutchinson's ceremony had her candidacy to become a United Methodist pastor was denied and her membership revoked. She also didn't have the protections available to Tupper.
The status of the complaint against the other pastors has not been disclosed.
After the Reconciling Ministries Network Convo in August it was obvious to me that the United Methodist denomination, if it wants to survive, will have to learn how to live with dissent and disobedience over the issue of homosexuality. Rev. Tupper is forcing this issue.
In July of this year Rev. Benjamin Hutchinson was charged with being a practicing homosexual (one with a partner) and forced from his church in Cassopolis. Shortly after that Hutchinson married his partner and Rev. Tupper was the lead officiant – "lead" because nine pastors took part in the service. The names of all nine pastors were turned over to their District Superintendent for disciplinary proceedings.
Now Tupper has issued a statement he will not agree to a just resolution as a way to resolve the complaint. That means the process may now go to a trial. If it does, Tupper said he would plead guilty, not contest any penalty, and would waive his right to appeal.
In a letter to the bishop, Tupper wrote, "God’s called me to highlight the need for a change in our Discipline at General Conference. But God has also made it clear to me that I should be willing to pay the price for my disobedience to the present Book of Discipline."
Part of Tupper's reason for his stance is because Rev. Hutchinson did not have the due-process protections that Tupper has available. In addition, Ginny Mikita, who also participated in Hutchinson's ceremony had her candidacy to become a United Methodist pastor was denied and her membership revoked. She also didn't have the protections available to Tupper.
The status of the complaint against the other pastors has not been disclosed.
After the Reconciling Ministries Network Convo in August it was obvious to me that the United Methodist denomination, if it wants to survive, will have to learn how to live with dissent and disobedience over the issue of homosexuality. Rev. Tupper is forcing this issue.
Thursday, September 3, 2015
Fall Potluck and Program. October 4
Save the date! Next month on Sunday, October 4 at 6:00, DRUM (Dedicated Reconciling United Methodists) and the Church & Society Team of Nardin Park United Methodist Church will co-host the Annual Potluck & Program. Yes, this event will be in October this year. This time, MFSA (Methodist Federation for Social Action) is teaming with us! Chett Pritchett, Executive Director of MFSA will bring the message "You Can't Stop the Beat," referencing Matthew 24:36-44. Please come and bring a friend.
First Sunday Program, September 6
Yes, our First Sunday programs include Labor Day. This Sunday, September 6 at 7:00, First Sunday will be “Stories from the River” -- highlights from the Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN) and Methodist Federation for Social Action (MFSA) partnership convocation "Gather at the River" in San Antonio, TX in early August. Paul Kinney and George Jonte-Crane attended and have inspirational stories to share. Refreshments and fellowship at 7:00 will precede the 7:30 discussion. We'll gather at Nardin Park United Methodist Church, 29887 W. Eleven Mile Rd., Farmington Hills. We'll be in rooms on the west end of the building, and will move to the beautiful courtyard, weather permitting.
Sunday, August 16, 2015
Reconciling Ministries Network Convocation
I attended the Gather at the River Convo in San Antonio put on by RMN and Methodist Federation for Social Action. Many of the events, including the plenary sessions were held in Travis Park United Methodist Church. We also had sessions in the Sheraton Gunter Hotel in the same block. We convened on Thursday evening and departed at noon on Sunday. There were about 700 in attendance. Here is my report on Convo.
Thursday, August 6
Convo opened with a worship service at 7:30. Since the title of this Convo is Gather at the River many scripture passages featured a river. So the altar during this service featured a river.
The first part (after a few rousing songs) was a presentation about Gene Legget. He was the first Methodist (before the "United" was added) pastor to come out as gay. He was quite the agitator in the 1970s at his local Annual Conference, which is held in the same sanctuary as our Convo. He also protested at several General Conferences. Much of his work was to attempt to eliminate the "homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching" phrase that was put in the new Book of Discipline in 1972.
Then came the bible study by Rev. Grace Imathiu. She is from Africa and is currently leading a church in a Chicago suburb. When asked to lead the bible study sessions she figured she would select her own verses. But no, the worship team did that for her. Thursday's passage was Revelations 22:1-5, from the last chapter of the bible. This passage is a glimpse of heaven. Imathiu's points: In times of stress and struggle it helps to read the last chapter first. We know how the story will end, which will help us to carry on. And once we've seen that last chapter a future without diversity will feel like an impoverished place.
The sermon was given by Rev. Peter Storey of South Africa. His bio is impressive – chaplain to Nelson Mandela while in jail, pastor of a congregation that was integrated in defiance of Apartheid, a leader behind the nation's Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Storey also preached on the last chapter of Revelations.
The struggle for justice always involves pain. We need hope and signs of hope. He indicated us and said, "Welcome to God's future of the United Methodist Church!" Revelations 22 is a vision of heaven but it follows many darker visions. Some more people will die doing the work of justice. Justice is hard to sustain. We must be willing to suffer for the dreams of love.
The current fight of LGBT acceptance is a case of the church wounding the church. That makes us ask is our witness and pain worth it? Storey's response to that question is that we are not able to judge the worth of our pain. We are asked to witness, no matter the cost. Each bit of message is worth it. Cutting down a tree requires many strikes from the ax, but we don't know which strike will be the one that topples the tree.
Storey said that Apartheid would have ended ten years earlier but for the cowards in the pulpit. Of what or whom were they afraid? When we follow the love Jesus describes we are led to outrage.
The service ended around 10:00. Yeah, two and a half hours. But worth it.
Friday, August 7
We ended one day with worship and started the next with worship. The speaker was Nikilas Mawanda, a transgender man from Uganda. Yes, that's a dangerous place to be transgender. He was forced out of his parent's home when they concluded he was a lesbian, though he long knew he was transgender. He founded a support group for trans people. Then that nasty anti-gay bill was passed and he was arrested. Mawanda has strong words for Scott Lively and others who went to Uganda to stir up hate. You're playing politics with our lives. Does your theology kill people? He calls on us to reach out to Africa because they look up to us.
Elsewhere in the service transgender people did such things as read the scripture. Then we had the best part of the whole weekend: We invited all transgender people into the front and center and had a small ceremony of blessing. This was significant because within in the LGBT world the trans people are frequently discriminated against.
The service was followed by a panel discussion on Biblical Obedience. The panel was moderated by Matt Berryman, executive director of Reconciling Ministries Network. Biblical Obedience is a rule breaking sense of justice for those on the margins. This is some of what was said.
Bishp Melvin Talbert is beloved by the reconciling movement for his call in 2012 at General Conference to Biblical Obedience, quite different from obedience to the Book of Discipline. Talbert connected our movement to the sit-ins of the 1950s and 60s that were a part of the civil rights movement. Discrimination against anyone is the same. General Conference is the last word on the Book of Discipline, but, as Talbert says, "My last word is before God." The church tries to be counter-cultural, stressing values ignored by the culture, such as taking care of the poor. But the church (including the UMC) missed it on marriage. The culture got there first. That's not being counter-cultural. Talbert is reminded of the question asked at baptism: Will you reject oppression in all its forms? So be faithful to your answer to that question. Give your whole self to the beloved community. There is no other way to be faithful.
Rev. Dr. Karen Oliveto is the senior pastor at Glide Memorial United Methodist Church on San Francisco, an early church to declare itself to be reconciling. Oliveto has been a leader in RMN. She said that grace was taught to her by the church from an early age. She noted how much the institutional church supports the status quo. We are to be the leaven that changes the church. But we aren't to bring the margins to the center because the center is sinful. We are to take the church to the margins.
Alex Shanks is a transman, a spoken word poet, and an advocate for ministry with gender non-conforming people. He says that as a trans person he is made as God intended. He is called to ministry as much as anybody else. He considers his transition from female to male to be part of what God intended for him and a part of his call. He said he is more of a feminist as a man. He found out what he had been missing as a woman. Being trans allows him to be an advocate for blacks and for the poor.
Next was another bible study by Grace Imathiu, this time on the Exodus story, leading into the story of Joshua. At one point of their wanders in the wilderness Moses sent scouts into the Promised Land. Most returned with stories of giants who should be avoided. Imathiu said these scouts told the Israelites to back off as a way of protecting God. Those timid scouts were part of the reason for why the people of God wandered for 40 years. She said it takes 40 years to get pharaoh's thinking out of your head. The first task of an oppressor is to convince the oppressed that it is proper for them to be oppressed. Getting rid of that thought takes time. It also takes a while to undo the idea of two categories of people – us and them. Or in our case, male and female.
The Convo leaders randomly assigned us to groups called Reflecting Pools. These groups were a way for us to meet and get to know others in our movement. Today's discussion was essentially that.
I attended two workshops. The first was about intercultural competency and forming a broader community. It was put on by the denomination's General Commission on Religion and Race. The UMC in America is 90% white and that number is dropping. How are we forming community with other ethnic groups? How do we have deep and vital conversations across these groups?
One idea is the privilege walk. Participants form a line standing side by side. The leader reads a series of statements, such as, "If your parents attended college take a step forward." "If you have ever been arrested, take a step back." After many of these kinds of questions some people will be far ahead of others. This becomes a way of starting a discussion of privilege and a chance to hear each other's stories. One participant asked whether it was worth making those in the back of the room feel bad about their lack of privilege in order to teach those in the front of the room about their privilege.
Another idea is vital conversations. These are held in a safe environment, likely with a discussion of what that means. The conversations allow people to tell their stories, prompted by such questions as: Have you ever been followed in a store? Have you been an employee told to follow others in a store? Have you intentionally benefited from privilege? Do you avoid certain ethnic neighborhoods? How do you feel about others wanting to avoid your neighborhood? Keep in mind that people of color may feel the need to please white people in what they say, so responses may be internally edited. More here on the GCORR website.
My second workshop was about General Conference 2016. I'll save that to include with what was presented at a plenary session.
The evening session included some entertainment. Opening the session was the mariachi band Campanas de America. This is the first time I've seen a harp in such an ensemble. It was a lever harp and stood on legs so the player could stand while performing. The other instruments were guitar, bass guitar, violins, and trumpets. Various performers also sang. This photo shows the harp, but missed the one female of the group.
