2013 RMN Convocation: ChurchQuake Program Book

August 30 - September 2, 2013 National 4-H Youth Conference Center Chevy Chase, Maryland

Reconciling Ministries Network Convocation

$10

Table of Contents ChurchQuake Hospitality & Schedules Schedule.................................................................................1 Welcome from Board and Staff.......................................... 3 Hosts...................................................................................... 6 General Information............................................................ 8 Preconvocation Gatherings & Extension Ministries..... 14 Resource Center................................................................. 16

ChurchQuake Program Bible Study...........................................................................17 Plenary Sessions................................................................. 18 Awards................................................................................. 23 Ubuntu GoGroups............................................................. 24 Workshops.......................................................................... 28 Sunday Evening Celebration........................................... 38 Entertainment..................................................................... 39

Worship Guide Introduction to Worship................................................... 42 Friday Worship.................................................................. 45 Saturday Worship...............................................................47 Sunday Worship................................................................ 49 Monday Worship............................................................... 53 Worship Notes.................................................................... 69

Reconciling Ministries Network Mission and Vision............................................................ 72 Guiding Principles & Strategic Directions..................... 72 Grass Roots Movement..................................................... 74 Regional Network............................................................. 75 Resources.............................................................................81 A Brief History.................................................................... 83 Acknowledgements........................................................... 86 ChurchQuake Evaluation Survey.......................................87 Maps.......................................... inside/outside back cover

Schedule Thursday, August 29, 2013--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------5:00-9:00pm

Registration opens

5:30-7:30pm

Dinner

J.C. Penney Lobby Clover Café

Friday, August 30, 2013------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------7:00-9:00am

Breakfast

Clover Café

8:00am-8:00pm

Registration open

9:00-9:45am

Preconvocation Gatherings Opening Worship

10:00am-4:30pm

Preconvocation Gatherings (p. 14)

J.C. Penney Lobby Missouri Room

MOSAIC

Clover A

Parents Reconciling Network (PRN)

America

Reconciling MInistries Clergy (RMC)

Missouri Room

Transgender Extension Ministry (TEM)

Iowa A

UMs of Color for an All-Inclusive Church (UMOC)

Iowa B

Reconciling Process Coach Training

Clover B/C

10:00am-8:00pm

Resource Center open (p. 16)

Minnesota Room

11:30am-1:30pm

Lunch

2:30, 3:30, 4:30pm

Orientation sessions (p. 9)

5:00-6:00pm

Choir rehearsal (p. 8)

Auditorium

5:30-7:30pm

Dinner

Clover Café

7:15pm

Gathering Music & Worship, Rev. Vicki Flippin preaching (p. 45) Auditorium

8:15pm

Welcome & Bible Study with Peterson Toscano (p. 17)

9:30pm

Entertainment with Carmen-Vira DiVa, Luster, & HiTM ENT (p. 39) Auditorium

Clover Café Anderson Room

Auditorium

Saturday, August 31, 2013--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------7:00-9:00am

Breakfast

Clover Café

8:45am

Gathering Music & Worship, Rev. Dr. Karen Oliveto preaching (p.47)

Auditorium

9:00am-1:00pm

Resource Center open (p. 16)

9:45am

Bible Study with Peterson Toscano (p. 17)

Auditorium

10:30am

Plenary “State of the Movement” (p. 18)

Auditorium

11:45am-12:15pm

Choir rehearsal (p. 8)

Auditorium

Minnesota Room

more…

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Schedule

continued…

11:30am-1:30pm

Lunch

1:15pm

Ubuntu GoGroups convene (p. 24)

2:30-4:30pm

Ubuntu site visits

5:30-7:30pm

Dinner with Ubuntu GoGroups

6:00-8:30pm

Resource Center open (p. 16)

7:15pm

Gathering Music & Plenary “Embracing Our Interconnectedness” (p. 19)

Auditorium

9:30pm

Entertainment with Carmen-Vira DiVa & Tom Goss (p. 39)

Auditorium

Sweets for Sweets Reception by Affirmation

Clover Café

Clover Café Minnesota Room

Recreation Center

Sunday, September 1, 2013-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------7:00-9:00am

Breakfast

Clover Café

8:00AM-4:00pm

Resource Center open (p. 16)

8:45am

Gathering Music & Worship, Marcus Briggs-Cloud preaching (p. 49)

Auditorium

9:45am

Bible Study with Peterson Toscano (p. 17)

Auditorium

10:30am

Workshop session 1 (p. 28)

11:30am-1:30pm

Lunch

1:30pm

Workshop session 2 (p. 28)

3:15pm

Gathering Music & Plenary “Biblical Obedience” (p. 20)

Auditorium

4:45pm

RMN Awards (p. 23)

Auditorium

5:15-5:45pm

Choir rehearsal (p. 8)

Auditorium

5:30-7:30pm

Dinner

Clover Café

6:30-7:00pm

Buses leaving every 15 minutes for Metropolitan Memorial UMC

7:30pm

Celebration with Local Reconciling UMs (p. 38) Metropolitan Memorial UMC

9:15pm

Reception

9:45-10:15pm

Buses leaving every 15 minutes to return to National 4-H Center

Minnesota Room

Clover Café

Driveway

lawn of Metropolitan Memorial UMC

Monday, September 2, 2013------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------7:00-9:00am

Breakfast

Clover Café

9:00am

Plenary & Regional Gatherings “Coaching a ChurchQuake” (p. 21) Auditorium

10:15am

Gathering Music & Bible Study with Peterson Toscano (p. 17)

Auditorium

11:00am

Closing Worship, Rev. Joseph Tolton preaching (p. 53)

Auditorium

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RMN Board of Directors Rev. Bonnie Beckonchrist, Chair Bishop Melvin G. Talbert, Vice Chair Rachel Birkhahn-Rommelfanger, Secretary Giselle Lawn, Treasurer Brian Adkins Anne Brown M. Garlinda Burton Vincent D. Cervantes

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elcome to Churchquake! The Board of the Reconciling Ministries Network is glad you’ve chosen to spend this Labor Day holiday weekend together.

I remember awaiting the “quickening” of each of my pregnancies, that nearly imperceptible movement of life within, that seems at first to be something a bit like an air bubble. “Was that it?”, I wondered aloud, waiting for it to occur again for confirmation. Those moments were followed by months of twists and turns until that which had been conceived was ready to burst upon the world and the quickening became quaking.

Jayson Kerr Dobney Rev. Dr. Gayle Carlton Felton Rev. Dr. Kah-Jin Jeffrey Kuan Rev. Dr. Pamela R. Lightsey Anne Lynch Deborah Maria Lisa McFarland Rev. David W. Meredith Rev. Joshua M. Noblitt Rev. John Oda Rev. Drew Phoenix Bishop Sharon Z. Rader Gheeta Smith Frank M. Staggs, Jr. Robert Swing Dr. Carol Waymack

The definition of the word quicken (kwikən) is to spring to life; become animated; vitalize; to give or restore vigor. The ancient King James translation of holy writ uses the word in relationship to the Holy Spirit’s “quickening” power. It is in this sense I come to Churchquake full of excitement and anticipation. Our movement carries within it new life for The United Methodist Church that is now breaking forth in joyous exclamation,

“for freedom Christ has set us free” Galatians 5:1 “para la libertad con que Cristo nos hizo libres”

“자유 그리스도를 위해 우리는 무료로 설정 한”

“pour la liberté que Christ nous a libérés”

Creative worship, thought-provoking Bible Study, proclamation, discussion, conversation, community exploration and contextual reflection awaits us. You may be both invigorated and irritated by the quickening and quaking among us. A Churchquake will do that.

An amazing account recorded in Luke’s Acts of the Apostles is included in those we’ll examine during our time together. “Suddenly, there was a shaking of the foundation…and all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains fell away.”16:19 When one knows the outcome of Gospel obedience is Gospel freedom it helps us face our future without imprisoning fear.

Throughout this convocation, Board members’ nametags will identify them. Share your ideas and inspiration with them. We do the work of reconciliation together and your input is invaluable to us.

123 W. Madison Street, Suite 2150 Chicago, IL 60602 Phone: 773-736-5526 Fax: 773-736-5475 www.rmnetwork.org

Again, we rejoice that you are here,

Rev. Bonnie Beckonchrist, Chair RMN Board of Directors 3

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ne of my best friends recently travelled to his homeland of El Salvador.

He went there to be with his mother in her final days. She was the first woman dean of any professional school in El Salvador, a woman of deep faith, and an amazing mother. I spoke to him almost every night during this season of change. One night, there was a minor earthquake in El Salvador. We were skyping as he sat next to his mother’s bed while I sat on my big red sofa in my Chicago apartment. I remember his wide eyes, the look of panic, and the sharp tone in his voice as he shouted, “we’re having an earthquake.”

The foundations of his parents’ home shook, the dishes and glasses rattled, the concrete walkway cracked, and his mother’s very bed moved around on its wheels. As the land settled around my friend and his ailing mother, he put things back in place, picked up broken items, and took some deep breaths.

He then sat back down next to his mom who had awakened as a result of the tremors. In spite of her failing cognitive capacities, mother and son began a long conversation of such clarity, delight, and love—a kind of “farewell discourse.” While the synchronicity of earthquake and numinous exchange is remarkable, what is more remarkable is that up until that time, her cognitive impairment had blocked their attempts to communicate. There was a new freedom and a new clarity—a new and deeper connection borne of disturbance. The aftershock for them was a kind of afterglow.

Isn’t this the way it is—not only underneath the surface of the earth, but underneath the surface of who we are? Isn’t it true that our deepest emotional and spiritual growth is often precipitated by the seismic disturbances within our lives? Disturbing, unsettling, and interrupting energies form an epicenter out of which waves of spiritual growth undulate within us. In my life, the afterglow has only followed the tremor, the growth has only followed disturbance, and the freedom has only been felt after certain chains were shaken off.

Here, at Churchquake, we gather to form an epicenter of holy disruption with The United Methodist Church, but we also gather to be disrupted; we gather to create holy unsettlement within The United Methodist Church, but also to be unsettled; we gather to create holy interruption within The United Methodist Church, but also to be interrupted. We gather to shake up the United Methodist Church, but also to be shaken; to create waves of seismic proportions and to ride those undulating waves of God’s strange, new, and surprising grace.

Welcome to Churchquake 2013—hold on and enjoy the ride.

I’m so glad to be with you.

Matt Berryman, Executive Director

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Matt Berryman, Executive Director Prior to joining the staff, Matt spent three years in law school. From 20022009, Matt served United Methodist congregations in the Jacksonville area of the Florida Conference. In addition to serving churches in the United Kingdom, he has led training events and workshops for The United Methodist Church, The Fund for Theological Education, Emory University, and the Fellowship of United MethodBack row (left to right): Andy Oliver, Israel Alvaran, Debra Peevey (IWR), Matt Berryman, Helen Ryde, Laura Young, ists for Music and Worship Arts. He Ted Jackson, Meg Carey Front row (left to right): Laura Rossbert, Rachel Harvey, Robyn Henderson-Espinoza, David Braden received a B.A. from the University of South Carolina and a M.Div. from with Keith, his partner of twelve years, and two cats and is Emory University. Matt loves an outdoor concert, a good an avid knitter. idea, and his ten year old son, Aidan.

David Braden, Director of Development

Rev. Andy Oliver, Director of Communications

David oversees RMN’s fundraising activities. Before joining RMN, he served as the Manager of Foundation Relations at the Interfaith Youth Core. David received his M.A. in Social Work from the School of Social Service Administration at The University of Chicago and B.A. in International Studies from DePaul University. A lifelong United Methodist, David attends Urban Village Church in Andersonville, Chicago and serves as a member of the associate board of the Alexian Brothers Housing and Health Alliance.

Before joining RMN in 2012, Andy served as a United Methodist pastor in the Florida Conference, where he is an Elder. Andy received his B.S. in Public Relations from The University of Florida and his M.Div. from Duke Divinity School. Andy has two children: Liam, 4 and Evan, 2. Connect with him on social media at www.andyoliver.me.

Rev. Laura Rossbert, Director of Regional Organizing (Southeast Organizer) Laura joined RMN fulltime in July 2013 after serving as a strategic director with RMN on the Called to Witness Campaign. Laura is a Commissioned Deacon in the Tennessee Conference of The United Methodist Church. Laura also manages a conference for Queer Religious scholarship with Vanderbilt Divinity School and The Human Rights Campaign’s Religion & Faith Project. She has a Masters of Divinity from Vanderbilt Divinity School with a focus on gender/sexuality and is active in the local LGBT community in Nashville.

Meg Carey, Business Manager Meg has been with Reconciling Ministries Network since 1999 and has served as the business manager since 2002. In that capacity, she is responsible for accounts payable, human resources, and general office tasks.

Deaconess Rachel Harvey, Program Director Prior to joining RMN in August 2009, Rachel worked for 2 years as a mission specialist with The Advance at the General Board of Global Ministries. As a mission specialist she focused on youth and young adults and created the B1 campaign. From 2004–2006 Rachel was as a US-2 missionary serving as the director of CoffeeLoft.org, a Reconciling campus ministry at The University of South Dakota. Rachel is an aspiring gardener, dedicated aunt, and an ice cream enthusiast.

Helen Ryde, Northeast Regional Organizer Helen joined RMN in 2012. She was born and brought up in the UK and moved to the United States in 1998 to teach at a residential treatment center for children and adolescents with psychiatric and behavioral issues. In addition to her work as a regional organizer, Helen works part-time for a financial services company developing on-line learning courses. She graduated in post-graduate secondary education from Canterbury Christ Church University. She lives in Provincetown, Massachusetts with her partner Kate, and naughty but cute dog Bella. Helen has been a member of Provincetown UMC (a Reconciling Congregation) since 2006.

Dr. Ted Jackson, Office and Database Manager Ted joined the RMN team full-time in July 2011. In the position of Office and Database Manager, he handles donation processing, database administration, new member packets and new RC boxes, event registration, and other general office tasks. Ted holds a PhD in German Language and Literature from Washington University in St. Louis. He lives

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Laura Young, South Central Regional Organizer

the immigrant rights and the larger immigration movement in Denver, and LGBT issues nation-wide in academic, religious, and non-profit settings. A born-again vegetarian, Robyn celebrates life with her friend and spouse, Stephanie, along with their two dogs and three cats!

Laura has been volunteering with RMN since 2007. She is a member of the Texas Annual Conference, but currently lives in the Northwest Texas Conference, where her partner serves as the senior pastor of St. John’s UMC in Lubbock.

Laura chairs the board for Perkins Lay School of Theology, and co-chairs Breaking the Silence—a voice for full inclusion in the Texas Conference. She was the Legislative Coordinator for Church & Society B at the 2012 General Conference, and served as a lay delegate to Jurisdictional Conference. She enjoys live music, Houston Astros baseball, and collects giraffes.

Rev. Israel I. Alvaran, Western Regional Organizer Israel is an ordained Elder in the Philippines Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. He worked as a Person-in-Mission of the General Board of Global Ministries for the Manila Episcopal Area, focusing on advocacy for low-wage workers. For a number of years, he was a community outreach organizer for UNITE HERE Local 2 and Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice of California. Prior to joining RMN, he served as national organizer for economic justice with the General Board of Church and Society. Israel has a Masters of Divinity degree and a Masters of Theology degree from Union Theological Seminary in the Philippines and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Pacific School of Religion. Israel lives in San Francisco, where he loves to cook and bake for friends, and spends quality time with his adorable dog Waui Kush.

Robyn Henderson-Espinoza, North Central Regional Organizer Robyn, a Mexican-American and native of northern Mexico, the Republic of Texas, currently resides in Denver, Colorado, finishing a Ph.D. in Religion & Social Change with a specific focus on the materiality of bodies, committed to the emerging work in race and sexuality. Passionate about issues of justice, radical hospitality, and inclusion, Robyn has contributed to the anti-violence movement in Chicago,

Our ChurchQuake hosts will be RMN board members Pamela Lightsey and Josh Noblitt. They will be at the microphone before/after worship and plenary sessions to invite and encourage everyone’s participation in this glorious convocation experience together.

Dr. Rev. Pamela Lightsey is an out queer scholar and social justice activist at Boston University School of Theology where she serves as Associate Dean of Community Life and Lifelong Learning and Clinical Assistant Professor of Theology and Practice.

In the broader academy, Pamela serves as co-chair for the Womanist Approaches to Religion and Society Group of the American Academy of Religion. Her passion as a social justice activist and her commitment to being a servant of God’s beloved kingdom, has often found her strangely at odds with both the church and our American government. In preparation for General Conference 2012, she co-wrote, with Gil Caldwell, “An Endorsement Against Bigotry and The Injustice of ¶ 304.3.”

This document signed by Black UMC scholars strongly critiqued the church’s current policies that discriminate against LGBTQ persons. Believing that military persons ought not be made to fight in unjust wars, she has recently accepted a position on the Executive Committee for the Soul Repair Project, a study of the role of moral injury in veterans. Rev. Lightsey is an ordained elder in the Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Rev. Josh Noblitt is the Minister of Social Justice at Saint Mark United Methodist Church in Atlanta, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and a Registered Neutral/Civil Mediator in the state of Georgia. In addition to offering individual, couples, family and group therapy, his ministry involves leading program, advocacy and volunteer opportunities related to social justice issues in the community. Rev. Noblitt completed his Master of Divinity at Emory University in 2004 and was ordained at the Western North Carolina Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church in 2009. Rev. Noblitt is a Clinical Fellow with the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy, has served on the Board of Directors for the Reconciling Ministries Network since 2008, is a member of the Emory University Hope Clinic for HIV/ AIDS Research Community Advisory Board, serves as Vice President of the South Atlanta Civic League, and is a 2011 LEAD Atlanta alumnus.

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The RMN Office is located in the J.C. Penney Room near the main lobby of the National 4-H Center. You can take any questions or concerns about your participation in the convocation to the staff working there.

times are: Friday from 5:00-6:00pm; Saturday from 11:45am-12:15pm; and Sunday from 5:155:45pm. Come to the stage area in the front of the Auditorium at these times.

Gift Shop at the 4-H Center is on the lower level of J.C. Penney Hall across from the Recreation Center. Gift Shop hours are:

Thursday & Friday 8:00am to 8:00pm

Saturday 7:00am to 1:00pm

Sunday 9:00am to 5:00pm

Monday 7:00am to 12:00pm Items for purchase there include: DC area souvenirs, postcards, maps & guidebooks, camera supplies, snacks, some clothing and personal items, along with 4-H supplies.

PHONES: 4-H Center main line: 301-961-2801 RMN office extension X13870

4-H Center Front Desk in the main lobby of J.C. Penney Hall is staffed 24 hours a day. Persons staying in 4-H Center rooms will check in and check out of their housing here. The 4-H staff there can also answer your questions about accommodations or other facilities needs.

Registration for ChurchQuake—where you get your name badge and program book, and finalize payments—will open at 5:00pm on Thursday, August 29, at the tables set up in the 4-H Center main lobby. Registration will continue at 8:00am on Friday through that evening.

