BMC NewsNet
February 2010
  
Helen Brubaker Communion at 2008 Connecting Families Mike Lee-Poy
1. Helen Brubaker Remembered
2. BMC Potluck in Newton, KS
3. Connecting Families Weekend – Send your registration NOW!
4. Church Process Resource
5. Faith, Aging and the LGBT Movement
6. New Website for Gay Mennonites
7. Welcoming Church Trainings
8. Pastoral Care Resource
9. New DVDs
10. Carrying the Torch
11. Upcoming Travel
1. Helen Brubaker Remembered
The BMC community is saddened by the loss of Helen Brubaker, who died on February 26th at her home in Gratis, Ohio. Helen was 87 years old. Dubbed the “Queen Mother” because of her unwavering and spirited support of lgbt people, Helen’s progressive mind and open heart were often a surprise to those who made assumptions about her prayer covering and simple attire. She was one of the earliest to advocate for lgbt people at the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference, boldly stepping to the microphone to publicly declare her love for her lesbian daughter. Helen was a woman of compassion, humor, kindness and love, who will be missed at BMC gatherings. We extend our deepest sympathies to her family, especially to her daughters Pam, and Beverly and her partner Joann.
2. BMC Potluck in Newton, KS
The BMC board will be meeting in Newton, KS on March 19-21 and invites everyone to a community potluck on Saturday, March 20. The potluck will begin at 6:30 pm and be held at Shalom Mennonite Church, 800 E. 1st Street in Newton. Besides enjoying great conversation and good company, the potluck also offers an opportunity to hear what BMC is doing and to add your input. Please bring a dish to share and a couple of friends – all are invited! In addition, BMC board president Ralph McFadden will be preaching at Shalom on Sunday morning.
3. Connecting Families Weekend – Send your registration NOW!
Connecting Families is a group of engaging and sensitive Mennonite, Brethren and other individuals who are interested in exploring sexual minority issues as they affect families, friends, individuals and congregations. The group holds an annual retreat-style weekend that offers an opportunity to share, learn, find support, and explore ways to educate and engage our churches in dialogue. Peter and Cornelius: A Paradigm for Inclusivity in the Church is the focus of this year’s weekend, which will feature Vern Rempel, pastor at First Mennonite Church of Denver, Colorado. The weekend will be held at the Pearlstone Conference and Retreat Center in Reisterstown, Maryland, April 9-11. For more information and to download a brochure with registration information, go to www.bmclgbt.org and look under “Coming Events.”
4. Church Process Resources
Now available for download on www.bmclgbt.org, are two papers titled Doing Process Well: Recommendations for Brethren Congregations and Doing Process Well: Recommendations for Mennonite Congregations. Congregations beginning processes or dialogue about the welcome of lgbt members are encouraged to read these resources prior to initiating a dialogue process in order to understand some of the unique dynamics of this conversation and avoid needless harm.
5. Faith, Aging and the LGBT Movement
Carol Wise was recently part of a small committee formed to explore an ecumenical response to the issues of faith, aging and the lgbt movement. She was invited because of BMC’s interest and work on this subject. The committee recently met and is currently developing plans for funding and next steps.
Because of the cumulative effects of years of discrimination and invisibility, lgbt elders as a group tend to be more economically fragile, more likely to live alone, more likely to have inadequate medical insurance, and to be at higher risk for homelessness and isolation than their heterosexual peers. Surveys have indicated that most providers of services for older adults have little or no knowledge about the particular needs of lgbt elders. This ignorance often translates into negative experiences for lgbt older adults, particularly when dealing with healthcare providers. To learn more about the particular challenges and needs of lgbt elders, read Outing Age 2010 prepared by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (www.thetaskforce.org) or check resources compiled by SAGE (Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders) at www.sageusa.org.
