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. Black History Month - James Baldwin
2. News From the Movement
3. 1032 Overturned by General Conference, Bishop Tuell Shares Hope
4. TAKE ACTION at your Annual Conference
5. News from Believe Out Loud
6. Celebrating Black History Month with Broadway UMC
7. Get Connected

 Black History Month - James Baldwin

from The Encylopedia of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Culture www.glbtq.com

James Baldwin, a pioneering figure in twentieth-century literature, wrote sustained and articulate challenges to American racism and mandatory heterosexuality.

The circumstances of Baldwin's birth were unremarkable: He was born on August 2, 1924, at Harlem Hospital in New York City to a poor, unmarried, twenty-year-old woman named Emma Berdis Jones. But his death sixty-three years later on December 1, 1987, at his home in southern France was an event reported on the front pages of newspapers around the world. Indeed, his journey from a difficult childhood in Harlem to his eventual status as a legendary artist with a large and loyal international audience constitutes one of the most compelling American life-stories of the twentieth century.

Baldwin's early years were deeply troubled. At home, he was terrorized by an abusive stepfather; outside the home, he was taunted by his peers because of his diminutive stature and effeminate mannerisms. As an adolescent, he sought refuge in the church, and after an emotionally charged spiritual conversion, he became at age fourteen a minister who regularly preached at evangelical churches in and near Harlem. As a young adult, he held a variety of odd jobs: He was at times a railroad construction worker, waiter, busboy, and elevator operator. It was during this time that he began to write seriously, beginning with book reviews and essays.

During his young adulthood, he also became fully aware of the implications of being black in America. Everyday exposure to racism left him deeply wounded. His increasing consciousness of his homosexuality added to his pain and confusion. To escape what he felt was impending madness, he left for Paris in 1948 with forty dollars in his pocket and no knowledge of French. In France, where he would spend the better part of his remaining years, he became a professional writer.

A prolific artist, Baldwin published twenty-two books during a career that lasted nearly forty years; he wrote formal essays, fiction, drama, and poetry. In his early collections of elegantly written essays--such as Notes of a Native Son (1955) and Nobody Knows My Name (1961)--he combined autobiography with trenchant cultural analysis to create brilliant critiques of American race relations.

 Click Here to Read the Full Article

 News From the Movement

Calvary United Pastor Shares Regional Emmy

BY FLO JOHNSTON, Correspondent, The Durham News, www.thedurhamnews.com

A happy surprise came last week to the pastor at Calvary United Methodist Church, 304 E. Trinity Ave.

A documentary film created by Pastor Laurie Hays Coffman and three others won an Emmy Award during the Mid-South Awards Ceremony Jan. 30 in Nashville, Tenn.

The 30-minute film, "Coming Out, Coming In: Faith, Identity, Belonging," which aired last year on WUNC-TV, is about gay Christians coming to grips with their faith and their orientation, their love of God and their longing for Christian community.

It was selected by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences as the outstanding Topical Documentary of the year.

"This Emmy is a dream come true," said Hays Coffman. "It's one more way to help the world see what beautiful gifts God has invested in gay Christians, and what a waste [it is] when churches are afraid to bring those gifts to light."

She and the other three, Susan Acker-Walsh, Andy Baxter and Keith Martin, were 2001-03 William. C. Friday Fellows, a program of the Wildacres Leadership Initiative designed to equip emerging leaders of North Carolina with human relations skills for practicing integrity, intention and inclusion. The video was a project they produced during that time along with Minnow Media, a multimedia group in Carrboro led by Georgann Eubanks and Donna Campbell.

Hays Coffman has been the pastor at Calvary for 16 years. Designated as the first "reconciling" United Methodist church in North and South Carolina, Calvary welcomes people of all races, ethnicities, gender identities and sexual orientations as part of the congregation and its ministry.

This Old North Durham church built in 1916, one of the older United Methodist congregations in the city, is now known for its progressive theology. It has led the way toward full inclusion in other churches as well, Hays Coffman said.

One of its ministries each September is called the "water project" in which members hand out bottles of cool water to walkers in the N.C. Gay Pride Parade held in Durham, inviting them to come and worship at Calvary.

Copies of "Coming Out, Coming In" may be ordered through the Web site where a preview clip may be seen: www.coming-out-coming-in.net.

Pastor Hays Coffman is available for screenings and dialogue in community groups and local congregations. She can be reached at 688-7138 or pathway2grace@ CalvaryNC.org.