Persons arriving after Friday should go to the RMN Office (above) to register.

Meals are served cafeteria-style in the Clover Café in Kellogg Hall during these times: Breakfast 7:00-9:00am Lunch 11:30am-1:30pm Dinner 5:30-7:30pm For ChurchQuake participants staying at the 4-H Center, the daily meal plan was included in your room rate payment. Persons staying offsite were encouraged to purchase the meal plan for each day of their participation. The daily meal plan begins with the evening dinner meal. Your name badge serves as your meal ticket.

Hospitality Table in the 4-H Center lobby is staffed by D.C. area volunteers on Saturday from 9:00am to 9:00pm, Sunday, 9:00am to 6:00pm and Monday from 9:00am to 12:00noon.

Volunteers there will assist you with information about the Washington, D.C. area and/or securing personal items or supplies you may need.

There are no other places to get meals within walking distance of the 4-H Center. Check with the RMN Office (above) if you wish to purchase some meals at the 4-H Center.

Chaplains—certified chaplains/counselors are on call throughout ChurchQuake to meet with persons who are in need of spiritual and/or emotional support. Call or text 312-448-5321 (the Chaplain hotline) to arrange a meeting time and place. If you get the voicemail, you can leave your name and contact information and the chaplain-on-call will get back to you soon.

Name Badge (available at registration) provides entry to all ChurchQuake program activities as well as to meals if you have the meal plan. BE SURE TO WEAR YOUR NAME BADGE AT ALL TIMES. Please either take home the RMN name badge holder to use at future RMN events or leave it for recycling in the box at the 4-H Center front desk when you depart.

Choir—all singers are encouraged to be part of the ChurchQuake choir under the leadership of DeLyn Celec that will perform and help lead singing during worship services. Rehearsal 8

Orientation Sessions for ChurchQuake participants will be on Friday at 2:30, 3:30 and 4:30pm in the Anderson Room on the main level of J.C. Penney Hall. Come with your questions and get an overview of the ChurchQuake gathering and the National 4-H Youth Conference Center with convocation coordinator Mark Bowman.

only, as will the set of restrooms on the ground level of Kentner Hall at the end of the hallway between the Clover and America meeting rooms. There is also a private, family restroom at this latter location.

Taxi service can be called from the yellow phone in the main lobby that connects directly to Barwood Taxi (301-984-1900) or www.barwoodtaxi.com

Recreation Center indoors is on the lower level of J.C. Penney Hall and includes a video arcade; billiard, foosball and air hockey tables; a large-screen TV, and tables/chairs for playing cards or games. Outdoor recreation opportunities include a beach volleyball and basketball court and grass area for football, Frisbee and other activities. Sport equipment can be borrowed from the 4-H Center front desk.

Vending Machines with snacks and beverages can be found beside the Recreation Center on the lower level of J.C. Penney Hall. There are also ice machines and some vending machines on each floor of McCormick Hall.

Videorecording—All worship services, Bible studies, and plenary sessions will be streamed live at www.rmnetwork.org/ChurchQuake.

All recordings will be archived at that same location for free, immediate viewing. If you wish to order a DVD of the streamed content in its entirety, you may do so at www.rmnetwork.org/ChurchQuake. Cost is $100 and will be delivered within two months.

Fitness Center with a range of cardiovascular equipment and large-screen TV and DVD player is in Turner Hall and open daily from 6:00AM to 11:00PM. Get key at 4-H Center Front Desk.

Resource Center for ChurchQuake is located in the Minnesota Room on the lower level of J.C. Penney Hall across from the Recreation Center.

See page 16 for more details.

Wireless Internet Access is available for free throughout the National 4-H Center campus.

Select the 4-H Guest option for connection; the network is unsecured (no security code or password needed). There are also computers available in the Recreation Center on the lower level of J.C. Penney Hall where you can access the Internet and check email.

Restrooms For Everyone is our general policy for public restrooms at the National 4-H Center during ChurchQuake. Public restrooms labeled for women or men only can have adverse effects. Transgender and gender non-conforming persons report facing discrimination, harassment and even violence in bathrooms. Persons who need assistance in restrooms—adults as well as children—don’t always have a family member, friend of attendant of the specified gender to accompany them.

CHECKOUT TIME for persons staying at the 4-H Center is by 1:00pm on Monday. Persons choosing to check out earlier in the day can arrange at the Front Desk to store bags until your departure. Please adhere to the 1:00 checkout time to allow housekeeping staff time to turn over rooms for next guests.

In order to help us all create safe spaces for everyone whenever and wherever we can, most of the public restrooms on the 4-H Center campus will be designated “This Restroom Is For Everyone.” The set of restrooms on the lower level of J.C. Penney Hall across from the Ohio Room will be designated for men and women 9

who have not been blessed with opportunities to interact with transgender persons may initially feel some discomfort. So here are some hospitality tips.

CHURCHQUAKE COMMUNICATIONS Daily Newsletter, entitled Epicenter, is the primary communications vehicle during ChurchQuake and provides the daily schedule, program changes, and a place to announce your events. A new issue will be available each morning at breakfast, at morning worship, or online at www.rmnetwork.org/epicenter. If you would like to submit an announcement to be printed in Epicenter, submit content at the ChurchQuake office (above) or online at www.rmnetwork.org/epicenter. The deadline for content submission for the next day’s Epicenter is 3:00pm. Please limit your submission to 50 words or less.

Please do not assume anyone’s gender, even people you may have met in the past. A person’s external appearance may not match their internal gender identity. You cannot know the gender or sex of someone by their physical body, voice, appearance or mannerisms. Pay attention to a person’s purposeful gender expression. It is considered polite to ask: “What pronoun do you prefer?” or “How do you identify?” before using pronouns or gendered words for anyone. When you are unsure of a person’s gender identity and you don’t have an opportunity to ask someone what words they prefer, try using that person’s name or gender-neutral phrases like “the person in the red shirt,” instead of “that woman or man.”

RMN Website www.rmnetwork.org will be updated with news and information throughout our time together.

RMN blog, www.rmnblog.org will also host thoughtful commentary on daily events by guest bloggers. If you want to submit an article for the blog, email andy@rmnetwork.org and include a picture and short bio.

Please listen to transgender people’s needs and stories when they are volunteered; yet please respect people’s privacy and boundaries and do not ask unnecessary questions. Respectful allies are a critical aspect of movements for transgender justice and liberation.

Social Media Twitter: View and Follow at www.twitter.com/rmnetwork; Hashtag #CQ13

Most people take reasonable access to restroom facilities for granted. However, transgender people often face the burden of being confronted or questioned about which gender’s restroom they should use. Not having reasonable access to restrooms is a tremendous distraction no person should ever face.

Facebook: View and Like at www.facebook.com/rmnetwork; Hashtag #CQ13 Instagram: View and Friend at www.instagram.com/rmnetwork; Hashtag #CQ13

To provide all persons at ChurchQuake with comfortable, safe restroom facilities, RMN has designated most of the restrooms in the public areas of the National 4-H Center as “Restrooms for Everyone.” One set of restrooms on each of the two floors of our main meeting areas have men-women designations. See details about locations on page 9.

Pictures can be tagged on the social media pages mentioned above. Email images to andy@rmnetwork.org or drop them off at the ChurchQuake office.

TRANSGENDER ETIQUETTE Transgender people are valuable contributors to the Reconciling Ministries Network and are present with us at ChurchQuake. Those of us 10

FRAGRANCE ALLERGIES

CHILDREN’S PROGRAM

Remember that a number of persons are allergic to fragrances and that such allergies seriously limit their ability to participate in assemblies like this convocation. So please try to limit your personal use of fragrances as you can. We are also asking ChurchQuake participants to honor “Fragrance-Free Areas” in our assembly spaces: in the Auditorium (worship & plenary sessions), the whole seating section to the left of the left aisle (as you are entering the hall); and in the Clover Café (meals), all the tables in the dining hall extension, the Tennessee Dining Room, which is not partitioned off while we are here.

ChurchQuake is a welcome place for families with children. Special program activities for children are provided under professional leadership. Activities provided for children and youth will include both exploring convocation themes of inclusion and diversity as well as visiting sites of interest in the Washington D.C. area. Activities for children and youth are generally planned during plenary and workshop sessions at the convocation, but parents or adult chaperones are consulted to tailor the children and youth experiences and schedules to their families’ needs.

Ellen Bachman is coordinating the children’s program at the ChurchQuake gathering. Ellen has extensive experience working with children and families in a variety of settings, with emphasis in early childhood and child welfare. She was the director of the Child Development Center at Foundry UMC in Washington, D.C. for 12 years. After that she served as a case manager in the Washington, D.C. government office for young children with developmental disabilities. Most recently, she directed a half-day play-based preschool program in Alexandria, Virginia. Her educational background is in social work (MSW).

Ellen is looking forward to providing an enriching experience for children participating in ChurchQuake.

PRESS POLICY We seek to maintain a balance between legitimate press access in the interest of accurate reporting, while also respecting the privacy and confidentiality of the participants at ChurchQuake. RMN reserves the right to verify the credentials of all proposed press representatives, and to deny or revoke access in its sole discretion, at any time. All press must wear their press badge so that it is clearly visible at all times. In addition, all press must verbally identify themselves as press when entering conversation with event participants or leaders. Subject to this policy, press representatives are welcome to participate in plenary sessions. Small group workshops, Ubuntu groups, question and answer sessions, and other times in the schedule, are not opportunities for press reporting or participation. Permission from RMN is required for photography, videotaping, or audio recording activities or participants. Press representatives wishing to schedule interviews or clarify this press policy, or ChurchQuake participants concerned about press presence should contact Communications Director Andy Oliver at 863-397-0678 or andy@rmnetwork.org.

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We’ve been Shaking the Church’s Cages For 37 Years and Will Continue to Do So Until the Chains are Unfastened Join us at our “Sweets For Sweets” Event Saturday night at the

RMN Convocation 2013

Mission Statement: Affirmation radically reclaims the compassionate and transformative gospel of Jesus Christ by relentlessly pursuing full inclusion in the church as we journey with the Spirit in creating God’s beloved community.

Affirmation P.O. Box 1021 Evanston, IL 60204 WWW.umaffirm.org 12

WE HAVE

FAITH: LGBT Clergy and People of Faith Speak Out A Photo-Text Exhibit A L SO FEATURING THES E DIVERSITY EXHIBITS

IN OUR FAMILY:

Portraits of All Kinds of Families

LOVE MAKES A FAMILY:

Portraits of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & Transgender People & Their Families

Bring our exhibits to your house of worship, seminary, workplace, college, conference or event.

413-256-1611 info@familydiv.org www.familydiv.org

PIONEERING VOICES: Portraits of Transgender People

“As the Director of the Human Rights Campaign’s Religion and Faith Program, I have become increasingly aware of the significance and power of Family Diversity Project’s exhibits. We Have Faith is a unique and powerful exhibit teaching people about why denominations and individuals of faith must stop the hatred and bullying of LGBT people and youth.”

—Sharon Groves PhD

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RMN’s extension ministries (listed below) are meeting during the day on Friday, August 30th, before the convocation begins that evening to work on building interpersonal relationships and formulate education and advocacy strategies. These gatherings are open to any interested persons. If you did not preregister for one of these gatherings but would like to attend, you can sign up at ChurchQuake registration. All of the groups will gather at 9:00AM in the Missouri Room for a joint worship service. Then they will meet in these rooms: MoSAIC Parents Reconciling Network Reconciling Ministries Clergy Transgender Extension Ministry UMs of Color for an All-Inclusive Church Reconciling Process Coach Training

intersex children. We are working for a fully inclusive church that truly welcomes our offspring as full participants in the life of the church. We establish support and discussion groups for parents and allies of GLBTI persons to pray together, offer faith based counseling and media resources for study, support, and education. We insist that our denomination change its policy and practice that does not live out Jesus’ teaching of love, equality, and justice.

Contact: parents@rmnetwork.org

Clover A Room America Room Missouri Room Iowa A Room

Reconciling Ministries Clergy (RMC) is comprised of persons called to ordained ministry within The United Methodist Church who summon the church to a deeper level of spiritual and theological integrity in relationship to persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities and their full inclusion in all aspects of the church’s life. The network is dedicated to active forms of teaching, organizing, strategizing, resistance and support for one another to help the church become more faithful to the radical love of Christ.

Iowa B Room Clover B/C Room

MoSAIC is comprised of students, seminarians, and young adults who affirm all sexual orientations and gender identities as gifts of God. MoSAIC began in May of 1996 at the United Methodist Student Forum in Oklahoma City. A group of college student participants were aggrieved by the decision of the Forum not to encourage the General Conference to strike homophobic language from church law.

In response, several students gathered to create a national student coalition and network in support of ministry inclusive of all people.

Contact: rmc@rmnetwork.org Transgender Extension Ministry (TEM) challenges The United Methodist Church to live into its visionary policy of being a church free from gender discrimination at every level, equipping and empowering people to transform our church and society into places that celebrate those who are transgender, gender variant, or otherwise transcend binary gender expectations. Embracing the God-given reality that from our genesis we are created in God’s image, TEM understands gender diversity as a divine gift. Accordingly, our ministry seeks to welcome, support, and advocate for transgender individuals and their families.

Contact: mosaic@rmnetwork.org Young Adults Outing: Immediately following the celebration at Metropolitan Memorial UMC on Sunday evening, young adults are invited to join MoSAIC leaders in an excursion to DC. We will take a shuttle to the nearest Red Line Metro Stop (Tenleytown/American University), then take public transit into the city for a few hours. To return to the 4-H Center in Bethesda, we will share taxis— please bring some cash for the evening and return travel if you plan to attend.

On Sunday, TEM is pleased to be hosting a screening and discussion of TRANS: The Movie, as well as co-sponsoring a workshop with Parents Reconciling Network: Creating Safe Space in our Congregations for Gender Questioning and Transgender Children and Youth.

Parents Reconciling Network (PRN) is a national level network of United Methodists who love, accept, and support our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and 14

Guest Speaker for Preconvocation Gathering

Cisgender* allies are heartily welcome at all Transgender Extension Ministry events; please join us!

*Cisgender is a term used to describe people who identify as the gender they were assigned at birth.

United Methodists of Color for an All-Inclusive Church (UMOC) brings together a diversity of persons across racial and ethnic lines for engaging, racism, heterosexism, and homophobia in Christianity and the United Methodist Church. In the spirit of UMOC’s mission to engage the wider United Methodist Church on issues of racism, colonialism, classism, and privilege in a color-filled and multicultural world, we invite you to connect with us at Convocation 2013: Churchquake. If the Church is to be a vibrant instrument of God’s love and faithful to the justice of Jesus, then it must be a place that welcomes & embraces all. Join us for learning opportunities on power & privilege, community building, and networking.

Photo: Aaron King

Contact: transgender@rmnetwork.org

Dr. Pollard has published widely in the areas of religion and culture. He is the author of Mysticism and Social Change; a new edition of W.E.B. DuBois, The Negro Church; and Helpers for a Healing Community: A Pastoral Care Manual for HIV/AIDS in Africa; co-editor of Black Church Studies: A 21st Century Anthology (Duke Press, forthcoming); and How Long This Road; consulting editor for the multi-volume Papers of Howard Thurman; and former associate editor of the journal Black Sacred Music. He is the principal investigator for the Lilly congregational research project, “Equipping the Saints,” at Howard University School of Divinity. An ordained Baptist minister, he has served churches in Tennessee (AME), Massachusetts and North Carolina. He is an associate minister at Covenant Baptist UCC Church in Washington, DC, and board member and consultant to numerous organizations. He has preached, lectured and traveled throughout Africa and the Diaspora. He and his wife Jessica Bryant Pollard, a high school counselor, have two adult children.

Contact: umoc@rmnetwork.org

HAVE FAITH Help is here.

Our newest publication!

Straight for Equality in Faith Communities

This third publication in PFLAG National’s Straight for Equality project offers straight allies — and potential straight allies — in faith communities a new way to understand what “support” means to them. ©

It’s a new approach to understanding what it means to be an ally of faith!

Visit straightforequality.com/faith to download your copy now!

Connect with us! facebook.com/S4Equality

Rev. Dr. Alton Pollard III is Dean and Professor of Religion and Culture at Howard University School of Divinity in Washington, DC. He holds degrees from Fisk University (B.A. with honors in religion & philosophy and business management), Harvard University Divinity School (M.Div.), and Duke University, the Department of Religion (Ph.D.). His previous faculty appointments include St. Olaf College, Wake Forest University, and Emory University where he was Director of Black Church Studies at Candler School of Theology and Chair of American Religious Cultures in the Graduate Division of Religion, and various visiting lectureships throughout the United States and Africa.

@S4Equality

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Resource Center Located in the Minnesota Room, lower floor of J.C. Penney Hall

August 30 thru September 2, 2013 National 4-H Youth Center – Chevy Chase, Maryland

A smaller number of select book titles with other sources for Reconciling Ministries will be available plus Jim Dietrich Graphics will have some fabulous souvenir items with the CHURCHQUAKE and RMN logos on them including…

T-shirts • Polo Shirts • Buttons • Key tags • Dog tags • and more…

Rainbow and Pride items, humorous buttons and t-shirts

Visit resource tables for

Affirmation: United Methodists for LGBTQ Concerns Family Diversity Project Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary Human Rights Campaign Iliff School of Theology Methodist Federation for Social Action Methodist Theological School in Ohio The Puzzle Piece Wesley Theological Seminary Come and visit with old friends and meet authors during book signings on Saturday and Sunday Specifics on book titles, authors and times will be announced in the Epicenter newsetter

Resource Room Hours:

Friday, August 30, lOam–8pm Saturday, August 31, 9am–1pm and 6pm–8:30pm Sunday, September 1, 9am–4pm We accept Cash, Checks, Visa, MasterCard and Discover 16

Peterson Toscano is a theatrical performance activist using comedy and storytelling to address social justice concerns. He spent 17 years and over $30,000 on three continents attempting (and failing) to change his same-sex orientation. He is the author of one-person comedies including, “Queer 101—Now I Know My gAy,B,C’s” and “Doin’ Time in the Homo No Mo Halfway House,” which chronicles his two years in “gay rehab” in Memphis, Tennessee.

The Word became flesh...

The Bible has been used as a weapon against the bodies and desires of LGBT people. Opponents have relentlessly dehumanized us by their shaming readings of certain Biblical texts. As a result, LGBT persons in Christian communities have felt the need to be on the defensive in order to counter the many negative Bible messages hurled at us and our families. For a generation LGBT persons and their allies have effectively engaged in “defensive theology” producing sermons, books, and talking points that dismantle the anti-LGBT arguments built on the ”clobber passages.”

As an interpreter of Bible stories, Peterson Toscano seeks to move away from the defensive posture and instead unearth positive stories about the lives and roles of sexual minorities in the Bible. Through traditional methods and novel approaches like Bibliodrama, a form of Bible scholarship that relies on theater and movement, Peterson works with groups and on his own to embody ancient texts. He looks closely at the people in the stories, many of whom have been overlooked, and puts flesh and blood on the bare bones of a narrative. Through performance midrash he highlights gender nonconformists in the Bible and those nameless people without much privilege who still wield great power.

