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!
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
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
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