New Reconciling Communities in Minneapolis, MN and Huntsville, TX
Epworth UMC, Minneapolis, MN “We proclaim ourselves a reconciling ministry and welcome all who seek a relationship with God”
Epworth UMC, a mission-driven church full of youth and children’s ministries, is excited and pleased to announce their identity as a Reconciling Congregation! On December 9, 2007, Epworth voted unanimously to become a reconciling congregation and adopt a welcoming statement which recognizes Jesus’ teaching to work for justice and show grace to all persons.
Proclaiming God’s fully inclusive love, Epworth has their welcoming statement on the top-left corner of their website for all to read. “We, the members of Epworth United Methodist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, seek to be the presence of Christ in our community. We live that presence by our worship and service, showing compassion and support to all and sharing the love of God with each other, our community, and the world. We recognize that God’s love is not limited by the boundaries of age, race, ethnicity, culture, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, physical ability, or mental ability. We are called by Jesus’ teaching to work for justice and to show grace. We proclaim ourselves a reconciling ministry and welcome all who seek a relationship with God.”
The College Ministry of Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, Huntsville, TX “Because GLBT persons are…perhaps the most rejected by the church, we should not only be accepting but intentionally reaching out and inviting these friends to fellowship with our class and worship with our church family.”
A ministry newly formed in 2008, the college class has doubled in participation while studying the United Methodist Social Principles. In order to begin more fully living out these church values, the group crafted a welcome statement and decided unanimously on November 9, 2008 to affiliate with RMN and MOSAIC. Afterwards, the young people presented the Good News of their hopes for full inclusion at a church council meeting of Wesley United Methodist Church. For the young people of Wesley UMC, being a Reconciling group is part of an honest effort to: “Live out our calling to love our neighbors as we love ourselves” as they seek to reach out to their generation and the entire world.
Find them on Facebook!! Group name: “Wesley Memorial United Methodist College Ministry”
The Rev. Dr. Elaine A. Heath will be the Bible Study Leader at the 2009 Convocation. Here is her bio:
The Rev. Dr. Elaine A. Heath is the McCreless Assistant Professor of Evangelism at Perkins School of Theology, the director of the Center for the Advanced Study and Practice of Evangelism at Southern Methodist University, and is an Elder in the East Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church. In local church ministry her special area of interest is leadership development leading to congregational health and evangelistic vitality, and the development of new monastic faith communities. Dr. Heath has provided retreat and seminar leadership in spiritual formation and leadership development for clergy for many years. Among her research interests are the new monasticism, the emerging church, spirituality and evangelism, and gender and evangelism.
Dr. Heath holds a B.A. degree from Oakland University, an M.Div. from Ashland Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. from Duquesne University. Her publications include: Naked Faith: Mysticism and Mission in the Theology of Phoebe Palmer, Princeton Theological Monograph Series (Eugene, OR: Pickwick Publications, 2009); The Mystic Way of Evangelism: A Contemplative Vision for Christian Outreach (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2008); and Longing for Spring: A New Vision for Wesleyan Community, co-authored with Scott Kisker, (Eugene, OR: Cascade, 2009).
Dr. Heath is co-founder and pastor of The People of New Day, a new monastic community in the United Methodist tradition in Dallas, Texas. She and her husband Randall Bell live in Garland, Texas and are the parents of two adult daughters. Favorite activities include hiking, camping, bicycling, canoeing, sailing, flea markets, music and watching movies.
The 2009 Convocation, Justice & Joy, meets over Labor Day Weekend, from Friday, September 4 through Monday, September 7 at the beautiful YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, Colorado.
Gather with hundreds of Reconciling United Methodists in the wonder of God's creation in the Rocky Mountains.
RMN is enlisting nine persons to assist with managing logistics for The 2009 Convocation. The responsibilities of these assistant positions are listed below. The positions are part-time so the persons will be able to participate in much of the convocation as well. As compensation RMN will cover the costs of registration, meals and lodging at the convocation. The persons will responsible for their travel to/from the convocation.
To apply for one of these assistant positions, send a resume along with a brief letter outlining your qualifications and interests for the particular position you seek to rmnconvo@comcast.net. The deadline is April 30, 2009.