The evening speaker was Bishop Minerva Carcaño, currently serving in Los Angeles. She is the one who extended a job offer to Frank Schaefer when he was defrocked back in 2013. Even in the American South there are pastors who welcome their gay and lesbian members in spite of what their bishops say. They recognize same-sex love.
Carcaño told us the General Conference will be moved outside the United States starting in 2024. That one was slated for Harare in Africa with 2028 to be in Manila. But Amy DeLong, a lesbian pastor who has been on trial for conducting a same-sex wedding, asked if she would be safe in Harare. That prompted the question, are we life giving or life threatening? That prompted a revised schedule: the 2024 General Conference in Manila and 2028 in Harare only if gay and lesbian delegates would be safe.
The evening concluded with a performance by IlluMen, a local 8 member a cappella men's chorus. The music was wonderful!
Saturday, August 8
The morning again started with a worship service. The message was brought by Sara Thompson Tweedy, who had been brought up on charges for being a “self-avowed practicing homosexual” as the Book of Discipline puts it. She says, “I'm not practicing. I'm a professional!” She talked about how the institutional church dams up living water. It protects the institution, not the church – the people that make it a living thing. But the real danger isn't from our opponents, but from the mushy middle. She was quite critical of the church hierarchy for their slowness in doing what is loving and for the harm that has been caused along the way.
Tweedy's trial was scheduled to take place just after Frank Schaefer's trial and about the same time as Tom Ogletree's trial. This second one didn't happen because there was such outrage from the first and so much support for Ogletree the institution backed down. That was in November. The following May Tweedy's case was quietly dismissed. Tweedy said we can't wait for the Book of Discipline to change.
Every Convo invites the local bishop to visit, and speak if he wants. In places such as Maryland (the last Convo) the bishop is friendly to our cause (I don't remember if he showed up). But this is Texas. Bishop Jim Dorff came and requested to speak.
Even before he came to the pulpit the protests began in the form of signs hung from the balcony.
When the bishop was introduced the Convo leader reminded us we should be glad he showed up at all. We were also reminded this is a safe space – for everybody.
By this time the communion rail was full. Those kneeling there had a piece of blue cloth either covering the mouth or binding the wrists.
Dorff began, “This is not a fun time to be a bishop.” Ooh, bad start. “It is also not a fun time to be LGBT either.” He said his time with us is a God time for him. He needed to hear all the criticism that Sara had said. All he said was quite bland. He ended by saying he wants to be part of the solution. Many in the congregation shouted back, “SO DO IT!”
Emotions ran high (including mine). Many present had been hurt by this particular bishop or by many others like him. His bland pronouncements were unacceptable. The Convo leaders asked for a moment of silence. I heard a nearby whisper, “Our church will marry all,” apparently a Texas congregation ready and willing to defy this bishop. Rev. Dr. Julie Todd took part in the protest and shared her experience.
A woman made her way to the front and was given a microphone. This is a summary of what she said:
The remaining morning sessions were shortened because the bishop's speech and our recovery took a good chunk of time.
The panel discussion was about the intersections of injustice. When one deals with health issues, one also deals with poverty, race, and even gay issues. Or, as is the case with these panelists, race, climate change, reproductive rights, and police brutality all intersect. The moderator was Chett Pritchett of the Methodist Federation for Social Action, the second sponsor of Convo.
Ann Craig specializes in social media skills to support LGBT-friendly faith leaders in Africa. She started by saying she challenges the stereotype that all Africans are against LGBT concerns. She also said that many of these intersections are personal and that working in intersections makes her work possible. We must address all of African's concerns.
Jenny Phillips works for the Pacific Northwest Conference in environmental stewardship. She represented the Fossil Free UMC drive to guide the church into divesting $700 million from all oil and coal corporations. We've already divested from tobacco, time to do the same for fossil fuels. She notes people on the margins are the ones who suffer most from climate change. Those who exploit creation also exploit people. It is hard to name a problem when we benefit from it. We don't need to be gay to be a gay ally. In the same way we don't have to be a scientist to advocate for protecting the climate.
Kathryn Johnson is a leader in the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Rights, an interdenominational group. She said for women to have a choice we must address sexism, racism, and economic need.
Jason Redick is on the board of the Center for Theological Activism. He advocates for immigrants, against police brutality, and against the death penalty. He says those who work with immigrants must be aware of LGBT rights because deportation of an LGBT person frequently leads to death.
On to another bible study by Grace Imathiu. She was disappointed that she had planned for 20 minutes and now was told she only had five. So she started skimming her notes and tossing pages onto the floor while those in the audience shouted that they wanted the full 20 minutes. She actually spoke for 15. The scripture this time was Ezekiel.
An old African saying: When two elephants fight, the grass suffers. In this passage Egypt and Babylon are fighting and Judea suffers. Judea is marched into exile. Back in 1972, when the first gay prohibitions were added to the Book of Discipline, LGBT people were marched into exile.
Exile strips us of everything. The priest, who doesn't have (and isn't bound by) a supporting institution and is useless in exile, becomes the prophet. He is free to imagine what the Promised Land looks like.
As Imathiu read the scripture she turned to us and said, "This next part is really great!" The passage describes a river of fresh water that is so full of life that when it enters the Dead Sea it turns that sea to fresh water, full of life.
After lunch my Reflecting Pool group got into a discussion of how we should label ourselves. The term "queer" used to be a disparaging term. Some of the older people in the group thought it was a word to avoid. But they were puzzled by younger people who embraced the word. We spent some time to puzzle out why. The collection of letters LGBT doesn't cover such things as intersex or asexual. I said I've used the term "sexual minorities." But another said that would include sex addicts, which is not what we want. Yet another said my term puts the emphasis on sex at a time when we complain our opponents reduce our relationships to a sexual act. So "queer" seems to be the word of choice, even if it does have that antagonistic baggage.
On to a discussion of next year's General Conference, including what I heard at Friday's workshop. The number of delegates has been reduced to 864, down from the usual number of almost a thousand. I'm sure the change is to reduce the cost of GC. The number doesn't matter as much as the percentages from each country. That is still mostly based on the number of UMC members in a country compared to the world-wide membership. In America the membership has dropped again so our delegates will be 58.3% of the total, down from 61.3%. Membership in Africa has grown, so their delegates will be 30.1%, up from 28.5%.
The bishop who presides over a session has influence over the discussion and procedures. Bishops volunteer for this task. We need to encourage progressive bishops to volunteer.
RMN, MFSA, and Affirmation formed the Love Your Neighbor Coalition (LYNC) back in 1996 (though under a different name). Three more groups joined in 2012. LYNC now has 11 partners and is active all the time, not just in the year before GC. They are: RMN, MFSA, Affirmation, Black Methodists for Church Renewal, MARCHA (Hispanic Americans), NFAAUM (Asian Americans), PINCUM (Pacific Islanders), Native American Caucus, UMC Ministers with Disabilities, Western Methodist Justice Movement (formed in the Western Jurisdiction after the 2012 GC), and Love Prevails. All of these groups are working on justice issues.
The Love Prevails group was started in response to the trial of Rev. Amy DeLong back in 2011. She introduced the group to the rest of Convo. Their slogan is disclose(t), divest, and disrupt. The first term is a combination of disclose and dis-closet. Both our LGBT pastors and our support for LGBT issues need to be disclosed, to come out of the closet. The group intends to divest their prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness (part of membership vows) from all structures within the denomination that support the status quo of institutionalized discrimination. They intend to disrupt business as usual, because the time for polite persuasion has passed.
http://loveprevailsumc.com/
The LYNC coalition sees GC 2016 will be about struggles over power, ideals, and right belief. In particular that will play out over five areas. Will the church be for inclusion or will it (at least in America) be the church for straight white guys over the age of 45? The battle will be over sexuality, in particular heterosexism and reproductive rights. There are lots of petitions about judicial process – will proceedings before the Judicial Council be fair with a transparent process or will there be mandatory penalties for pastors who violate the Book of Discipline? There are lots of proposals for revising the church structure at the global, national, and regional level. Will those changes enhance or obstruct justice? Will money be allocated or denied for justice issues?
There were several restructuring plans presented in 2012. One was adopted, then thrown out during the last few hours of GC. Many of those are back, along with a few more. LYNC is watching them closely. One that appears missing would create an American Central Conference that can revise the Book of Discipline for local use in the same manner as is already done in Africa and other parts of the world.
A goal is to avoid schism. That has been a threat used against progressives for the last 20 years. But if the denomination split, it would collapse. Neither side would have enough money for the boards and agencies that support the local churches and give the denomination its distinctive focus.
There is a proposal is for continental "connections." Then GC would have delegates from each connection. An American connection would deal with American issues and be authorized to create an American version of the Book of Discipline. But GC 2016 would only get this process started, with approval in 2020. In addition, sexuality issues wouldn't be addressed until the new system is up and running.
During GC LYNC will do several things: They will witness to GC. They hope to have 350-500 volunteers there for various witness events. They will build relationships with delegates. They will propose and monitor legislation. They will communicate coalition goals to delegates and volunteers, including having prepared legislation talking points. They will care for each other when things go bad, including chaplains on call. They will conduct worship services and provide lunchtime speakers. They will extend hospitality, especially to delegates from around the world.
The witness events will be built around empathic resistance, an idea developed elsewhere. Event success will be measured in coalition building.
One leader said our hopes are high, but our expectations are low. Be prepared. Another said the votes are against us. The democratic avenue is closed. Miracles may happen, but miracles are not a good planning strategy.
But that gives us freedom in our witness. Show up anyway. We don't have to be meek. Our job is to witness, not worry whether our witness is effective. Who is the coalition? We are.
There are things we can do now: Sign the LYNC vision statement and pass it around for others to sign. Fill out the volunteer form and plan to go to Portland. Tell leaders what you think. Donate to LYNC. Pray.
Since we will likely not overturn official oppression of LGBT people the sense is there will be a great deal of disobedience of the Book of Discipline, over the next several years. The denomination will have to deal with it. How it does so may determine how and whether it survives. One response to that disobedience are the proposals for minimum sentences when pastors violate the rules.
The Convo banquet was held that night. The music entertainment was by Jennifer Knapp, a lesbian contemporary Christian singer. She told her story in between her songs.
