Towards a Welcoming and Inclusive Church
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Embodying Our Faith
Reconciling Journeys
Reconciling Journeys introduces Reconciling Ministries Network and the Reconciling Process to individuals, groups and congregations in The United Methodist Church.
For your community to become Reconciling, our basic requirement is a public statement of inclusion that particularly mentions "all sexual orientations and gender identities." This statement must be approved by a leadership group within the congregation or community.
Reconciling Journeys was part of a DVD sent to all 2008 General Conference Delegates and Bishops. You can purchase a copy at the Reconciling Ministries Network Online Store.
Faith in Action
Open Letter to Religious Leaders on Marriage Equality
2008 is a historic year for marriage equality for same-sex couples. But you know that religious right leaders are vigorously organizing to turn back recent gains in California, Arizona and other states.
In the coming months, ballot initiatives, pending legislation and imminent court decisions in at least a dozen states will tip the scales of justice -- toward greater equality or continued discrimination. You can make the difference.
The Religious Institute is launching a national campaign to obtain thousands of clergy signatures on its Open Letter to Religious Leaders on Marriage Equality.
We need you to sign a letter supporting marriage equality today. If you are ordained clergy, and ish to sign the letter, click here: http://www.religiousinstitute.org/marriageextra.html and complete the form.
With ballot initiatives as well as numerous court cases pending, this is a CRITICAL moment to demonstrate that mainstream and progressive clergy from diverse traditions support marriage equality for same sex couples.
Thank you!
The Reverend Debra W. Haffner
Director
Religious Institute on Sexual Morality Justice, and Healing
Pastors defy United Methodist officials to conduct gay weddings
Scores of United Methodist Church ministers in California are putting their careers on the line in an open revolt against religious edicts that forbid them to conduct weddings for gay and lesbian couples.
The pastors could lose their jobs and clerical credentials in the church, the nation's second-largest Protestant denomination.
Ministers in Santa Monica, Claremont, Walnut Creek and other cities have already performed ceremonies for gays and lesbians or are planning to do so.
Hot off the press!
The much anticipated For the Bible Tells Me So: A Study Guide and Advocacy Training Curriculum by Rev. Chris Glaser is now available through HRC's Religion and Faith Program online and free of charge.
Created to accompany the award-winning, life changing film For the Bible Tells Me So, this user- friendly guide will enable anyone to facilitate a moving conversation about the Bible, our congregations and LGBT people. It will empower you and participants to take these conversations to the next level to create communities that move beyond acceptance to advocacy.
The curriculum is divided into three comprehensive sections:
- Part One: Opening the Conversation
A discussion of the feelings the film evokes about our families and our faith. - Part Two: Joining the Bible's Conversation
A conversation about the Bible - both how it is often used to discriminate against LGBT people and how it is a source of empowerment and liberation. - Part Three: What Do We Do Now?
A step-by-step training to move people of faith and congregations from acceptance to public advocacy.
More Light Presbyterians Applaud General Assembly Action
PCUSA Welcomes All to Service
in the Church
SAN JOSE, CA — June 27, 2008 — More Light Presbyterians said a decision today by the 218th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) to lift its ban on ordination for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons is good news for Presbyterians and Christians across the country and world.
"This is a great moment affirming God's love for all people. We are thankful to the Commissioners at this Assembly who upheld standards for leadership and service in our Church, and at the same time eliminated categorical discrimination that has denied ordination to LGBT persons based simply on who they are and who they fall in love with," said Michael J. Adee, Executive Director and Field Organizer for the organization.
The action by the General Assembly removes G.60106b from its Book of Order, the Constitution which governs the Church and replaces it with new language. Formerly, it required fidelity in marriage between a man and a woman or chastity in singleness to be eligible for ordination as deacons, elders or ministers.
"The intent of this standard, passed over a decade ago, was to bar LGBT persons from full membership and service in our Church since marriage equality is not yet available to most in our country," Adee said.
New language passed by the General Assembly reaffirms historic standards of the Church that focus on faith and character which has withstood the test of time, and did not exclude anyone based on sexual orientation, gender identity or marital status.
Looking to the Future
"A new spirit of acceptance and the recognition that we have many different kinds of families in our churches has taken hold," said Vikki Dearing, Co-Moderator. "This reflects the hearts and spirits of people in the pews. We rejoice with the many that will now be able to answer God's call to serve in our Church."
We believe that God is doing a new thing in our Church. We believe that a more loving and welcoming Church is where the Spirit is taking us. We invite everyone who wants to know how to become a more welcoming and affirming place for all God's children to contact us. Together we are building a Church for all God's people!
Presbyterian General Assembly Votes to Restore Heidelberg Catechism to Historical Accuracy
Thursday, June 26 2008 @ 11:55 AM
The 218th General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to correct the Heidelberg Catechism.
San Jose: The 218th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church voted this morning to restore the historic church confession, the Heidelberg Catechism, to its historical accuracy!
After rejection of the minority report and extended debate, the Assembly voted with a strong 60% majority to restore the Heidelberg Catechism to its historic accuracy which did not include a reference to "homosexual perversion".