Airport Shuttle Hosts (2 persons) will staff hospitality table at Denver International Airport throughout day on September 3 & 4 and direct arriving convocation participants to connect with shuttle to Estes Park. Coordinate bus schedule with shuttle company for returning to airport on September 7th.
Office Assistant will help staff registration table all day on September 3rd and work in RMN office onsite for a five-hour shift each other convo day, assisting with answering questions for participants as well as carrying out routine office and communication tasks.
Newsletter Editor will gather convocation announcements and news for newsletter and create/design/produce each daily edition for four days: September 4, 5, 6 & 7. Preferred to do preliminary work on design and mockups before convocation.
Plenary Stage Manager will assist worship and plenary coordinators in planning for setup of auditorium stage for each plenary session and direct flow of persons on and off stage during sessions. Also works in coordination with the site’s auditorium staff.
Plenary Audio-Visual Assistant will prepare projection slides for worship and plenary sessions and serve as liaison with the site’s sound and projection technicians.
Resource Center Assistants (2 persons) will assist with setup of Resource Center on September 3rd and packup on September 7th. Will staff the Resource Center for up to four hours on other convocation days.
Site Assistant will assist Convocation Coordinator in overseeing lodging and meal services at the YMCA of the Rockies. Also may occasionally serve as liaison with YMCA in other ways.
If you would like to apply for a scholarship to Convo, you will need to download the scholarship application and mail or fax it to Sue Laurie at Reconciling Ministries Network. If you receive a scholarship, Sue Laurie will provide you with a scholarship code you can use during registration that will automatically deduct your scholarship amount. Evaluation of applications and notification to recipients will be the 10th and 25th of each month beginning March 10. Early application helps us with our planning and keeps you eligible for the lower rates.
HILTON AWARD NOMINATIONS - back Marlene Crowder, Steering Committee, PRN
The first CONVO I attended with RMN/PRN was 2005 at Lake Junaluska! Everything was new and exciting. The scenery, the worship, the workshops, the music, the fellowship and sense of community was uplifting and encouraging. One of the Joys was meeting Bruce and Virginia “Ginny” Hilton (see photo). They were so inspiring just being in their presence. I felt like they were long time friends. So it is with great pleasure that I accepted the role to serve on the committee to select a parent to honor with the Hilton Award. Bruce and Virginia were very loving, caring, activists! They have a long history of working to make “justice roll down like a river”. From the civil rights workers in Mississippi in the mid 60’s, to the United Methodist Church since 1980 they diligently worked for justice issues.
The Parent’s Reconciling Network will award the Fourth Hilton Award at CONVO during Labor Day weekend, 2009, at Estes Park, Colorado. We need your help! We know there are many out there that deserve this award, and you can help us identify them. You know those who are making a difference in your church, community and conference. Please help us find, “those parents of LGBTQ children, who through outstanding compassionate witness and work, give significant support to other parents and increased hope for a more inclusive denomination”.
Please use the form below to make your nomination. ALL nominations should be submitted by July 1, 2009. Thanking you in advance for your help on this project.
Reconciling Ministries Network is accepting Nominations for the 2009 Convocation Justice Awards.
The Voice in the Wilderness award is for taking risks, despite isolation in a wilderness, to proclaim the rightness of inclusion for all people in the church, and for standing against injustice despite that lack of support.
The Cup of Justice award is given for taking bold action to invoke justice where injustice, oppression and exclusion exist.
RMN National News: Job Announcement, Director of Development
News about Reconciling Ministries Network national initiatives including staff travel schedules and events at the Jurisdictional and Annual Conference level. You may post local events on the RMN Facebook Page.
The Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN) is a thriving alliance of more than 15,000 committed individuals and three hundred local congregations and other faith-based institutions committed to the full inclusion of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender people and their families in The United Methodist Church. With current budget of over $650K, RMN seeks an experienced fundraising professional to support its next phase of organizational growth.
As the leader of RMN’s fundraising efforts, the Director of Development (DOD) is responsible for managing and executing all aspects of RMN’s fundraising program including: cultivating individual givers and major donors, managing a direct mail program, launching a planned giving program, increasing contributions from allied local congregations, and enhancing grant support from foundations.