With his play, “Transfigurations—Transgressing Gender in the Bible” Peterson has delighted diverse audiences and received high praise for his groundbreaking, genre-bending, gender-blending Bible scholarship wrapped up in a performance. His newest play, “Jesus Had Two Daddies!” is a ridiculously serious look at the Bible in America. Currently he is working on a theological memoir entitled, “Waking Up from a Biblically Induced Coma.”

Peterson is frequently featured in the media and has appeared in the New York Times, NPR’s Morning Edition, The Times of London, The Tyra Banks Show, and five documentary films including Logo TV’s “Be Real” program. He helped produce and appears in the award-winning documentary film, “This is What Love in Action Looks Like.” He has been published in The New Statesmen and in various LGBTQ anthologies including the Lambda Literary Award winner, Gender Outlaws—The Next Generation (edited by Kate Bornstein and S. Bear Bergman). He has presented his work widely for faith communities and divinity students including presentations at the Friends General Conference (Quaker), the Society of Biblical Literature and American Academy of Religion Conference 2012, Chicago School of Theology, Vanderbilt Divinity School, Pacific School of Religion, PNW Reconciling Ministries Annual Conference, the Lambeth Conference, European Forum of Lesbian and Gay Christians, and the Greenbelt Festival. Peterson lives in Sunbury, Pennsylvania, with his husband, the writer Glen Retief, and they are members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quaker). You can read more about Peterson at www.petersontoscano.com.

Twitter: @p2son

Peterson will serve this weekend as more than a Bible teacher, he will also engage in the role of court jester, group facilitator, and casting director.

His Biblical scholarship is sound and wonderfully accessible. Those among us who preach sermons and teach Bible lessons will gather a treasure trove of material through his presentations. In addition, Peterson will demonstrate innovative methods to help congregations engage with texts in whole new ways. After hearing and seeing Peterson we will walk away with «good news» about LGBT people and the Bible. We should also be better equipped to deepen these conversations at home and abroad.

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tions, and served in several ways with leading GC witness. Bonnie led two congregations, one small urban parish and one large suburban church, to become reconciling.

Saturday Morning 10:30am State of the Movement

C. Kristian Clauser began his work for LGBTQ inclusion as an undergraduate student and has fond memories of his campus Wesley Foundation, a welcoming oasis in a largely hostile community. After graduation, he spent a decade in the private sector before answering God’s call to attend seminary. He then served for over 7 years as a lay minister at Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church (Minneapolis, Minnesota), where he is still a member. During his tenure at HAUMC, Kristian announced his gender transition from female to male and was blessed by an outpouring of support from congregation members and colleagues. Currently, Kristian serves an ELCA congregation (Edina Community Lutheran Church), chairs RMN’s Transgender Extension Ministry, organizes people of faith in Minnesota’s fight for marriage equality and LGBTQ justice, hosts a monthly Science & Religion Roundtable, and is completing a master’s degree in nonprofit administration.

A lively dialogue with Matt Berryman, the new RMN executive director, joined by RMN Board Chair Rev. Bonnie Beckonchrist, RMN Transgender Extension Ministry Co-Chair C. Kristian Clauser, and prominent RMN activist and UMC leader Randall Miller. They will explore the current state of the Reconciling Ministries movement and the challenges and promises before us both within the church and our communities.

Matt Berryman, prior to joining the staff, spent three years in law school. From 2002-2009, Matt served United Methodist congregations in the Jacksonville area of the Florida Conference. In addition to serving churches in the United Kingdom, he has led training events and workshops for The United Methodist Church, The Fund for Theological Education, Emory University, and the Fellowship of United Methodists for Music and Worship Arts. He received a B.A. from the University of South Carolina and a M.Div. from Emory University. Matt loves an outdoor concert, a good idea, and his ten year old son, Aidan.

Dr. Randall (Randy) Miller is currently Assistant Professor of United Methodist Studies, Ethics, and Leadership at the Pacific School of Religion and Principal of Oaktown Consulting based in Oakland, CA. Randy spent much of the last fifteen years in the field of philanthropy where he was charged with shepherding the growth and development of a variety of local, state, and national organizations. A long-time advocate for full inclusion, Randy has previously served as an active member of the RMN Board and as national spokesperson for Affirmation, United Methodism’s unofficial caucus for LGBT concerns. Other church leadership experiences include co-directing the National Youth Ministry Organization, chairing the Commission on the General Conference, and serving as a director on the General Boards of Global Ministry, Church and Society, as well as the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR).

Rev. Bonnie Beckonchrist received her M.Div. degree from Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary 1982, and her D.Min. from Wesley Theological Seminary in 2010. She retired this summer from being lead pastor at First UMC Arlington Heights, Illinois, a Reconciling church since 2008. A member of The Northern Illinois Annual Conference she has served as chair of Committee on Investigation, Chair of Emerging Ministries Committee of Board of Global Ministries, two District Committees on Congregational Development and Redevelopment, two District Committees on Ordained Ministry, NIC United Methodist Foundation and myriads of task forces. Bonnie was actively involved in RMN witness, planning and execution, 1996, 2004, 2008; has assisted in planning and implementation of several convoca18

ential leaders in LGBTQ community in Baltimore, MD. He travels the world advocating social justice and equity for all humanity.

Saturday Evening 7:15pm Embracing Our Interconnectedness This evening assembly will include opportunities to reflect on the eclectic Ubuntu GoGroup experiences of the afternoon. Led by multicultural organizational development consultant Rev. Samuel R. Offer, we will deepen our understanding of group memberships and how to understand prejudice, discrimination and oppression, as it relates to individuals, groups and systems. Plus some of RMN’s extension ministries—young adults, transgender persons, and people of color—will update us on how the Reconciling Movement is engaging and growing within these diverse constituent groups.

His work includes developing presentations and workshops for colleges, universities and corporate and non-profit businesses; developing and implementing curriculum for local religious and community organizations to engage social justice issues in order to build more inclusive communities; developing and implementing curriculum for engaging spirituality and religion in the workplace; facilitating group sessions and trainings on topics including leadership, organizational change development, spirituality, diversity, inclusivity, leadership and social justice. His work is included in major conferences as: American College Personnel Assoc. (ACPA), National Conference on Race and Ethnicity (NCORE), The White Privilege Conference (WPC), and National Association of Student Affairs Administrators (NASPA).

Rev. Samuel R. Offer serves as Vice President and senior consultant with the Washington Consulting Group, a Multicultural Organizational Development Firm located in Baltimore, MD. Sam has served as an educator and administrator for over 30 years.

He has served in music ministry for more than 40 years and currently serves as Minister of Community Relations and Outreach for Unity Fellowship Church, Baltimore, and is an ordained reverend in the Unity Fellowship Church Movement.

A native Marylander, Sam earned his B.S. from Calvary Christian College with a concentration in Early Childhood Development studies. Other studies included Sexuality, Religious and Spiritual Pluralism, Religious Issues within the LGBTQ community (particularly through a Christian lens), and Social Justice. Sam is an alumnus of Landmark Education and the Social Justice Training Institute.

Sam serves as a lead facilitator for LeaderShape, Inc., and lead faculty for the Social Justice Training Institute: The Student Experience.

He has spent many years working with the development of youth and young adults in education and within the community. Sam is a member of Maryland Black Family Alliance and is an advisor to Marylanders of Faith, organizations advocating for equity of all people. Sam served as co-chair of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force premier conference, Creating Change 2012. Sam served as chair of the African American People of Faith Caucus for Marylanders for Marriage Equality. His leadership and efforts helped to uphold the Civil Marriage Protection Act during a referendum in 2012. He has been named as one of the most influ19

Sunday Afternoon 3:30pm Biblical Obedience

Bishop Melvin Talbert is known for his prophetic stands for inclusiveness and justice. He has fought long and hard to help his church and society address racism. He is committed to racial, gender and sexual orientation inclusiveness.

From 1973 to 1980 he served as General Secretary for the General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church. He was elected bishop in 1980 by the Western Jurisdiction and assigned to the Seattle Area. In 1988, Talbert moved to the San Francisco Area where he served until his retirement in 2000. In his so-called retirement, Talbert has served as Ecumenical Officer for the Council of Bishops (2000-2004); member of the World Methodist Council Executive Committee (2001-2006); member of the Executive Board of the NCCCUSA (20002004) and president of Churches Uniting in Christ (2002-2004). In addition to teaching in seminary, he served as Interim General Secretary for General Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns in 2004 and Executive Director of National Black Methodists for Church Renewal, Inc. (20042007).Bishop Talbert was born in Clinton, Louisiana, to sharecropper parents. He earned his B.A. degree from Southern University in Baton Rouge and was in the first graduating class of a new consortium of seminaries called Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta. He did further study at the School of Theology Claremont and Vancouver School of Theology. He was ordained deacon in the Louisiana Conference of the Central Jurisdiction and elder in the Southern California-Arizona Annual Conference where he served as pastor and staff for a number of years. Talbert now lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with his wife, Marilyn Ruth Williams Magee, and enjoys time with his grandchildren. A lifelong sports enthusiast; he loves football, baseball and basketball. He is also a fan of jazz, classical, spirituals, and “good” gospel music.

Bishops Mary Ann Swenson and Melvin Talbert will challenge us to live in Biblical Obedience—reminding us that the foundation for our reconciling mission is the Bible. Passages of scripture such as Micah 6:8 and Mark 12:30-31 suggest that love and justice are the essential elements of faithful serving in the name and spirit of Jesus Christ. We will also hear testimonies from persons who are embodying Biblical Obedience and consider how each of us responds in faith to this challenge.

Bishop Mary Ann Swenson is currently the ecumenical officer for the Council of Bishops of the United Methodist Church. She served from 2000-2012 as the bishop of the California-Pacific Annual Conference and the Western Jurisdiction Korean mission. Prior to that, her episcopal oversight included Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and Montana (1992-2000). She has served as President of the General Council on Finance and Administration, the General Board of Discipleship, and the General Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns. Bishop Swenson was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and raised in Jackson, Mississippi, where she was active in Sunday school, youth group, and choir. She graduated from Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi, with a Bachelor of Arts degree, and received a Doctor of Ministry degree from the School of Theology at Claremont. She was ordained deacon and elder by Bishop Wilbur Choy. She pastored congregations in Washington State for 25 years before being elected to the episcopacy by the Western Jurisdiction in 1992. On their 25th wedding anniversary Mary Ann and husband Jeff received a tandem bicycle. Since that time they have become avid cyclists.

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Monday Morning 9:00AM Coaching a ChurchQuake Deconess Rachel Harvey, Program Director

As we continually work to enact change in the church we love, we constantly see hope in ensuring our local communities are spaces of welcome and affirmation for all of God’s children. Join us for a conversation as we seek to multiply the number of local Reconciling Congregations - and hear how you can be a part of this important work.

Rev. Laura Rossbert, Director of Regional Organizing and Southeast Organizer Helen Ryde, Northeast Regional Organizer

We will gather in the Auditorium for the beginning of this gathering and then go to other rooms to meet by jurisdictions (regions) as indicated below. If you are unsure of your jurisdiction, see pages 75-80 for a listing of the annual conferences in each.

Laura Young, South Central Regional Organizer Robyn Henderson-Espinoza, North Central Regional Organizer

Room Locations:

Rev. Israel Alvaran, Western Regional Organizer

Northeast Jurisdiction: Auditorium Southeast Jurisdiction: Clover Room North Central Jurisdiction: Ohio Room South Central Jurisdiction: America Room Western Jurisdiction: Missouri Room

Biographical information can be found on pages 5-6.

The Coaching a ChurchQuake session is sponsored by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.

Back row (left to right): Debra Peevey (IWR trainer), Israel Alvaran, Helen Ryde, Laura Young Front row (left to right): Laura Rossbert, Rachel Harvey, Robyn Henderson-Espinoza

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Pastor Jesus Molina serves as Pastor of Out of the Box Ministry (aka Stone Park Mission UMC). He and his family have led the growing congregation to move toward an open & affirming location for LGBTQ persons. He has shared a powerful testimony about his family story and transgender son. Jesus himself comes from a conservative, Pentecostal faith background and has learned to read the Bible differently and to understand the fullness of God’s love and grace. Despite intense personal attacks to him and his family and to the ministry of Out of the Box, Jesus has prevailed in his faithful witness of God’s grace, which he calls “Liquid Love.” Because Youtube and other resources helped to give voice to his witness, he was invited to a proLGBTQ rally in Puerto Rico where he was ONE voice of faith against a host of religious hate speech toward the LGBTQ community­—he risked his life for his witness there!

Reconciling Ministries Network will present two awards in the plenary session on Sunday afternoon.

The Cup of Justice award is given for taking bold action to bring about systemic change where injustice, oppression and exclusion exist. The Voice in the Wilderness award is given for taking risks, despite isolation in a wilderness, to proclaim the rightness of inclusion for all people in the church, and for standing against injustice despite the lack of support.

MoSAIC will present two awards at ChurchQuake. The Planter of Justice (young adult) award is given to an individual or organization of young adults under the age of 35 that live(s) out MoSAIC’s mission. The Shepherd of Hope award is given to an individual or organization that supports young adults to have a voice and live out the mission of MoSAIC.

Voice in the Wilderness Nominees:

St. Stephen’s UMC in Norman, Oklahoma, since its inception, has been a beacon of welcome and a witness to social justice in the Oklahoma Conference. Surrounded by a sea (city/state/conference) of more fundamental religious thinkers and believers, Rev. Venable and St. Stephen’s are an oasis of hospitality to those who would not be welcomed in other faith communities because of either their sexual orientation, gender identity or their progressive attitudes towards or ideas concerning their spiritual life. In the past six years under the pastoral leadership of Rev. Venable, 164 persons, many of them LGBTQ, have joined the church because of the grace-bathed, faith-growing, mind-nurturing environment present.

Journey of Faith UMC is the only Reconciling Congregation in the Central Texas Conference of the UMC. When they made the decision, their minister received considerable opposition from the Conference leadership. Later on, the Bishop prevented an article about them having become a Reconciling Congregation from being published in the Conference magazine. For the first time in her 25 years of ministry, our minister, Glenda Whitehead, is no longer on any Conference or District committees.

She had been a member of the District Committee on Ministry for 20 years, but has been removed as a member.

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Rev. Amy Venable, as the pastor of one of only two Reconciling Congregations in the state of Oklahoma, has become the voice for inclusion within this community. She speaks to many organizations about the Reconciling mission and following the loving example of Jesus. She is unafraid to champion an unpopular opinion in a state that is extremely conservative. Amy recently was awarded the Harry Denman Evangelism Award at the Oklahoma Annual Conference for her efforts and it was noted that ‘St. Stephen’s is a community that welcomes all persons equally and actively practices reconciliation’.

The growth and increased diversity of our congregation is a direct testament to Amy’s leadership.

Cup of Justice Nominees: Rev. Stephen Heiss is pastor of Tabernacle United Methodist Church in Binghamton, New York. In June 2013, after Rev. Heiss wrote to his parishioners about officiating at several same-sex weddings since New York legalized same-sex marriage in 2011, he got a letter from his bishop, saying another clergy had charged him with violating church law. Heiss, a long-time advocate of LGBT rights in the United Methodist Church, said he decided to go public and write about these ceremonies because enough was enough. “I was sneaking around trying to avoid getting caught because I didn’t know what would happen,” Heiss said in an interview. “I was doing an injustice to pretend to not tell the entire truth (about officiating at same-sex ceremonies).”

phase has led to the complaint being turned over to a counsel for the church to consider drawing up charges for a possible trial. The Rev. Dr. Ogletree has been an inspiration to many in the New York Annual Conference and beyond because of his powerful witness in refusing to follow unjust laws in the Book of Discipline.

Rev. Sara Thompson Tweedy shares life with her spouse, Kristin Marcell, in Kerhonkson, NY, where they are raising their two boys. In July 2013, a formal complaint was filed against Sara stating she is “self-avowed practicing” lesbian, a chargeable offense under church law. Tweedy started as a local pastor in 2001 and was ordained an elder in 2006 and is on the steering committee for MIND (Methodists in New Directions). In response to the formal complaint, Sara said, “I have served this church faithfully almost my entire life long and certainly for most of my professional life. I am in this situation because I love another woman, and I have been honest about my identity. What kind of ‘just resolution’ can come out of an unjust process?

That is out of my hands and in the hands of church counsel and possibly, a jury.”

The Rev. Dr. Thomas Ogletree performed the wedding of his son and son’s partner in October of 2012.

The couple decided to list their service in The New York Times, and this listing caused a formal complaint to be filed against Dr. Ogletree. As a signer of the Covenant of Conscience, Rev. Dr. Ogletree has committed to provide equality in ministry to all couples. The failure of a just resolution 23

whole is profoundly linked to the freedom of our global brothers and sisters and all of God’s creation.

Reconciling Ministries Network understands this interconnectedness as evidenced in the guiding principles of RMN’s strategic plan:

On Saturday afternoon during ChurchQuake we have the unique opportunity to participate in a small-group visit to a justice ministry, museum, or congregation in the Washington D.C. area. This experience will allow you to get to know a small group of Reconciling colleagues more intimately and also see a bit of our nation’s capital.

Drawing on the South African concept of “Ubuntu”, these visits will intensify our understanding of how advocacy for LGBTQ equality intersects with other human rights movements and provide tools that we can use in our ministries back home.

Reconciling Ministries Network aspires to fulfill our baptismal covenant to recognize and utilize our privileges to resist oppression in whatever form it presents itself in our movement, church, and world.

RMN has a commitment to ending institutional oppression in all its forms by working at the intersections of oppression and focusing on an ongoing examination of internal processes and external actions at all levels including its selection of issues and organizing strategies. Further, RMN will strive to create beloved community, as imagined by Dr. Martin Luther King, by being vigilant in all its activities about those forces that create wedges between us, with particular attention to racism, transphobia, and the history of colonialism.

Ubuntu is a Zulu word and concept that captures the concept: I am human because you are human.

There is no direct translation into English. Archbishop Desmond Tutu explains this way: It is the essence of being human. It speaks of the fact that my humanity is caught up and is inextricably bound up in yours; I am human because I belong.

It speaks about wholeness; it speaks about compassion. A person with ubuntu is welcoming, hospitable, warm, and generous, willing to share. Such people are open and available to others, willing to be vulnerable, affirming of others, do not feel threatened that others are able and good, for they have a proper self-assurance that comes from knowing that they belong in a greater whole. They know that they are diminished when others are oppressed, diminished when others are treated as if they were less than who they are. The quality of ubuntu gives people resilience, enabling them to survive and emerge still human despite all efforts to dehumanize them.