Rev. Vicki Flippin of MFSA interviewed Frank and Tim Schaefer. Tim spoke first saying he wouldn't get a chance once his father started talking. Tim is the gay son whose wedding was officiated by Frank, which cost Frank his credentials. Tim said he now feels supported well enough that he will be attending seminary this fall. He doesn't know if he can be ordained in the UMC.
Frank recounted his trial. Before then he had been living in fear, not able to tell his conservative congregation how he felt. The filing of charges was an outing and he watched his congregation fall apart. During the trial Tim gave his testimony. A friend commented to Frank that what Tim said was his story 35 years before. That prompted Frank to change his closing testimony. He has a new goal – be an advocate for LGBT people. He is now free.
Later Grace Imathiu tied Frank to her bible studies. He had been sent into exile. The support of the institution had been withdrawn. Similar to Ezekiel, the pastor became a prophet.
Tim said the recent marriage equality ruling puts pressure on either the pastors or the bishops. Frank added unless we change we'll alienate the Millennials. We'll lose young families. Professionals will not want to associate with homophobia. We will bankrupt the UMC. Tim said the reconciling movement represents inclusivity and that tells gay kids they are OK.
We were shown the trailer for the documentary movie Act of Love. Part of it is about the story of Frank Schaefer. Another part is about GC 2012. One moment in the trailer caught my attention. A member of Good News (one of our opponent organizations) said he had reveled in beating us in policy fights. But he has grown tired of seeing our pain when we lost. I so much wanted to hear about the implications of that statement.
Sunday, August 9
The first morning session was reports from various areas around the country telling us about local initiatives.
The first speaker asked an important question, though without supplying an answer. Why don't secular and faith-based gay rights organizations work together?
In the Cal-Nevada Conference sexual orientation is officially not an issue of ordination.
A speaker reminded us that laity have power. We must use it. The bishop cannot threaten us as can be done against wayward pastors.
The morning bible study was on Luke, chapter 3, in which John goes out into the wilderness to preach and baptize. Grace Imathiu noted the passage says Tiberius has been around for 15 years and that he had installed four puppet rulers over Judea. People had been eating empire food for 15 years. Here comes John and he doesn't wear empire clothes and doesn't eat empire food. He is living as an exile within the Promised Land, in exile within the church.
When we baptize infants, following John's example, we don't know that baby. We can't ask who are you? Are you gay? Even so, we make promises to that baby, that we will surround the baby with steadfast love. Will we break that promise? Should we wait until we know whether the baby is gay? When the baby grows up and becomes troublesome or makes us feel uncomfortable we must still say, "I promised the baby!"
The people who came to John said, "Abraham is our father." John replies that doesn't matter. Each person must produce fruit. Part of that means to search out people who need our help.
Our closing worship was with the Travis Park congregation, since we were in their sanctuary. The two groups filled the place. Our morning schedule took longer than was planned, so the service actually began at 11:00 instead of 10:30 and lasted until 12:30. The preacher was Theon Johnson of Glide UMC. He preached that God was not after right belief, but right living. From the way the church has been acting there is no surprise those outside don't come in. They don't trust us. Working from the same bible passage he said we must produce fruit, which stands for:
Faithful in action
Reaching out for inclusion
Unapologetic in saying hate is incompatible with Christian teaching
Intentional in our teaching
Transforming our ministries through radical love.
Johnson, who is black, talked about the controversy around black lives matter / all lives matter. The first phrase is a declaration that black lives also matter as much as white lives. The second accuses black people of saying only black lives matter and white lives don't.
Thursday, August 6
Convo opened with a worship service at 7:30. Since the title of this Convo is Gather at the River many scripture passages featured a river. So the altar during this service featured a river.
The first part (after a few rousing songs) was a presentation about Gene Legget. He was the first Methodist (before the "United" was added) pastor to come out as gay. He was quite the agitator in the 1970s at his local Annual Conference, which is held in the same sanctuary as our Convo. He also protested at several General Conferences. Much of his work was to attempt to eliminate the "homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching" phrase that was put in the new Book of Discipline in 1972.
Then came the bible study by Rev. Grace Imathiu. She is from Africa and is currently leading a church in a Chicago suburb. When asked to lead the bible study sessions she figured she would select her own verses. But no, the worship team did that for her. Thursday's passage was Revelations 22:1-5, from the last chapter of the bible. This passage is a glimpse of heaven. Imathiu's points: In times of stress and struggle it helps to read the last chapter first. We know how the story will end, which will help us to carry on. And once we've seen that last chapter a future without diversity will feel like an impoverished place.
The sermon was given by Rev. Peter Storey of South Africa. His bio is impressive – chaplain to Nelson Mandela while in jail, pastor of a congregation that was integrated in defiance of Apartheid, a leader behind the nation's Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Storey also preached on the last chapter of Revelations.
The struggle for justice always involves pain. We need hope and signs of hope. He indicated us and said, "Welcome to God's future of the United Methodist Church!" Revelations 22 is a vision of heaven but it follows many darker visions. Some more people will die doing the work of justice. Justice is hard to sustain. We must be willing to suffer for the dreams of love.
The current fight of LGBT acceptance is a case of the church wounding the church. That makes us ask is our witness and pain worth it? Storey's response to that question is that we are not able to judge the worth of our pain. We are asked to witness, no matter the cost. Each bit of message is worth it. Cutting down a tree requires many strikes from the ax, but we don't know which strike will be the one that topples the tree.
Storey said that Apartheid would have ended ten years earlier but for the cowards in the pulpit. Of what or whom were they afraid? When we follow the love Jesus describes we are led to outrage.
The service ended around 10:00. Yeah, two and a half hours. But worth it.
Friday, August 7
We ended one day with worship and started the next with worship. The speaker was Nikilas Mawanda, a transgender man from Uganda. Yes, that's a dangerous place to be transgender. He was forced out of his parent's home when they concluded he was a lesbian, though he long knew he was transgender. He founded a support group for trans people. Then that nasty anti-gay bill was passed and he was arrested. Mawanda has strong words for Scott Lively and others who went to Uganda to stir up hate. You're playing politics with our lives. Does your theology kill people? He calls on us to reach out to Africa because they look up to us.
Elsewhere in the service transgender people did such things as read the scripture. Then we had the best part of the whole weekend: We invited all transgender people into the front and center and had a small ceremony of blessing. This was significant because within in the LGBT world the trans people are frequently discriminated against.
The service was followed by a panel discussion on Biblical Obedience. The panel was moderated by Matt Berryman, executive director of Reconciling Ministries Network. Biblical Obedience is a rule breaking sense of justice for those on the margins. This is some of what was said.
Bishp Melvin Talbert is beloved by the reconciling movement for his call in 2012 at General Conference to Biblical Obedience, quite different from obedience to the Book of Discipline. Talbert connected our movement to the sit-ins of the 1950s and 60s that were a part of the civil rights movement. Discrimination against anyone is the same. General Conference is the last word on the Book of Discipline, but, as Talbert says, "My last word is before God." The church tries to be counter-cultural, stressing values ignored by the culture, such as taking care of the poor. But the church (including the UMC) missed it on marriage. The culture got there first. That's not being counter-cultural. Talbert is reminded of the question asked at baptism: Will you reject oppression in all its forms? So be faithful to your answer to that question. Give your whole self to the beloved community. There is no other way to be faithful.
Rev. Dr. Karen Oliveto is the senior pastor at Glide Memorial United Methodist Church on San Francisco, an early church to declare itself to be reconciling. Oliveto has been a leader in RMN. She said that grace was taught to her by the church from an early age. She noted how much the institutional church supports the status quo. We are to be the leaven that changes the church. But we aren't to bring the margins to the center because the center is sinful. We are to take the church to the margins.
Alex Shanks is a transman, a spoken word poet, and an advocate for ministry with gender non-conforming people. He says that as a trans person he is made as God intended. He is called to ministry as much as anybody else. He considers his transition from female to male to be part of what God intended for him and a part of his call. He said he is more of a feminist as a man. He found out what he had been missing as a woman. Being trans allows him to be an advocate for blacks and for the poor.
Next was another bible study by Grace Imathiu, this time on the Exodus story, leading into the story of Joshua. At one point of their wanders in the wilderness Moses sent scouts into the Promised Land. Most returned with stories of giants who should be avoided. Imathiu said these scouts told the Israelites to back off as a way of protecting God. Those timid scouts were part of the reason for why the people of God wandered for 40 years. She said it takes 40 years to get pharaoh's thinking out of your head. The first task of an oppressor is to convince the oppressed that it is proper for them to be oppressed. Getting rid of that thought takes time. It also takes a while to undo the idea of two categories of people – us and them. Or in our case, male and female.
The Convo leaders randomly assigned us to groups called Reflecting Pools. These groups were a way for us to meet and get to know others in our movement. Today's discussion was essentially that.
I attended two workshops. The first was about intercultural competency and forming a broader community. It was put on by the denomination's General Commission on Religion and Race. The UMC in America is 90% white and that number is dropping. How are we forming community with other ethnic groups? How do we have deep and vital conversations across these groups?
One idea is the privilege walk. Participants form a line standing side by side. The leader reads a series of statements, such as, "If your parents attended college take a step forward." "If you have ever been arrested, take a step back." After many of these kinds of questions some people will be far ahead of others. This becomes a way of starting a discussion of privilege and a chance to hear each other's stories. One participant asked whether it was worth making those in the back of the room feel bad about their lack of privilege in order to teach those in the front of the room about their privilege.
Another idea is vital conversations. These are held in a safe environment, likely with a discussion of what that means. The conversations allow people to tell their stories, prompted by such questions as: Have you ever been followed in a store? Have you been an employee told to follow others in a store? Have you intentionally benefited from privilege? Do you avoid certain ethnic neighborhoods? How do you feel about others wanting to avoid your neighborhood? Keep in mind that people of color may feel the need to please white people in what they say, so responses may be internally edited. More here on the GCORR website.
My second workshop was about General Conference 2016. I'll save that to include with what was presented at a plenary session.
The evening session included some entertainment. Opening the session was the mariachi band Campanas de America. This is the first time I've seen a harp in such an ensemble. It was a lever harp and stood on legs so the player could stand while performing. The other instruments were guitar, bass guitar, violins, and trumpets. Various performers also sang. This photo shows the harp, but missed the one female of the group.