 

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Joey Heath, PBS -  Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly | Churches and Gay Youth | February 19, 2010

 

 1032 Overturned by General Conference, Bishop Tuell Shares Hope

by Bishop Jack M. Tuell, January 30 2010

Even as United Methodists suffer the major disappointment in the struggle for “holy inclusiveness” caused by the retention of the “incompatibility clause”, I see a brighter side in the change from the high opposition in 1988 (765-181, 80.9 percent against change) to the lowest margin in our history in 2008 (501-417, 54.6 percent against change).  [See: The Organization of The United Methodist Church, 2009-2012 Edition, Appendix 167].

While teaching a UM Polity course at the School of Theology and Ministry at Seattle University, I became happily aware of something the General Conference did that had somehow passed me by.  I thought I would comment on it and two other examples of little noted actions of the General Conference which moved us ahead in the struggle, or at least make it clear the UMC is not interested in movement backward:

First, Calendar Item 785 (DCA P. 2178) was passed by a hand vote at General Conference (DCA P. 2737) and changed the language in the Discipline, Paragraph 225.  That action directly reversed Decision 1032!  The change was to substitute “shall” for “may”.  The new language directly cancels out JCD 1032 and affirms our Constitution Article IV affirming that a person requesting membership in a local congregation who is already a baptized member of another Christian denomination is already a member of the Church Universal, and by virtue of that is entitled to become a member of The United Methodist Church.

Second, a petition which would introduce into the Social Principles negative language about the whole issue of transgenderism was defeated both in legislative committee (50-6) and when it came to the floor (699-175).

Third, A petition which would have amended Par. 341.6 to prohibit not only “celebrating”services of  same gender unions, but also  “participating in any way” was rejected overwhelmingly in both the legislative committee and from the floor of General Conference.

Taken as a whole, these GC actions point to an intellectual and spiritual humility on these issues surrounding the mysterious subject of human sexuality, and a willingness on the part of delegates to be open to the “robust dialogue” called for at the close of General Conference by bishops and other leaders. 

And may such dialogue be informed and enlightened by openness to the work of the Holy Spirit, who Jesus told us would “teach us all things”!

See Below for Instructions on Taking Action

 TAKE ACTION at your Annual Conference

While Bishop Tuell’s analysis above is clear, many United Methodists are still acting as if transfer of membership in our church is still a decision of the pastor.  It is not.  A writing team from Reconciling Ministries Network and the Methodist Federation for Social Action has developed the following items for action at your annual conference.  Though each action is nuanced, they all seek to advance full inclusion in our church and some to publicly get the word out that Judicial Council Decision 1032 is no longer the law of the church.

Many annual conference deadlines for submission are March 1.  Take action now to put this before your annual conference!

Index - 2010 Annual Conference Legislation

1…….Reconsider 1032
    Annual Conference request that the Judicial Council reconsider Decision 1032 on its own motion, which is permitted by Judicial Council Rules Of Practice where, as here, a decision is clearly wrong or will result in manifest injustice

2…….General Conference 2008 Action Supersedes Decision 1032
    Resolution and request for Declaratory Decision of the Judicial Council affirming specifically that the 2008 modification of ¶225to say that members “shall” be admitted supersedes Decision 1032.  Includes sample inquiry by clergy to the Annual Conference Board of Ordained Ministry as part of the work of the Annual Conference

3…….Reaffirming Membership Standards
    Resolution, Annual Conference rule and directed  implementation by Conference Board of Ordained Ministry, and Request For Declaratory Decision, that no more than Profession of Faith and Vows of Baptismal Covenant are required for membership

4…….Affirming Inclusion of New Members
    Resolution and Annual Conference rule(with implementation by BoOD) with Request For Declaratory Decision that members shall be admitted by Conference clergy under Article IV of the Constitution without discretion.  Cites heightened standards for clergy permitted by JCD 542, 544

5……..Marriage Of All Clergy
    Conference rule and Request For Declaratory Decision that all Conference Clergy can be legally married where permitted by civil laws

6……..We Will Not Discriminate
    Standing Resolution declaring non discrimination in accord with Paragraph 139

7………Confronting Heterosexism
    Standing Resolution welcoming young people and new members in times of change and disavowing discrimination based on sexual orientation or transgender identity

 News from Believe Out Loud

Ohio Reconciling United Methodists Gather for Believe Out Loud Celebration

Last fall the West Ohio Annual Conference Team began planning the WOC Believe Out Loud training.  During the conversations about the training several members of the team began to dream about a time for RUMs in Ohio to gather to celebrate what it means to “Believe Out Loud.”  They envisioned an event that would be held in addition to the training for Believe Out Loud.  The group asked the Rev. David Meredith, pastor of the Broad Street UMC, Columbus to head up the celebration.

