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Transcript of 2010 Summer Katalyst
Summer 2010 • Katalyst | 1
WWW.RMNETWORK.ORG
KATALYSTNEWSLETTER OF RECONCILING MINISTRIES NETWORK
VOL. 27 NO. 3 SUMMER, 2010
Inclusive Teaching is Necessary for Progress
I am a member of Hennepin Avenue UMC, Minneapolis, MN, a congregation that became
reconciling in 1993. Hennepin has always been very progressive; in 1956 it was one of the first churches in the country to merge its journey with a black congregation. Prior to the 1993 reconciling date, the congregation studied and explored what Homosexuality and Reconciling were all about, paving the way for others and myself to be free and safe in Church. One of the saints, the Rev. Howard B. Johnson, who led the way at Hennepin, has gone on to join the Church Triumphant. It is because of people like Howard that I am engaged in reconciliation work, indebted to the strong conviction of doing what is right and just. We have only to look to Jesus to see the examples of how Jesus treated his fellow human beings with dignity and see that we are expected to do the same.
Jesus’ journey, like ours, began at the grassroots level. As the chair of the Grassroots Committee I know we’re gaining ground in The United Methodist Church. Look how far the movement has come in the past 25 years through your faith, prayer and donations. We have come this far by faith, motivated by love, but our journey is not over. We have many bridges to cross, countries and continents to talk to, stories to tell
Gaining Ground
Continued on Page 2
Imagine stand-ing on a college campus and sud-denly you see stu-dents setting up an event table, not an uncommon
sight. What seems unique is that they are “performing weddings” to cele-brate National Freedom to Marry Day. Now clearly this is a stunt. These are not real, but the smiles, giggles and joy are real. These young people are cre-atively demonstrating that they support all people’s right to marry.
Events similar to this happened all the time at my college, and young people are working for LGBTQ jus-tice all over the world. They are lead-ing Bible Studies on the intersection of faith and sexuality, and attending or planning rallies for equality. There are youth refusing to attend proms at their high schools or to recite the Pledge of Allegiance until all people have equal rights.
At events like United Methodist Student Forum and Global Young People Convocation these grassroots leaders engage in thoughtful dialogue and powerful individual conversations. In support of a resolution calling for affirmation of same-sex marriage, one young clergyman from Germany
spoke of feeling actively constrained by church policies which deny mar-riage equality although it is a civil re-ality for his congregation. However, young adults do not automatically sup-port equality; like General Conference, the Global Convocation failed to call the church to a bold vision of inclusion.
The Southeastern Jurisdiction hosts Youth in Mission, an event which at-tempts to give young people the op-portunity to learn about systemic jus-tice and advocacy. But young people at this event have not yet worked on questions of sexual orientation or gen-der identity. No one will learn to advo-cate for LGBTQ people until they both hear inclusion preached from the pulpit and learn the skills to believe out loud.
That is where our grassroots efforts come in. As a denomination, the UMC still takes stances that deny full equal-ity for all people by denying weddings, ordination and, in some cases, mem-bership. We are all needed in local set-tings to tell our stories and work with young people. We can be youth group leaders or volunteers, mentors, or in-vite them into our conversations. We can follow the example of young peo-ple who seek opportunities, share sto-ries and dialogue on LGBTQ inclusion, because relationships share infinitely more than any two minute speech.
By Rachel Birkhahn-Rommelfanger, RMN Board Memberby Larry Duncan, RMN Board Member
2 | Katalyst • Summer 2010
R E C O N C I L I N G M I N I S T R I E S N E T W O R K mobilizes United Methodists of all sexual orientations and gender identities to transform our Church and world into the full expression of Christ’s inclusive love.
BOARD OF DIRECTORSHelen AndrewRachel Birkhahn-RommelfangerVincent CervantesRev. Daniel DissLawrence T. DuncanRev. Duane A. EwersElizabeth A. FimbresWill J. GreenEsther Villarreal HouserMadelyn MarshRev. David MeredithDr. Randall MillerRev. Holland MorganRev. Joshua M. NoblittRev. John OdaElizabeth OkayamaRev. Dr. Karen OlivetoRosario QuiñonesRev. Dr. Bruce RobbinsSally SparksRev. Dr. Derrick SpivaMonica L. SwinkJoy T. WattsRalph A. Williams
LEGAL COUNSELJennifer Soule
RMN STAFFMeg Carey Business Manager
James DaltonCommunication/Technology Coord.