The evening speaker was Bishop Minerva Carcaño, currently serving in Los Angeles. She is the one who extended a job offer to Frank Schaefer when he was defrocked back in 2013. Even in the American South there are pastors who welcome their gay and lesbian members in spite of what their bishops say. They recognize same-sex love.
Carcaño told us the General Conference will be moved outside the United States starting in 2024. That one was slated for Harare in Africa with 2028 to be in Manila. But Amy DeLong, a lesbian pastor who has been on trial for conducting a same-sex wedding, asked if she would be safe in Harare. That prompted the question, are we life giving or life threatening? That prompted a revised schedule: the 2024 General Conference in Manila and 2028 in Harare only if gay and lesbian delegates would be safe.
The evening concluded with a performance by IlluMen, a local 8 member a cappella men's chorus. The music was wonderful!
Saturday, August 8
The morning again started with a worship service. The message was brought by Sara Thompson Tweedy, who had been brought up on charges for being a “self-avowed practicing homosexual” as the Book of Discipline puts it. She says, “I'm not practicing. I'm a professional!” She talked about how the institutional church dams up living water. It protects the institution, not the church – the people that make it a living thing. But the real danger isn't from our opponents, but from the mushy middle. She was quite critical of the church hierarchy for their slowness in doing what is loving and for the harm that has been caused along the way.
Tweedy's trial was scheduled to take place just after Frank Schaefer's trial and about the same time as Tom Ogletree's trial. This second one didn't happen because there was such outrage from the first and so much support for Ogletree the institution backed down. That was in November. The following May Tweedy's case was quietly dismissed. Tweedy said we can't wait for the Book of Discipline to change.
Every Convo invites the local bishop to visit, and speak if he wants. In places such as Maryland (the last Convo) the bishop is friendly to our cause (I don't remember if he showed up). But this is Texas. Bishop Jim Dorff came and requested to speak.
Even before he came to the pulpit the protests began in the form of signs hung from the balcony.
When the bishop was introduced the Convo leader reminded us we should be glad he showed up at all. We were also reminded this is a safe space – for everybody.
By this time the communion rail was full. Those kneeling there had a piece of blue cloth either covering the mouth or binding the wrists.
Dorff began, “This is not a fun time to be a bishop.” Ooh, bad start. “It is also not a fun time to be LGBT either.” He said his time with us is a God time for him. He needed to hear all the criticism that Sara had said. All he said was quite bland. He ended by saying he wants to be part of the solution. Many in the congregation shouted back, “SO DO IT!”
Emotions ran high (including mine). Many present had been hurt by this particular bishop or by many others like him. His bland pronouncements were unacceptable. The Convo leaders asked for a moment of silence. I heard a nearby whisper, “Our church will marry all,” apparently a Texas congregation ready and willing to defy this bishop. Rev. Dr. Julie Todd took part in the protest and shared her experience.
A woman made her way to the front and was given a microphone. This is a summary of what she said:
This is not a new issue. Don't pretend to be surprised by it. I was denied ordination 22 years ago. No current bishop was consecrated before this became an issue. No current pastor was ordained before this became an issue. There are no excuses.There was lots of spontaneous singing, including “We Shall Overcome.” Leadership offered another prayer for healing and then called for a break. There were a lot of hurt people that needed healing. We all needed time for emotions to subside.
The remaining morning sessions were shortened because the bishop's speech and our recovery took a good chunk of time.
The panel discussion was about the intersections of injustice. When one deals with health issues, one also deals with poverty, race, and even gay issues. Or, as is the case with these panelists, race, climate change, reproductive rights, and police brutality all intersect. The moderator was Chett Pritchett of the Methodist Federation for Social Action, the second sponsor of Convo.
Ann Craig specializes in social media skills to support LGBT-friendly faith leaders in Africa. She started by saying she challenges the stereotype that all Africans are against LGBT concerns. She also said that many of these intersections are personal and that working in intersections makes her work possible. We must address all of African's concerns.
Jenny Phillips works for the Pacific Northwest Conference in environmental stewardship. She represented the Fossil Free UMC drive to guide the church into divesting $700 million from all oil and coal corporations. We've already divested from tobacco, time to do the same for fossil fuels. She notes people on the margins are the ones who suffer most from climate change. Those who exploit creation also exploit people. It is hard to name a problem when we benefit from it. We don't need to be gay to be a gay ally. In the same way we don't have to be a scientist to advocate for protecting the climate.
Kathryn Johnson is a leader in the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Rights, an interdenominational group. She said for women to have a choice we must address sexism, racism, and economic need.
Jason Redick is on the board of the Center for Theological Activism. He advocates for immigrants, against police brutality, and against the death penalty. He says those who work with immigrants must be aware of LGBT rights because deportation of an LGBT person frequently leads to death.
On to another bible study by Grace Imathiu. She was disappointed that she had planned for 20 minutes and now was told she only had five. So she started skimming her notes and tossing pages onto the floor while those in the audience shouted that they wanted the full 20 minutes. She actually spoke for 15. The scripture this time was Ezekiel.
An old African saying: When two elephants fight, the grass suffers. In this passage Egypt and Babylon are fighting and Judea suffers. Judea is marched into exile. Back in 1972, when the first gay prohibitions were added to the Book of Discipline, LGBT people were marched into exile.
Exile strips us of everything. The priest, who doesn't have (and isn't bound by) a supporting institution and is useless in exile, becomes the prophet. He is free to imagine what the Promised Land looks like.
As Imathiu read the scripture she turned to us and said, "This next part is really great!" The passage describes a river of fresh water that is so full of life that when it enters the Dead Sea it turns that sea to fresh water, full of life.
After lunch my Reflecting Pool group got into a discussion of how we should label ourselves. The term "queer" used to be a disparaging term. Some of the older people in the group thought it was a word to avoid. But they were puzzled by younger people who embraced the word. We spent some time to puzzle out why. The collection of letters LGBT doesn't cover such things as intersex or asexual. I said I've used the term "sexual minorities." But another said that would include sex addicts, which is not what we want. Yet another said my term puts the emphasis on sex at a time when we complain our opponents reduce our relationships to a sexual act. So "queer" seems to be the word of choice, even if it does have that antagonistic baggage.
On to a discussion of next year's General Conference, including what I heard at Friday's workshop. The number of delegates has been reduced to 864, down from the usual number of almost a thousand. I'm sure the change is to reduce the cost of GC. The number doesn't matter as much as the percentages from each country. That is still mostly based on the number of UMC members in a country compared to the world-wide membership. In America the membership has dropped again so our delegates will be 58.3% of the total, down from 61.3%. Membership in Africa has grown, so their delegates will be 30.1%, up from 28.5%.
The bishop who presides over a session has influence over the discussion and procedures. Bishops volunteer for this task. We need to encourage progressive bishops to volunteer.
RMN, MFSA, and Affirmation formed the Love Your Neighbor Coalition (LYNC) back in 1996 (though under a different name). Three more groups joined in 2012. LYNC now has 11 partners and is active all the time, not just in the year before GC. They are: RMN, MFSA, Affirmation, Black Methodists for Church Renewal, MARCHA (Hispanic Americans), NFAAUM (Asian Americans), PINCUM (Pacific Islanders), Native American Caucus, UMC Ministers with Disabilities, Western Methodist Justice Movement (formed in the Western Jurisdiction after the 2012 GC), and Love Prevails. All of these groups are working on justice issues.
The Love Prevails group was started in response to the trial of Rev. Amy DeLong back in 2011. She introduced the group to the rest of Convo. Their slogan is disclose(t), divest, and disrupt. The first term is a combination of disclose and dis-closet. Both our LGBT pastors and our support for LGBT issues need to be disclosed, to come out of the closet. The group intends to divest their prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness (part of membership vows) from all structures within the denomination that support the status quo of institutionalized discrimination. They intend to disrupt business as usual, because the time for polite persuasion has passed.
http://loveprevailsumc.com/
The LYNC coalition sees GC 2016 will be about struggles over power, ideals, and right belief. In particular that will play out over five areas. Will the church be for inclusion or will it (at least in America) be the church for straight white guys over the age of 45? The battle will be over sexuality, in particular heterosexism and reproductive rights. There are lots of petitions about judicial process – will proceedings before the Judicial Council be fair with a transparent process or will there be mandatory penalties for pastors who violate the Book of Discipline? There are lots of proposals for revising the church structure at the global, national, and regional level. Will those changes enhance or obstruct justice? Will money be allocated or denied for justice issues?
There were several restructuring plans presented in 2012. One was adopted, then thrown out during the last few hours of GC. Many of those are back, along with a few more. LYNC is watching them closely. One that appears missing would create an American Central Conference that can revise the Book of Discipline for local use in the same manner as is already done in Africa and other parts of the world.
A goal is to avoid schism. That has been a threat used against progressives for the last 20 years. But if the denomination split, it would collapse. Neither side would have enough money for the boards and agencies that support the local churches and give the denomination its distinctive focus.
There is a proposal is for continental "connections." Then GC would have delegates from each connection. An American connection would deal with American issues and be authorized to create an American version of the Book of Discipline. But GC 2016 would only get this process started, with approval in 2020. In addition, sexuality issues wouldn't be addressed until the new system is up and running.
During GC LYNC will do several things: They will witness to GC. They hope to have 350-500 volunteers there for various witness events. They will build relationships with delegates. They will propose and monitor legislation. They will communicate coalition goals to delegates and volunteers, including having prepared legislation talking points. They will care for each other when things go bad, including chaplains on call. They will conduct worship services and provide lunchtime speakers. They will extend hospitality, especially to delegates from around the world.
The witness events will be built around empathic resistance, an idea developed elsewhere. Event success will be measured in coalition building.
One leader said our hopes are high, but our expectations are low. Be prepared. Another said the votes are against us. The democratic avenue is closed. Miracles may happen, but miracles are not a good planning strategy.
But that gives us freedom in our witness. Show up anyway. We don't have to be meek. Our job is to witness, not worry whether our witness is effective. Who is the coalition? We are.
There are things we can do now: Sign the LYNC vision statement and pass it around for others to sign. Fill out the volunteer form and plan to go to Portland. Tell leaders what you think. Donate to LYNC. Pray.