David gathered a team primarily from his church to plan the event that was held on Saturday, January 31.  Using social media and emails, word went out to RUMs in both the East and West Ohio Conferences to gather for the day of celebration.

As a result, over 130 RUMs from around Ohio gathered at Broad Street UMC for a day of inspiring worship, helpful workshops, wonderful “comfort” food, and great fellowship.  The day opened with a powerful worship service at which the Rev. Deb Stevens, pastor of the North Broadway UMC, Columbus was the preacher.

David and the team from Broad Street organized seven workshops on the theme of “Believe Out Loud” ranging from “Candidacy in the UMC” to “New Inclusive Communities of Faith, to Intersections: glbt, race, gender, poverty.”

During the afternoon program, those attending had the opportunity to share their stories of “Believe Out Loud” around tables.  Participants in the day also met with either geographic groups or affinity groups to talk about next steps in believing out loud.

The day closed with worship.  Mr. Ed Hoar shared about plans for the Believe Out Loud Training in the East Ohio Conference.  The Rev. Jim Waugh, Asst. to the Superintendent in the Capitol Area South District (WOC) shared about plans for Believe Out Loud training in West Ohio.  In addition, Jim shared word of challenge and invitation with those present sending them forth to “Believe Out Loud.”

 Celebrating Black History Month with Broadway UMC

This month we celebrate the ministries of one of our Reconciling congregations, Broadway United Methodist Church in Chicago, IL. Broadway UMC’s commitment to inclusion and exploring the intersections of oppression are not limited to the month of February but are an intentional part of the breadth of their ministry. Included here is a reflection on their Black History Month theme (Building The Beloved Community: The Next Steps) by Rev. Vernice Thorn, associate pastor at Broadway. A list of weekly and special programs to celebrate Black History month are also listed. Many Black History month programs at Broadway are co-hosted by the Broadway People of Color and Anti-Racist White Caucuses. If your church, community or campus ministry is interested in exploring the intersections of oppression contact the RMN office or Broadway UMC for next steps.

Building the Beloved Community: The Next Steps

A group of us met to plan Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend and we decided on the theme: Building the Beloved Community: The Next Steps. We selected this phrase first, to embrace the values of Dr. King; and second, to shape our continued journey around those same values.

We favored the word "building" because it is a verb and indicates action. The word "community" is how we intentionally name ourselves each Sunday as we celebrate community and connection. The words "next steps" point us to the future. We had wonderful dialogue around this theme and determined it was a worthy goal to maintain through February as we celebrate Black History Month.

Being community is not a new theme for us. We've talked about creating, building and sustaining community. Bishop Yvette Flunders, in her book Where the Edge Gathers tells us, "Sustaining community requires an intentional effort to design a framework that includes everyone in the life of the church. We must constantly revisit the commitment to be inclusive and compassionate along with being responsible and accountable." Bishop Flunders lists four components for community: intentionality, inclusivity, responsibility and accountability. Reasonable words? Yes. Logical words? Yes. Easy to live out? No. But that is the work we have committed ourselves to. It is an ideal which continues to unfold for us in our faith journey.

For those of us who planned, worked, participated and/or attended the Martin Luther King Community Dinner, we caught a glimpse of community at its best. We experienced a community that embraces the four necessary components to sustain and live into a vision of inclusion. It was exciting, it was spiritual, it was heartwarming. Truly, it was a God moment as we shared a meal together followed with sharing our pain, our joy, our hopes, through poetic renderings in word and song. The most amazing part for me was the amount of risk folks took as they shared their innermost thoughts and struggles. And it wasn't just Broadway people. There were visitors who dared to share. We had a large group of youth from the community who, in faith (in themselves, in God, and in us), took the risk of sharing their art. And yes, we received them with love and grace. Community at its best! Thanks be to God!

As we sort through who we are and who we want to be, let's include this experience in our next steps journal. Moments like this inspire and motivate us to move through the hard stuff, knowing that we never completely leave it behind. For it is often the struggle that helps us appreciate even more those moments of breakthrough, those times when it all comes together and makes sense. That's where we are my sisters and brothers. God continues to give us opportunity, beyond the pain and feelings of hopelessness, to make community and to authentically find connection. I invite and encourage us to embrace those moments, to tell these stories to each other when the way seems blocked. The obstacles we see are often just opportunities. Places, which in faith, we can claim as stepping stones. They lead us to next steps. Praise God, our journey continues...

In Truth and Justice,

Rev. Vernice Thorn, associate pastor 

Click Here to View The Schedule of Events at Broadway UMC

 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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