The Reconciling Ministries Digest

(Note: Because of the nature of many websites, some of the links to external news sources in this digest may have expired.)

1. Can The Church Repeal Its Own DADT Policies?
2. Celebrate Valentine's Day by Launching Believe Out
3. Believe Out Loud Reports and Resources
4. Call to Action - Believe Out Loud Expands into All North American Annual Conferences
5. Call to Action - Open Letter to Uganda
6. Community Announcement : Integrity USA Seeks Executive Director
7. Get Connected
8. Keep Haiti In Your Prayers

 Can The Church Repeal Its Own DADT Policies?

by Rev. Gilbert Caldwell

President Obama in his State of the Union address, expressed his commitment to repeal the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy of the military that prohibits Gay Americans from being open about their sexual orientation as they serve in the military. His open declaration of "working with Congress and the military..." to repeal "DADT" prompted these thoughts:

1. I remembered, as I have done before, my relatives who in their efforts to avoid the legally enforced stigma of being black, "passed" as being white. The attitude of a society that limited the rights of persons because of their racial history caused indescribable trauma among those who were "passing" and family and friends who were expected to be silent accomplices to their deception. As the military begins its process of ceasing to exit persons because of their sexual orientation, will the UMC be led to do the same? Why does the Church keep denying persons when it says denying persons is wrong?
2. I thought of comic strip character Popeye, who said of himself; "I am what I am, and that's all that I am." How foolish that our society and our military would impose a Popeye-like limitation on military personnel who are Gay by suggesting, "That's all that they are and no more". Popeye may have self-limited himself, but how could a society, a military or a Church, deny themselves the opportunity of being enriched by the multiplicity of gifts of persons, by excluding and/or limiting them because of their sexual orientation?
3. And, I dare to remember those words in Exodus 3: 14, 'I AM THAT I AM", words ascribed to a God who provides a definition of Self, that is beyond debate.

The section of the State of the Union address that launched the official challenge of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" by President Obama brought forth a memory of racial history, a remembering of a comic strip that brought joy to many of us, and a continuing awareness of a God who must weep and sometimes laugh, in response to our human foolishness.

Many Congresspersons and others applauded enthusiastically when the President expressed his intentions. Many, many United Methodists are ready to applaud with enthusiasm when our denomination rids itself of our "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Book of Discipline language. What new voices will join the voices of those of us who year-after-year have said with our words and our actions; "It is time for the United Methodist Church to stop 'passing' as being OPEN, when it is not?"

 Celebrate Valentine's Day by Launching Believe Out

Believe Out Loud, a trans-denominational effort to promote LGBT equality, will go public on Valentine's Day. While it is unlikely that there will be fireworks at the White House or street fairs in Los Angeles, we expect many expressions of affirmation and celebration to take place in congregations across the country. It is here--among congregations who are committed to full inclusion of queer people--that the center of this new movement will gather its strength. That a movement for LGBT equality seeks to emerge from Christian congregations instead of over against the religious community already marks this effort as something special.

But, you may ask, how can my church celebrate this event in a public way? Here are three quick suggestions:

1. Use Believe Out Loud T-shirts, buttons or pins now available for sale (see article below) in worship. Affix name tags to the T-shirts that say, "Ask me about…" or put a notice in your bulletin encouraging those without the pins or shirts to ask about them; equip those wearing the articles with a standard answer, which is the theme of the Believe Out Loud effort: "Believing that LGBT persons should be welcomed is not enough; we need to Believe Out Loud." You might choose to give a gift of an enamel pin or a T-shirt to a member or members in your congregation who have worked hard for LGBT equality. Have all members of your choir or youth group wear the T-shirts together as a visible witness to the cause. Use a flip video camera or take digital stills of your efforts and send them to believeoutloud@intersectionsinternational.org so that they can be included on the website.

2. Use illustrations about the importance of a public witness for LGBT equality in sermons, prayers or liturgies (look for liturgical suggestions in the next edition of OUT Loud news) so that it is clear that your congregation's leadership supports equality for queer people and that there is an openness to expanding the dialogue among those who, for whatever reason, are struggling with this issue in their lives. Announce that a new resource, www.believeoutloud.com, is available to help with this conversation. Print the announcement in your morning bulletin or newsletter.