Since we will likely not overturn official oppression of LGBT people the sense is there will be a great deal of disobedience of the Book of Discipline, over the next several years. The denomination will have to deal with it. How it does so may determine how and whether it survives. One response to that disobedience are the proposals for minimum sentences when pastors violate the rules.
The Convo banquet was held that night. The music entertainment was by Jennifer Knapp, a lesbian contemporary Christian singer. She told her story in between her songs.
Rev. Vicki Flippin of MFSA interviewed Frank and Tim Schaefer. Tim spoke first saying he wouldn't get a chance once his father started talking. Tim is the gay son whose wedding was officiated by Frank, which cost Frank his credentials. Tim said he now feels supported well enough that he will be attending seminary this fall. He doesn't know if he can be ordained in the UMC.
Frank recounted his trial. Before then he had been living in fear, not able to tell his conservative congregation how he felt. The filing of charges was an outing and he watched his congregation fall apart. During the trial Tim gave his testimony. A friend commented to Frank that what Tim said was his story 35 years before. That prompted Frank to change his closing testimony. He has a new goal – be an advocate for LGBT people. He is now free.
Later Grace Imathiu tied Frank to her bible studies. He had been sent into exile. The support of the institution had been withdrawn. Similar to Ezekiel, the pastor became a prophet.
Tim said the recent marriage equality ruling puts pressure on either the pastors or the bishops. Frank added unless we change we'll alienate the Millennials. We'll lose young families. Professionals will not want to associate with homophobia. We will bankrupt the UMC. Tim said the reconciling movement represents inclusivity and that tells gay kids they are OK.
We were shown the trailer for the documentary movie Act of Love. Part of it is about the story of Frank Schaefer. Another part is about GC 2012. One moment in the trailer caught my attention. A member of Good News (one of our opponent organizations) said he had reveled in beating us in policy fights. But he has grown tired of seeing our pain when we lost. I so much wanted to hear about the implications of that statement.
Sunday, August 9
The first morning session was reports from various areas around the country telling us about local initiatives.
The first speaker asked an important question, though without supplying an answer. Why don't secular and faith-based gay rights organizations work together?
In the Cal-Nevada Conference sexual orientation is officially not an issue of ordination.
A speaker reminded us that laity have power. We must use it. The bishop cannot threaten us as can be done against wayward pastors.
The morning bible study was on Luke, chapter 3, in which John goes out into the wilderness to preach and baptize. Grace Imathiu noted the passage says Tiberius has been around for 15 years and that he had installed four puppet rulers over Judea. People had been eating empire food for 15 years. Here comes John and he doesn't wear empire clothes and doesn't eat empire food. He is living as an exile within the Promised Land, in exile within the church.
When we baptize infants, following John's example, we don't know that baby. We can't ask who are you? Are you gay? Even so, we make promises to that baby, that we will surround the baby with steadfast love. Will we break that promise? Should we wait until we know whether the baby is gay? When the baby grows up and becomes troublesome or makes us feel uncomfortable we must still say, "I promised the baby!"
The people who came to John said, "Abraham is our father." John replies that doesn't matter. Each person must produce fruit. Part of that means to search out people who need our help.
Our closing worship was with the Travis Park congregation, since we were in their sanctuary. The two groups filled the place. Our morning schedule took longer than was planned, so the service actually began at 11:00 instead of 10:30 and lasted until 12:30. The preacher was Theon Johnson of Glide UMC. He preached that God was not after right belief, but right living. From the way the church has been acting there is no surprise those outside don't come in. They don't trust us. Working from the same bible passage he said we must produce fruit, which stands for:
Faithful in action
Reaching out for inclusion
Unapologetic in saying hate is incompatible with Christian teaching
Intentional in our teaching
Transforming our ministries through radical love.
Johnson, who is black, talked about the controversy around black lives matter / all lives matter. The first phrase is a declaration that black lives also matter as much as white lives. The second accuses black people of saying only black lives matter and white lives don't.
Tuesday, July 28, 2015
First Sunday Worship, August 2
Our next gathering is a worship service with communion on Sunday night, August 2. There will be fellowship at 7:00 and service at 7:30. Our message will be brought by Alex Plum, who has been very active in the Detroit Annual Conference for several years. Alex recently received a Masters Degree in Public Health from Emory University and is working at Henry Ford Hospital. He has been involved in many facets of ministry. He was in the Peace Corps, a delegate to General and Jurisdictional Conferences, will be a delegate again at General Conference 2016 in Portland, Oregon and is in the ordination process for deacon's orders. The scripture for the evening will be Micah 6:8 and his message will be "Reflections on a Journey." Alex Plum is a dynamic speaker and a charismatic young man. Sunday night's message will show some of Alex's many gifts for ministry and will surely be inspirational.
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.
Micah 6:8 (NIV)
We'll be at our usual place, Nardin Park United Methodist Church, 29887 W. Eleven Mile Rd., Farmington Hills. The church is just west of Middlebelt. The fellowship time will be in the meeting room on the west side of the church and the service in the nearby chapel. Come and bring a friend!
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.
Micah 6:8 (NIV)
We'll be at our usual place, Nardin Park United Methodist Church, 29887 W. Eleven Mile Rd., Farmington Hills. The church is just west of Middlebelt. The fellowship time will be in the meeting room on the west side of the church and the service in the nearby chapel. Come and bring a friend!
Friday, July 24, 2015
Nine pastors face charges
The key phrase in a wedding ceremony is apparently "I now pronounce you..." I had written about Benjamin Hutchinson, the gay pastor in Cassopolis, Michigan who was forced to resign about 10 days ago. Shortly after that, partly to make sure he had health benefits, he married his partner.
That wedding took place a week ago. Thirty clergy, many with rainbow stoles, attended the ceremony along with more than 100 other guests. Hutchinson was delighted with the support. At the close of the ceremony about half of the pastors joined the main officiant in saying "I now pronounce you husband and husband." The names of nine of those, including the main officiant, have been turned over to the Kalamazoo District Superintendent of the United Methodist Church. All nine now face disciplinary procedures. The bishop will now work out a resolution that will hopefully avoid a series of pastor trials.
The lead officiant was Rev. Mike Tupper. He has already gone through the resolution process with this bishop when a complaint was filed after Tupper officiated at the wedding of his lesbian daughter.
Hutchinson had strong words for the United Methodist denomination:
That wedding took place a week ago. Thirty clergy, many with rainbow stoles, attended the ceremony along with more than 100 other guests. Hutchinson was delighted with the support. At the close of the ceremony about half of the pastors joined the main officiant in saying "I now pronounce you husband and husband." The names of nine of those, including the main officiant, have been turned over to the Kalamazoo District Superintendent of the United Methodist Church. All nine now face disciplinary procedures. The bishop will now work out a resolution that will hopefully avoid a series of pastor trials.
The lead officiant was Rev. Mike Tupper. He has already gone through the resolution process with this bishop when a complaint was filed after Tupper officiated at the wedding of his lesbian daughter.
Hutchinson had strong words for the United Methodist denomination:
Because of the disciplines, our queer youth are killing themselves. And it is a religious terrorism by the doctrines they hold. Our youth are killing themselves because of it. Moment by moment as we speak here, there’s children killing themselves because the church says ‘no, you are not a child of God. You can not be married and officiate the sacraments.’ So the church must change for the well-being of our children.
Saturday, July 18, 2015
Pastor resigns
Rev. Benjamin Hutchinson has been the pastor of the Cassopolis United Methodist Church in Michigan for three years. The congregation knew he was gay and knew he had a partner. That bit about the partner meant that Hutchinson was a "practicing homosexual" and violating the denomination's rule book, the Book of Discipline. It seems the bishop never asked Hutchinson directly until a few days ago. Hutchinson didn't lie, so was told to resign. He and his partner were not married, but the sudden unemployment and need of such things as health insurance prompted the two to get married.
Under Hutchinson's guidance the congregation quadrupled in size and the finances stabilized. Quite an accomplishment for such a short period of time. Naturally, many in the congregation say this will prompt them to leave the church. Many others are protesting. The congregation is grieving both the loss of a beloved pastor and the display of such blatant discrimination.
The denomination, in spite of their rule book, is coming around to the idea of their pastors officiating at the weddings of same-sex couples. When a pastor breaks that rule there is an effort to keep the pastor in place and avoid a trial or any other punishment. The denomination, even apart from the rule book, hasn't shifted position on gay pastors yet. They've just lost another excellent pastor, and in the process have destroyed a local congregation.
Under Hutchinson's guidance the congregation quadrupled in size and the finances stabilized. Quite an accomplishment for such a short period of time. Naturally, many in the congregation say this will prompt them to leave the church. Many others are protesting. The congregation is grieving both the loss of a beloved pastor and the display of such blatant discrimination.
The denomination, in spite of their rule book, is coming around to the idea of their pastors officiating at the weddings of same-sex couples. When a pastor breaks that rule there is an effort to keep the pastor in place and avoid a trial or any other punishment. The denomination, even apart from the rule book, hasn't shifted position on gay pastors yet. They've just lost another excellent pastor, and in the process have destroyed a local congregation.
Sunday, June 28, 2015
First Sunday Worship, July 5
Lot's of people will be traveling for the Independence Day weekend. Perhaps you can return in time to join us. Our gathering will be different, a potluck picnic and hymn sing. Please bring a dish to pass and be ready to lend your voice.
Instead of our usual time this month's gathering will be at 6:00. Though the time is different, the location is the same: Nardin Park United Methodist Church, 29887 W. Eleven Mile Rd., Farmington Hills. The church is just west of Middlebelt. If the weather is pleasant we might be at picnic tables in the back. Otherwise look for us in the meeting room on the west side of the church.
Instead of our usual time this month's gathering will be at 6:00. Though the time is different, the location is the same: Nardin Park United Methodist Church, 29887 W. Eleven Mile Rd., Farmington Hills. The church is just west of Middlebelt. If the weather is pleasant we might be at picnic tables in the back. Otherwise look for us in the meeting room on the west side of the church.
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
First Sunday Worship, June 7
Our gathering in June will be a worship service with communion. The speaker will be Dale Milford. He is a member of Nardin Park UMC who has been appointed to serve as pastor to Four Towns UMC in Waterford starting in July. Dale's message will be part of the Do No Harm movement within the denomination.