Rev. Carl DavisDirector of Development
Stephanie Harris Admin & Donor Relations Associate
Rachel Harvey, Deaconess Associate Executive Director
Audrey Krumbach, M.Div. Field Organizer
Rev. Troy Plummer Executive Director
The Reconciling Group at Central United Methodist Church, Ashville, NC, is alive and well. Several years ago we discerned a need within our con-gregation for more education around the intersections of homosexuality, the Bible and United Methodist policy. Our first step, a four-session Sunday school class on homosexuality in 2007, didn’t seem to ruffle many feathers, so in 2008 we held a church wide screen-ing of For the Bible Tells Me So. We had people present with views across the spectrum and followed the screen-ing with a four-week dialogue program on homosexuality we developed using Wesley’s quadrilateral. Each week our community’s excitement grew as more people joined the dialogue. From our dialogue, a chorus emerged who sought to speak and sing our welcome in more direct ways.
In September 2009, we were invited to participate in RMN’s four week pilot program “Toward Inclusiveness”, now known as Rethink Inclusion. Rethink Inclusion naturally crescendoed our group toward bold actions by encour-aging us to develop active steps both as individuals and a group at the end of each session. One step developed a statement of belief for our group. That statement evolved into our Reconciling Statement adopted January 6, 2010. We have received pushback from members of our church who do not agree with our belief statement; however we con-
tinue the dialogue whenever the oppor-tunity is open.
We expanded our connection to oth-er local congregations and Reconciling United Methodists by participating in a Believe Out Loud training. The workshop helped each of us develop and practice telling our stories, stories we shared at the 2010 Western North Carolina annual conference where we hosted a booth and open worship ser-vice for over 100 people.
We were honored to have Bishop Richard B. Wilke speak at Central in August encouraging us in our welcome to everyone who comes through our doors. As we continue our journey to-ward living out loud as a welcoming, open and inclusive community, new voices continue to join our chorus as we seek new songs of welcome along our journey for the full inclusion of all God’s children. We are grateful for all the resources and support RMN has provided us on this journey.
Reconciling Group at Central United Methodist Church By Karen Ballard
GAINING GROUND, CONT. FROM PAGE 1and listen to dialogue to begin. It can be done with your help.
For those who have eyes to see and ears to hear, Jesus still reaches out to us. We must learn how to read the sacred story along with our stories. Seeds are being planted all the time into the soil. I invite you to help. Partner with RMN to sow new seeds by working with churches in your community that take on a Reconciling identity. Nurture the soil our movement is planted in by getting involved in your Annual Conference Team and become a RMN donor. Join us as we work toward and celebrate the year round harvest of God’s justice.
RMN Board Member Rev. Josh Noblitt with the Wilkes at Central UMC
Summer 2010 • Katalyst | 3
Getting conversation started about full inclusion beyond preaching to the choir is one of our movements greatest challenges. We know from research and personal experience that there is a large section of persons who need support to help them be fully inclusive. Either they have a lingering bible question, have yet to experience the harm exclusion causes, or perhaps are concerned about what being publicly supportive will mean to them personally in their home, in their Sunday School Class, in their pew.
Rethink Inclusion, www.rethinkinclusion.org, is designed specifically with the concerns and questions of the “moveable middle” or “compassionately conflicted” in mind. From a beginning one-session tutorial and quizzes to measure familiarity with inclusion and the United Methodist’s exclusive policies to a free downloadable four-week curriculum with video, leader’s guide, and lesson plans, Rethink Inclusion helps our compassionately conflicted Sisters and Brothers begin those new discussions in new places.
Rethink Inclusion: Starter Kit for the Moveable MiddleBy Rev Troy Plummer
P o s t , S e n d L i n k , O f f e r S u p p o r t , M a k e i t v i r a l ! Use Facebook, Twitter, blogs, listservs, personal e-mail
list, and other avenues you have access to for distribution. Invite others to share further!
Think regionally too: Your annual conference might announce it in the newsletter or post it on their website. If you are part of an annual conference clergy group or committee, make sure they get the chance to use the materials too! Send it to your bishop with a personal note.
Always be sure to offer your support as well and be ready to share why this is important to you and connect them further with RMN resources including our blog (www.rmnblog.org), website (www.rmnetwork.org), and staff (773.736.5526)!