During your Ubuntu GoGroup visit you will have the opportunity to learn about ministries and movements for social justice focusing on various communities. You will see ways that institutionalized oppression operates in various settings. You will hear how communities have and are organizing to resist. Through conversation, questions and reflection, you are encouraged to explore how the struggle for freedom and full inclusion of all persons is connected to struggles to end racism, sexism, classism, ableism, etc. The Ubuntu GoGroups provide a rich opportunity for us as Reconciling United Methodists to engage in a deeper analysis and broaden our understanding of living fully into the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Embracing freedom calls us to act intentionally so that our embracing of freedom does not enchain our sisters and brothers but rather causes the churchquake that sets everyone free.

from God Has A Dream: A Vision of Hope for Our Time by Archbishop Desmond Tutu; Doubleday: 2004.

We—within the Reconciling movement and reaching out far beyond—are inextricably connected to one another in ways that we often don’t realize or consider. Under layers of culture, language, class, age, identity, ability that differentiate us from others there are bonds of personhood and divinely-sparked humanity that draw us together.

We cannot work for LGBT equality in The United Methodist Church without working against racism and classism and sexism. To work for LGBT equality without working against racism is to cut out members of our own community. Our ability to be 24

Meeting up with your Ubuntu GoGroup

encing/experienced marginalization?

4. How did various identities or constituencies here experience marginalization differently?

Churchquake participants were invited to select their Ubuntu GoGroup before coming to the convocation. If you did so, you will receive a “ticket� to your chosen group when you register here at ChurchQuake. Keep that ticket to bring with you.

5. What are the tools or tactics that are used to marginalize/oppress? What structures are in place that uphold this oppression?

6. What is vision and mission of this ministry/ agency? Are specific communities identified or named in the vision or mission?

If you did not sign up for a group in advance, at registration you may choose among a box of tickets for groups that still have openings. (The size of all groups, i.e., the number of tickets for each group, is limited to provide a more intimate experience for everyone.)

7. How did this ministry/agency organize to reach its goals?

8. What tools or tactics does this ministry/movement use?

If you would like to change your UbuntuGoGroup, find the Ubuntu GoGroup ticket box at registration or at the hospitality table. There you may turn in your ticket and take a ticket remaining for another group.

9. Related to #4 above, how did the ministry/ agency organize to address that different impacts of marginalization?

10. What organizations/groups are/have been partners with this ministry/agency in their work? What new communities is this ministry/agency reaching out to?

You will meet up with your Ubuntu GoGroup at 1:15pm on Saturday in the 4-H Center meeting room printed on your ticket (also listed below). Note that there are several groups meeting in some rooms so be sure to join in your particular group. Be prompt as you will only have 30-45 minutes for introductions and orientation before you get on the bus/ shuttle to travel to your site.

Questions to discuss after your visit (on ride back or over dinner): 1. How did it feel to be at that particular place today?

2. What was a new or unexpected experience or insight from your visit?

Your site visit will last from approximately 2:30 to 4:30pm Your bus/shuttle will pick you up there to bring you back to the National 4-H Center. You are encouraged to stay with your group during dinner to have some time to share and reflect on your experience.

3. What similarities did you hear/experience in the ways communities experienced oppression and the current struggles of creating a more inclusive church?

4. What did you learn about the ways oppression and marginalization operate?

Questions to undergird and deepen your Ubuntu experience.

5. How is the struggle for freedom of this particular community connected to the struggle for full inclusion for people of all sexual orientations and gender identities in our Church and world?

Questions to think about and ask during the visit: 1. Who are some of the communities this ministry/agency serves or we met/learned about at this site?

6. How does this Ubuntu experience change the way you think about your ministry back home?

2. What are particular characteristics/issues of these communities?

7. What will you do differently as a result?

3. In what ways is/has this community experi-

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List of Ubuntu GoGroups & Meeting Rooms *indicates site is ADA-accessible

CONGREGATIONS C1 Capitol Hill UMC*.................................................................................................................... Auditorium C2 Covenant Baptist UCC................................................................................................................... America C3 Dumbarton UMC*.......................................................................................................................Oklahoma C4 Foundry UMC*...................................................................................................................................... Ohio C6 Mt. Vernon Place UMC*....................................................................................................................... Ohio C7 National Cathedral*.....................................................................................................................Oklahoma MUSEUMS/MEMORIALS M1 African American Civil War Memorial & Museum & Greater U Street Heritage Trail.......... Clover M2 Frederick Douglass National Historical Site.............................................................................. America M3 Holocaust Memorial Museum*....................................................................................................Missouri M4 National Museum of American History*...................................................................................Missouri M5 National Museum of the American Indian*...............................................................................Missouri M6 Sewall-Belmont House............................................................................................................ Auditorium M7 Thomas Jefferson, Franklin Delano Roosevelt & Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorials.........Missouri M8 Lincoln, Korean War Veterans & Vietnam Veterans Memorials..............................................Missouri ORGANIZATIONS O1 Believe Out Loud*................................................................................................................................ Ohio O2 General Board of Church & Society*..................................................................................... Auditorium O3 General Commission on Religion & Race*........................................................................... Auditorium O4 Human Rights Campaign*.................................................................................................................. Ohio O5 Methodist Federation for Social Action................................................................................. Auditorium O6 National Gay & Lesbian Task Force*................................................................................................. Ohio O7 National Religious Campaign Against Torture*.................................................................. Auditorium O8 Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network*.................................................................................. Ohio SCHOOLS S1 American University UM Protestant Student Association*............................................................ Iowa S2 Gallaudet University*........................................................................................................................ Clover S3 Howard University Wesley Foundation*........................................................................................ Clover S4 Wesley Theological Seminary*............................................................................................................ Iowa ON CAMPUS While the Ubuntu GoGroups are designed to enable ChurchQuake participants to get out and see some of our nation’s capital, some participants may feel unable or unwilling to travel. So these two groups are offered at the National 4-H Youth Conference Center.

H1 Get Equal*......................................................................................................................................Anderson H2 Anacostia Watershed Society*..................................................................................................John Deere

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See map on inside back cover for room locations

Sunday morning 10:30AM A2

Theological Lens for Vital Youth Ministries (Peck-McClain)............................................................................ John Deere

A4

More Than Just The “Queer” Church (Crawford/Lopez).......................................................................................Montana

A6

The Art of Circle Process in Conversation and in Conflict (Summerville).........................................................California

A8

Top 10 Reasons to Be Reconciling (Young)................................................................................................................ Idaho

A9

Screening and Discussion of TRANS: The Movie (Klauser/Phoenix)...................................................................Missouri

B1

Same-Sex Marriage in United Methodist Churches (Birkel/Dobney/Wogaman)............................................Oklahoma

B2

Altar for All Strategizing (Benz/Robbins) Continues in afternoon....................................................................... Clover B

B4 Will Africa Always be Anti-LGBTQ? Forming Partnerships across Borders (Burrows/Christie)............................... Iowa B5

Decolonize Your Mind: Engaging an Emerging Global Church (Cervantes)............................................................. Ohio

C2 From Clenched Fists to Open Hands: Embracing Freedom (Cobb/Taylor).......................................................... Clover C C4 You Betta LitWERK (Fatta)....................................................................................................................................Anderson C5 Queer Sexual Ethics (Jennings).............................................................................................................................. America C6 Conversations with Matt Berryman, RMN ED (Matt Berryman).............................................................................Illinois D1 Fully Inclusive? The Challenges of Reconciling Movement & Communities of Color (Oda).............................. Clover A

Sunday afternoon 1:30PM A1

Shaking Up the Church (or Putting a Face on the LGBT Family) (Lawrence)............................................................ Iowa

A3

Creating Safe Space for Gender Questioning & Trans Children & Youth (Phoenix/Waymack).................... John Deere

A5

Where We Stand: Connecting Mercy and Justice (Burton)................................................................................Oklahoma

A7

101 Ways NOT to Scare Young Queer People Away From Your Church (Michaels/Stephens)..........................Montana

A10 The Reconciling Process – Using the Building An Inclusive Church Toolkit (Ryde)............................................ Clover C B2

Altar for All Strategizing (Benz/Robbins) Continues from morning .................................................................... Clover B

B3

What You Need to Know about Organizing African American UMs (Cook/Harmon)......................................... Clover A

B6

How Christianity Was Seduced by Homophobia (Jennings)................................................................................ America

C1 Behind the Worship Arts: Do you ever wonder why worship arts can just be…art? (Celec)................................... Ohio C3 Sharing Family Experiences (Swing/Williams).......................................................................................................... Idaho D2 Sacred Speech: Inclusive Language Basics for Reconciling UMs (Spencer)........................................................Missouri D3 Beyond ‘Like’: Using Social Media for Activism (Pritchett)................................................................................Anderson D4 Power and Privilege: Breaking the Silence (Cox/Hall/Smith)..................................................................................Illinois

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A. EQUIPPING CONGREGATIONS FOR MINISTRY

A3 Creating Safe Space for Gender Questioning & Transgender Children and Youth 1:30pm, John Deere Room This workshop will heighten participants’ awareness of their unique, Spirit-given gender identity and equip them with resources to assist congregations to be safe places for gender questioning and transgender children and youth. Areas of discussion will include: using appropriate language in addressing transgender issues; resourcing clergy and laity; creating safe physical space; developing congregational policies; creating affirming liturgies; and engaging in political action.

A1 Shaking Up the Church (or Putting a Face on the LGBT Family) 1:30pm, Iowa Room Who are the real people, who happen to be LGBT, in our congregations? What does being the church to them mean? Attendees will leave with a toolkit for talking to their church about being in ministry with and to LGBT members, even when members disagree. The workshop will draw from the real situations of those present.

Rev. Drew Phoenix was the first ordained minister in the UMC to come out publicly as transgender. Drew contributed to the HRC publication Gender Identity and Faith Communities, and travels widely to preach and facilitate workshops.

Jan Lawrence is a member of Foundry UMC in Washington, D.C. and a student at Wesley Theological Seminary. She hopes to time completing a degree at Wesley with retiring from corporate America. Although she never intended to be involved with ministry to the LGBT community she seems to keep finding opportunities. She recently co-led a seminar on, “Is the Homosexual My Neighbor?”

Carol Waymack, MD, retired Family Physician from Seattle and mother of a trans-son, brings personal and professional expertise to the workshop.

From a Reconciling Church, she is reworking how to be truly welcoming to trans children and youth.

A2 Theological Lens for Vital Youth Ministries 10:30am, John Deere Room Using Pauline and youth ministry scholarship, this workshop will offer a theological lens through which to interpret young people’s lives. This lens includes communicating and understanding the message of freedom in Christ from the power of sin, which can be revealed as racism, sexism, heterosexism, transphobia, and classism. Intended for adults working with youth; its themes are easily translated to ministry with all ages.

A4 More Than Just The “Queer” Church 10:30am, Montana Room Reconciling Congregations must be willing to be in ministry with people of all sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as people of all ages, races, ethnicities, nationalities, language groups, abilities, beliefs, socio-economic situations, documentation statuses and backgrounds. How are congregations becoming culturally competent communities practicing radical hospitality and intentionally crossing boundaries?

Rev. Emily Peck-McClain is an ordained elder in the New York Annual Conference, where she has previously served churches in Manhattan and Staten Island. She is currently working on her doctorate in Christian Education and New Testament at Duke Divinity School.

Kara Crawford is a Mission Intern serving New Day UMC and the General Board of Global Ministries where she coordinates community action and communications. Kara loves reading and is fluent in Spanish, a skill she used as an educator and organizer for women in Bogota, Colombia.

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Joey Lopez is passionate about inclusion in the church and world, social justice and political activism.

Joey serves at Central UMC-Detroit, organizing and empowering young people to claim their God-given and inspired voice for peace and justice.

Scott Summerville has thirty-five years experience in parish ministry.

He is a trainer in church conflict and congregational health and a facilitator for congregations in crisis. Scott received training from the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center, the Alban Institute, the FaithTrust Institute, the Focusing Institute, JustPeace Center for Mediation and Conflict Transformation, Bridgebuilders, and Healthy Congregations. He developed a seminar series for persons leading congregations to Welcoming status.

A5 Where We Stand: Connecting Mercy and Justice 1:30pm, Oklahoma Room This workshop examines our understanding of often celebrated scripture in justice movements. We will return to our roots and use social, political, economic and legislative factors to explore ways to deepen how we engage in ministry that promotes justice. Participants will leave with an enhanced ability to engage others in education for action in their ministry settings.

A7 101 Ways NOT to Scare Young Queer People Away From Your Church 1:30pm, Montana Room Do you have Young Adult visitors who never come back? Are there young adult members of your church you want to resource and engage? In this workshop we will talk about the Millennial Generation, the unique struggles they face today, their attitudes towards the church, the unique gifts they bring to the life of the local congregation, and the boundaries they can help the Reconciling Movement to push.

Susan Burton, Director of the United Methodist Seminar Program on National and International Affairs on Capitol Hill, designs and facilitates experiential learning focusing on a range of social justice issues with groups of middle school through retirement aged learners by exploring the intersection of faith, justice, service and voice/agency.

Jamie Michaels is part campus minister, part activist, part musician, part artist, part missionary, full-time Rockstar for God.

A6 The Art of Circle Process in Conversation and in Conflict on the Path to Becoming a Welcoming Church

Elijah Stephens is part grad student, part activist, part musician, part educator, part transman, full time husband. When our powers combine we’re a giant queer ball of singing, dancing, protesting goodness working for the inclusion of all people in The UMC and beyond.

10:30am, California Room The discernment process to become a Welcoming Congregation is full of challenges. To facilitate such a process it is necessary to have a plan and a strategy and to organize well. It is also imperative to create a safe space that enables people to engage thoughtfully in conversations, especially those fraught with deep emotion. The Circle Process is a creative and sacred modality that fosters such an atmosphere. This workshop will introduce participants to key elements of this process.

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Rev. Drew Phoenix is an ordained elder in The United Methodist Church. In 2007, Drew became the first ordained minister in The UMC to come out publicly as transgender.

Drew contributed to the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) publication Gender Identity and Faith Communities, traveling widely throughout the United States to preach and facilitate workshops on the subject.

A8 Top 10 Reasons to Be Reconciling 10:30am, Idaho Room “But we’re already inclusive and welcoming. Why do we need to become Reconciling?” How many times have we heard this question? Using the collective experience and wisdom in the room, the participants in this workshop will identify the most common obstacles and fears and outline the most compelling reasons for our churches to take the step beyond welcoming to public declaration of an official Reconciling status.

A10 The Reconciling Process – Using the Building An Inclusive Church Toolkit

Laura Young has been involved in Reconciling work since 2000, working with RMN since 2007 currently as the Regional Organizer for the South Central Jurisdiction. She was the Common Witness Legislative Coordinator for Church & Society B at the 2012 General Conference and a lay delegate to Jurisdictional Conference.

1:30pm, Clover C Room Through the fall and spring of 2012-13 the RMN Regional Organizers have been training Process Coaches in 10 conferences to help congregations through the reconciling process. Our primary tool has been the Institute for Welcoming Resources’ Building An Inclusive Church Toolkit. In this workshop we’ll walk through the latest version 2.0 of this toolkit. There will also be a question and answer session with a panel of folks who have recently been through the reconciling process in their congregation.

A9 Screening & Discussion of TRANS: The Movie 10:30am, Missouri (box lunches provided for discussion time following movie)

Helen Ryde has been the Northeast Jurisdiction Regional Organizer for RMN since September 2012. She was born in the UK and moved to the United States in 1998. Helen also works part-time for a financial services company developing on-line learning courses. She has a post-graduate degree in secondary education.

Trans: The Movie gives us a glimpse into the lives and experiences of a variety of transgender people.

Youth and adults share their stories to counter the prevailing lack of understanding in our society about gender identity and expression, which breeds fear and contempt for transgender people. Our discussion will explore issues raised in the movie and how we can open others’ hearts and minds to create a more welcoming church and world. NOTE: We will have a discussion over lunch following the movie.

C. Kristian Clauser began his work for LGBTQ inclusion as an undergraduate. After seminary, he transitioned (female to male) while on staff at Hennepin Avenue UMC in Minneapolis, where he is still a member. A former RMN Jurisdictional Organizer, Kristian is the chair of RMN’s Transgender Extension Ministry, and a faith community organizer for LGBTQ justice. Currently, Kristian serves at Edina Community Lutheran Church.

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B. ORGANIZING IN THE GLOBAL CHURCH

published in the fields of ethics and theology. He has held many leadership positions in The UMC and other Christian associations. He has become one of the leading advocates for changing church policies to be more affirming of GLBT persons and for same-sex marriage.

B1 Same-Sex Marriage in United Methodist Churches 10:30am, Oklahoma Room Is your congregation in a state where marriage equality is the law and you are struggling with how to provide pastoral care and support to same-sex couples? Are you in a state which hasn’t yet recognized marriage equality but looking for ways to honor the commitments of your same-sex couples? Hear how other congregations have navigated these journeys and established policies affirming the performance of weddings and blessings for all persons. We will discuss various discernment processes and look at materials including sample policy statements and wedding ceremonies.

B2 Altar for All Strategizing Extended workshop meets 10:30am – 3:00pm with box lunches provided, Clover B Room This extended workshop is intended for clergy and laity who have been part of the national Altar for All network or are already active in their annual conference marriage equality teams. This will be an opportunity to work together to discuss the next phases of marriage initiative organizing. Topics may include: strategies for further recruitment, possible publication of annual conference lists, sharing resources, laity involvement, media organizing, and more. Persons from annual conferences without marriage initiative teams are encouraged to attend the B1 workshop above.

Ann Brown Birkel is a lifelong Methodist and member of Foundry UMC, Washington, D.C., and a lawyer.

Ann was raised in the AlabamaWest Florida Conference and holds a BA and a Law Degree from the University of Virginia. During Foundry’s Summer of Discernment in 2010 which led to its congregational marriage equality policy, Ann was asked to be the convener for an LGBT Advocacy Ministry Team which has been working for change in United Methodist exclusionary policies.

Dr. Dorothee Benz is a lifelong United Methodist and member of Park Slope UMC in Brooklyn, New York.

She has years of experience as an editor, journalist, web manager and communications strategist working for economic, social, democratic and constitutional rights. By day, Benz is the communications director at the Center for Constitutional Rights; by night, she works for LGBT justice through MIND (Methodists in New Directions.)

Jayson Dobney has been active with RMN for many years. Originally from South Dakota, he moved to New York in 2007, where he is the associate curator and administrator for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Department of Musical Instruments. He joined the Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew and Methodists in New Directions as soon as he got to New York. In 2010 he became the minister of music at Memorial UMC in White Plains.

Rev. Bruce Robbins began serving as the lead pastor at Hennepin Avenue UMC in Minneapolis, MN, in 2004.

Previously he served on The Commission on Christian Unity of The UMC for 17 years–13 of those as head of the agency. He has worked extensively internationally with the World Council of Churches, the World Methodist Council and the World Conference on Religion and Peace. He served on the RMN Board for four years.