Please join us at 7:00 PM for coffee and fellowship. The service begins at 7:30 PM. We'll be at our usual place, Nardin Park United Methodist Church, 29887 W. Eleven Mile Rd., Farmington Hills. The church is just west of Middlebelt. The fellowship time will be in the meeting room on the west side of the church and the service in the nearby chapel. Come and bring a friend!
Please join us at 7:00 PM for coffee and fellowship. The service begins at 7:30 PM. We'll be at our usual place, Nardin Park United Methodist Church, 29887 W. Eleven Mile Rd., Farmington Hills. The church is just west of Middlebelt. The fellowship time will be in the meeting room on the west side of the church and the service in the nearby chapel. Come and bring a friend!
Monday, May 25, 2015
Lesiglation for General Conference
Rev. Adam Hamilton is a progressive pastor in the United Methodist Church and the head of a megachurch in Leawood, Kansas. In the 2012 General Conference he was the one who introduced the legislation to remove the phrase "homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching" from the denomination's Book of Discpline. In his personal blog he has some thoughts as the denomination prepares for another General Conference in 2016. He starts with his assumptions:
* Allow pastors determine whether they will or will not officiate at same-sex weddings.
* Each Annual Conference (denomination district) already determines who it will ordain. Allow each conference to also decide whether to ordain gay and lesbian pastors.
The Connectional Table is a United Methodist group of clergy and lay people from around the world and serves as a "church council" to the denomination. The group has been discussing what sort of legislation to prepare for the next General Conference. Though each General Conference since 1972 has dealt with homosexuality the issue will be especially urgent in 2016 because of marriage equality in so many (and soon perhaps all) states and so many countries. Pastors are being asked to officiate.
Earlier this month the Connectional Table approved legislation to send to General Conference. The vote was 26 to 10. The legislation is close to what Adam Hamilton suggests:
* Pastors will decide whether to officiate at same-sex weddings.
* Each Annual Conference will decide whether to ordain gay and lesbian clergy.
* The Book of Discipline will define marriage as a covenant "expressed in love, mutual support, personal commitment, and shared fidelity between two people who are married to each other." It will add that such marriage "is traditionally between one man and one woman."
* It will revise the "incompatibility" phrase to say "historically..."
* It will continue the ban on using church funds "to promote the acceptance of homosexuality."
This makes me think of a phrase Dan Savage has used: Less evil. But still evil. Yes, this is a lot better than what we have now and has a much better chance of passing than some other proposals. But to not be evil it would call to remove the "incompatibility" phrase, rather than label it as the historic position. It would also remove the ban on using church funds for promoting the acceptance of homosexuality.
There were, of course, observers as the vote was taken. The Good News group, quite conservative and anti-gay, said the move will bring conflict – a dispute at the General Conference level is being brought to the local church level. We can tell how they're trying to sound like they aren't anti-gay.
The Love Prevails group is the pro-gay side. Their spokesperson was Rev. Amy DeLong, who has been through a trial for being lesbian with a partner and officiating at a same-sex wedding. She said, "Saying that there is a third way on issues on oppression and discrimination is saying there is some level of my discrimination you all are comfortable with."
The more complicated the change, the less likely it will pass.His recommendation:
The more places in the Discipline that must be changed, the less likely it will pass.
The more radical the change, the less likely that it will pass.
* Allow pastors determine whether they will or will not officiate at same-sex weddings.
* Each Annual Conference (denomination district) already determines who it will ordain. Allow each conference to also decide whether to ordain gay and lesbian pastors.
The Connectional Table is a United Methodist group of clergy and lay people from around the world and serves as a "church council" to the denomination. The group has been discussing what sort of legislation to prepare for the next General Conference. Though each General Conference since 1972 has dealt with homosexuality the issue will be especially urgent in 2016 because of marriage equality in so many (and soon perhaps all) states and so many countries. Pastors are being asked to officiate.
Earlier this month the Connectional Table approved legislation to send to General Conference. The vote was 26 to 10. The legislation is close to what Adam Hamilton suggests:
* Pastors will decide whether to officiate at same-sex weddings.
* Each Annual Conference will decide whether to ordain gay and lesbian clergy.
* The Book of Discipline will define marriage as a covenant "expressed in love, mutual support, personal commitment, and shared fidelity between two people who are married to each other." It will add that such marriage "is traditionally between one man and one woman."
* It will revise the "incompatibility" phrase to say "historically..."
* It will continue the ban on using church funds "to promote the acceptance of homosexuality."
This makes me think of a phrase Dan Savage has used: Less evil. But still evil. Yes, this is a lot better than what we have now and has a much better chance of passing than some other proposals. But to not be evil it would call to remove the "incompatibility" phrase, rather than label it as the historic position. It would also remove the ban on using church funds for promoting the acceptance of homosexuality.
There were, of course, observers as the vote was taken. The Good News group, quite conservative and anti-gay, said the move will bring conflict – a dispute at the General Conference level is being brought to the local church level. We can tell how they're trying to sound like they aren't anti-gay.
The Love Prevails group is the pro-gay side. Their spokesperson was Rev. Amy DeLong, who has been through a trial for being lesbian with a partner and officiating at a same-sex wedding. She said, "Saying that there is a third way on issues on oppression and discrimination is saying there is some level of my discrimination you all are comfortable with."
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
First Sunday Program, May 3
Our program in May will be a roundtable discussion about the same-sex marriage cases heard by the Supreme Court this past week. It will be led by George Jonte-Crane. He will also share what to expect at Detroit Annual Conference, which will take place in a couple weeks, and what is happening at the Connectional Table of the United Methodist Church.
Please join us at 7:00 PM for coffee and fellowship. The program begins at 7:30 PM. We'll be at our usual place, the meeting room on the west side of Nardin Park United Methodist Church, 29887 W. Eleven Mile Rd., Farmington Hills. The church is just west of Middlebelt. Come and bring a friend!
Please join us at 7:00 PM for coffee and fellowship. The program begins at 7:30 PM. We'll be at our usual place, the meeting room on the west side of Nardin Park United Methodist Church, 29887 W. Eleven Mile Rd., Farmington Hills. The church is just west of Middlebelt. Come and bring a friend!
Sunday, April 12, 2015
Reconciling process at Albion College
I earned my Bachelor's degree at Albion College many years ago. I went there because it was affiliated with the United Methodist Church – and I had two brothers attending Adrian College. I appreciated my time there and for many years I was a faithful alumni donor.
My donations stopped when I received a note from another alumnus saying he was running for the state legislature on a quite conservative platform (this was before the Tea Party). His note implied that I should donate to his campaign because, as a fellow alumnus, I would share his ideals. I was probably being unfair to the college, which no doubt has lots of fine progressives in its ranks of alumni (such as me). But at a time of rising tuition Albion College seemed to be a school for rich conservatives. The middle class couldn't afford it anymore (yes, I know they are generous with scholarships).
However, something happened in the current school year that might prompt a targeted donation. According to the college newspaper, the Pleiad, Philip Carlisle, a junior from Indianapolis, attended a panel that discussed the Reconciling movement within the denomination. He has always seen the UMC as champion of civil rights and was saddened to find out it was as discriminatory as his own denomination. The college's affiliation with the UMC implied the college was also discriminatory.
So Carlisle worked to put a resolution before the Student Senate to permit and begin the discussion on campus about the Reconciling Ministries Network. This is the group within the denomination working to make the UMC friendly and welcoming to sexual minorities. Last November the resolution passed unanimously.
But doing the reconciling process on a campus with about 1800 students, plus faculty, administration, and trustees is quite different from doing the process in a local church of 200. It certainly won't be complete by the time Carlisle graduates next year. However, the conversation will have started and should gain enough momentum that it will continue without him.
That Senate resolution prompted the Faculty Committee on Diversity to consider the issue. In late March the FCD presented a resolution to the full faculty. There were three parts: The faculty supports that Senate resolution, (2) the faculty's desire for the college's stance on LGBT rights be plainly known and readily available, and (3) the faculty will "clarify the difference between Albion’s neutrality on LGBT theological issues and United Methodist teaching."
Yes, I'd like something more substantive than "neutrality" on these issues. But that there is a difference is worth noting.
The faculty resolution passed, though they note the resolution gives the faculty's position, not the college's position.
My donations stopped when I received a note from another alumnus saying he was running for the state legislature on a quite conservative platform (this was before the Tea Party). His note implied that I should donate to his campaign because, as a fellow alumnus, I would share his ideals. I was probably being unfair to the college, which no doubt has lots of fine progressives in its ranks of alumni (such as me). But at a time of rising tuition Albion College seemed to be a school for rich conservatives. The middle class couldn't afford it anymore (yes, I know they are generous with scholarships).
However, something happened in the current school year that might prompt a targeted donation. According to the college newspaper, the Pleiad, Philip Carlisle, a junior from Indianapolis, attended a panel that discussed the Reconciling movement within the denomination. He has always seen the UMC as champion of civil rights and was saddened to find out it was as discriminatory as his own denomination. The college's affiliation with the UMC implied the college was also discriminatory.
So Carlisle worked to put a resolution before the Student Senate to permit and begin the discussion on campus about the Reconciling Ministries Network. This is the group within the denomination working to make the UMC friendly and welcoming to sexual minorities. Last November the resolution passed unanimously.
But doing the reconciling process on a campus with about 1800 students, plus faculty, administration, and trustees is quite different from doing the process in a local church of 200. It certainly won't be complete by the time Carlisle graduates next year. However, the conversation will have started and should gain enough momentum that it will continue without him.
That Senate resolution prompted the Faculty Committee on Diversity to consider the issue. In late March the FCD presented a resolution to the full faculty. There were three parts: The faculty supports that Senate resolution, (2) the faculty's desire for the college's stance on LGBT rights be plainly known and readily available, and (3) the faculty will "clarify the difference between Albion’s neutrality on LGBT theological issues and United Methodist teaching."
Yes, I'd like something more substantive than "neutrality" on these issues. But that there is a difference is worth noting.
The faculty resolution passed, though they note the resolution gives the faculty's position, not the college's position.
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
First Sunday program in April, in service to the Ruth Ellis Center
Hello DRUM and First Sunday friends.
