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, 2015

Dear 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

“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,

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.”

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.

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