BMC NewsNet
Vol. 9, No. 5
November 2008

Worship is an important part of Connecting                  Friends from Common Spirit pose at the

                    Families Weekend                                                  Progressive Brethren Summit

1)   National Day of Action

2)   GSA Initiated at McPherson College

3)   Connecting Families Weekend

4)   BMC Gathering

5)   Progressive Brethren Summit

6)   Welcoming Church Training

7)   Congratulations Connecticut!

8)   Your Support Needed

1)  National Day of Action

The recent election in the US has painfully reminded us that we are a nation of contradictions. Even as we rightly celebrate the election of the first African-American as President of the United States, voters passed ballot measures that are disturbingly similar to previous racist legislation enacted by states to prohibit interracial marriage and adoption. Particularly egregious is the fact that Christian dollars bankrolled most of the efforts to pass these measures, using lies and preying upon people’s fears to get the vote.

Across the nation, this weekend people of kind conscience are saying no to the fear, ignorance and mean-spiritedness that these discriminatory measures reflect by joining in a National Day of Action. To find an event near you, go to www.jointheimpact.com. Send us pictures for the website! And as always, continue to engage those in your congregation and community who need to hear the good news about equality and justice.

2)  GSA Initiated at McPherson College

On October 30, 85 students, faculty, and staff attended an “Ask, Tell” panel discussion at McPherson College. The goals of the discussion were to raise awareness about the presence of gay culture on campus, increase understanding about what it means to be LGBT, and to identify Safe Zones on campus. At the end of the evening 15 students signed up to be part of a new Gay/Straight Alliance (GSA) on campus.

3)  Connecting Families Weekend

Put the weekend of April 17-19, 2009 on your calendar and join other Mennonite and Brethren lgbt supporters and families for a weekend of sharing, support, dialogue and retreat. This year’s resource person will be Steve Clapp, president of Christian Community, Inc. and the author of over thirty books on congregational life, including the recent publication of “Taking a New Look: Why Congregations Need LGBT Members.” Steve will focus upon the theme, How to Effectively Confront/Respond to Homophobia. The weekend will be at the Pearlstone Conference and Retreat Center in Reisterstown, Maryland, a center chosen not only because of its facilities, but also because of its clear and uncompromising welcome.  Brochures may be downloaded from the BMC website at www.bmclgbt.org.

4)  BMC Gathering

A beautiful autumnal weekend at Pokagon State Park in Indiana was the site of the 12th biennial BMC gathering. Noted Canadian born songwriter, poet and singer, Ferron, offered a concert and workshop that complemented additional creativity-evoking workshops by Bryan Saner and Katherine Wiebe. The weekend included a dance, Canadian Thanksgiving dinner, auction, hymn sing and very moving sharing of the weekend’s creative efforts. BMC thanks to Wilma Harder for her coordination of the event.

5)  Progressive Brethren Summit

Nearly 200 individuals from over 40 congregations across the country met in Indianapolis last weekend to explore what it means to be progressive people of faith within the Church of the Brethren. The atmosphere was charged with both determination and hope as participants worshiped, attended workshops, reflected on the witness and message of Jesus, and began to strategize about steps and actions that are needed to enliven and alter the current landscape that is the Church of the Brethren. The event was sponsored by BMC, Womaen’s Caucus, Voices for an Open Spirit, Christian Community, Inc. and several congregations including Manchester (IN), La Verne (CA), Lansing (MI), University Baptist and Brethren (PA), and Open Circle (MN). Plans are already being made for a 2009 event. 

6)  Welcoming Church Training

Goshen, Indiana, was the site of a recent Welcoming Church Training that drew participants from 13 different congregations, including 11 Mennonite and Brethren congregations, in order to explore concrete ways of helping their faith communities become more welcoming of lgbt and allied people. Thanks to the Arcus and Carpenter Foundations, funding is in place to enable BMC and its three partner organizations to offer the trainings throughout the US and Canada for the next two years. A 2009 listing of training sites will soon be announced.

7)  Congratulations Connecticut!

On November 12, the state of Connecticut became the second state in the US to practice marriage equality. Recalling that laws in the not-so-distant past had barred interracial marriage, excluded women from various occupations and official duties, and relegated black Americans to separate but supposedly equal public facilities, the state’s Supreme Court ruled that excluding same-sex couples from marriage violated the constitutional guarantee to equal protection under the law. There are currently nine states that offer same sex marriage, civil unions or domestic partnerships. Can you name them? (answers below*)

8)  Your Support Needed

With slumping economies and a vigorous program to fund, this will be a challenging year for BMC financially. Your contributions are needed to enable us to continue to resource youth and their advisors, build supportive coalitions, sponsor conferences, offer trainings, develop resources and continue to be a support for those who are coming out or in need of a caring presence. Contributions may be made online at www.bmclgbt.org or sent to our office at:

BMC/  Box 6300/  Minneapolis, MN 55406.  Thank you so much for your support!

*Marriage:  Massachusetts, Connecticut.

Civil unions: New Hampshire, Vermont, New Jersey, Connecticut.

Domestic partnerships: Maine, Washington, Oregon, California.

BMC NewsNet is an electronic newsletter produced by Carol Wise and Carrie Fry-Miller 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.

To donate to BMC, go to our website at www.bmclgbt.org and click on Donate Now. You can also send a check to the BMC office, PO Box 6300, Minneapolis, MN  55406. Thank you for your generous support!

BMC Staff

Carol Wise – Executive Director, SCN Coordinator

Carrie Fry-Miller - Kaleidoscope Coordinator, BMC Volunteer

Randall Friesen – Outspoken Editor