The Cup of Justice Award is given for taking bold action to invoke justice where injustice, oppression and exclusion exist. In 2005, the award was presented to the Retired Reconciling Clergy of the New England Annual Conference who made public statements and took action for marriage equality. In 2007, Rebecca (Becca) Cramer, a young adult who shepherded legislation through the Student Forum creating reconciling worship and workshops as part of official programming, was the recipient. We celebrate the ministry of these finalists for the Cup of Justice:
GOOD SAMARITAN UMC - EDINA, MINNESOTA
A local church’s decision to become a part of the Reconciling Ministries Network is only the beginning of a new journey. Good Samaritan UMC has been reborn in its new vision of “opening hearts and minds in a divided world” since answering God’s call to be a reconciling congregation. Their ministry of inclusion does not stop at their own walls but has systemic impact on the entire denomination. In February of 2008, after showing the movie, For the Bible Tells Me So, they decided to raise enough money to send the DVD of the movie to every delegate from the United States attending General Conference 2008. This bold and expensive undertaking came together quickly and resulted in relevant, informative and memorable advocacy material getting into hundreds of homes. The impact of their efforts will continue to influence decisions and lives even beyond our church structure.
BREAKING THE SILENCE - TEXAS ANNUAL CONFERENCE
In their own words, “Breaking the Silence (BTS) is a group of clergy and laity in the Texas Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. We aspire to be a healing voice within the climate of fear and misinformation surrounding sexual orientation and gender identity. BTS works to create a welcoming atmosphere for all in the churches of the Texas Annual Conference. We seek to follow the example of Christ, loving our neighbors as ourselves and establishing radical hospitality as the norm for all human relations. BTS pursues these goals by providing opportunities for dialogue through witness and education. BTS has identified itself as a Community within Reconciling Ministries Network.…” Breaking the Silence was successful in launching a challenging and memorable conversation on what exactly the word “ALL” does mean, through its creation of and support for “Amendment 1” to the United Methodist Constitution over the last two years.
BALTIMORE-WASHINGTON AREA RECONCILING UNITED METHODISTS (BWARM) - BALTIMORE - WASHINGTON ANNUAL CONFERENCE
BWARM is serious when they say they are advocates and organizers in their Annual Conference. Their courage and commitment has allowed them to take on some projects that other groups would only dream of. Among their many efforts, BWARM organized a sit down meeting with their bishop and Conference Board of Church and Society to emphasize how Conference publications and information channels can neglect and marginalize ministries to the LGBT community. By holding others accountable and not accepting the status quo, they have been successful in coordinating local congregations in placing ads in LGBT-oriented newspapers as a source of evangelism and outreach within the LGBT community. They also created a reconciling choir to lead songs of justice and inclusion at their Annual Conference gathering. This group will not accept anything less than full participation and active involvement in shaping their Conference’s mission and identity from the center of the church.
ROBIN MCGEHEE - WESLEY UMC, FRESNO, CA
Community organizer, social justice advocate, and United Methodist, Robin McGehee believes, “When we speak, we change the world.” A member of Wesley UMC, Fresno, Robin created “Meet in the Middle 4 Equality,” an organizing effort that brought LGBT activists from all over California to Fresno—in the middle of the state—in the midst of the state’s Proposition 8 marriage equality controversy. She knows that the struggle for equality can only be reconciled if towns like Fresno, and other conservative strongholds, become supportive of LGBT rights. Although Fresno is not an easy place to do this kind of organizing, sometimes neither is The United Methodist Church! Robin has been an outspoken leader in a place that is not known for tolerating diversity and represents the best of in our Wesleyan heritage whereby our beliefs about, and experiences of, God influence every decision we make and action we take.
Justice & Joy: Voice in the Wilderness Award Finalists
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. In 2005, Elsie Vega received this award for her testimony before the South Dakota legislature. In 2007, St. Marks UMC, New Orleans was acknowledged for their work following hurricane Katrina serving the poorest of the poor with the homeless and the prosperous side by side. We celebrate the ministry of these finalists for the Voice in the Wilderness:
DELYN CELEC
In many ways, Delyn Celec is the voice of The United Methodist Church. Her leadership in worship throughout the denomination and around the world has helped connect countless souls to the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Yet her voice is raised in a community and setting that in many ways would rather silence her spirit then let it sing of God’s love. At General Conference 2008 she led worship and helped our divided church and often destructive church center on God instead of the politics and policies that do harm to the body of Christ and lives of its members. Just days prior to GC, she had been voted down for endorsement by her District Committee on Ministry because she is in a loving, committed same-sex relationship. Delyn has led worship at Student Forum, Annual Conferences, local churches and many other gatherings and events throughout the church. Her presence and spirit are a witness to what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.
