Please join us for the Fall Potluck and Program on Sunday, November 6. It is co-hosted by the Dedicated Reconciling United Methodists and the Church and Society Team of Nardin Park UMC. The program will be “Dis-Appointed and Dis-Embodied” featuring guest speakers Ginny Mikita and Benjamin Hutchison. They will base their message on Acts 16:16-40.
Dinner will be at 6:00 pm. Ham will be provided. Please bring a dish to pass and your own tableware.
The program and worship begins at 7:00. A time of fellowship will follow.
All this will happen at Nardin Park United Methodist Church, 29887 W. Eleven Mile, Farmington Hills. This is just west of Middlebelt. Please use the west entrance.
Benjamin Hutchison is an ordained AME pastor who was appointed to a small UMC church outside of Kalamazoo that was about to close. With his incredible gifts for ministry he quadrupled attendance and brought the monthly deficit of $2200 into the black. A letter of complaint was sent to the District Superintendent stating that he was gay and living openly with his partner, Monty. Monty actually lived in Ypsilanti and was with Hutchison during weekends. Benjamin hadn’t tried to hide that he was gay and partnered. Because of the restrictions in the UMC Book of Discipline he was dismissed. Benjamin and Monty were married within the week. They now live in Ypsilanti and Benjamin is on the social advocacy staff at one of our major local hospitals.
Ginny Mikita has attended seminary and was in the UMC ordination process in the West Michigan Conference. She has been very vocal in her advocacy for our gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender brothers and sisters. She acquired ordination very quietly in another denomination (done on-line) so she could officiate a same-sex wedding of two close friends. When the local UMC Committee on Ordained Ministry learned this she was removed from the ordination process and she was denied membership in the UMC. Both of those issues have been overturned, but Ginny has voluntarily dropped out of the ordination process.
Upcoming programs:
Sunday, February 12 – View and discuss the documentary film “An Act of Love” about Frank Schaefer and the larger debate of inclusion in the UMC.
Sunday, May 7 – Learn about the Ruth Ellis Center’s valuable, growing services from Jerry Peterson, Executive Director, and our opportunities for both service and financial support.
Questions? You may contact
George Jonte-Crane at geopau226 at yahoo dot com
Karen Roth at karensmiles18 at hotmail dot com
D.R.U.M exists to enable full participation of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities in the life of the United Methodist Church, both in policy and practice. We seek to educate, advocate, organize, and support.
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