BMC NewsNet
Vol. 6, No. 9
November 2006
  
left to right: Artist Rodney Harder, works by Rodney Harder,
hostesses Kelli Beingesser and Gail Newel at the BMC Fresno Fundraiser
1) Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise – World AIDS Day
2006, December 1
2) Save the Date: June 30 – July 1, 2007
3) Local Event Grants Available from BMC
4) Coming Out Strong
5) A request from the editor of Outspoken
6) BMC Ontario Christmas Potluck – December 9
7) BMC Ontario Winter Retreat 2007 – February 9-11
8) Fresno Fundraiser
9) Church of the Brethren Annual Conference
10) Brethren Test Congregational Disciplining
11) The Midwest Bisexual Lesbian Gay Transgender Ally
College Conference – February 16-18, 2007
12) Staff Travel
13) Marriage Gains
14) Consider a Gift
1) Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise – World AIDS Day
2006, December 1
HIV/AIDS first came to public awareness in the 1980’s due to its
effect on the gay community. Many early advances in research and treatment were
made possible by the advocacy of the lgbt community that came together to face
the crisis. Today, HIV/AIDS is a world epidemic that disproportionately affects
people of color, those in poverty, and developing nations.
New reports by UNAIDS and the World Health Organization (WHO)
indicate that, as of 2006, the epidemic continues to spread in every region of
the world. To date, more than 65 million people have been infected with HIV and
well over 25 million people have died of AIDS since 1981, 2.9 million in 2006
alone. At this rate, the WHO predicts that in the next 25 years another 117
million people will die, making AIDS the third leading cause of death
worldwide. Effectively tackling the AIDS epidemic remains one of the world's
most pressing public health challenges. To find out more about HIV/AIDS and
World AIDS Day events visit www.worldaidscampaign.info or www.unaids.org.
Encourage your governmental representatives to “Keep the Promise” made in 2000
to halt and begin to reverse the spread of AIDS by 2015.
2) Save the Date: June 30 – July 1, 2007
Those who yearn for a church that is genuinely welcoming of lgbt
people and who seek company for this justice journey, are invited to gather at
the worship space of the First Mennonite Church in San Francisco for a
conference that promises to be rich in worship, insight, laughter and
hope. The event will begin on Saturday, June 30, at approximately 1:00
pm, and will conclude on Sunday, July 1 at 5:00 pm. Transportation options for
the Mennonite Church USA Assembly in San Jose will be made available. The co-sponsorship
of BMC, SCN, First Mennonite Church of San Francisco, and MennoNeighbors,
offers a depth of talent and resources that will be well utilized. Please put
the date on your calendar and make this event part of your summer plans.
3) Local Event Grants Available from BMC
BMC wants to help you to get active. The Community, Outreach,
Resources, and Education Committee (CORE) of the BMC board is offering a new
program called Local Event Grants to encourage you to plan and host activities
in your area. If there is a workshop, conference, concert, play, or lecture
happening in your area that other BMCers might want to attend, we can
help you plan and promote it. If you want to plan a camping trip, retreat,
book or discussion group, workshop/training, potluck, knitting circle,
fundraiser, or any other gathering for BMCers in your area, we can assist. Call
us or email a proposal 4-6 weeks in advance and we can offer ideas, a little
seed money, and let others know about it. If you want to plan something but
need more ideas, contact the BMC office. We’d love to talk with you.
4) Coming Out Strong
BMC’s new DVD, Coming Out Strong, is now available
to download directly from the BMC website (www.bmclgbt.org) or may be ordered
from the office. The DVD, produced by Eric Kanagy, features the stories and
reflections of seven individuals who are part of the BMC community. This is a
wonderful resource for individuals, families, congregations, classes or groups
who are interested in learning more about the experiences of Brethren and
Mennonite lgbt and supportive people. It’s also a refreshing testimony to the
strength and vibrancy of BMC. DVD’s may be ordered by emailing bmc@bmclgbt.org. Five dollars
per DVD for postage and handling is requested.
5) A request from the editor of Outspoken
Has something great happened in your life? Are you an aware of an
event that you think might be of interest to others in BMC? Are there specific
things happening in your life, congregation, or local BMC group that you want
to celebrate or make known to others? Randall Friesen, editor of Outspoken, wants to hear all
about it. Send news of all the special events in your life to editor@bmclgbt.org. Photos are
particularly welcomed!
6) BMC Ontario Christmas Potluck – December 9
There will be a BMC Ontario Potluck in Kitchener on Saturday,
December 9 at 6:00 pm. This will be a great time to socialize with other
Ontario BMCers. Bring a salad, main course or dessert to Jane and Jane’s place
(209 Royal Orchard Dr, Kitchener) and a swim suit if you want to sit in the hot
tub. RSVP to bmcontario@yahoo.com. For more information, see www.bmclgbt.org/bmcontario.html.
7) BMC Ontario Winter Retreat 2007 – February 9-11
Mark your calendars for the BMC Ontario Winter Retreat 2007 at
Silver Lake Mennonite Camp the weekend of February 9-11. This tradition of BMC
Ontario is a popular social event and a great time to relax by the fire, ski,
catch up with old friends, make new friends, and enjoy great food. All are
welcomed, with southern neighbors encouraged to cross the border to enjoy the
cold, invigorating air of a Canadian winter. For registration information or
any questions, contact bmcontario@yahoo.com or see
www.bmclgbt.org/bmcontario.html.
