BMC NewsNet
Vol. 10, No. 4
August 2009
BMC NewsNet
Vol. 10, No. 4
August 2009
 
Kirsten Freed Carrie Fry-Miller
1) Kaleidoscope Staff Changes
2) BMC Response to MCUSA Executive Director Regarding Pink Menno
3) Building an Inclusive Church Training in Lancaster
4) Progressive Brethren Gathering, November 13-15
5) BMC Board Retreat Scheduled
6) New SCN Congregation Welcomed
7) Common Spirit COB
8) Resources Requested
9) Help Sought
10) Goshen Anti-discrimination Amendment Fails
11) Ecumenical Leaps
1) Kaleidoscope Staff Changes
Carrie Fry-Miller has recently left her position as the BMC volunteer and Kaleidoscope Coordinator to attend Bethany Seminary in Richmond, Indiana and work towards a Master of Divinity degree. BMC appreciates Carrie’s work and wishes her the best of luck at Bethany.
BMC is very pleased to welcome Kirsten Freed as the new full time volunteer and coordinator of the Kaleidoscope Program. Kirsten grew up in London, Ontario in Valleyview Mennonite Church. She has a degree in social work from Kings College at the University of Western Ontario, and spent four years working with perpetrators of domestic violence through Changing Ways, a non-profit in London. In 2007 Kirsten moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba, and served in Mennonite Voluntary Service as the program coordinator at Project Peacemakers. While in Winnipeg, Kirsten was active in Hope Mennonite Church and was one of the founders of My Menno Church and the ongoing Postcard Project (see www.mymennochurch.ca ). Because BMC is not a recognized project in either of the Mennonite or Brethren volunteer programs, Kirsten is serving BMC through the Lutheran Volunteer Corps. Welcome, Kirsten!
2) BMC Response to MCUSA Executive Director Regarding Pink Menno
Shortly after the MCUSA Conference in Columbus, Ohio, Jim Schrag, Executive Director of MCUSA, sent a letter to all conference ministers with the request that the letter be shared with congregations. The letter, based upon inaccurate and carefully spun information, was critical of Pink Menno activities at the conference. Although the leadership of Pink Menno contacted Jim in written form and via the phone to correct the errors, the letter was printed without corrections in the Mennonite publication. To read Jim Schrag’s letter and Pink Menno’s response, go to www.pinkmenno.org. To read BMC’s response, click here.
3) Building an Inclusive Church Training in Lancaster
Community Mennonite Church in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, will be the site of the next Building an Inclusive Church Training on October 9-10. BMC has partnered with three other lgbt groups to offer Building an Inclusive Church Trainings, an educational and pragmatic approach that is designed to help participants develop the organizing skills and strategies that are useful in helping their congregations become welcoming communities. The fall schedule is as follows:
October 9-10 Lancaster, PA (Community Mennonite Church
October 23-23 Seattle, WA (Seattle First Baptist Church)
November 6-7 Grinnell, IA (Grinnell College)
To learn more about these exciting trainings or register for an event, go to the BMC website at www.bmclgbt.org and click on Building an Inclusive Church Trainings. Additional trainings are offered through the Institute for Welcoming Resources (BMC is an affiliate) and may be accessed through the IWR website at www.welcomingresources.org.
4) Progressive Brethren Gathering: Ready at the Thresholds
Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, will be the setting for the next Progressive Brethren Gathering, scheduled for November 13-15 at the Elizabethtown Church of the Brethren. The gathering will offer opportunities to reflect on the theological, social and political thresholds that we engage as progressive people of faith and vision in changing times. Gordon Kauffman, professor emeritus at Harvard Divinity School, will be our guest speaker and will help us explore the implications and possibilities of our understandings of God in a presentation entitled Mystery, God and the Human Imagination. Cost for the event is just $100 (less for students) and includes most meals. To register, go to http://www.etowncob.org/. The gathering is jointly sponsored by BMC, Womaen’s Caucus and Voices for an Open Spirit.
5) BMC Board Retreat/Indiana Gathering
The BMC board will meet in North Manchester, Indiana September 17-20 for a time of intentional retreat and planning. Kurt Borgmann, pastor of the Manchester Church of the Brethren, will be working with the board as it reviews the work of BMC for the past three years, establishes new three year goals, and assesses the needs and opportunities of the future.
Indiana BMCers are invited to a BMC potluck on Saturday, September 19 beginning at 6:00 p.m. at the home of Dave and Renee McFadden in North Manchester. In addition to the usual good food and conversation, the evening will include a town hall style meeting with board members and a silent auction to raise funds for the volunteer position. Everyone is welcomed and encouraged to bring a friend. For directions to the McFadden’s, please contact the BMC office at 612-343-2060 or bmc@bmclgbt.org.