Rev. Dr. J. Philip Wogaman is Professor of Christian Ethics Emeritus at Wesley Theological Seminary and a retired pastor who last served as senior pastor of Foundry U.M. Church in Washington, D.C. He is widely 32

Brittany Burrows is a graduate of Perkins School of Theology, and serves as Director of the Denton Wesley Foundation. A lifelong United Methodist, Brittany has served as a youth minister, musician, campus chaplain, and organizer with RMN. She has done extensive work in central and southern Africa as a project coordinator, orphanage worker, and schoolteacher.

B3 What You Need to Know about Organizing African American UMs 1:30pm, Clover A Room Looking for the keys to partnering with Black United Methodists? Presenters will shed light on the critical issues that need to be considered in any outreach to the Black church—whether cross-cultural or from within— and offer guidelines for successful organizing. The workshop will focus on illuminating (a) awareness of and respect for the range of challenges facing the Black church; (b) importance of focusing on collegiality and support; and (c) need for safe, non-judgmental spaces.

Rev. Neal Christie is an ordained Elder in the Greater NJ Conference and has served as Assistant General Secretary for the Education and Leadership Formation area of the General Board of Church and Society (GBCS) in Washington, DC since 2000. Neal pastored rural congregations, worked in urban ministry, and as a trauma hospital chaplain, prior to working at GBCS as Director for the UM Seminars on National and International Affairs.

Ann Thompson Cook and Cedric Harmon co-direct Many Voices: A Black Church Movement for Gay and Transgender Justice, www.manyvoices.org. Building on his success organizing 200 supportive clergy to publicly support D.C.’s marriage equality legislation, Pastor Cedric has expertly coached, mentored, educated, and built peer support among influential Black pastors who are now speaking publicly in support of LGBT equality. Ann, an early RMN board member, is a long-time educator/author whose books about sexual orientation and gender diversity have educated people of faith worldwide.

B5 Decolonize Your Mind: Engaging an Emerging Global Church 10:30am, Ohio Room

10:30am, Iowa Room

As the Gospel reaches a more global audience, it is important to consider how the ministry, theology, and practices within the Church also share in this shift to an international context. This workshop foregrounds ways of engaging our adversaries at the intersections of race, gender, and sexuality through a theological framework. By looking to different parts of the globe we can produce a more informed and graceful response to a church that expands beyond just our Western contexts.

From the “kill the gays” bill in Uganda to comparisons between homosexuality and bestiality at General Conference, Africa is often viewed as a stumbling block to LGBTQ inclusion. But is Africa fundamentally homophobic, and will it always be this way? We will explore potential obstacles and opportunities to work with African Central Conferences. We will discuss how past and present paternalistic, racially prejudiced, and ethnocentric mission practices have fostered homophobia and anti-Western sentiment in Africa and how Africans can become our allies in promoting reconciliation and justice for all people in the Church.

Vincent Cervantes is a writer, speaker, and activist-theologian engaging the intersections of race, religion, gender, and sexuality. He speaks out against the ex-gay movement in the United States and Latin America. He is a doctoral student at the University of Southern California with a master’s in theology from Harvard Divinity School. Vincent also serves as a board member for the RMN and leader of United Methodists of Color for a Fully-Inclusive Church.

B4 Will Africa Always be Anti-LGBTQ? Forming Partnerships across Borders

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B6 How Christianity Was Seduced by Homophobia

C. DEEPENING OUR SPIRIT JOURNEYS

1:30pm, America Room

C1 Behind the Worship Arts: Do you ever wonder why worship arts can just be…art?

This workshop draws upon Jennings’ book: Plato or Paul: The Origins of Western Homophobia. While conventional wisdom has it that Plato was “pro-gay” and the Bible was homophobic, the truth is almost exactly the reverse. Western Homophobia originates in later texts of Plato which then provide the basis for the invention of a homophobic hermeneutics in Philo. In this workshop participants will learn how Plato influenced Christian thinkers’ approach to Genesis and Romans and later on to Leviticus.

1:30pm, Ohio Room What do we do with musical theology that lacks depth and inclusive/expansive language? Why is theatre limited to kids in bedsheets? Why has the chancel area looked the same since 1958? What do we do with the brand new screen that’s just been installed? Sarah and DeLyn will facilitate discussion and interactive opportunities to try something new in worship arts.

Please feel free to bring ideas, musical instruments, and a willingness to participate.

Dr. Theodore Jennings is Professor of Biblical & Constructive Theology at Chicago Theological Seminary (CTS). He served as a local pastor and taught for three years at the Methodist Seminary in Mexico City.

He has served as a consultant with the United Methodist Church on issues related to commitment to the poor. He also helped initiate the gay and lesbian studies program at CTS and has traveled and lectured extensively in Latin America, Asia, and Africa. This workshop sponsored by Affirma-

Sarah and DeLyn Celec have the joy of working together, each bringing her strengths to the table while helping the other in areas of weakness. They are passionate about using art to build community. Their passion for social justice is evident in music, theatrical scripts and liturgical writings. DeLyn and Sarah are the ChurchQuake worship co-coordinators.

tion: United Methodists for LGBT Concerns.

C2 From Clenched Fists to Open Hands: Embracing Freedom in Reconciliation 10:30am, Clover C Room How do we transform crisis into creativity? …through the spiritual practice of reconciliation. Learn from coauthors and former spouses, Revs. Leigh Anne Taylor and Joe Cobb, who traversed the crisis of Joe’s coming out and created a new way of being family. This workshop will explore the importance of being authentic, honoring each other (even when you don’t like each other), and imagining new ways of being in relationship.

Rev. Joe Cobb and Rev. Leigh Anne Taylor are co-authors of the new book Our Family Outing: A Memoir of Coming Out and Coming Through. Joe 34

Anthony Fatta hails from Syracuse, NY and is the associate pastor at Los Gatos UMC in Los Gatos, CA. He is a candidate for ordained ministry in the California-Nevada Annual Conference. While in seminary at Vanderbilt Divinity School he served as a Jurisdictional Organizer with RMN during the last two years of the Called to Witness Campaign.

is Pastor of Metropolitan Community Church of the Blue Ridge in Roanoke, Virginia, and served as UM clergy from 1985-2001. Leigh Anne is an ordained Deacon in the UMC and serves as Minister of Music at Blacksburg UMC in Blacksburg, Virginia.

C3 Sharing Family Experiences 1:30pm, Idaho Room Parents Reconciling Network (PRN) and Methodist Student Organizing for an All-Inclusive Church (MOSAIC) combine to share stories of their family experiences both favorable and unfavorable. Stories of coming out, or adaptation, of rejection, of unconditional love will provide greater understanding of youth, young adult, and parent perspectives.

C5 Queer Sexual Ethics 10:30am, America Room The workshop grows out of a three-year project to broaden discussions of same-sex love to include sexual lifestyles that had been marginalised through a concentration on things like marriage rights. This project (which is producing a seminar and a book) deals with a variety of alternate sexual styles—addressing each within the context of justice and mercy, of respect for the dignity and flourishing of one another beyond the standard conceptions of sexual ethics.

Bob Swing is co-chair of the Parents Reconciling Network Steering Committee. Bob is a retired Air Force Colonel having served 27 years with forces protecting our nuclear arsenal.

His second career was as a manager in a security company contracted to the Department of Energy. Bob is a life-long Methodist, a lay member of the Holston Conference, and a musician in his church.

Dr. Theodore Jennings (see Workshop B6)

C6 Conversations with Matt Berryman, RMN ED 10:30am, Illinois Room Come to an informal opportunity to listen and share with Matt Berryman who became RMN’s executive director in early April 2013. Hear Matt share some of his observations and reflections on his first few months of leadership in the Reconciling Movement and offer him some of the hopes and dreams that you have gleaned from your involvement. Interactivity between the national staff & board and the grassroots leadership is at the heart of the Reconciling Movement.

Andrew Ponder Williams is a senior at Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Missouri. Andrew has been active in The UMC from high school on and served as the Chairman of the 2012 General Conference Committee considering proposals for change of Church policies on homosexuality.

C4 You Betta LitWERK

Matt Berryman served as the pastor of United Methodist congregations in the Jacksonville area of The Florida Conference and the United Kingdom before joining the RMN staff. He also has led numerous groups through training seminars and workshops for The United Methodist Church, The Fund for Theological Education, Emory University, and the Fellowship of United Methodists for Music and Worship Arts. Berryman received a B.A. from The University of South Carolina and a M.Div. from Candler School of Theology.

10:30am, Anderson Room In this workshop we will relearn old forms of liturgy and ritual aimed towards young adults (straight/cis and LGBTQ). Younger generations often have too many things of which to take part and are searching for something stable. Church liturgy and ritual can provide that. We will focus on renewing and reimagining the radical meaning of the Table and the Baptismal Fount with prayer writing, poetic exploration, using congregational creativity in liturgy, and unearthing the liturgical wisdom of past Christians.

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D. ENHANCING SKILLS FOR CREATING CHANGE

D3 Beyond ‘Like’: Using Social Media for Activism 1:30pm, Anderson Room

D1 Fully Inclusive? The Challenges of the Reconciling Movement & Communities of Color

Social media is here to stay. But how do we use it beyond sharing a photo of our meal or the latest Think Progress blog post? How do we engage and excite others to join our cause and give them the tools to become advocates? Join us for a fast-paced romp through the social media landscape as we talk strategy, tips and tools for communicating faith and building advocates in this brave new world.

10:30am, Clover A Room In this workshop we will begin with an examination of the historical racism in the United Methodist Church and explore some of the foundational challenges for the Reconciling Movement within some communities of color. Some possible solutions to those challenges will also be presented. The workshop is meant to be interactive and discussion based.

Chett Pritchett serves as the Interim Director of the Methodist Federation for Social Action (MFSA). Prior to assuming that role, Chett served MFSA as Development and Communications Associate. An advocate for LGBTQ equality, Chett has presented numerous workshops on spirituality and sexuality.

He is a member of Dumbarton UMC in Washington, DC. Connect with Chett on Twitter at @chettpritchett.

Rev. John Oda is an Ordained Elder in The United Methodist Church. He is a member of the RMN Board of Directors and was past board chair. He recently chaired RMN’s Search Committee for the Executive Director. He was a recipient of the Bishop Melvin Talbert Racial Justice Award of the Cal-Nevada Conference and current Chair of the Conference Committee on Reconciliation for Cal-Nevada.

D4 Power and Privilege: Breaking the Silence 10:30am, Illinois Room

D2 Sacred Speech: Inclusive Language Basics for Reconciling UMs

Everyone’s identity has multiple facets that intersect with each other in complex ways. Barriers arise from our individual and collective experiences of power, privilege and oppression due to race, gender identity, ability, age, sexual orientation, class and other differences. This workshop will provide participants with: a) a framework for understanding the intersections of oppression; b) the opportunity to explore their own and others’ experiences of power, privilege and disenfranchisement; and c) resources to spark conversation our congregations.

1:30pm, Missouri Room If you’re new to the Reconciling Movement, you might have some questions about language: When is it okay to say “queer”? Is “transsexual” the same as “transgender”? What’s wrong with calling God “Father” all the time? “Cisgender?” What’s that mean? In this session, we’ll discuss practical suggestions for using language inclusively and in ways that express care and love for the dignity of every person.

Britt Cox is a third year Master of Divinity student at Chicago Theological Seminary focusing on Queer theology and an Elder candidate in the Northern Illinois Conference.

She has served with RMN in multiple capacities, most recently as a Jurisdictional Organizer and as a legislative coordinator at General Conference.

Leland G. Spencer IV, a lifelong United Methodist, holds a Ph.D. in communication studies from the University of Georgia and an M.A. in Communication from the University of Cincinnati (2009). While in Cincinnati, Leland served as the worship intern at the Wesley Foundation. He is a 2007 graduate of Mount Union College. Leland served as a part-time local pastor at Mapleton UMC in the East Ohio Conference from 2005 until 2007.

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Sid Hall is the senior minister of Trinity UMC in Austin, Texas, where he has served since 1988. He has been active in Affirmation since 1983 and in the Reconciling movement since 1990. Sid has a doctorate in Holocaust Studies from SMU and is the author of Christian Anti-Semitism and Paul’s Theology (Fortress, 1993).

Gheeta Smith is the co-chair of RMN’s UMOC ministry. She was adopted from India as a baby and raised United Methodist in Salt Lake City. She was a delegate to the Global Young People’s Convocation and Legislative Assembly in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2006 and a reserve delegate to General Conference 2008. She is Annual Conference Team Leader for Utah/Rocky Mountain and was a Jurisdictional Organizer for the Believe Out Loud and Love Your Neighbor campaigns.

ACT now

There are many ways to be involved in Reconciling work in your local community, your state, and our United Methodist connection.

Creating an Altar for All: Biblical Obedience

Sign on if you are willing to officiate same-sex weddings in compliance with the Discipline’s requirement to offer the ministry of the Church to all people and the Bible which calls us to seek justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God.

Become a Reconciling Process Coach

Help increase the number of Reconciling churches, communities and campus ministries.

Tell Your Story

Your reconciling story will be unique and will touch lives as none other can.

Action Kits

Tell your story, plan a gathering, host a Reconciling table, hold a Reconciling United Methodist drive, restore your soul, or hold a Reconciling Sunday.

Learn more about how you can take each of these action steps: http://www.rmnetwork.org/act-now/

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7:30pm, at Metropolitan Memorial UMC 3401 Nebraska Avenue, NW, Washington, DC

whose credits include appearances on the large and small screen, voice-over narration for film, video, and radio productions. She is the author of two illustrated books for children: No Mirrors In My Nana’s House and We Are One. Read more at www.ymbarnwell.com. Dr. Barnwell will lead a community sing at the Sunday evening celebration during the convocation.

Members and friends of the Reconciling Ministries Network in the metropolitan D.C. area will join with ChurchQuake participants for a gala celebration at a nearby Reconciling Congregation, Metropolitan Memorial UMC. This gathering will include: • community sing with the renowned Dr. Ysaye Barnwell; • musical presentation by a mass choir from D.C. area congregations; • ritual celebration of our support for marriage equality; • inspiring message from Bishop Melvin Talbert.

The celebration will conclude with a reception on the lawn of Metropolitan Memorial UMC. Special note: the ritual celebration will include a procession of any same-gender or queer-identified couples who have publicly celebrated their relationship (encouraged to wear “wedding finery”) along with clergy persons who have married these or other couples. There will be instructions at the church on how to participate in this procession.

Transportation: Buses will be loading and leaving from the National 4-H Center at 6:30, 6:45 and 7:00pm to take participants to Metropolitan Memorial UMC. Buses will depart from the church at 9:45, 10:00, and 10:15pm to return to the National 4-H Center. There is parking at Metropolitan Memorial for those who choose to drive their cars there.

Dr. Ysaye M. Barnwell has been with the internationally renowned, African American women’s a cappella ensemble Sweet Honey In The Rock since 1979. She appears as a vocalist and instrumentalist on more than thirty recordings with Sweet Honey and other artists. She has spent much of her time off stage working as a master teacher and choral clinician in African American cultural performance. She has conducted her workshop “Building a Vocal Community: Singing in the African American Tradition” on three continents, making her work in the field a significant source of inspiration for both singers and non-singers, a model of pedagogy for educators, and cultural activists and historians. Dr. Barnwell has been a commissioned composer on numerous choral, film, video, dance and theatrical projects. She is also an actress

Bishop Melvin Talbert is known for his prophetic stands for inclusiveness and justice. He has fought long and hard to help his church and society address racism. He is committed to racial, gender and sexual orientation inclusiveness. From 1973 to 1980 he served as General Secretary for the General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church. He was elected bishop in 1980 by the Western Jurisdiction and assigned to the Seattle Area. In 1988, Talbert moved to the San Francisco Area where he served until his retirement in 2000. In his so-called retirement, Talbert has served as Ecumenical Officer for the Council of Bishops (2000-2004); member of the World Methodist Council Executive Committee (2001-2006); member of the Executive Board of the NCCCUSA (2000-2004) and president of Churches Uniting in Christ (2002-2004). In addition to teaching in seminary, he served as Interim General Secretary for General Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns in 2004 and Executive Director of National Black Methodists for Church Renewal, Inc. (2004-2007).Bishop Talbert was born in Clinton, Louisiana, to sharecropper parents. He earned his B.A. degree from Southern University in Baton Rouge and was in the first graduating class of a new consortium of seminaries called Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta. He did further study at the School of Theology Claremont and Vancouver School of Theology. He was ordained deacon in the Louisiana Conference of the Central Jurisdiction and elder in the Southern California-Arizona Annual Conference where he served as pastor and staff for a number of years. Talbert now lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with his wife, Marilyn Ruth Williams Magee, and enjoys time with his grandchildren. A lifelong sports enthusiast; he loves football, baseball and basketball. He is also a fan of jazz, classical, spirituals, and “good” gospel music.

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History in the Making of Entertainment (HiTM ENT) is an ensemble of performance artists from Columbus, Ohio. Hip hop artist UNECC (pronounced Unique) combines a passion for music with an overall love to contribute to the betterment of the world’s people through her quick witted & soul-dipped lyrics. Born in the Bronx and raised in Schlobhm Gardens (one of the worse projects in America) UNECC has overcome many of life trials and obstacles. She lost her biological mother to AIDS at age 9, was separated from her family in New York for 18 years, and recently almost lost her stepmother at the hands of her biological father.

She credits music as her outlet for pain. UNECC has been operating HiTM ENT since January 2007.

Evening musical entertainment will be provided on Friday and Saturday beginning around 9:30pm hosted

by RMN’s own Carmen-Vira DiVa. Any other performers wishing to participate in the program either evening should check in with Carmen.

Carmen-Vira Di Va is a drag entertainer based in Los Angeles. Carmen has traveled all over the country to perform and make guest appearances.

Her work draws on the influence of Latin American divas and old Hollywood glam. In her words, “Drag is the intersection of religion, spirit, and body.” Through her drag, Carmen aspires to be an ambassador to the LGBT community bringing a positive message about beauty and spirit.

Friday night will feature Luster and History in the Making of Entertainment (HiTM ENT) from Columbus, Ohio.

Sile P. Singleton (LUSTER) has toured for the past 14 years as a trans-entertainer, activist, motivational speaker, academic lecturer, community organizer, cultural producer and life-long lover of God. S/he uses her gifts as a host emcee, preacher, and storyteller to challenge people about what they think they know about themselves and others. Through the magic of music, tales of experience, and historical scholarship she dares the audience to acknowledge the intricacies of cultural and social relationships as they pertain to the random acts of diversity, multiculturalism and faith. From the stage, through hir character Luster aka Lustivious s/he turns situations of pain into passions of life. Sile weaves a web that captivates, stuns, teaches the viewer, with simple tales of reality that provide practical and intentional strategies for negotiating the growth of self.

Photo credit: Linda McNabb

Takisha (KELO) Dower was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and began singing at Liberty Baptist Church at the tender age of six. Her grandmother noticed that she was anointed with a beautiful voice and the ability to lead, so Takisha began directing the youth and adult choirs. Takisha not only uses her musical gift to help people in need, but she is a Chemical Dependency Counselor for the ALVIS House, a ex-offender program in Columbus, Ohio.