8) Fresno Fundraiser
The night was clear, the food exquisite, the music delightful and
the company unequaled as approximately 200 friends and supporters of BMC
gathered at the lovely home of Gail Newel and Kelli Beingesser for an evening
of conversation, food, celebration and fundraising. As a gift to BMC, New York
artist Rodney Harder painted a series of 40 canvases whose intriguing colors
and lithe, abstract designs filled the walls of the house. Purchases of the
paintings and generous contributions helped raise $10,000 for BMC. This event
was particularly important because it brought members of the Mennonite Brethren
Church together for support, affirmation and a sense of community and hope. BMC
is very grateful to Rodney, Gail and Kelli for the magnitude of work that they
did to create a truly memorable evening.
9) Church of the Brethren Annual Conference
BMC, Womaen’s Caucus, and Voices for an Open Spirit (VOS)
submitted a joint application for exhibit space at the 2007 Church of the
Brethren Annual Conference. The letter to the Program and Arrangements
Committee read, “The over twenty-year exclusion of BMC from official booth space
has limited the denominational discernment process and has effectively denied
the deep-felt Christian convictions of the many members and supporters of
BMC…If you find that you cannot grant BMC an exhibitor’s booth, then VOS and
Womaen’s Caucus will not be able to accept individual booths.” BMC thanks
Caucus and VOS for their willingness to risk privilege (VOS and Caucus have
both enjoyed booth space in past years) in order to stand in solidarity with
their lgbt sisters and brothers. Decisions related to exhibit space have not
yet been announced.
10) Brethren Test Congregational Disciplining
The South/Central District of the Church of the Brethren broke
with decades, perhaps several hundred years of church practice and polity in
order to punish any congregation that “allows a same sex covenant service on
church property or with the assistance of church ministerial leadership.” At a
special district meeting in October, delegates voted for sanctions that include
a three-year moratorium upon the congregation’s participation in elected or
appointed district positions, including seating delegates at district
conference. The action was in response to district tension with the Manchester
Church of the Brethren, a publicly affirming congregation that is a member of
the Supportive Communities Network (SCN). Interestingly, the district’s action
is itself out of harmony with the denomination’s 2004 Statement on
Congregational Disagreement with Annual Conference Decisions. Before passing
the denominational statement in 2004, delegates at Annual Conference
specifically removed a recommendation that included the sanctioning of
congregations.
11) The Midwest Bisexual Lesbian Gay Transgender Ally
College Conference – February 16-18, 2007
Calling all BMC college and university students in the Midwest!
The University of Minnesota will be hosting the 2007 The Midwest Bisexual
Lesbian Gay Transgender Ally College Conference (MBLGTACC) in February in
Minneapolis. College and University students are encouraged to attend this
invigorating and informative annual conference. BMC is happy to host any
Brethren or Mennonite student interested in participating, and will to assist
with registration costs. Start planning now to bring yourself and your college
lgbta group to Minneapolis for a great conference!
12) Staff Travel
Kaleidoscope Coordinator, Katie Hochstedler, visited northern
Indiana from October 20-26. Hochstedler attended the Mennonite Young Adult
Fellowship retreat in South Bend and met with students and staff at Goshen
College and Manchester College. Hochstedler met with Advocates and Prism
groups, assisted with a Safe Zone training, and visited a number of faculty at
Goshen. At Manchester, Hochstedler gave a class presentation and met with
students of United Sexualities.
Executive Director, Carol Wise, traveled to Fresno in October for
the BMC fundraiser and an opportunity to meet with the Mennonite Brethren
community. She also preached and offered resources at the Ivester Church of the
Brethren in Iowa. In November, Wise was a keynote presenter at the Faith
Initiative’s gathering at the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force’s (NGLTF) Creating
Change Conference in Kansas City. She spoke on the harm that homophobia and
heterosexism imposes upon the church, and offered suggestions for healing. Also
in November, Wise participated in a MennoNeighbors meeting held at the
Hyattsville Mennonite Church in Maryland, and went from there to Nashville to a
Child Welfare League of American conference, where she was on panel of religious
leaders sponsored by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). The conference addressed
the needs of lgbt and questioning youth and families who are involved in the
child welfare system.
13) Marriage Gains
South Africa became the fifth country worldwide and the first
African country to extend marriage to same sex couples. The provision was
signed into law by acting president Phumzile Mlamblo-Ngcuka on November 30. The
Constitution of South Africa, passed in 1996 after the fall of apartheid,
specifically prohibits unfair discrimination on the grounds of sexual
orientation.
14) Consider a Gift
BMC welcomes your financial contributions so that we can continue
the work for lgbt justice and care for the well being of lgbt people, our
families and supporters within the Mennonite and Brethren churches. To
donate to BMC, go to our website at www.bmclgbt.org and click on Donate
Now. Contributions may also be sent to the BMC office at PO Box 6300,
Minneapolis, MN 55406. Thank you for your generous support this holiday
season!
BMC NewsNet is an electronic newsletter produced by Carol Wise and
Katie Hochstedler 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
Katie Hochstedler – Kaleidoscope Coordinator, BMC Volunteer
Paul Hawkins – Development Coordinator
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