ANNE MAKOKHA & JOHN MAKOKHA
For LGBT people all around the world, when there is a need for justice ministries, a response is necessary regardless of the consequences. The Makokhas have responded to God’s call through their ministry in Riruta, Kenya, where they work through both a local church and a school for young children. John was ordained in the Triumphant Pentecostal Church and then moved to the Free Methodist Church of Kenya where he was Director of Communications before planting this church. His faithfulness to the gospel through words and actions of welcome to LGBT people have cost him much in his standing and employment yet he remains faithful. Anne is the chief organizer for the Children of Africa Hope Center, where she, John, and other unpaid staff care for over 250 children by supplying them with food, education and a witness of what inclusive ministry really means. In these communities the words gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, and intersex are used openly and proudly and gay and lesbian couples are welcome to participate fully.
OPEN TABLE OF CHRIST, WARWICK AND PROVIDENCE RHODE ISLAND
These days it seems that new churches are being founded throughout our denomination: some in traditional places and some in innovative ways. The Open Table of Christ is a new church start in the New England Annual Conference that meets in two cities in Rhode Island. Since its inception, this church has understood itself as a “Movement of Radical Love toward God, Neighbor, and Nature.” Deliberately multi-ethnic and intentionally spanning socio-economic divisions that many churches seem intent on keeping in place, Open Table has recently decided to become a reconciling congregation. It thus faces many of the difficulties and challenges that the church has simply refused to equip our churches for by facing the realities of different cultures and communities coming together through Christ. In deeply divided times, Open Table of Christ refuses to succumb to the pressure of only being open to some.
TRANSGENDER PASTOR
He is an ordained elder with over 27 years experience in The United Methodist Church. He currently serves a Japanese-American congregation. Over 30 years ago, he began his transition from female to male and has served his entire career in his identity as a male. Now he is coming out—to his bishop, district superintendent, church, and the world. He has been active in the Reconciling Movement throughout his career; he preached at Corvallis UMC when it voted to become a reconciling congregation and his congregation was the first in the conference to sign the “All Means All Declaration.” His experience is told in an unpublished manuscript entitled “In From The Wilderness.” Despite the isolation of keeping a part of his identity secret, he raises his voice for justice and truth telling.
Religious Fundamentalism and the Export of Homophobia/Heterosexism to Africa
Reconciling Ministries Network welcomes Kapya Kaoma, Project Director at Political Research Associates, to Justice & Joy. Kaoma will speak during the Global Plenary about his extensive research on the role of religious fundamentalism in the spread of homophobia/heterosexism in Africa.
Kapya John Kaoma (project director) investigates right-wing efforts to destabilize mainline Protestant denominations. He is an ordained Anglican clergyman with a particular interest in social justice issues, ecological ethics, and interfaith work. From 1998-2001 he served as the dean of St. John’s Cathedral in Harare, Zimbabwe and lecturer at Africa University, where he coauthored a class text in ethics, “Unity in Diversity.” From 2001 to 2002, he was academic dean for St. John’s Anglican Seminary in Kitwe, Zambia, where he launched its women’s studies and church school training programs. An active campaigner for women’s reproductive rights, Kaoma argues theologically for the promotion of condoms in the fight against HIV/AIDS. He received the Boston Theological Institute’s Costas Consultation In Global Mission award from 2003-2005. A doctoral candidate at Boston University School of Theology, he received its merit-based African Studies Fellowship four years in a row, from 2004 to 2008.
While gender-based discrimination and oppression are nothing new abroad, for the past decade the U.S. Christian Right has been aggressively exporting its campaigns against reproductive rights and gay rights to countries around the world. Recently, exporting homophobia and discrimination against the LGBTQ communities in Africa has entered a new phase, especially with a homophobic conference in Uganda held March 5-8, 2009 sponsored by Family Life Network (see box). Meanwhile, there are continued battles over access to abortion, not only in Africa, but in Europe, South and Central America, Asia, and South Asia.