Dsquared is a group of multi-talented young people who enjoy dancing, singing, and modeling. The group consist of: Mikayla Denise, the Ohio Valley Regional Queen and an aspiring professional cosmetologist; LIL Odessy, a great choreographer and dancer; Britani Sade, a choreographer, an aspiring model, actress; and writer Smiley aka J’lyn, great dancer, makeup artist, and an aspiring actress.

Combined they are a team of extremely talented professionals striving to show young people that dreams can and do come true.

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Saturday night will feature Tom Goss, gay singer/songwriter from Washington, D.C. Tom Goss is a unique voice among gay singersongwriters—a former Catholic seminarian turned guitar-toting troubadour whose heartfelt lyrics, hooky melodies and quirky charm have earned him a dedicated national following. Since he started performing in DC coffeehouses in 2006, the tireless 29-year-old hasn’t let any moss grow under his trademark flip flops: two full-length CDs (Naked Without

and Back to Love), two EPs (Rise and The Politics of Love), a live DVD (Live At Terry’s), four music videos—and nearly 500 shows in 100 cities nationwide. His latest CD, Turn It Around was released in April, supported by a ten-week, 50-city tour.

Like his music, Tom’s story is a mix of struggle and spirit. A native of Kenosha, Wisconsin, he spent his high school and college years as a wrestler, leaving the family sport of gymnastics for one better suited to his teenage aggression. Following a brief stint as a teacher, he moved to Washington, D.C. in 2004 to enter Catholic seminary. It didn’t go as planned, and he abandoned his quest to become a priest— but not his desire to spread a message of hope and reconciliation through his music.

The Center for Lesbian & Gay Studies in Religion and Ministry

Works for justice for all by:

of Pacific School of Religion

AdvAncing the well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people;

Tr Ansfor ming faith communities and religious institutions;

shAping a new public discourse on religion and sexuality through education, research, community building and advocacy.

• 1798 Scenic Ave., Berkeley, CA 94709 • Tel. 510/849-8206 • www.clgs.org

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41

Greetings from Worship Leaders

beautiful image of our just God. You are invited to sing the language of your heart. Historically, our rich JudeoChristian tradition has named God in exclusively male terms. Many believe that this male-only perspective, at least, separates God from the female experience, and at most, enforces and reinforces oppression of women.

Furthermore, our growing understanding of sexual orientation and gender identity is not reflected in ancient, beloved texts. In addition, language in traditions arising from, and supported by, a painful history of colonization has minoritized people on the basis of race and ethnicity.

Please feel free to sing the words in this music that most deeply facilitate your worship, regardless of whether they match those of your neighbor or those in the bulletin.

Corporate worship in general, and here at ChurchQuake in particular, is inspiration, education and punctuation.

Our worship celebrations are woven inextricably with the many purposes for which our community has gathered.

As we worship with our kin and kindred, we inspire ourselves and others to build deeper relationships with God and our neighbors near and far. We learn and teach about the inclusion of all of God’s children in the building of God’s kin-dom. We punctuate the transformative moments we experience together throughout the event.

The powerful theme, grounded in scripture, is introduced in the liturgy and music of the first service. It ties us to our Christian, Wesleyan past, frustrating but encouraging present, and hopeful future. We are here to redeem damage done in the past, shake things up in the present, and release ourselves from our shackles in order to build a future in which all are welcome to participate fully.

peace and grace, Sarah and DeLyn

Although trees sustain damage from earthquakes, they continue to grow, change, adapt, and nurture life in many ways. The tree at our worship center is modeled after the ancient Cedars of God, which have grown for millennia in cedar forests in the mountains of Lebanon. These cedars are mentioned in the Bible over 70 times. It is exciting to think that trees like the ones that stand today may have witnessed prophetic words and acts in our Bible! You are invited to reflect upon these trees, the ways in which their environments have been shaken and the freedom they embrace by adapting and thriving despite adversity.

Images used in the slide show worship guide have been prayerfully chosen by the worship leaders in order to bring our neighbors from all over the world into our worship celebrations. A list of sources is available by email at sarahcelec@gmail.com

“Quakin’ up the Church” begins with individuals. In our second service, Esther invites us to bring our stories of resistance to our corporate worship as we celebrate her audacious actions and words. With Esther we repudiate our oppressors and challenge our human systems that privilege only some.

The third service of Word and Table begins with a sense of cautious hope, highlighting the oneness of God’s kindom and today’s world. It restores prophetic voice and reminds us of the newness of an exciting, post-ChurchQuake future in which all are embraced and respected.

The daunting, exciting newness over which we rejoice calls us to put the old behind us as we focus on our freedom in Christ Our final ChurchQuake service honors all of the powerful, healing, resistant and love-centered work already done by RMN while springing us to into action. We pack rubble into a solid foundation and allow the Spirit to free us to recreate framework. We resolve to be firmly founded in God’s promise as we envision and rebuild the now-quaked-up Church!

You are invited to be a part of the growth and change of the tree at the worship center. Throughout the weekend, please write on one or more leaves found in baskets around the lobby. Your writings may include hopes, dreams, prayers or past hurts from which you seek healing. Together, we will hold the church accountable for nurturing all of God’s children.

Inclusive, expansive language is important to RMN and to the worship arts coordinators. Unless otherwise noted, the lyrics of each song are printed just as they appear in the sources from which they come. Many choose to sing lyrics more inclusive and expansive than their original texts as we celebrate our belief that all are created in the

42

Worship Leaders

unique way of relating diverse skills of many fields to one another, she looks forward to building relationships with RMN participants as we all worship together!

The Rev. DeLyn Celec is the Campus Minister of Worship Arts at Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virginia.

She is ordained through the Church Within A Church Movement and earned her Master of Divinity degree from Drew Theological School. Her passion for social justice is evident in her music and writing. As a worship leader for various events, she is grateful to include people of diverse backgrounds and skills in leadership and other participation in corporate worship. She has a deep desire to contextualize old and new traditions from around the world in musical and worshipful settings. DeLyn was introduced to the Reconciling Ministries Network in 2000; this event included her first experience meeting anyone who was both proudly LGBTQ and proudly Christian. Since then, she was called to music ministry, seminary, campus ministry and, most recently, ordination. DeLyn has been honored to sojourn with United Methodist organizations such as the United Methodist Women, the General Board of Global Ministries and the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry. She is also proud to have worked in ecumenical movements such as the World Student Christian Federation and interfaith organizations such as Interfaith Youth Core.

When Sarah and DeLyn Celec have the joy of working together, each aims to bring her strengths to the table while helping the other in areas of weakness. Their result is that the skills of each complement those of the other for a holistic, multi-dimensional worship celebration. They are passionate about using art to build community; they enjoy teaching, and learning from, artists of many types in many settings.

Preachers Marcus Briggs-Cloud of the Maskoke Nation is a son of the Wind Clan people and grandson of the Bird Clan people.

He belongs to Talvhassee Wvkokiye ceremonial ground and is a member of the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference of The United Methodist Church. Marcus is the partner to Tawna Little, a Kialegee person of the Maskoke Nation who is of the Skunk clan people. A scholar, activist and musician, Marcus has served on various boards and committees that seek to protect the rights of Indigenous Peoples, including the NGO Cultural Survival, the U.S. Ecumenical Association of Third World Theologians and the American Indian Boarding School Healing Project. Marcus has served as an Indigenous spokesperson at the United Nations and is currently one of five plaintiffs for the case Blackhorse vs. Pro-Football to terminate the Washington Pro-Football team mascot. He has been invited to present academic lectures and musical performances in 16 countries around the world. Marcus is a former instructor of Maskoke Language in the Anthropology Department at the University of Oklahoma. He is passionate about his work with urban Native youth who produced a 17-minute, three-time award-winning documentary, entitled When It›s Gone It›s Gone, examining Indigenous language loss and revitalization through the eyes of elders. In 2011 his musical album Pum Vculvke Vrakkuecetv (To Honor Our Elders), was nominated for two awards at the Native American Music Awards. The album is a compilation of traditional Maskoke hymns with contemporary genres of worship with piano, violin, djembe with Maskoke lyrics. Marcus holds a master’s degree in Theological Studies from Harvard University where he concentrated on the dialectical intersections of liberation theology, linguistics, post-coloniality and gender theory.

Sarah Celec brings her background as a photographer, actor and director, and religious studies student to her liturgical art. She has recently returned to school to study Religion and Entrepreneurship at Shenandoah University, at which she is a worship artist in the University Chapel program. As a member of the Church Within A Church Movement, she is passionate about focusing on social justice in corporate worship. She has worked inside and outside of the Movement as a worship artist, also partnering with organizations such as the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church. Sarah is a graduate of The American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City and enjoys acting and directing in professional and community theatre. She has brought her theatre background to the liturgical pieces she writes and directs. As a professional photographer, it is Sarah’s goal to use both her eye and her photography to bring corporate worship spaces to vibrant life. She deeply values relationship, which is visible in the way she preserves the memories of people encountering the most significant moments of their lives. Similar to her 43

Pastor Joseph Tolton enjoys a three-faceted career serving the LGBT community as a voice for spiritual freedom, social justice and economic empowerment.

As a professional man of faith, Pastor Tolton is the National Minister of Global Justice for The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries (TFAM) and the Associate Pastor for Social Justice for Rivers at Rehoboth Church in Harlem. His ministry provides leadership to TFAM’s justice initiatives outside of the United States. As a public advocate, Tolton serves as the Director of Africa Affairs for The Global Justice Institute. In this capacity, he provides pastoral care and strategic consulting services for several LGBT advocacy groups in Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Cote d’Ivoire and Liberia. As an entrepreneur, Tolton is the Managing Director of Blur Communications. Since its inception in 2001, Blur, a full-service brand development and advocacy marketing firm, has been engaged by clients such as The Fashion Institute of Technology, The Turks & Caicos Board of Tourism, Hewlett-Packard, The Episcopal Church, The Vera Institute of Justice, CW Financial, ESSENCE Magazine, and Carver Federal Savings Bank. Pastor Tolton received his BA degree in religion from Vassar College and his MBA degree in management from Columbia Business School.

The Rev. Vicki Flippin is the Pastor of Social Justice, Exploring Faith, and Intergenerational Ministries at The Church of the Village, a progressive, multi-racial, and Reconciling United Methodist Church in Manhattan, New York City. A graduate of Yale Divinity School (‘08) and the University of Chicago (‘05), Flippin has served previously as senior pastor at Diamond Hill UMC in Connecticut, which joined the Reconciling movement during her tenure. She currently serves in leadership roles in the New York Annual Conference’s Commission on Religion and Race and Methodists in New Directions, working for both racial and LGBT equality with equal fervor. A proud signer and clergy recruiter for her conference’s Covenant of Conscience, she is committed to the practice of marriage equality in the UMC. Flippin has close family and church ties to both Taiwan and the American Midwest and currently enjoys life in New York City with her husband and two eccentric cats.

Rev. Dr. Karen Oliveto is the senior pastor of Glide Memorial United Methodist Church in San Francisco. Prior to that she was the long-time pastor of another Reconciling Congregation in San Francisco, Bethany UMC. A scholar/activist pastor, Oliveto has been a long-time leader in the Reconciling Ministries Network, having served on the board of directors and as the chair of the board. She is an adjunct professor of United Methodist Studies at Pacific School of Religion as well as adjunct professor in Drew University’s Doctor of Ministry program. Oliveto is the co-author of Talking About Homosexuality: A Congregational Resource (Pilgrim Press).

Worship Musicians/Artists The team helping to lead worship this weekend is comprised of students at Shenandoah University. All skilled artists, each one is here because of his or her passion for artistic expression of equality and justice.

Avery Bargasse Amanda Edlow Emily Ehrgott Frank Deets Virginia Greer Maurice Goodwin

Sound a Mystic Bamboo Song

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Worship Service, Friday, August 30, 7:15pm

Redemptive Release

We gather to redeem damage done in the past, shake things up in the present, and release ourselves from our former shackles in order to embrace a better future.

GATHER Gathering Music: Freedom Is Coming, Guide My Feet, For All The Children Words of Welcome Processional Hymn: And Are We Yet Alive, Embracing Freedom Opening Prayer Call To Worship: The wise one built a house upon a rock…

PROCLAIM Song: Sound a Mystic Bamboo Song Reading of Scripture: Acts 16: 23-34 They were whipped many times and thrown into prison, and the jailer was told to keep a close watch on them. So, following these instructions, the warden threw them into the innermost cell of the prison and chained their feet to a stake. About midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God as the other prisoners listened. Suddenly a severe earthquake shook the place, rocking the prison to its foundation. Immediately all the doors flew open, and everyone’s chains were pulled loose. When the jailer woke up and found the doors wide open, he drew a sword and was about to commit suicide, presuming that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself!

We’re all still here.” The jailer called for a light, then rushed in and fell trembling at the feet of Paul and Silas, and, after a brief interval, led them out and asked them, “What must I do to be saved?” They answered, “Believe in Jesus the Savior, and you will be saved-you and everyone in your household.” They proceeded to preach the word of God to the jailer and his whole household. At that late hour of the night he took them in and bathed their wounds; then he and the whole household were baptized. He led them up into his house, spread a table before them, and the whole family joyfully celebrated their newfound faith in God.

Song: Make Now of Us Sermon: Reverend Vicki Flippin

RESPOND Choir Song: My Chains Fly Off

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Closing Koinonia Prayer: Together we pray, silently or aloud, in community and as individuals, for: The communion of saints (during each pause, congregants are invited to lift brief intercessions individually, either silently or aloud) The world, its people and its leaders, (pause) The Church universal: its leaders, its members and its mission, (pause) The concerns of this local community, (pause) People who suffer and are in trouble, (pause) The people of this congregation. (pause) (Invitation to continue in prayer) Like a tree that is shaken after its ground has shifted, uprooted in places, bent, torn, or broken open in others, we look with excitement toward the unexpected reconfigurations that will bring surprising new life from between the cracks left by the quake.

With an openness to learn everything you will teach us through one another we pray, amen.

SEND Sending Forth Song: Salaam Aleikum

Ososo (Come Now, O Prince of Peace)

Benediction: Reverend Vicki Flippin

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Worship Service, Saturday, August 31, 8:45am

Resistant Repudiation

“Quakin’ up the Church” begins with individuals who struggle and resist.

Like Esther in her marginalized, minoritized, oppressed status, we audaciously repudiate our oppressors and systems of privilege—some of which may be upheld, in part, by our participation.

GATHER Gathering Music: Halleluya, Lift Every Voice and Sing, O So So, Welcome Meet Esther Hymn: God of Grace and God of Glory Call To Worship: How do we ever know the purpose of our lives? Have you ever asked, “Where is my path? What is my call?” What do we do when it feels as though our world is shaken to its very core? Is this the moment to act? The call of freedom has gone out. Despite uncertainty and fear we look to the strong tree as an example; may we stand firm in our resolve to nurture the fullness of life.

We are a community embracing life by demanding it equally for all.

We have allowed our fears to use up our energy far too long. May we instead nurture ecosystems that promote health, wholeness and sustainability.

We are a community embracing freedom by demanding it equally for all.

Help us to treasure our common past, in which we are rooted, as we boldly reach toward the sun, adding new life to richly-nourished tradition.

We are a community embracing our future growth by demanding it equally for all.

May we cultivate deep understanding that we are interdependent; the oppression of one is the oppression of all. It is our responsibility to replace oppressive, exclusionary systems with sustainable, inclusive ones. Gracious God, help us keep one another mindful that oppression affects each of us in our home, in our land, in our world.

We are a community embracing life by demanding it equally for all.

PROCLAIM Scripture Reading: Esther 4: 12-14 When Mordecai heard Esther’s reply; he wrote back the following response. “Don’t fool yourself into thinking that just because you are in the imperial palace, you will be the only Jewish person to escape. If you insist on remaining silent at this time, vindication and liberation will come to our people through another source, but both you and your family will surely die. Who’s to say?-you may have come into the royal court for just this moment, for just a time as this”

47

Esther’s Prayer Sermon: Rev. Dr. Karen Oliveto

RESPOND Choir Song: Believe Out Loud Closing Koinonia Prayer: Together we pray, silently or aloud, in community and as individuals, for: The communion of saints (during each pause, congregants are invited to lift brief intercessions individually, either silently or aloud) The world, its people and its leaders, (pause) The Church universal: its leaders, its members and its mission, (pause) The concerns of this local community, (pause) People who suffer and are in trouble, (pause) The people of this congregation. (pause) (Koinonia Prayer Continues) Whether we identify with certainty or are still figuring it out, each of us is present, for such a time as this, to identify as one who seeks to follow the example of Jesus.

We are embraced as your kindred, your beloved.

We have a place; we have a purpose; we have a future; we belong to you and one another.

Ever-working, ever-sustaining, ever-energizing God, we are ready for repudiation and resistance. Rooted in tradition and reaching for experiences beyond our wildest imaginings, inspired and unafraid, empower us to make the beautiful future, in which we hold out hope, into the present reality for such a time as this. Amen.

SEND Sending Forth Song: We Are Called Benediction: Rev. Dr. Karen Oliveto

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48

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Worship Service, Sunday, September 1, 8:45am

Restore Rejoicing

We restore prophetic voice in the current day, reminding us of the newness of an exciting, post-Churchquake future in which all are celebrated and respected.

We rejoice in this daunting, freedom-embracing present and future.

GATHER Gathering Music: I Feel the Earth Move, Who is My Mother, Who is My Brother,

Living In The Imagination of God, Heleluyan

Call To Worship/Opening Prayer: ‘We Give Thanks This Day’ by O. Eugene Pickett Opening Hymn: For the Beauty of the Earth

PROCLAIM Scripture Reading: Isaiah 65: 17-25 For I am about to create new heavens and a new earth! The things of the past will not be remembered or come to mind! Be glad and rejoice forever and ever in what I create, because I now create Jerusalem to be a joy and its people to be a delight! I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and delight in my people; no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it or the cry of distress. No longer will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or old people who do not live out their days. They die as mere youths who reach but a hundred years, and those who fall short of a hundred will be thought accursed. At last they will live in the houses they build, and eat the fruit of the vineyard they plant. They will not build for another to inhabit; they will not plant for another to eat. For the days of my people will be like the days of a tree, and my chosen ones will enjoy the fruit of their labors. They will not labor in vain or bear children doomed to die; for they and their descendants are a people blessed by God. Even before they call upon me, I will answer; and while they speak, I will hear. The wolf and lamb will feed side by side; the lion will eat straw like an ox. Serpents will be content to crawl on the ground; they will not injure or destroy in all my holy mountain.” says God.

Sermon: Marcus Briggs-Cloud

RESPOND Invitation to Holy Communion Confession and Pardon Merciful God, we confess that we have not yet made the whole of our existence a constant demonstration of our whole-hearted love for you.

We have failed to be a Church that follows Jesus’ example of consistently opening and reopening our eyes to include more fully and completely.