Churches:Sweet Home UMC of Sweet Home, ORLakewood UMC of St. Petersburg, FL
East Longmeadow UMC of East Longmeadow, MAThe United Church and Die Vereinigte
Kirche of Washington, DCDorsey Emmanuel UMC of Elkridge, MD
Crawford Memorial UMC of Winchester MASunnyside Centenary UMC of Portland, OR
The United Church of Hinesburg of Hinesburg, VTChurch of the Saviour of Indianapolis, IN
New Reconciling CommunitiesCommunities:
Orange County Community Of Reconciling United Methodists, Orange County, CA
The LGBT Outreach Team of South Anchorage of Anchorage, AKAges and Stages Reconciling
Community of Salina, KSSeekers Sunday School Class of Union
Avenue UMC of Alliance, OH
4 | Katalyst • Summer 2010
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RC
s: 8
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sey
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tern
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ling
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mm
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itie
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solu
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s: 0
2010
Ann
ual C
onfe
renc
eA
mov
emen
t for
full
incl
usio
n is
gro
win
g ac
ross
the
Uni
ted
Stat
es.
This
map
is a
n ill
ustr
atio
n of
Rec
onci
ling
Ann
ual C
onfe
renc
e w
itne
ss in
201
0.
Cont
act t
he R
MN
offi
ce to
con
nect
to y
our A
nnua
l Con
fere
nce
Team
’s w
itne
ss in
201
1!M
ap b
y Ja
mes
Dal
ton
and
Rach
el H
arve
y, D
eaco
ness
Summer 2010 • Katalyst | 5
Calif
orni
a-Pa
cific A
nnua
l Con
fere
nce
The 2
010
Bre
akin
g th
e Sile
nce l
unch
eon
cele
brat
-ed
the
grou
p’s
hist
ory
and
enco
urag
ed n
ew w
ays
to
spea
k ou
t abo
ut fu
ll in
clus
ion.
Ove
r 300
peo
ple
gath
-er
ed to
key
note
spea
ker K
y D
icke
ns ,
dire
ctor
of F
ish
Out
of
Wat
er, a
new
doc
umen
tary
abo
ut t
he B
ible
an
d ho
mos
exua
lity
http
://w
ww
.fish
outo
fwat
erfil
m.
com
/. D
icke
ns en
cour
aged
lunc
heon
atte
ndee
s to
use
the
criti
cal
time
betw
een
now
and
Gen
eral
con
fer-
ence
to b
elie
ve o
ut lo
ud!
The g
roup
took
this
chal
leng
e ser
ious
ly b
y re
plac
-in
g th
e re
d co
nfer
ence
nam
e ta
g la
nyar
ds w
ith b
eau-
tiful
blu
e B
reak
ing
the
Sile
nce
ones
. M
any
wea
r-er
s fo
und
the
lany
ards
wer
e ex
celle
nt c
onve
rsat
ion
star
ters
, cre
atin
g an
opp
ortu
nity
to s
hare
thei
r st
ory
with
new
old
frie
nds.
In th
ese l
anya
rds,
Bre
akin
g th
e Si
lenc
e ex
pand
ed t
heir
tradi
tiona
l ev
ent
base
d w
it-ne
ss a
nd la
unch
ed a
new
way
to ta
lk a
bout
incl
usio
n.
Texa
s Ann
ual C
onfe
renc
eNe
w Yo
rk A
nnua
l Con
fere
nce
This
yea
r, th
e M
inne
sota
Ann
ual C
onfe
renc
e be
lieve
d ou
t lo
ud f
or f
ull
incl
usio
n by
pas
sing
ei
ght
reso
lutio
ns w
hich
ask
the
201
2 G
ener
al
Con
fere
nce
to e
nd c
hurc
h di
scrim
inat
ion
base
d up
on se
xual
orie
ntat
ion
or g
ende
r ide
ntity
. The
se
petit
ions
requ
est t
he re
mov
al o
f hur
tful l
angu
age
in e
ight
diff
eren
t par
agra
phs
of th
e bo
ok o
f dis
-ci
plin
e re
late
d to
: the
inco
mpa
tibili
ty c
laus
e, o
r-di
natio
n, li
cens
ing
loca
l pas
tors
, sam
e-se
x m
ar-
riage
, and
fund
ing.
In a
dditi
on to
thes
e pe
titio
ns, t
he M
inne
sota
A
nnua
l C
onfe
renc
e jo
ins
a nu
mbe
r of
ann
ual
conf
eren
ces
in r
eque
stin
g th
e Ju
dici
al C
ounc
il re
visi
t Dec
isio
n 10
32.
The
sum
tota
l of t
hese
pe-
titio
ns m
ake
it cl
ear t
hat t
his
is o
ne a
nnua
l con
-fe
renc
e w
here
all
mea
ns a
ll.