6. New Website for Gay Mennonites
Gay Mennonite League (GML) is an information portal for issues related to gay and lesbian Mennonites. The brain child of Randall Friesen (former editor of Outspoken), the site seeks to provide a place where news of importance to the gay and lesbian Mennonite community is centralized. The League will also respond to activities, statements, and positions taken by the Mennonite Church that affect or are of interest to gay and lesbian Mennonites in the form of press releases and positional statements. To view this new site go to: www.gaymennonite.com
7. Welcoming Church Trainings
BMC is pleased to partner with our ecumenical colleagues in presenting the following trainings for individuals interested in gaining the skills and information that are useful in helping their congregations move to a place of welcome and affirmation of lgbt people:
April 9-11 Hayward, CA
April 16-18 Denver, CO
April 30-May 1 Dallas, TX
May 1 Duluth, MN
To register or learn more about the trainings, go to www.welcomingresources.org and scroll down until you see the section on trainings, or contact the BMC office for further information.
8. Pastoral Care Resource
This summer Mennonite Church Canada released A Pastoral Care Resource for Pastors Ministering to LGBT Individuals and their Families.
http://www.mennonitechurch.ca/resourcecentre/FileDownload/11424/Pastoral_Care_Document_FINAL_Final.pdf. According to leadership, this resource was sent to all pastors in MC Canada.
The strengths of this resource lie in its recognition that 1) our congregations include lgbt people and families, 2) lgbt/family experiences range from positive to negative, 3) pastors need to take care to show respect, and 4) pastors must engage in further study.
The resource would be strengthened by 1) recognizing the unequal distribution of power within the church and larger society, 2) identifying the responsibility of leaders to advocate for those who have less power, who have been marginalized, or who face discrimination, and 3) including issues related to pastors who are lgbt or have lgbt family members.
We encourage everyone to read the resource and talk about it with your pastor or congregation.
9. New DVD Resources
Exciting new lgbt resources are being published almost daily, including some excellent films. Two films in particular are worth viewing:
Straightlaced: How Gender’s Got Us All Tied Up by Debra Chasnoff. This Groundspark film features fifty diverse and fascinating students who candidly reflect upon the roles of gender and sexuality in their lives. Frequently funny and occasionally disturbing, the film demonstrates the inter-relatedness of gender-based expectations and homophobia and explores the impact of race, ethnicity and class. Straightlaced is a great resource for youth and anyone interested in examining the dynamics of gender. May be purchased at www.groundspark.org, or BMC has a copy that we would be happy to loan.
Fish Out of Water by Ky Dickens. The filmmaker’s coming out as a student at Vanderbilt University led her to a deep exploration of the seven “clobber” Bible passages used to condemn homosexuality and justify heterosexual marriage. This film creatively and with humor and depth documents her journey through the Bible as she consults with various theologians (including Amy-Jill Levine and Bishop John Spong) and numerous lgbt people. It is extremely well done. The film will be formally released in April 2010 and may be purchased in advance at www.amazon.com, or borrowed from BMC.
10. Carrying the Torch
Congratulations to Mike Lee-Poy (BMC Ontario Coordinator) who was chosen to be an Olympic torch bearer as the flame went through Ontario on its way to the Vancouver games. An article about Mike appeared in the Canadian Mennonite (http://www.canadianmennonite.org/vol14-2010/14-02/godus.php). In addition, Mike was honored by the Waterloo Regional newspaper (The Record) as one of 40 outstanding people under 40 who are making a difference in the community (article: http://40under40.therecord.com/Index.aspx). Congratulations Mike! If you have a story to share about yourself or another BMC connected person, please submit it to the BMC office.
11. Upcoming Travel
Feb 28 - Mar 2 - Carol in Elgin for COB Special Resource Committee
Mar 4-8 - Kirsten at Lutheran Volunteer Corp retreat
Mar 5 - Carol leading heterosexism workshops at LVC retreat
Mar 19-21 - Kirsten & Carol to Newton, KS for BMC board meeting
April 9-11 - Carol at Connecting Families in Maryland
April 25-27 - Carol at Bishop and Elders Council in DC
April 28-30 - Carol at Bethany Seminary in Richmond, IN
BMC Staff
Carol Wise - Executive Director, SCN Coordinator
Kirsten Freed - Kaleidoscope Coordinator, BMC Volunteer
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