For more information about how the export of homophobia/heterosexism to Africa impacts LGBTQ people, read the Box Turtle Bulletin's series on the Uganda Anti-Gay Conference.
The following articles are drawn from Faith in Action from The General Board of Church and Society. You can subscribe to Faith in Action on their main page.
"Word from Winkler," Jim Winkler. Faith in Action. General Board of Church and Society (August 17, 2009).
At first I thought opposition to health-care reform focused on important details such as whether there should be a single-payer plan or just a mandate requiring people to purchase health insurance. Most stakeholders agree reform is needed because the system is so badly broken and cannot repair itself.
Some argue for a Massachusetts-style plan or for health insurance exchanges or cooperatives. Some believe the process should move more slowly.
The United Methodist Church’s position is that reform must mean everyone receives health-care coverage. The General Board of Church & Society (GBCS) believes a strong public option is important to contend with the profit-driven health-insurance industry.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United Methodist General Board of Church & Society (GBCS) is co-sponsor of an unprecedented nationwide faith-community call-in and audio webcast on health-care reform featuring President Obama on Wednesday, Aug. 19. The event, "40 Minutes for Health Reform," will be from 5 to 5:40 p.m. EST.
Sponsors of the event support the need for health-care reform in the United States, but no specific legislation will be endorsed during the call. Instead the call is to provide the most up-to-date information about proposed legislation, and will focus on health-care reform as a moral imperative.
President Obama will urge the faith community to action, and a high-level administration official will answer questions from participants. Questions can be submitted online after signing the electronic RSVP: United Methodists.
The call will be hosted by Blog Talk Radio. Participation is unlimited. Participants can either log on to www.FaithforHealth.org at the time of the call or dial (347) 996-5501; no passcode is necessary, but long-distance charges may apply.
The president’s decision to address the health-care debate specifically with the faith community demonstrates how important religious organizations are to passing reform, according to the Rev. Cynthia Abrams, director of GBCS’s work area on Alcohol, Other Addictions & Health Care. “The faith community's engagement in the debate is desperately needed to pass reform,” she said. “Special interests are trying to hijack the debate with misinformation, negative and disruptive tactics. The stakes are high, because without reform this year, health care will become increasingly unaffordable or inaccessible to average Americans for years to come.”
"The Bible and Health Advocacy," Wayne Rhodes. Faith in Action. The General Board of Church and Society (August 17, 2009).
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United Methodist General Board of Church & Society (GBCS) has prepared a resource to help faith groups discuss health-care reform. The resource, “The Bible and Health Advocacy: Ancient Vision, Modern Imperative,” is an easily read one-page chart that contains biblical references and discussion topics related to “abundance,” “community,” “humanity” and “stewardship.”
The chart is also accompanied by United Methodist Social Principle ¶162V: “Right to Health Care.” That Social Principle, contained in the United Methodist 2008 Book of Discipline, was adopted by the denomination’s highest policy-making body, General Conference, last year. It declares:
Health care is a basic human right. … Providing the care needed to maintain health, prevent and restore health after injury or illness is a responsibility each person owes others and government owes to all, a responsibility government ignores at its peril.
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.
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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Justice & Joy: Program Book
Kapya John Kaoma (project director) investigates right-wing efforts to destabilize mainline Protestant denominations. He is an ordained Anglican clergyman with a particular interest in social justice issues, ecological ethics, and interfaith work. From 1998-2001 he served as the dean of St. John’s Cathedral in Harare, Zimbabwe and lecturer at Africa University, where he coauthored a class text in ethics, “Unity in Diversity.” From 2001 to 2002, he was academic dean for St. John’s Anglican Seminary in Kitwe, Zambia, where he launched its women’s studies and church school training programs. An active campaigner for women’s reproductive rights, Kaoma argues theologically for the promotion of condoms in the fight against HIV/AIDS. He received the Boston Theological Institute’s Costas Consultation In Global Mission award from 2003-2005. A doctoral candidate at Boston University School of Theology, he received its merit-based African Studies Fellowship four years in a row, from 2004 to 2008.