After waving palms and singing Hosannas, we are now walking through Holy week, knowing that Easter Sunday morning will be extravagantly joyful in our churches and that celebrations will likely continue with Easter dinners with family and friends. Instead of First Sunday Worship on Easter evening, please consider another kind of service with us. Not a service we attend, but a service we provide. Let's support the Ruth Ellis Center financially in April!
Jerry Peterson, Executive Director of Ruth Ellis Center, was the presenter at First Sunday on March 1. Jerry shared part of a documentary about Ruth Ellis, whose legacy is an unwavering commitment to provide safe space for LGBTQ youth. We were also inspired and challenged by a thorough description of the services provided by the Ruth Ellis Center, which served nearly 500 homeless and runaway LGBTQ youth last year. The Center provides over 5,000 services annually, including safety net and basic needs services through the Second Stories Drop In Center in Highland Park, residential foster care, and specialized counseling and case management services to help runaway and homeless LGBTQ youth create pathways to safety and independence. Learn more at www.ruthelliscenter.org.
Please help with our Easter "service" and make a donation today! $25 provides emergency case management services for a month for one youth in crisis. $50 provides basic resources including emergency food, first aid/hygiene and safer sex kits for 150 youth. $100 covers the cost of 720 drop-in and residential meals. $150 supports one full day of operations in the Second Stories Drop In Center. A gift of any amount will be most appreciated!
Contributions can be made through First Sunday (co-hosted by DRUM and Nardin Park UMC Church & Society Team) by mailing a check, payable to Nardin Park UMC with Ruth Ellis Center on the memo line, to Nardin Park, 29887 W. Eleven Mile Road, Farmington Hills MI 48336. Learn about making a contribution directly to the Center at www.ruthelliscenter.org.
We hope you'll join us in our Easter "service" to local LGBTQ youth at Ruth Ellis Center! Then we hope you'll join us when First Sunday resumes on Sunday, May 3 at 7:00 at Nardin Park UMC!
We wish each of you a meaningful Holy Week and a fabulous Easter celebration!
Karen Roth and the First Sunday Leadership Team
After waving palms and singing Hosannas, we are now walking through Holy week, knowing that Easter Sunday morning will be extravagantly joyful in our churches and that celebrations will likely continue with Easter dinners with family and friends. Instead of First Sunday Worship on Easter evening, please consider another kind of service with us. Not a service we attend, but a service we provide. Let's support the Ruth Ellis Center financially in April!
Jerry Peterson, Executive Director of Ruth Ellis Center, was the presenter at First Sunday on March 1. Jerry shared part of a documentary about Ruth Ellis, whose legacy is an unwavering commitment to provide safe space for LGBTQ youth. We were also inspired and challenged by a thorough description of the services provided by the Ruth Ellis Center, which served nearly 500 homeless and runaway LGBTQ youth last year. The Center provides over 5,000 services annually, including safety net and basic needs services through the Second Stories Drop In Center in Highland Park, residential foster care, and specialized counseling and case management services to help runaway and homeless LGBTQ youth create pathways to safety and independence. Learn more at www.ruthelliscenter.org.
Please help with our Easter "service" and make a donation today! $25 provides emergency case management services for a month for one youth in crisis. $50 provides basic resources including emergency food, first aid/hygiene and safer sex kits for 150 youth. $100 covers the cost of 720 drop-in and residential meals. $150 supports one full day of operations in the Second Stories Drop In Center. A gift of any amount will be most appreciated!
Contributions can be made through First Sunday (co-hosted by DRUM and Nardin Park UMC Church & Society Team) by mailing a check, payable to Nardin Park UMC with Ruth Ellis Center on the memo line, to Nardin Park, 29887 W. Eleven Mile Road, Farmington Hills MI 48336. Learn about making a contribution directly to the Center at www.ruthelliscenter.org.
We hope you'll join us in our Easter "service" to local LGBTQ youth at Ruth Ellis Center! Then we hope you'll join us when First Sunday resumes on Sunday, May 3 at 7:00 at Nardin Park UMC!
We wish each of you a meaningful Holy Week and a fabulous Easter celebration!
Karen Roth and the First Sunday Leadership Team
Thursday, March 12, 2015
Defense and resiliency fund
I got an email from Reconciling Ministries Network, which prompted me to find this story on their news blog. The story is about two United Methodist pastors in Virginia, Rev. Amanda Garber and Rev. Dr. John Copenhaver, who performed same-sex marriages. There are two things to note from the message.
First, the two pastors were not defrocked. It appears they agreed to suspensions (Garber for 1 month, Copenhaver for 3) instead of facing a trial.
Second, Reconciling Ministries Network has created a clergy defense and resiliency fund, which will cover the lost salaries of both Garber and Copenhaver. The message is pastors will not be facing hardship for their actions. Alas, their churches must deal with the harm caused by the condemning language from the denomination.
First, the two pastors were not defrocked. It appears they agreed to suspensions (Garber for 1 month, Copenhaver for 3) instead of facing a trial.
Second, Reconciling Ministries Network has created a clergy defense and resiliency fund, which will cover the lost salaries of both Garber and Copenhaver. The message is pastors will not be facing hardship for their actions. Alas, their churches must deal with the harm caused by the condemning language from the denomination.
Thursday, March 5, 2015
Family Acceptance Project
This past Sunday Jerry Peterson, director of the Ruth Ellis Center, was the speaker for the First Sunday Program put on by the Dedicated Reconciling United Methodists. Jerry started with part of a video of Ruth Ellis. She was born in 1899 and lived to be 101. She was black and a lesbian. She owned her house and a business, something quite rare for a black woman in the first half of the last century. For a while she had a partner. They frequently opened the home to other black gays and lesbians, who had nowhere else to socialize. Sometimes she helped some of them through college. Ruth visited the Center named after her before she died (when it was at a previous location).
Then Jerry talked about the Family Acceptance Project that is being started at the Center. This is one of the ideas that inspired the Truth and Reconciliation project that Rev. Ed Rowe and Rev. Mike Tupper are pursuing.
Ruth Ellis House, associated with the Center, is a place for sexual minority foster kids that have run out of options. The state of Michigan says keeping foster kids with a family is best, so a residential facility is the last resort. The problem is that the state doesn't record whether the youth is LGBT. The youth has been kicked out of his home of origin because he is gay. That is a hit to his mental health. He is assigned to a foster home – and gets kicked out because he is gay. Another hit to mental health. Perhaps a few more foster homes take him in and then reject him. Each rejection is another hit to mental health. Which means by the time they show up at the Ruth Ellis House they can be quite traumatized.
Jerry talked about ways to prevent this cycle through the Family Acceptance Project. The best place for the child is the home of origin. First, teach state social workers to determine if the child is LGBT when they are brought to a situation due to abuse or neglect. If the child is a sexual minority the family is referred to the Center. If they accept the Center's help then social services will take a step back.
When the Center's social worker meets with the family they can say, "We know you are trying to protect yourselves and your child. We know you are trying to prevent ostracism from church, family, and society. We know you want the best for your child and love him or her. But isolation and condemning language [the list of harmful actions has ten items] won't work. Do one or two of them and your child will be eight times more likely to indulge in risky behavior, including drugs. Do five or more and your child has an 80% chance of committing suicide. Instead of those actions, do these."
Jerry is aware this may not work with a fundamentalist family where they consider preventing homosexuality part of making sure the child gets to heaven. But for most other families this change of behavior will work.
Rev. Ed Rowe is taking this idea to churches. We know you love the sexual minorities in your midst. This is how to help them and not harm them.
Jerry says they are just starting the project. In their first level of staffing they will be able to help only 28 families at a time. It is a good start, but I'm sure the need is much greater than that.
Then Jerry talked about the Family Acceptance Project that is being started at the Center. This is one of the ideas that inspired the Truth and Reconciliation project that Rev. Ed Rowe and Rev. Mike Tupper are pursuing.
Ruth Ellis House, associated with the Center, is a place for sexual minority foster kids that have run out of options. The state of Michigan says keeping foster kids with a family is best, so a residential facility is the last resort. The problem is that the state doesn't record whether the youth is LGBT. The youth has been kicked out of his home of origin because he is gay. That is a hit to his mental health. He is assigned to a foster home – and gets kicked out because he is gay. Another hit to mental health. Perhaps a few more foster homes take him in and then reject him. Each rejection is another hit to mental health. Which means by the time they show up at the Ruth Ellis House they can be quite traumatized.
Jerry talked about ways to prevent this cycle through the Family Acceptance Project. The best place for the child is the home of origin. First, teach state social workers to determine if the child is LGBT when they are brought to a situation due to abuse or neglect. If the child is a sexual minority the family is referred to the Center. If they accept the Center's help then social services will take a step back.
When the Center's social worker meets with the family they can say, "We know you are trying to protect yourselves and your child. We know you are trying to prevent ostracism from church, family, and society. We know you want the best for your child and love him or her. But isolation and condemning language [the list of harmful actions has ten items] won't work. Do one or two of them and your child will be eight times more likely to indulge in risky behavior, including drugs. Do five or more and your child has an 80% chance of committing suicide. Instead of those actions, do these."
Jerry is aware this may not work with a fundamentalist family where they consider preventing homosexuality part of making sure the child gets to heaven. But for most other families this change of behavior will work.
Rev. Ed Rowe is taking this idea to churches. We know you love the sexual minorities in your midst. This is how to help them and not harm them.
Jerry says they are just starting the project. In their first level of staffing they will be able to help only 28 families at a time. It is a good start, but I'm sure the need is much greater than that.
Monday, March 2, 2015
Camp Beloved
Carl Thomas Gladstone is part of he Young People's Ministries of the North Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church. He sent me a note about:
A senior high camp for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer or Questioning (LGBTQ) teens and ally friends. A week of belonging. A week of affirmation. A week of new experiences and new friends.
A week of experiencing God’s unconditional love and total acceptance exactly the way you are!
Camp Beloved is a senior high camp (completed grades 9-12) for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer or Questioning (LGBTQ) teens and ally friends that offers all your favorite things about camp (like swimming, campfires, goofy games, good music, and nature) and encourages you to be you – the unique, authentic YOU!
It will be held at Lake Louise United Methodist Camp, June 14-20, 2015. $399/person. More information here and registration here.
I've heard from allies that while Lake Louise Camp is used by the United Methodist Church, it is not owned by the denomination and not subject to its policies. Because of that registration is not through the denomination's camp programs, but instead directly with the camp.