The successful candidate must be a proven self-starter and multi-tasker, with a healthy obsession for expecting greatness from oneself and those around you. In addition, the job requires a bachelor’s degree and at least 3-5 years of successful fund development history in roles with increasingly responsible leadership, a proven ability to establish and maintain good relations with a diverse range of donors, and excellent written and verbal skills.
Compensations includes a generous salary package, including health, dental, & disability, and a 403(b) plan as well as paid vacation, personal, and sick days.
Email your cover letter, résumé, and salary history to funddevelopment@rmnetwork.org by no later than Monday, May 4, 2009. RMN is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from ethnic/racial minorities, women, LGBT persons, and those with disabilities.
Burrill, Melany, All God's Children: Teaching Children About Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, [Fort Wayne, IN: LifeQuest, 2009; 20 pp., ISBN 1-893270-48-0].
All God’s Children is an essential guide to open and caring conversations with young children about gender and sexual orientation. You’ll find that this small, user-friendly book addresses your concerns, your questions, and your search for just the right words; it also suggests ideas for sermons and classroom activities. As you read, you’ll learn to model openness, respect, and the affirming belief that everyone, regardless of sexual orientation or gender difference, is a beloved child of God. Anyone who has a loving relationship with young children—parents, family, friends, pastors, Sunday School teachers—will benefit from reading and discussing All God’s Children.
All God's Children is available at Reconciling Ministries Network for $7 plus shipping and handling. You may purchase this resource at our online store or by calling (773) 736-5526. Bulk orders of 10 or more are $4.50 per book.
In the last Flashnet!, we printed the 1978 statement by Bishop Melvin Wheatley to the Council of Bishops. Thirty-one years later, where do we find the hope to sustain us as we continue to work for the full inclusion of all in The United Methodist Church? The last Flashnet! also included the 1924 article by Georgia Harkness advocating for women's clergy rights 32 years before the General Conference extended full ordination rights to women. How did Georgia Harkness find the hope to sustain her?
Good Friday and Easter provide a powerful framework for struggle and hope. No one knew this better than Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in his struggle for civil rights for African-Americans. As we remember the 41st anniversary of his assassination, we share "Facing the Challenge of a New Age", Dr. King's address to the First Annual Institute on Non-Violence and Social Change in Montgomery, Alabama in December 1956.
Now the fact that this new age is emerging reveals something basic about the universe. It tells us something about the core and heartbeat of the cosmos. It reminds us that the universe is on the side of justice. It says to those who struggle for justice, "You do not struggle alone, but God struggles with you." This belief that God is on the side of truth and justice comes down to us from the long tradition of our Christian faith. There is something at the very center of our faith which reminds us that Good Friday may occupy the throne for a day, but ultimately it must give way to the triumphant beat of the drums of Easter. Evil may so shape events that Caesar will occupy a palace and Christ a cross, but one day that same Christ will rise up and split history into A.D. and B.C., so that even the life of Caesar must be dated by [God's] name. There is something in this universe that justifies Carlyle in saying, "No lie can live forever." There is something in this universe which justifies William Cullen Bryant in saying, "Truth crushed to earth will rise again." There is something in this universe that justifies James Russell Lowell in saying:
Truth forever on the scaffold
Wrong forever on the throne
Yet that scaffold sways the future
And behind the dim unknown stands God
Within the shadows keeping watch above God's own.
And so here in Montgomery, after more than eleven long months, we can walk and never get weary, because we know there is a great camp meeting in the promised land of freedom and justice (141).
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A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches of Martin Luther King.
"Christ Is Alive", #318 in The United Methodist Hymnal, was written for the Easter worship of Hockley, Essex, just ten days after the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. The hymn pictures the resurrected Christ as deeply involved in the life and pain of humanity and not remote from us.
I wrote "Christ Is Alive" in April of 1968, immediately following the murder of Martin Luther King. I knew that I could not preach on Easter Sunday without dealing with that event. Even though the Congregational church I was ministering to was located four thousand miles away from the American deep South, the people in my congregation were profoundly touched by King's death.
However, after I had framed my sermon around that tragedy, I discovered there weren't any appropriate hymns for the congregation to respond with. There were plenty of songs that spoke about Easter as something very triumphant that happened a long time ago or that happens again in the heart of the believer. But there wasn't anything that suggested a combination of suffering and life. So I wrote the hymn "Christ Is Alive! Let Christians Sing.