We have not done your will, we have broken your law, 49

we have rebelled against your love, we have not loved our neighbors, and we have not heard the cries of people who are in need.

We know from the prayer Jesus taught us that we are forgiven to the extent to which we forgive those who have trespassed against us.

Forgive us, we pray. God, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.

Through this mercy and forgiveness, free us for joyful obedience in Jesus Christ! Amen.

Let us now confess in silence. (Silence) Hear the good news: Jesus lived and died for us while we were yet sinners, demonstrating God’s life-giving love for us. In the name of the Christ, we are forgiven.

In the name of the Christ, we are forgiven! Glory to God.

Passing of the Peace Let us offer signs of peace and reconciliation to one another.

Offering  (Elements are presented and set) Great Thanksgiving God be with you.

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them up to God. Let us give thanks to God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.

(Celebrant continues praying) Sung Holy, holy Holy, holy God of power and might, God of power and might, Heaven and earth are full of your glory Heaven and earth are full of your glory Hosanna in the highest!

Hosanna in the highest!

(Celebrant continues praying) 50

Sung Christ has died.

Christ has died.

Christ is risen.

Christ is risen.

Christ will come again.

Christ will come again.

(Celebrant continues praying) Through your Child Jesus Christ, with your Holy Spirit in your holy Church, all honor and glory is yours, mighty God, now and forever.

Amen.

Cambodian Lord’s Prayer Our God, who is in heaven, Our God, who is in heaven, hallowed be your holy name. hallowed be your holy name.

Your kin-dom come, your will be done, Your kin-dom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. on earth as it is in heaven.

This day, give us our daily bread, and forgive us all our sins as we forgive all those who sin against us.

And lead us not into temptation, from evil, God, deliver us.

For the kin-dom and the power, and the glory are forever yours.

Amen, amen.

Amen, amen.

This is God’s table, it’s not yours or mine.

Come to the table of grace.

Come to the table of joy [love, grace], come to the table of joy [love, grace].

This is God’s table; it’s not yours or mine. Come to the table of joy.

Giving and receiving of the Bread and Cup 51

Song: For Everyone Born

SEND Closing Koinonia Prayer: Together we pray, silently or aloud, in community and as individuals, for: The communion of saints (during each pause, congregants are invited to lift brief intercessions individually, either silently or aloud) The world, its people and its leaders, (pause) The Church universal: its leaders, its members and its mission, (pause) The concerns of this local community, (pause) People who suffer and are in trouble, (pause) The people of this congregation. (pause) (Koinonia Prayer Continues)

The Presence of the Lord is Here

Benediction: Marcus Briggs-Cloud

The Presence of The Lord Is Here

& 44 r .. . œ œ œ œ. œ œ œ

.. œ Œ Œ r œ. œ œ. œ œ œ œ

1. The pres - ence of *the Lord is (2. The) spir - it of the Lord is (3. The) pow - er of the Lord is

here, here, here,

the pres - ence of the Lord is the spir - it of the Lord is the pow - er of the Lord is

& œ. œ œ. œ œ œ

.. œ Œ Œ

& œ. œ œ. œ ˙

œ œ Œ Œ .. r œ Œ Œ œœ .. œœ œœ .. œœ ˙. œ

feel feel feel

it in it in it in

the at - mos - phere, the at - mos - phere, the at - mos - phere,

& œœ œœ

œœ œœ

˙˙ ˙˙

sound the alarm.

& ∑

Ó.

∑

all

2. The here.

3. The

r Ó ‰ . œœ œœ ... œœ œœ œœ . œœ j œœ œ

the Lord the Lord the Lord

3.

is here. is here. is

j œ œœ œœ ... œœ œ œ

Let

the pres - ence of the spir - it of the pow - er of

1, 2.

pres - ence of the Lord spir - it of the Lord pow - er of the Lord

œœ .. œœ ..

r œ. œ œ. œ œ œ

œœœ .. œ ..

œœœ œ

œœœ .. œ ..

œ

is is is

the peo - ple

œ œœ

œœ œœœ œœ œ œ

praise him now, the

here. here. here.

here, here, here,

œœœ œ

œœ .. œœ ..

œœœ ‰ œ

r œœœ # œœ .. œœ œ. œ œ

œœ .. œœ œœ .. œœ

is

here!

œœœ œ

œœœ ‰ œ

r œ

the the the

r œœœ œ

Ev - ’ry - bod - y blow the trum - pet and

œœœ œ

œœ .. œœ ..

ww ˙w.

Lord

˙˙ ˙˙

ev - ’ry - bod - y bow.

˙. œ œ . œ œ œ ˙˙˙ ... œ œ Ó

*You are invited to substitute “our God” for “the Lord” if you so choose.

52

I I I

.. œ Œ Œ

œœ .. œœ ..

Be - cause the Lord is in the tem - ple, let

œœ ... œ

œœ .. œœ ..

Œ Œ .. r œ œ

K. Carr

Worship Service, Monday, September 2, 10:15am

Recreating Resolve

We recreate our foundation by packing rubble into a solid foundation and allowing the Spirit to free us to frame the next steps. We resolve to be firmly founded in God’s promise while building/ visioning the now-quaked-up Church to name and claim its movement and all who create it!

GATHER Gathering Music: Somos el Cuerpo de Cristo, Embracing Freedom, We Shall Overcome,

We Shall Not Give Up The Fight, The Presence of The Lord Is Here

Words of Welcome Call To Worship: Song: Isaiah 43

PROCLAIM Scripture Reading: 2 Cor. 3: 17-18, 4: 1-2 Now our God is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of our God is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces reflect our God’s glory, grow brighter and brighter as we are being transformed into the image we reflect. This is the work of our God, who is Spirit. Therefore, because we have this ministry through God’s mercy, we do not give in to discouragement. On the contrary, we renounce the shameful deeds that were kept hidden. We are not deceitful, nor do we adulterate the word of God. But by speaking the truth plainly, we commend ourselves to every person’s conscience in the sight of God.

Sermon: Pastor Joseph Tolton

RESPOND Choir Song: Christ Has Broken Down the Wall Closing Prayer: Together we pray, silently or aloud, in community and as individuals, for: The communion of saints (during each pause, congregants are invited to lift brief intercessions individually, either silently or aloud) The world, its people and its leaders, (pause) The Church universal: its leaders, its members and its mission, (pause) The concerns of this local community, (pause) People who suffer and are in trouble, (pause) The people of this congregation. (pause) (Invitation to continue in prayer) 53

SEND Benediction: Pastor Joseph Tolton Sending Forth Song: The Storm Is Passing Over Permission for any or all of this liturgy to be used in worship settings outside ChurchQuake 2013 is granted with gratitude. Please include a note that states it was written by, or adapted from, liturgy of Sarah and DeLyn Celec in 2013.

For All the Children For All The Children

b & b b b b 43 œ

œ

b & b bbb œ .

j œ œ

God, we Oh, we Oh, we God, we’re

dare sing fraid live

to for of their

j œ œ œ

œ.

œ

œ œ

œ

œ.

œ

œ

claim the pro - mise of Your gen - er - a - tions yet to who they are and whom they lives with dig - ni - ty and

œ œ

b & b bbb œ

‰ j œ œ œ

b & b bbb œ .

œ

œ

gath - er as your peo - ple to sing for all the chil - dren, that pray for all the young lives cut work - ing for the fu - ture when

b & b bbb œ

be here, rea - son ban - ished sta - ture,

œ

j œ œ œ ˙

we trust to doubt that Your love may they join

it that is us

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O, may our hearts

soon they for hand

˙.

love, be, love. pride.

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and minds be

œ

b & b bbb œ œ œ

wel - come, in

e - nough for

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God

we all be - long.

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˙

though that May As

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the they the they

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o - pened, fling the

˙.

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ev - ry - one in - side.

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May that wel - come

54

œ œ

raise our song a - bove, one day they be free; short by fear and shame chil - dren far and wide

will be, when your chil are blest. May they, in the few, may their faith in hand, as a - gainst

j œ œ œ. œ œ œ œ œ J œ œ œ

wide. May there be room

j ˙ œ œ œ

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D. Lohman

be

and we and we so a can

day may not nev - er have mess - age now grow in strength

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dren will Your love in You all hate

be find re we

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church

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free. rest. new. stand.

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doors o - pen

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For in God there is a

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our

˙.

song.

˙.

Somos el cuerpo de Cristo Somos el Cuerpo de Cristo Chorus

4 & b 4 .. œœœ œœœ œœœ œœœ œœœ œœœ 3

3

So - mos el cuer - po

de

Cris - to.

& b œœœ œœœ œœœ œœœ œœœ œœ œœ œ Œ œ œ œœ œœ œ 3

3

œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œ œ œ œ œ œ

œœ œ Œ Ó œ œœ

3

3

œœ œ

We are the bo - dy

œœ œ

œœ œ

œœœ Ó .

3

3

3

of

j œ

Christ.

tra-

œœ œœ œœ œ œœœ œœœ ˙˙˙ .. œ œ œ œœ

œœ œœ œ œ

3

3

he - mos o - i - do_el lla - ma - do, we’ve ans - wered “Yes” to the call of our God. Oh! e - mos su san - to men - sa - je, we come to bring the good news to the world.

& b ..

Verse Leader:

&b

œ œ œ œ œ Œ

ALL:

œ œ œ œ œ œ 3

3

Leader:

3

3

So - mos el cuer - po

ALL:

œ œ œ œ œ Œ

3

œ œ œ œ œ œ

3

3

œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œ œ œ œ œ œ 3

3

3

de

œœœ œœœ œœ œœ œœ œ œ œ œ œœ 3

œœ œœ Œ Ó œ œ 3

Cris - to.

We are the

bo - dy

..

œœ Œ Ó œ

3

of

Christ.

Who is My Mother, Who is My Brother & 43

Who is My Mother, Who is My Brother

œ

œ

1. Who is my 2. Dif - ferent - ly will re 3. Love by one 4. Bound

& œ

œ

œ

All those who wid - en the can’t se - gre we claim each

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˙.

-

moth a late vi

˙.

gath - er cir - cle gate us, oth - er

˙.

born from the Gos cul - tures' en - ig hu - man de - rail here is my broth -

˙.

˙.

œ

˙.

pel mas ings er,

-

-

er? bled, us, sion,

-

œ

œ œ œ

˙.

œ œ œ

˙.

round round round round

Je Je Je Je

sit at all come all are kin - dred

-

sus sus sus sus

the ta to - geth ac - cept in Spir -

˙

Œ œ

˙.

œ

ble, er ed it

˙.

œ

who is my dif - ferent - ly col - or or met for one

Christ: Christ: Christ: Christ:

55

œ

broth la sta mis

œ

œ

Spir - it blown Crutch -es and Fam - i - ly Here is my

round round round through

Lyrics: S. Murray Music: Gaelic tune

œ œ

Je Je Je Je

-

sus sus sus sus

-

-

-

˙.

˙.

er? beled us sion,

˙.

peo - ple stig - mas, fail - ings moth - er,

˙.

Christ.

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˙

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And And Are We Yet Alive Are We Yet Alive ### 4 & 4 S

S

S

A

S

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œ œ œ œœœœ œœœ

And are we yet

Œ

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a - live,

and see each o - ther’s face?

. Œ ‰ . œr œ œœœ œ ‰ œ œ œ œ œ œœ to Je - sus give

for his al - might - y grace!

œ œ œ œ œ. œ œ œ œ. œ

va -

˙

tion here,

Œ Œ Ó.

a - gain to

Je - sus’ praise re - joice

Ó.

Ho-ly, ho - ly

œ

Œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œœœ

What trou bles have we seen

∑

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and fears

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with - in

∑

‰.

˙

in

to full sal -

ap - pear.

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œ œ œ

œ œ

‰.

What might - y con - flicts past?

œ

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Ó

∑

‰.

Œ

‰.

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Fight - ings with - out

r œ œ r œ œ

to grace

with God’s hand help - ing, hold - ing all

to grace

œ

œ. œ œ œ ˙

œ

œ.

56

œ

Through per - fect

œ

God’s hand help

œ

Through per - fect

œ

j ≈ ≈ œ. œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ .

love we're brought from trou - ble

œ œ œ

and in his sight

œ œ. œ œ . œ œ ≈ œ œ œ œ œœ in

œ . œ œ ≈

Ho-ly, ho - ly

œ

œ œ œ

Glo - ry and thanks

œ œ œ œ œ œœ œ

since we a - sem - bled last?

love we’re brought from trou - ble

œ

œ œ

œ œ œ œ

Pre - served by pow’r di - vine

œ œ ˙

œ œ œœ w Are we a -live? Œœ ∑ œ œ œœ œ

∑

œ

‰.

Arr. Celec

-

jœ r œ .. œ

ing all

And Are We Yet Alive p.2

S

&

### ###

˙

œœ œ œ œ œ œ œ

in e - ter - nal

&

S

& œ œ œ œ

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&

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of God’s re - deem - ing

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S

‰ . œr œ œ

‰.

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power

A

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Let us take

up

the

cross

til we the

Ó

ly, ho - ly

&w

& œ œ œ œ œ œj œ .

Ho

-

∑

til we the

live.

A

the ut - ter - most

cross

& œ . œ œ œj œ œj ˙ -

to

the

ly, ho - ly

œ . œ œ ≈ œ œ œ

œ

˙

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r & œ . œ œ œ œ .. œ # ˙

Ho

œ

up

& œ. œ œ œ ˙

&w

œ œ œ œ œ ‰. œ œ œ

œ œ œ

Let us take

re - ckon all things loss

S

∑

œ . œ œ ≈ œ œ œ

œ

re - ckon all things loss

A

Œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ

Then let us makeour boast

∑

Which saves us

∑

rœ œ . Œ ‰ &œ œœ œ sin no more.

A

œ

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˙

nnn

em - brace

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nnn

so we may Je

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‰ j œ œœœ œ Ó

Face

Ó.

to face

crown

sus gain.

sus gain.

˙

œ œ œ œ. œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ. œ ob - tain

and glad - ly

ob - tain

and glad - ly

Œ Œ Ó.

-

Face to face

œ œ œœ

Are we a - live?

Ó

∑

Ó

œ. œ œ œ œ œ. Ó. œ

œ œœ œ

‰ œJ œ .

œ. œ ˙.

j ‰ œj œ œ œ œ œ.

-

ly, ho - ly

œ

We are

ly, ho - ly

Ho

57

œ

w

Ho

∑

crown

˙

œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ

so we may Je

œ

til we can

a -

œ œ œœ

Are we a - live

∑ ∑

Make Now of Us Make Now of Us

b & b 44 œJ

‰ œj œ ‰ œj œ . œ . œ.

œ. œ. œ.

We come to

b & b œ œ œ œ.

you,

j œ œ.

3

Mind - ful of ground

b &b œ

œ œ œ

fore

the

ver

a

sac - ri - fice

of

œ œ œ y

and where

rocks

cry

your ho

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ly liv

-

out

of - fer all

b & b œ.

we have and all we are.

j œ œ. œ. œ

pre - cious kin - dom

b &b ˙

œ œ œ. œ.

make now of

œœ œœ œœ

? # # 43 œœ

œ œ œ œ œ œ

Come and

? # # œœ

us

˙

j œ œ

our

we’ve yet to

praise,

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˙.

hands,

j œ œ. œ. œ

˙.

stand.

˙

Œ

œœ œœ

Come and

fill

œœ œœ

fill

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our hearts

œœ œœ

œœ œœ

our hearts

œ

œ

So be -

œ

œ. œ.

make now

of

j Ó Œ. œ œ. œ. œ. ‰ œ J We praise you God

and

‰ œ œ . œ . œ . ‰ œj œ . ‰ œj œ. œ.

J Cre - ate from stones, re - ject - ed still,

your

œ œ œ œ œ œ œœ œ œ œ œ œ œ

˙.

So be - fore

the ver

-

y rocks

cry out

œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ

Come and Fill

your ho

-

ly liv

-

ing dwell - ing place.

in praise,

Ó

˙

Come and Fill

# 3 & # 4 œœ # & # œœ

home.

in

ing dwell - ing place.

b j j & b œ . œ . œ . ‰ œj œ œ œ œ œ ˙.

in

œ œ

œ œ œ

b &b œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ us

blessing

‰ œj . œ œ. œ.

on which we’ve stood

-

j œ œ

D. Celec

œœ œ

˙

œ œ œ œ

with your peace.

œœ

nœ nœ

˙˙

œ

˙

with your peace,

œœ

58

˙˙

œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œ œ You a - lone, O God, are œ œ œ œ œ œœ œ œ œ œ œ

Trad. Taize

œœ ˙˙ œ ˙ œ ˙

ho - ly.

œ œ œ œ œœ œ ˙˙ .. œ œ œ

al - le - lu

œ œ œ

œ œ

-

˙˙ ..

ia!

of Grace and God of Glory God ofGod Grace and God of Glory

# 4 & 4 œ œœ œ . œ

j œœ œœ œ œœ œœ œœ

œœ

j œ œ œ œ œœ ? # 44 œ œœ œ . œ œ œ œ œ œ œ

œœ

&

œ œ

God Lo! Cure Save

#

œœ

crown Fears shame let

?# œ œ &

#

of the thy us

on scorn bend to

j œœ œœ œ œœ œœ œœ

œ œ

œ.

œ œ

j œ œ œ œ œ. œœ œ œ œ œ œ œ

thine an - cient and doubts too our wan - ton, the search for

Grant Grant Grant Grant

j œœ œœ

us us us us

wis wis wis wis

œ

œ

hour (of this days (of these goal, (kin - dom’s dore (we a -

w ?# œ

-

church - ’s sto long have bound self - ish glad thy sal - va -

œœ

dom, dom, dom, dom,

j œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ J

. ? # œœ . # & wœ

grace and God of glo - ry, hosts of e - vil round us chil - dren’s war - ring mad - ness, from weak res - ig - na - tion

œœ

œœ ..

œ

œ œ

œ

˙

hour) days) goal) dore)

˙

grant grant grant grant

us us us us

cour cour cour cour

-

age, age, age, age,

j œ œœ œ œœ œ J

œœ . .

œœ . . œœ ..

œ

j œœ œœ œ œœ J

œœ ..

for for lest serv

bring free rich be

œœ

-

œœ

œ

œ œ

œ œ œ œ

˙ ˙

œœ

œœ

œœ œœ

œ œ

œ œ

œ œ

œ œ œ œ œ

˙ ˙

œœ

˙˙

œœ

œ œ

œ œ œœ œ

œœ

˙ ˙

thy peo - ple pour thy power; thy Christ, as - sail his ways! our pride to thy con - trol; the e - vils we de - plore;

œ

ry; us; ness, tion

her bud to our hearts to in things and our glo - ry

œœ ..

for for lest serv

œœ ..

j œ œœ œ J

œ œ œ œ

œœj œ J œ

œ œ œ œ

the the we ing

fac liv miss thee

59

-

J. Hughes Lyrics: H. Fosdick

ing ing thy whom

œœ J

-

the the we ing

œœ J

glo - rious flower. work and praise. poor in soul. ev - er - more.