6) New SCN Congregation Welcomed
Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren in Elgin, Illinois, is the newest congregation to join the Supportive Communities Network (SCN) as a congregation that is publicly affirming of lgbt people. The decision reflects a lengthy process of study, education, conversation and preliminary steps. Highland Avenue has a long history of social involvement with their community and a deep commitment to social justice and peace both locally and globally. We welcome them to SCN!
7) Congratulations Common Spirit
Common Spirit Church of the Brethren is a house church with shared leadership that began meeting in 2003 in Minneapolis, MN in order to worship, form community and affirm Brethren values and identity. An lgbt affirming posture was adopted from the beginning and openly gay and lesbian people are an integral part of the group. Common Spirit made history when, despite an ugly attempt to challenge its lgbt affirming stance, it was welcomed by a more than 2/3 vote into the Northern Plains District as a fellowship. This marks the first time that a Brethren congregation that is publicly affirming and a part of SCN has been granted fellowship status; which includes an ability to receive members, elect delegates and serve on various district and denominational boards and committees. Congratulations Common Spirit and Northern Plains District!
8) Resources Requested
At its 2009 Annual Conference, the Church of the Brethren voted to enter into a process of conversation and dialogue (Framework for Dealing with Strongly Controversial Issues). A first step in the process was the formation of a committee to provide resources, with the requirement that at least one person on the committee be part of the group that would be most impacted by the issue. Carol Wise, BMC executive director, was selected as this voice. She would covet any recommendations or suggestions of resources that individuals have found useful in promoting respectful, educated dialogue. Please send your recommendations to bmc@bmclgbt.org.
In addition, the delegates at the Mennonite Church USA conference passed a resolution (Following Christ and Growing Together as Communities Even in Conflict) acknowledging tensions regarding human sexuality and calling upon the Executive Board to “work with conferences to provide and encourage the use of resources which assist conferences and congregations to engage in discernment.” If you know of resources that would be helpful in this context, please send them to BMC (bmc@bmclgbt.org) and to the Executive Board (info@MennoniteUSA.org)
9) Help Sought
BMC occasionally receives requests for pen pals from individuals who are incarcerated and who identify as lgbt. If you are interested in becoming a pen pal and reaching out in this manner, please contact the BMC office (bmc@bmclgbt.org) and we will be happy to connect you.
10) Goshen Anti-discrimination Amendment Fails
On September 2, the Goshen City Council voted against a proposed change to their anti-discrimination ordinance that would have added sexual orientation and gender identity to a list of protected classes. Other classes already protected are race, religion, color, sex, disability, national origin and ancestry. More than 500 people showed up to the Council meeting, which was held at the high school to accommodate the crowds and lasted until after 1:00 in the morning. The motion was defeated by a vote of 4-3. A previous vote had passed the change, but one Council member changed his mind, causing the proposal to fail on the second vote.
BMC thanks the many residents who spoke in favor of the proposal, and a special thanks to Eric Kanagy, a member of the task force that brought the proposal, and Karl Shelly, who organized local pastors – you make us proud!
11) Ecumenical Leaps
At their General Convention in July, the Episcopal Church voted to welcome openly gay and lesbian bishops to serve, effectively ending a moratorium established after the election of Bishop Gene Robinson in 2004. In addition, the convention voted to give bishops wide latitude to bless same sex unions and authorized them to provide a “generous pastoral response to gay and lesbian couples,” including the development of theological and liturgical resources for blessing same gender relationships.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) passed a new statement, “Human Sexuality: God’s Gift and Trust” that welcomes lgbt people as a part of the diversity of God’s creation and commits the ELCA to “finding ways to allow congregations that choose to do so to recognize, support and hold publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships.” In addition, the delegate body voted to change its ministry policies, making it possible for people in partnered same-gender relationships to service as fully rostered ELCA clergy.
BMC NewsNet is an electronic newsletter produced by Carol Wise and Kirsten Freed for the Brethren Mennonite Council for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Interests (BMC). BMC seeks to provide programming, support and advocacy for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals and their families and friends. For questions, comments or to unsubscribe from this list, contact the BMC office at PO Box 6300, Minneapolis, MN 55406-0300, USA; bmc@bmclgbt.org; or 612.343.2060.
BMC Staff
Carol Wise – Executive Director, SCN Coordinator
Kirsten Freed – Kaleidoscope Coordinator, BMC Volunteer
Your support is needed! To make a contribution, go to www.bmclgbt.org and click on the “donate here” button. Thank you!!
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