CHRIST IS ALIVE
Christ is alive! Let Christians sing.
The cross stands empty to the sky.
Let streets and homes with praises ring.
Love, drowned in death, shall never die.
Christ is alive! No longer bound
to distant years in Palestine,
but saving, healing, here and now,
and touching every place and time.
Not throned above, remotely high,
untouched, unmoved by human pains,
but daily, in the midst of life,
our Savior with [our God] reigns.
In every insult, rift, and war
where color, scorn or wealth divide,
Christ suffers still, yet loves the more,
and lives, where even hope has died.
Women and men, in age and youth,
can feel the Spirit, hear the call,
and find the way, the life, the truth,
revealed in Jesus, freed for all.
Christ is alive, and comes to bring
good news to this and every age,
till earth and sky and ocean ring
with joy, with justice, love, and praise.
Reconciling Movement News Roundup brings together news about the Reconciling Movement and societal events that positively impact the progress of the Reconciling Movement. If you would like to submit news, please send it to rmnetworknews@gmail.com.
Please let us be part of your support and let us know how we might help. One way is to let us pray for you. We invite you to send your prayer requests to us and be counted in the weekly offering of joys and concerns. You may email these requests to prayer@rmnetwork.org.
Pray for our LGBTQ sisters and brothers in Uganda as they struggle with increased persecution after ex-gay meetings in Kampala.
Downtown Kampala Uganda
Pray for the LGBTQ community in Iraq as new openness has resulted in at least 25 murders.
Reconciling Ministries Network mobilizes United Methodists of all sexual orientations and gender identities to transform our Church and world into the full expression of Christ’s inclusive love. Founded in 1984, RMN consists of 295 congregations, 36 campus ministries, 84 reconciling communities. Extension ministries include the Parents' Reconciling Network, Reconciling Ministries Clergy, United Methodists of Color for a Fully Inclusive Church, and RMN's student movement, MOSAIC.
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Phone: 773-736-5526
Fax: 773-736-5475
Please e-mail all questions or website errors to webspinner@rmnetwork.org.
New Reconciling Communities in Minneapolis, MN and Huntsville, TX
The Rev. Dr. Elaine A. Heath is the McCreless Assistant Professor of Evangelism at Perkins School of Theology, the director of the Center for the Advanced Study and Practice of Evangelism at Southern Methodist University, and is an Elder in the East Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church. In local church ministry her special area of interest is leadership development leading to congregational health and evangelistic vitality, and the development of new monastic faith communities. Dr. Heath has provided retreat and seminar leadership in spiritual formation and leadership development for clergy for many years. Among her research interests are the new monasticism, the emerging church, spirituality and evangelism, and gender and evangelism. 
The first CONVO I attended with RMN/PRN was 2005 at Lake Junaluska! Everything was new and exciting. The scenery, the worship, the workshops, the music, the fellowship and sense of community was uplifting and encouraging. One of the Joys was meeting Bruce and Virginia “Ginny” Hilton (see photo). They were so inspiring just being in their presence. I felt like they were long time friends. So it is with great pleasure that I accepted the role to serve on the committee to select a parent to honor with the Hilton Award. Bruce and Virginia were very loving, caring, activists! They have a long history of working to make “justice roll down like a river”. From the civil rights workers in Mississippi in the mid 60’s, to the United Methodist Church since 1980 they diligently worked for justice issues.
Burrill, Melany, All God's Children: Teaching Children About Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, [Fort Wayne, IN: LifeQuest, 2009; 20 pp., ISBN 1-893270-48-0].
Good Friday and Easter provide a powerful framework for struggle and hope. No one knew this better than Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in his struggle for civil rights for African-Americans. As we remember the 41st anniversary of his assassination, we share "Facing the Challenge of a New Age", Dr. King's address to the First Annual Institute on Non-Violence and Social Change in Montgomery, Alabama in December 1956.
I wrote "Christ Is Alive" in April of 1968, immediately following the murder of Martin Luther King. I knew that I could not preach on Easter Sunday without dealing with that event. Even though the Congregational church I was ministering to was located four thousand miles away from the American deep South, the people in my congregation were profoundly touched by King's death.