Other Ecumenical and Multi-Faith Collaborations
Upcoming Training Opportunities
- Columbus, OH — Welcoming Church Program Training
August 7 – 10, 2008
Lord of Life Lutheran Church
Columbus, OH - Milwaukee, WI — Welcoming Church Program Training
August 21–24, 2008
Martin Luther Lutheran Church
Milwaukee WI - Glendale, CA — Welcoming Church Program Training
September 19-21, 2008
Glendale, CA - Winston-Salem, NC — Towards a Welcoming and Inclusive Church
September 19 - 21, 2008
Wake Forest Divinity School
Winston-Salem, NC - Goshen, IN — Towards a Welcoming and Inclusive Church
Oct 24 - 26, 2008
Assembly Mennonite Church
Goshen, IN - Independence, MO — Towards a Welcoming and Inclusive Church
November 7 - 9, 2008
Cornerstone Community of Christ
Independence, MO
Join Us for our Next Conference
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!
September 4-7, 2008
Equipping the saints
for the ministry of
God's extravagant welcome
Many Stories
We come from many different contexts. We are Protestant, Catholic, Pentecostal, Evangelical, Anabaptist. We are African American, Asian and Pacific Islander, Latino/a, First Nation People, European American. We are queer, questioning, intersex, lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual, heterosexual. We are a diverse mix of theological and political beliefs: progressive, moderate, conservative.
One Voice
And we are drawn together into Christian Community. As we come to genuinely know one another, we are invited to challenge the world to these same kinds of just, loving and genuine relationships across race, class, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation and ability. We are devout in our faith and committed to a just society that discriminates against no one. We are drawn together to speak with one voice the truth of God’s extravagant welcome.
BIG NEWS
We are thrilled to announce that Archbishop Desmond Tutu, winner of the 1984 Nobel Peace Prize, has agreed to record a brief greeting to the conference. Internationally known for his efforts to expunge racism, heterosexism and other forms of oppression from society and the Church, earlier this year he received the Outspoken Award from the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission.
New & Timely Resources
- To the Tune of a Welcoming God: Lyrical Reflections on Sexuality, Spirituality, and the Wideness of God's Welcome - explores the divisive questions of whether and how the church might welcome the GLBT Christians at its doorstep—and already in its pews.
- Heterosexism in Contemporary World Religion: Problem and Prospect - Homosexuality is not a problem; heterosexism is, and this problem is often supported by religious statements and practices against sexual minorities.
- Creating Safe Environments for LGBT Students: A Catholic Schools Perspective - A comprehensive training guidebook for educators who are committed to diversity and the full inclusion of LGBT students in every aspect of the Catholic high school experience.
- In the Eye of the Storm: Swept to the Center by God
- The God Box
- Out of the Extraordinary - a compilation album project to raise visibility of the issue of ordination of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer (GLBTQ) pastors and raise funds for scholarships and debt relief for the GLBTQ pastors that have chosen to be or have been forced outside of the ELCA roster of pastors.
- What Every 21st-Century Parent Needs to Know: Facing Today's Challenges with Wisdom and Heart
- Would Jesus Discriminate?: The 21st Century Question
- For the Bible Tells Me So - a film offering healing, clarity and understanding to anyone caught in the crosshairs of scripture and sexual identity. Now available on DVD! Purchase at 25% off through the Human Rights Campaign's Religion and Faith Program
Liturgical Resource
A Place in God's Heart...
A Place at Christ's Table
Worship Resources for the
Welcoming Church Movement
Blogs
- Are You Guys Brothers?
Reflections on a long-term relationship by Brian McNaught - The Christian Agnostic
Candace Chellew-Hodge, founder/editor of Whosoever: An Online Magazine for GLBT Christians - A Christian Voice For Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Rights
Rev. Dr. Jerry S. Maneker - Crossing the T
Life at the intersection of Church and Trans with Rev. Allyson Robinson - Faith Matters
Community of Welcoming Congregations (Oregon & Washington) - Gay and Transgender Issues in the Workplace
By Brian McNaught - Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters
Author Alvin A. McEwen - An Inch at a Time: Reflections on the Journey
Integrity President Rev. Susan Russell - A Jihad for Love
by filmmaker Parvez Sharma - MoSAIC
Methodist Students for an All-Inclusive Church - Network of Spiritual Progressives
A project of the Tikkun Community - OutSpoken
National Gay & Lesbian Task Force - Peterson Toscano's A Musing
Musings of Peterson Toscano an ex-gay survivor. - Philocrites
Commentary by Chris Walton on Unitarian Universalism, liberal Christianity, American religion, and liberal culture - Religion Is A Queer Thing
Rev. Tiffany Steinwert, pastor of Cambridge Welcoming Ministries - Sexuality and Religion: What's the Connection?
By minister and sexologist Rev. Debra Haffner - Two World Collision
Being Gay and Christian by Eric - Wake up and LIVE
Thoughts and musings of a lesbian Episcopalian, by Susan Gage - Walking With Integrity
The official blog of Integrity USA