Please pass this on to any high school youth who might benefit.
A senior high camp for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer or Questioning (LGBTQ) teens and ally friends. A week of belonging. A week of affirmation. A week of new experiences and new friends.
A week of experiencing God’s unconditional love and total acceptance exactly the way you are!
Camp Beloved is a senior high camp (completed grades 9-12) for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer or Questioning (LGBTQ) teens and ally friends that offers all your favorite things about camp (like swimming, campfires, goofy games, good music, and nature) and encourages you to be you – the unique, authentic YOU!
It will be held at Lake Louise United Methodist Camp, June 14-20, 2015. $399/person. More information here and registration here.
I've heard from allies that while Lake Louise Camp is used by the United Methodist Church, it is not owned by the denomination and not subject to its policies. Because of that registration is not through the denomination's camp programs, but instead directly with the camp.
Please pass this on to any high school youth who might benefit.
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
First Sunday Program, March 1
The First Sunday program for March only looks like a repeat. Due to a snowstorm the February program was cancelled and rescheduled for March. Our speaker will be Jerry Peterson, Executive Director of the Ruth Ellis Center. He will show us a video of the Center and discuss it's wonderful work with homeless LGBT youth. Please join us at 7:00 PM for coffee and conversation. The program begins at 7:30 PM. Come and bring a friend!
We'll be at our usual place, the meeting room on the west side of Nardin Park United Methodist Church, 29887 W. Eleven Mile Rd., Farmington Hills. The church is just west of Middlebelt.
We'll be at our usual place, the meeting room on the west side of Nardin Park United Methodist Church, 29887 W. Eleven Mile Rd., Farmington Hills. The church is just west of Middlebelt.
Saturday, February 14, 2015
Shower of Stoles
There will be a Shower of Stoles Exhibit at the Affirmations LGBT Community Center, 290 W. Nine Mile Rd. Ferndale. This a display of liturgical stoles and other sacred items from LGBT people of faith. The stoles bear witness to the huge loss of leadership from religious institutions because of unjust policies. The collections is from over 30 denominations and faith traditions, from six countries and three continents.
The stoles will be on exhibit Sunday, March 1st to Saturday, March 14. There is a wine and cheese reception on March 1st at 3:00. The display is open Monday to Saturday, 10:00 am. to 7:00 pm. Hours on March 8 are through advance arrangments. More information at the Affirmations website or by contacting Judy Lewis at jlewis@goaffirmations.org.
The stoles will be on exhibit Sunday, March 1st to Saturday, March 14. There is a wine and cheese reception on March 1st at 3:00. The display is open Monday to Saturday, 10:00 am. to 7:00 pm. Hours on March 8 are through advance arrangments. More information at the Affirmations website or by contacting Judy Lewis at jlewis@goaffirmations.org.
Sunday, February 8, 2015
Holy Terror
I read the book Holy Terror, Lies the Christian Right Tells Us to Deny Gay Equality by Mel White and wrote an 8-part series on my personal blog to summarize it. Yes, the whole thing is long – if printed my summary would be over 20 pages. I recommend reading my summary (better yet, the whole book) because it documents the people who have been working to deny our rights over the last 30 years, why they have been doing so, and what we must do to stop it. The 8 parts are:
1. Fear – why people believe in a fundamentalist religion.
2. Cast of Characters – the fundamentalist leaders out in front on their attack on sexual minorities.
3. Battle plan – how those leaders developed and have been executing their attack.
4. Idols – the bible warns us against worshiping idols. These are the idols the fundamentalists worship.
5. Fascism – the ways in which fundamentalism compares to fascism (done in spite of Godwin's Law).
6. Constitutional values – The national values we should be promoting to counter fundamentalism.
7. Love – the sacred and religious values we should be promoting to counter fundamentalism.
8. Soulforce – the basics of a non-violent response.
I have two copies of this book to share. I didn't know it had been published under the title Religion Gone Bad, which I bought but hadn't yet read.
1. Fear – why people believe in a fundamentalist religion.
2. Cast of Characters – the fundamentalist leaders out in front on their attack on sexual minorities.
3. Battle plan – how those leaders developed and have been executing their attack.
4. Idols – the bible warns us against worshiping idols. These are the idols the fundamentalists worship.
5. Fascism – the ways in which fundamentalism compares to fascism (done in spite of Godwin's Law).
6. Constitutional values – The national values we should be promoting to counter fundamentalism.
7. Love – the sacred and religious values we should be promoting to counter fundamentalism.
8. Soulforce – the basics of a non-violent response.
I have two copies of this book to share. I didn't know it had been published under the title Religion Gone Bad, which I bought but hadn't yet read.
Saturday, February 7, 2015
Truth and Reconciliation Process
I received this from Ed Rowe and Bill Dobbs through email.
Truth and Reconciliation Process
Michigan Area of The United Methodist Church
February 4, 2015Dear Friends,
We are writing you as one who we believe supports marriage equality and the full inclusion of all in the life and ministry of The United Methodist Church. These efforts were witnessed within the Detroit and West Michigan Conferences this past summer and fall. As you probably know, following two disciplinary supervisory response processes involving Rev. Edwin Rowe and Rev. Michael Tupper, Just Resolution Agreements were reached which provided that Rev. Rowe and Rev. Tupper would
As the Design Team begins this important work we ask for your prayers and support. If you or someone you know has a story to share with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, please keep abreast of how to provide that information. As this process unfolds there will be publicity about the Truth and Reconciliation process and how people might be part of that. Right now you can also offer your support in a tangible way.
The annual conferences are not in a position to provide the funds required to fulfill the objectives of establishing the Truth and Reconciliation process. The work of the Trust and Reconciliation itself is expected to come from grants and other similar sources. The Design Team, however, requires funding now to carry out its responsibility of establishing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. We know there are many across the Michigan Area who would be willing to contribute funds toward for Design Team’s work. If you would like to do that, please send your contribution to Peggy Garrigues, Design Team Treasurer at: Clawson United Methodist Church, 205 N. Main Street, Clawson, MI 48017.
If you have questions you may feel free to contact:
Rev. Ed Rowe, Design Team Chair
Rev. Bill Dobbs, Design Team Episcopal Office Liaison
In the coming weeks more information about this vital Truth and Reconciliation process will be shared across the Detroit and West Michigan Conferences. Watch for that at MIConnect, both Conference websites and elsewhere.
Thank you for your support for marriage equality and for the work and outcomes of this Truth and Reconciliation process in the Michigan Area.
Blessings,
Design Team
Michigan Area Truth and Reconciliation Process
Truth and Reconciliation Process
Michigan Area of The United Methodist Church
February 4, 2015
We are writing you as one who we believe supports marriage equality and the full inclusion of all in the life and ministry of The United Methodist Church. These efforts were witnessed within the Detroit and West Michigan Conferences this past summer and fall. As you probably know, following two disciplinary supervisory response processes involving Rev. Edwin Rowe and Rev. Michael Tupper, Just Resolution Agreements were reached which provided that Rev. Rowe and Rev. Tupper would
“work with the Michigan Area Episcopal Office to form a design team with clergy and lay persons form across the Michigan Area, including LGBTQ persons. The team is charged with planning, implementation and resourcing an area-wide series of events using a “Truth and Reconciliation” model at which LGBTQ and other interested United Methodists can have a safe place to tell their stories. These events will have the stated goal of reducing our church’s harmful rhetoric and actions toward LGBTQ persons. These events will be planned to occur over the next 18 months.” and that,This Truth and Reconciliation concept has been acknowledged across the church as “a creative way to bring healing, hope and potential for justice to the painful complaint process for ministers who have officiated at same-sex weddings.” Revs. Rowe and Tupper, and Rev. Bill Dobbs, Clergy Assistant to the Bishop, on behalf of the Episcopal Office, have begun the process of forming a Design Team to plan, implement and resource a Truth and Reconciliation process across the Michigan Area. The Design Team members will be lay and clergy representing the diversity of the Michigan Area. The work of this Design Team will include establishing the criteria for membership on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission plus selecting and training those members, drafting the document outlining the Commission’s work, determining the level of staffing and other resources for the Commission and securing necessary funding for the Commission’s work.
Bishop Kiesey will extend an invitation to all lay and clergy from across the Michigan Area (including conference and district leaders) to participate in stated events, and to encourage participation by persons of all theological perspectives.”
As the Design Team begins this important work we ask for your prayers and support. If you or someone you know has a story to share with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, please keep abreast of how to provide that information. As this process unfolds there will be publicity about the Truth and Reconciliation process and how people might be part of that. Right now you can also offer your support in a tangible way.
The annual conferences are not in a position to provide the funds required to fulfill the objectives of establishing the Truth and Reconciliation process. The work of the Trust and Reconciliation itself is expected to come from grants and other similar sources. The Design Team, however, requires funding now to carry out its responsibility of establishing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. We know there are many across the Michigan Area who would be willing to contribute funds toward for Design Team’s work. If you would like to do that, please send your contribution to Peggy Garrigues, Design Team Treasurer at: Clawson United Methodist Church, 205 N. Main Street, Clawson, MI 48017.
If you have questions you may feel free to contact:
Rev. Ed Rowe, Design Team Chair
In the coming weeks more information about this vital Truth and Reconciliation process will be shared across the Detroit and West Michigan Conferences. Watch for that at MIConnect, both Conference websites and elsewhere.
Thank you for your support for marriage equality and for the work and outcomes of this Truth and Reconciliation process in the Michigan Area.
Blessings,
Design Team
Michigan Area Truth and Reconciliation Process
Friday, January 30, 2015
First Sunday Program, February 1
The First Sunday program on February 1st will feature Jerry Peterson, Executive Director of the Ruth Ellis Center. He will show us a video of the Center and discuss it's wonderful work with homeless LGBT youth. Please join us at 7:00 PM for coffee and conversation. The program begins at 7:30 PM. Come and bring a friend!
We'll be at our usual place, the meeting room on the west side of Nardin Park United Methodist Church, 29887 W. Eleven Mile Rd., Farmington Hills. The church is just west of Middlebelt.
We'll be at our usual place, the meeting room on the west side of Nardin Park United Methodist Church, 29887 W. Eleven Mile Rd., Farmington Hills. The church is just west of Middlebelt.
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