3. Use your Sunday gathering-when the largest number of your congregants are present--to introduce an ongoing educational, programmatic or social action initiative that will help move your members from fear to compassion, from ignorance to understanding or from apathy to action. Announce this publicly in your congregation

And, of course, be creative. Your congregational leadership is in the best position to understand the hopes and expectations, needs and fears among your members. Use this occasion to set the issue of LGBT justice squarely on the front burner, and know that thousands more will be doing the same across the denominational landscape and throughout the country. For those who have been engaged in this effort for a long time, Valentine's Day marks a new way of working together. For others, it is just the beginning. Together, we can change the equality equation and people of faith can lead the way.

 Believe Out Loud Reports and Resources

Report From North Alabama Training

by Laura Rossbert

Thirty-four folks gathered together on Saturday, January 23^rd at Woodlawn UMC to learn how to share our stories and motivate others to action. It was meaningful to meet at Woodlawn UMC, which had burned to the ground just before Annual Conference last May. The congregation has come together to make plans for the future and has worked to be open to all their neighbors. The song lyrics "Who will build the church? WE WILL build the church” kept coming to mind as we had fellowship, worshiped, shared our stories and created a plan for how to create a more inclusive church in North Alabama. Our plans included a number of Believe Out Loud Discipleship Gatherings many for laity, and one specifically for clergy. A MOSAIC gathering in March for college students (of ALL ages) and a gathering at Birmingham Southern was also planned.It was the first official RMN event in North Alabama and there was excitement in the room as we discussed what we could all do together.

Home Gathering Toolkit

This toolkit will help Believe Out Loud Disciples (BOLD) and Reconciling leaders implement the Believe Out Loud Campaign in your area by planning a BOLD Gathering.  All the items in this kit are designed to help you share your story, work for equality, and invite new people to be part of the movement for full inclusion.  These items are suggestions to assist you in this work, and they will be greatly improved by your creativity and knowledge of what is best for your community.  Please let us know if you have any questions, we are here to support you. Supplies and resources mentioned in this toolkit can be ordered from the RMN office.

RMN looks forward to hearing about your gathering and celebrating with you the stories told, new Believe Out Loud Disciples engaged and the eventual transformation of our church and world into one which knows Jesus Christ’s love for all people of all sexual orientations and gender identities!

To Download the Toolkit Click Here

 Call to Action - Believe Out Loud Expands into All North American Annual Conferences

RMN is recruiting volunteers and leaders for Reconciling Annual Conference Teams (called ACTs). We need volunteers in eleven of the remaining North American Annual Conferences.  If you live in one of the listed annual conferences, know someone who does, or would like to recommend a leader for them, please email Campaign Organizer, Audrey@rmnetwork.org or call her at 773-736-5526.

Reconciling Annual Conference Teams Are:

• Lay, clergy, young, old, straight, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and all other United Methodists
• Organized teams whose members support, encourage and equip one another
• Anyone who believes God is transforming the UMC into a fully inclusive church, and who wants to be part of that change!

Reconciling Annual Conference Teams:

• Pray and worship with one another
• Gather through conference calls, meetings or social events
• Connect the RMN office to their team through regular calls, emails and communication.
• Work to affect change in their annual conference and support local welcoming congregations through resources and information about RMN events

As Part of the Believe Out Loud Campaign (BOL), the ACT will work with a National Trainer from RMN to:

• Plan a BOL Training  (place, date, food, and host housing for the National Trainer)
• Invite welcoming, Reconciling, supportive and progressive United Methodists to the BOL Training
• Support one another
• Call trained BOL Reconcilers to coach and support them as they tell their stories.

If you want to learn more about Annual Conference Teams or join the new team in your annual conference, let us know!

Expansion and Re-Build Annual Conferences:

Alabama-West Florida
Alaska Missionary
Arkansas
Central Pennsylvania
Kansas East
Louisiana
Memphis
Mississippi
Missouri
New Mexico
Northwest Texas
Oklahoma Indian Missionary
Peninsula-Delaware
Red Bird Missionary
Yellowstone

If you live in another annual conference and want to get involved in your local team, email Audrey@rmnetwork.org or visit http://www.rmnwitness.org/event-calendar.html to learn about an upcoming event!