Min
neso
ta A
nnua
l Con
fere
nce
This
ye
ar
the
Cal
iforn
ia
Paci
fic
Ann
ual
Con
fere
nce
bore
witn
ess
to
stor
ies
of l
esbi
an,
gay,
bis
exua
l an
d tra
nsge
nder
U
nite
d M
etho
dist
s an
d th
eir
fam
ilies
. T
hese
sac
red
stor
ies
built
br
idge
s an
d in
vite
d so
lidar
ity
acro
ss l
ines
of
excl
usio
n an
d si
lenc
e.
Cle
rgy
spok
e of
livi
ng in
dai
ly te
nsio
n be
caus
e th
e ch
urch
they
serv
e do
es n
ot
resp
ect t
hem
for
the
pers
on th
ey lo
ve.
One
cou
ple
desc
ribed
thei
r ang
er w
hen
the
chur
ch w
ho h
ad b
aptiz
ed th
eir c
hil-
dren
excl
uded
thei
r chi
ldre
n be
caus
e of
thei
r se
xual
orie
ntat
ion.
O
ther
sto
ries
clai
med
the
une
ndin
g gr
ace
of G
od,
nam
ed th
e ho
pe fo
und
whe
n th
ey w
ere
expl
icitl
y w
elco
med
to th
e co
mm
unio
n ta
ble,
and
des
crib
ed t
he j
oy o
f ce
le-
brat
ing
an a
nniv
ersa
ry w
ith a
par
tner
in
chu
rch.
Th
is p
ower
ful
proj
ect
was
spo
ken
into
exi
sten
ce w
hen
the
2009
Ann
ual
Con
fere
nce
appr
oved
“si
gnifi
cant
tim
e on
the
age
nda
for
Uni
ted
Met
hodi
st
gay
and
lesb
ian
fam
ilies
to s
hare
thei
r st
orie
s w
ith t
he A
nnua
l C
onfe
renc
e.”
In ad
ditio
n to
the t
wel
ve st
orie
s sha
red,
a
min
istry
en
richm
ent
sess
ion
fo-
cuse
d on
cre
atin
g a
cultu
re o
f ra
dica
l w
elco
me
and
twen
ty-s
ix s
torie
s w
ere
publ
ishe
d in
a r
esou
rce
book
for
con
-gr
egat
iona
l us
e.
This
boo
k ca
n be
do
wnl
oade
d fr
om h
ttp://
ww
w.c
al-p
ac.
org/
page
s/de
tail/
1925
Met
hodi
sts
In N
ew D
irect
ions
(M
IND
), or
gani
zed
witn
esse
s of
mer
cy a
nd j
ustic
e on
the
gro
und
and
on-
line
this
yea
r. I
n ad
ditio
n to
thei
r an
nual
arm
band
wit-
ness
at t
he o
rdin
atio
n se
rvic
e, M
IND
off
ered
ann
ual c
on-
fere
nce
mem
bers
res
t an
d re
fres
hmen
ts a
t a
hosp
italit
y te
nt. M
IND
als
o in
trodu
ced
four
pro
LG
BT
reso
lutio
ns.
Res
olut
ions
rela
ted
to h
ate
crim
es, s
ame-
sex
wed
ding
s or
holy
uni
ons
and
LGB
T m
ilita
ry s
ervi
ce a
ll pa
ssed
. O
ne
reso
lutio
n ca
lling
for t
he a
nnua
l con
fere
nce
to p
ublic
ally
ac
know
ledg
e th
e un
just
pol
icie
s of t
he U
nite
d M
etho
dist
C
hurc
h, th
ough
hea
vily
supp
orte
d, w
as ru
led
out o
f ord
er
and
will
be
revi
ewed
by
the
Judi
cial
Cou
ncil
in O
ctob
er.
All
witn
esse
s co
ordi
nate
d on
the
gro
und
wer
e m
agni
-fie
d on
-line
thro
ugh
MIN
D’s
fac
eboo
k, tw
itter
and
new
w
ebsi
te h
ttp://
ww
w.m
indn
y.or
g/ .
Bey
ond
annu
al c
onfe
r-en
ce, M
IND
’s w
ebsi
te c
ontin
ues t
o co
nnec
t MIN
D m
em-
bers
and
bey
ond
thro
ugh
a w
eekl
y en
ewsl
ette
r hig
hlig
ht-
ing
natio
nal a
nd lo
cal e
vent
s.
The M
issi
ssip
pi A
nnua
l Con
fere
nce
disc
usse
d tw
o re
solu
tions
on
hum
an
sexu
ality
whi
ch d
espi
te th
eir p
olar
po-
sitio
ns,
both
pas
sed.