 

 Call to Action - Open Letter to Uganda

An Open Letter and Invitation to American evangelicals and “ex-gay” activists who promoted anti-gay attitudes in Uganda as reported in the NY Times, January 4, 2010

Caleb Lee Brundidge, CSRC
International Healing Foundation
P.O. Box 901, Bowie, MD 20718
cbrundidge@xpmedia.com

Don Schmierer
His Servants
PO Box 765
Lockeford, CA  95237

Scott Lively
Abiding Truth Ministries
455 State St
Springfield, MA 01105

Dear Brothers,

The Ugandan “Anti-Homosexuality Bill” reported on extensively in the New York Times on January 4th, 2010 is extremely troubling. As you know, your anti-gay rhetoric helped influence the brutal “death to gays” legislation, despite attempts to distance yourself from the controversy. Many people are pointing to your teachings about gay people as motivation for the brutal “kill the gays” legislation. In an NPR interview you said you wanted the bill to be “softened,” but you must do more.

It is time for you to acknowledge that your words contribute to the hostile climate in Uganda that puts the lives of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, their friends and families, in grave danger and violates their human rights.

Brothers, please stop targeting gay people. Proclaim to the world that the deliberate rejection and harming of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people is wrong. LGBT people should not be rejected by their families, beaten, imprisoned or killed in the name of Christianity – or in your name.

This letter is an invitation to sit with us in prayer and dialogue. We invite you and your parishes from around the country to take part in town meetings with LGBT Christian communities. Town meetings have historically been sanctuaries for a public faith-based reconciliation process to take begin.

If you have truly disavowed the “death to gays” legislation and embraced an inspired call for respect of the gay community, we ask you to talk with us. LGBT people live and work in all walks of life. They live upright honest, respectful, and peaceful lives. Many are committed Christians. Come, sit with us and begin a conversation that is more than tolerance, and celebrates all God’s people.

There are still those who preach violence and fear, but you have promised to no longer be among them. Like the co-signers below, there are those who preach courage, compassion and charity. These are people of faith who have always stood on the side of love, justice and compassion. Come stand with us.

We, the undersigned people of faith will do what we can to halt the violence caused by others. We will continue to care for the gay community who have done nothing wrong - they are as God wants them to be. 

Please join our call for acceptance, love and understanding. We look forward to speaking with you soon.

Faithfully,
Rev. Patricia Ackerman
Mr. Bruce F. Knotts
Mr. Geronimo Desumala III
The Unitarian Universalist Office at the United Nations

Global Justice Ministry of Metropolitan Community Churches

Integrity USA / Lutherans Concerned / Presbyterians United

 Community Announcement : Integrity USA Seeks Executive Director

Integrity USA, a non-profit organization working for full inclusion of LGBT persons within the Episcopal Church, seeks qualified candidates for the position of Executive Director.  The person who fills this full-time position may be located anywhere in the United States and will work from his/her own city.

In concert with the Board of Directors, the E.D. leads the organization strategically in advancing its mission and in sustaining its support, tangible and intangible.  He or she serves as spokesperson, development officer and administrator.  The Executive Director is responsible for the day-to-day management and execution of all aspects of the organization’s operations, including programs, resource development, and administration.

The Executive Director of Integrity must be knowledgeable about the Episcopal Church and its people.  He or she must be knowledgeable about the struggle for the moral equality of LGBT people in the church and society.  He or she must have demonstrated experience, knowledge and skills in church and/or nonprofit management, development, and governance.  An individual who has earned a bachelor’s degree is preferred.  Compensation will be commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Click here for more information on the requirements and responsibilities of this position. To apply or for more information, contact board president David Norgard at davidnorgard@od180.com.  Application deadline is February 21, 2010.  For more information about Integrity USA, go to www.integrityusa.org.

 Get Connected

Do you have a story, poem, essay, thoughts, etc. that you would like to see in a future FlashNet? Is your Reconciling Community connected to a social networking group like Facebook or Myspace? If so send an email to James.

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 Keep Haiti In Your Prayers