W
hile
the
con
-fe
renc
e su
ppor
t of
a r
esol
utio
n se
ek-
ing
“clo
sure
re
gard
ing
the
(200
9)
lesb
ian
test
imon
y”
proh
ibits
LG
BT
test
imon
ies
durin
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nnua
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to: d
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love
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For a
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repo
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visi
t:w
ww
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Ann
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6 | Katalyst • Summer 2010
When faced with a difficult decision my grandfather would often pause, look at the rest of us gathered around the supper table and quote from President Roosevelt’s 1933 in-augural address, “Let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
I was recently reminded of that concept while on a road trip through the Mid-West to visit RMN donors when I met a transgender United Methodist called to pastoral ministry. She completed Local Pastor’s Licensing School and was ex-cited to take the next step in answering God’s call in her life. However, unlike every other person in her class, she was not appointed to serve a church at the end of her training.
The Book of Discipline does not prohibit transgender pastors from serving congregations as it does “self avowed practicing homosexuals.” So why wouldn’t a Bishop or District Superintendant appoint her to pastor a parish?
A year after she concluded her training my new friend learned the answer to this question, and it was exactly what Roosevelt warned us against many years ago. Fear - what FDR called the “unreasoning, unjustified terror which para-lyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.” The District Superintendant had been slow to appoint this person because he feared how she would be treated and received by a parish; he feared the political fallout of such an appoint-ment in a conservative Annual Conference. He feared the unknown.
But the Holy Spirit continued to sanctify his heart and the truth of I John 4:8 “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out all fear.” won out. So emboldened was he by the liberating love of Christ, that he personally reached out to this transgender local pastor candidate, apologized to her and asked her to help “teach the teacher” as he continues to
grow with her in Christ’s inclusive and transforming love.Today they are working in a new ministry to LGBT peo-
ple in their community. Together, they boldly proclaim that they are liberated from subjection to fear by the love of God through Jesus Christ.
RMN’s mission is not accomplished merely by fixing The Book of Discipline’s anti-gay policies. As this case shows, prejudice and fear will continue to negatively impact LGBT United Methodists even when such hatred is no longer codi-fied in denominational rules.
Only by sharing Christ’s inclusive love with individuals and living out the Gospel’s teachings of justice and inclu-sion, will RMN’s mission be accomplished.
Accomplishing our mission requires long term strategic planning. That is why I invite you to join me in making a planned gift to RMN at this time. Together, let us assert our firm belief that not only is the only thing to fear, fear itself, but also that perfect love casts out all fear.
RMN is a beneficiary in my will because I know of no better way to help change the hearts of people like the District Superintendent mentioned above from hearts of fear, to hearts of love. I know that only by changing those hearts will God’s realm come to earth as it is in heaven.
Please contact Carl Davis at (773) 736-5526 or e-mail [email protected] to request information about how to leave RMN in your will, or make RMN the beneficiary of an insurance policy.
By Rev. Carl Davis
Tributes and MemorialIn Honor of...
Rev. John Oda was honored by:Judy Dowell and Rev. David Weekley
Julie Arms was honored by: Leigh Dry and Rev. Dr. Karen Oliveto Bishop Mel & Marilyn Talbert were
honored by Edgehill UMCBill Brownson was honored by Rev. Jim & Carol Waugh
Bob & Joyce Swing were honored by Reconciling Uniting Ministries of IL
Dr. Brian Watson was honored by Chuck ChipmanBishop Jack & Margie Tuell were honored by
Bishop Sharon & Rev. Blaine RaderJames Dalton was honored by Will J. Green
Rev. Josh Noblitt was honored by Kathryn McElveenThe Watts Family was honored by Mindy Carter
Mindy Carter was honored by The Watts FamilyPat & Chuck Simons were honored by The Watts FamilyRev. Bob Epps was honored by Jo Ellen & Stephen Ham
Rev. Tom Douce was honored by The Watts FamilySamuel Clark was honored by Mark
Gruber & Sheldon LebowitzVicki Flippin & Diamond Hill UMC were
honored by Rev. John Alden & Maggie Carr
In Memory of...Mr. & Mrs. Charles Boyer remember Billie StierleBonnie & James Rock remember George EverettCarlton Bauer remembers Rev. Howard Johnson
Don & Rev. Donna Morrow De Camp and Kathy Reynolds remember Lee Williamson
Love Casts Out Fear “
“When you name RMN as a beneficiary in your will you
invest in a future where love wins out.
Summer 2010 • Katalyst | 7
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8 | Katalyst • Summer 2010
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