œœ

œœ

œœ

œœ

fac - ing liv - ing miss thy thee whom

œ

œ œ

œ œ

of this of these kin - dom’s we a -

œœ

œœ

œ œ

œœ œ ˙˙

of this of these kin - dom’s we a -

œœ

˙˙

hour. days. goal. dore.

Lift Every Voice and Sing Lift Every Voice and Sing

b & b b b 68 œœ œœ œœ

œœ .. œ . nœ.

Lift ev - ’ry Ston - y the God of our

voice and road we wea - ry

œœ .. œœ ..

? b b b 68 œœ œœ œœ b b . & b b b œœ . ? bb b b

œœ . .

sing, trod, years,

œœ ..

œœ ..

œœ œœ œœ

œœ .. n œœ ..

œœ ..

till earth and hea - ven bit - ter the chast - ’ning God of our si - lent

œœ ..

ring, rod tears,

j œœ .. œœ œœ œ .

œœ œœ œœ

œœ .. œ . nœ.

œ œj œ . œ . œ. œ. œ.

œ. œ nœ œ. œ. œ n œ œ.

J

œœ œœ œœ

œœ .. œœ ..

b b b œ . œ œj b œœ .. & œ. nœ. list - ’ning wea - ry to the

skies; feet light,

œ. œ. œ. ? bb b œ . œ œ. b J b & b bb œ . œ .

Sing a We have Lest our

? bb b œ . œ . b

œ.

song come feet

œ.

er - ty.

Let our re - joic - ing had died. Yet with a stead - y the way, Thou who hast by Thy

œœ œœ n œœ

œ. œ.

nœ bœ œ nœ œ œ

œœ ..

œœ

let it re - sound, come to the place keep us for - ev

œ œ œ œ

œ

œ œ œ œ

œ

œœ

œœ

œœ

œœ

œ. œ.

œ œ œ œ bœ œ

n œœ ..

œœ œœ œœ

rise high as the beat, have not our might, led us in -

roll *fathers path,

loud as the for which our er in the

ing sea. sighed? we pray.

œœ b œ œ . œ œ ˙ . œ. œ œ ˙ .

J

œ

œ

œ

œ

œ

œ

œ

full of the faith that the dark past has ov - er a way that with tears has been stray from the pla - ces, our God, where we

œ

œ.

œ.

œ.

œ.

taught us. wa - tered. met Thee;

*The African American Heritage Hymnal edits James Weldon Johnson’s text so that “fathers” becomes “people” and “white” becomes “bright.”

60

œœ

œœ .. œœ œj ˙ .

œ

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God will de - light when we are cre - a - tors of jus - tice and joy,

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build a world where love can grow pride and pow - er kneel to serve ci - ty built of love and light,

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63

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#### 4 & 4 œ œ œ œ œ. œ. œ. œ

Words: Mark Miller Words: Laurie Zelman

’cause

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Isaiah 43 Isaiah 43

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Author Unknown

When you pass

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for

I

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have re - deemed you.

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High Voices: I

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I am your peo - ple’s

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God.

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be ties chains root -

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Lyrics: J. Fawcett, 1782 and DeLyn Celec, 2013 Music: J. Ngeli; arr. by L. Mason, 1845

b œœ œœ

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fell bind pris branch

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kin minds formed pre -

of and are our

dred to as sent

minds is earth’s un life bursts liv - ing,

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love; the ni - ty; some the quake. Sur God's Word, we

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like just from breath -

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We Are a Gentle, Angry People We Are a Gentle, Angry People

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We We We

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sing - ing for our sing - ing for our sing - ing for our

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lives. lives. lives.

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65

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66

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hand we’re

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2

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Salaam Aleikum

Trad. Ghanian . Sar- laam a - le - i- kum! ‰ . Sar- laam a -le - i- kum! ‰ . Sar- laam a -le- i- kum! ‰ ‰ 4 œœ œœ œœ œ œ œ œ œ œ & 4 .. œ œ œ œ œ œ Ó ¿ ¿ Ó. ¿ ¿ Ó. ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ J J J J J J

Leader:

& œœ œ

ALL: Ho - yah!

œœ œœ œœœ œ œ

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Sa - laam a - lei - kum May peace be in your

& ‰ œœœ

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Sa - laam a - lei - kum may peace be in your

Ho - yah!

ww w

le, heart,

ww w

le, heart,

Ho - yah, ho-yah, ho-yah, ho - yah, ho-yah!

‰ œœ œ

œœ œœ œœ œ œ œ

œ œœ

sa - laam a - lei - kum may peace be in your

‰ œœ œ

œœ œœ œœ œ œ œ

le, heart,

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le. heart.

sa - laam a - lei may peace be in your

67

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You Are Mine You Are Mine

b & b 44 .. œ

I I I (I) am

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will am am the

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I I heal am

will lift am eyes - ing for the peace

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claim you I will lame will brac - ing

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come hope strength Word

to for for that

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you all all leads

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in who the all

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you from all your fear. see. for all who long to the ones who dwell in shame. the world can - not give.

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as my choice. be your light. all run free, all your pain,

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still and Come and all will and now stand up Be

b & b œ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ ˙ . œ ˙.

Do not be a - fraid, I am with you.

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know rest know walk

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I have called you each by

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fall on me.

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name.

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here. me. name. live!

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˙ œ œ ˙ œ œ ˙˙ œ b œ œ nœ

fall

on me.

68

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You will hear my voice; I In the sha - dows of the night, All the blind will see, the I will call your name, em -

home. I love you and you are mine.

# & # 44 œœ ˙˙ .. œœ ww

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I will bring you

D. Haas

˙˙ Œ œœ ˙˙ ˙˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ Œ œœ ˙˙ ˙

A - noint - ing

˙˙ œœ œœ ˙˙ œœ œ œ

fall on me.

D. Thomas

˙˙

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Let the

œœ ˙˙ œœ w w œ ˙ œ ww ˙. œ fall

on

me.

Halleluya Halleluya

œ ˙ & b 43 œ œ Chorus

V b 43

Ha - le - lu - ya,

œ œ œ œ ˙.

Verse

? .. b

4 4

ha - le - lu - ya,

ha - le - lu,

œ œ œ ˙.

Ha - le - lu - ya,

ha - le - lu - ya,

œœ œ œ

œ œ œ œ ˙.

ha - le - lu - ya!

œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙.

Ha - le - lu - ya,

? 3 œ œ œ ˙. b 4 & b ..

œ œ œ ˙

ha - le - lu - ya,

œ œ œ ˙.

∑

Words and Music: A. Maraire, Zimbabwe

œœ œ œ

Hal - le

œœ œ œ

lu

-

˙˙ . ˙˙ .

ya,

œ œ œ ˙.

ha - le - lu - ya,

ha - le - lu - ya!

ha - le - lu - ya,

ha - le - lu - ya!

œ œ œ ˙.

œ œ œ ˙. œ œ

œœ œ œ

œœ œ œ

œœ œ œ

hal - le - lu

-

˙˙ . . ˙˙ ..

ya.

.. ..

From the worship coordinators: At times, some information beyond the legal requirement is provided for your convenience. FEB = For Everyone Born, TFWS = The Faith We Sing, UMH = United Methodist Hymnal, ZSS = Zion Still Sings

Theatrical Elements Unless otherwise noted, all liturgies were created for this event by Sarah and DeLyn Celec.

All closing prayers adapted from prayers created for this event by Amanda Hermendez.

Call to worship of service one written by Virginia Greer.

All Biblical quotations from Priests for Equality ©2007. The Inclusive Bible: The First Egalitarian Translation.

Musical Elements “And Are We Yet Alive” UMH #553 and #557, Words by Charles Wesley, text adapted by DeLyn Celec, Music by DeLyn Celec. ©2013. All rights reserved.

“Anointing,” African American Heritage Hymnal #318, Words & Music by Donn C. Thomas © Paragon Music Corp; arr. Evelyn Simpson-Curenton © 2000 GIA Publications, Inc. Used by permission, OneLicense.net #A-720931. All rights reserved.

“Believe Out Loud,” Words & Music by David Lohman. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For more information, see www.

WelcomeSongMusic.com.

“Blest Be the Tie that Binds,” UMH #557, first verse words by John Fawcett; remaining verses by DeLyn Celec, Music by Johann G. Nageli; arr. by Lowell Mason, 1845.

“Christ has Broken Down the Wall,” Worship and Song #3122, Words & Music by Mark A. Miller ©2011 Choristers Guild. Used by permission, OneLicense.net #A-720931. All rights reserved.

“Come and Fill our Hearts with your Peace,” attr. Berthier, Taize Community © Ateliers et Presses de Taizé, Used by permission, OneLicense.net #A-720931. All rights reserved.

“Come Now, O Prince of Peace (O-so-so),” TFWS #2232, Words & Music by Geonyong Lee; English paraphrase by Marion Pope ©1988 Geonyong Lee. Used by permission, OneLicense.net #A-720931. All rights reserved.

“Cuando el Pueblo,” Words & Music Spanish Caribbean Pentecostal Chorus, transcription, translation and additional verses by Jorge Lockward ©2006 Jorge A. Lockward. Used by permission, OneLicense.net #A-720931. All rights reserved.

“For All the Children,” Words & Music by David Lohman, ©2007 Welcome Song Music. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For more information, see www.WelcomeSongMusic.com.

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“For Everyone Born,” FEB p.2, Words by Shirley Erena Murray ©1998 Hope Publishing Company, Music by Brain Mann ©2006, verse 2 text adaptation and arr. DeLyn Celec. Used by permission, OneLicense.net #A-720931. All rights reserved.

“Our Father, Who is in Heaven,” FEB #11a. Words from Matt. 6:913; Eng. Para. By S.T. Kimbrough, Jr; Music by Barnabas Mam of Cambodia ©2004 GBGM, GBMusik. Text adapted by DeLyn Celec.

Used by permission, OneLicense.net #A-720931. All rights reserved.

“For One Great Peace,” Words: TFWS #2185 by Shirley Erena Murray ©1992 Hope Publishing Co, Music: UMH #95 attr. to Louis Bourgeios, Used by permission, OneLicense.net #A-720931. All rights reserved.

“Salaam Aleikum,” Words & Music Trad. Ghanian, adapted by Marc Anderson and Marty Haugen ©2006 GIA Publications, Inc. Used by permission, OneLicense.net #A-720931. All rights reserved.

“For the Beauty of the Earth,” UMH #92, Words by Folliot S. Pierpoint, 1864; Music by Conrad Kocher, 1838; arr. By W.H. Monk, 1861; Used by permission, OneLicense.net #A-720931. All rights reserved.

“Freedom is Coming,” TFWS #2192, Words & Music Trad. South African ©1984 Utryck, admin. By Walton Music Corp. Used by permission, OneLicense.net #A-720931. All rights reserved.

“God of Grace and God of Glory,” UMH #577, Words by Harry Emerson Fosdick, 1930; Music by John Hughes, 1907; Used by permission, OneLicense.net #A-720931. All rights reserved.

“Guide My Feet,” African American Heritage Hymnal #131, Words & Music Trad. Negro Spiritual; harm. By Dr. Wendell P. Whalum © estate of Wendell Whalum. Used by permission, OneLicense.net #A720931. All rights reserved.

“Hamba Nathi,” Words & Music Trad. South African. Used by permission, OneLicense.net #A-720931. All rights reserved.

“Halleluya,” Global Praise 3 Songbook, Words & Music by Abraham Maraire © Zimbabwe East Annual Conference. Used by permission, OneLicense.net #A-720931. All rights reserved.

“Heleluyan,” Singing the Sacred: Musical Gifts from Native American Communities #13, Words & Music Trad. Muscogee (Creek); transcribed by Carlton R. Young. English versifications and transcription ©2008 GBGM, GBMusik. Used by permission, OneLicense.net #A-720931. All rights reserved.

“Isaiah 43,” Author Unknown, arr. DeLyn Celec.

“Kyrie,” TFWS #2275, Words: Ancient Greek; Music based on Dvorak’s Symphony No. 9 Mvt. II; arr. Ruth Elaine Schram ©1998 Alfred Publishing Co. Used by permission, OneLicense.net #A720931. All rights reserved.

“Lift Every Voice and Sing,” African American Heritage Hymnal #540, Words by James W. Johnson, 1899; Music by John Rosamund Johnson ©1921 Edward B. Marks Music Co. Used by permission, OneLicense.net #A-720931. All rights reserved.

“Living in the Imagination of God,” ZSS #151, Words & Music by Cecilia Olusola Tribble ©2007 Cecilia Olusola Tribble. Used by permission, OneLicense.net #A-720931. All rights reserved.

“Make Now of Us,” Words & Music by DeLyn Celec ©2012. All rights reserved.

“Moving Forward,” Words & Music by Ricardo Sanchez and Israel Houghton ©2007 Integrity’s Praise! Music, Sound of the New Breed (adm by Integrity’s Praise! Music) and Ricardo Music Dot Com (adm

by Integrity’s Hosanna! Music) CCLI #3060845

“Somos el cuerpo de Cristo,” Words & Music by Jaime Cortez. Used by permission, OneLicense.net #A-720931. All rights reserved.

“Sound a Mystic Bamboo Song,” Global Praise 2 #103, Words & Music by I-to Loh of Taiwan and Bill Wallace of New Zealand ©2000 GBGM, GBMusik. Used by permission, OneLicense.net #A720931. All rights reserved.

“The Presence of the Lord is Here,” ZSS #82, Words & Music by Kurt Carr ©2003 Lilly Mack Music, K Cartunes, admin. By Lilly Mack Music. Used by permission, OneLicense.net #A-720931. All rights reserved.

“The Storm is Passing Over,” African American Heritage Hymnal #427, Words by Charles A. Tindley, Music by Donald Valls© arr.

Evelyn Simpson-Curenton ©2000 GIA Publications, Inc. Used by permission, OneLicense.net #A-720931. All rights reserved.

“Thuma Mina,” AAHH #564, Words & Music Trad. South African (Zulu) ©1984 Utryck, Walton Music Corporation, agent. Used by permission, OneLicense.net #A-720931. All rights reserved.

“We Are a Gentle, Angry People,” New Century Hymnal of the Unitarian Universalist Church, Words & Music by Holly Near ©1979 Hereford Music, arr. Patrick L. Rickey, arr. ©1992 Unitarian Universalist Association. Used by permission, OneLicense.net #A720931. All rights reserved.

“We Are Called,” TFWS #2172, Words & Music by David Haas ©1988 GIA Publications, Inc. Used by permission, OneLicense.net #A-720931. All rights reserved.

“We Shall Not Give Up the Fight,” New Century Hymnal of the Unitarian Universalist Church #437, Words & Music Trad. South African freedom song © 1984 Walton Music Corp. Used by permission, OneLicense.net #A-720931. All rights reserved.

“We Shall Overcome,” UMH #533, Words & Music traditional, harm.

By J. Jefferson Cleveland ©1981 Abingdon. Used by permission, OneLicense.net #A-720931. All rights reserved.

“Welcome,” FEB #7, Words by Laurie Zelman and Mark A. Miller, Music by Mark A. Miller ©2007 Abingdon Press. Used by permission, OneLicense.net #A-720931. All rights reserved.

“Who is My Mother, Who is My Brother,” Words: TFWS #2225, by Shirley Erena Murray, 1992 Hope Publishing Co., Music: UMH #145, trad. Gaelic melody, Used by permission, OneLicense.net #A-720931.

All rights reserved.

“You Are Good,” Words & Music Israel Houghton arr. Dan Galbraith and David Shipps ©2001 Israel Houghton/Champions of Christ Publishing/ASCAP. #3060845 “You Are Mine,” TFWS #2218, Words & Music by David Haas arr.

David Haas and Kate Cuddy ©1991 GIA Publications, Inc. Used by permission, OneLicense.net #A-720931. All rights reserved.

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Mission Reconciling Ministries Network 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.

Vision Statement Reconciling Ministries Network envisions a renewed and vibrant Wesleyan movement that is biblically and theologically centered.

As committed disciples of Jesus Christ, Reconciling Ministries Network strives to transform the world by living out the Gospel’s teachings of grace, love, justice, and inclusion for all of God’s children.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

and world. RMN has a commitment to ending institutional oppression in all its forms by working at the intersections of oppression and focusing on an ongoing examination of internal processes and external actions at all levels including its selection of issues and organizing strategies.

Further, RMN will strive to create beloved community, as imagined by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., by being vigilant in all its activities about those forces that create wedges between us, with particular attention to racism, transphobia, and the history of colonialism.

Reconciling Ministries Network is a Christian and United Methodist organization. Its work is guided by the following core principles: 1. Spiritually Grounded Reconciling Ministries Network is committed to the justice imperative of the Gospel and grounding its ministries in the Wesleyan practice of personal and social holiness. RMN is committed to utilizing inclusive language and respectfully recognizing the diverse approaches to scripture, tradition, reason, and experience of the congregations and communities with whom it relates.

4. Integrating Sexuality with Spirituality Reconciling Ministries Network believes that human sexuality is a good gift from God. RMN is committed to supporting the integration of healthy, loving expressions of sexuality and spirituality for everyone. We celebrate the sexuality and spirituality of same and opposite gender loving persons and pledge to provide resources that lead to a deeper understanding of God’s precious gift.

2. Reconciliation Reconciling Ministries Network is committed to reconciliation that leads to the healing and transformation of animosity into honest relationships that respect all God’s children. Reconciliation is a profound ongoing individual and collective commitment from all those affected to establishing new relationships embedded in mutual recognition. Authentic reconciliation requires the naming and the speaking of truth to create relationships and communities grounded in peace with justice.

5. Relationships Reconciling Ministries Network acts in hospitality across theological divides and is committed to the creation of community, interconnectedness, and deep relationships.

3. Naming Privilege, Ending Oppression Reconciling Ministries Network aspires to fulfill our baptismal covenant to recognize and utilize our privileges to resist oppression in whatever form it presents itself in our movement, church,

6. Systems Change Reconciling Ministries Network is committed to policy change and the creation of long-term solutions and practices that create full inclusion in 72

The United Methodist Church and our broader society. RMN works for full equality in membership, ordination, and marriage for God’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender children.

and transgender leaders, while partnering with like-minded organizations within the Church and the broader community to build a diverse network toward the goal of ending oppression and creating full inclusion of all people in the UMC regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, age, race, ability, or socioeconomic status.

7. Stewardship Reconciling Ministries Network is committed to the stewardship of its organizational resources— the people, time, talent, and treasures—that God provides for transformation of our church and world.

STRATEGIC DIRECTION 4: Live out the connectionalism of a world-wide church through communication and relationship building, identifying both unique needs and common causes with the clergy, laity, and groups of the Central Conferences working for the full-inclusion of persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities.

8. Organizational Authenticity Reconciling Ministries Network is committed to operating in a way that mirrors the change we hope to create in the world. Toward that end, we commit to honesty, integrity, excellence, equality, justice, dignity, civility, diversity, inclusion, and creativity. This includes continuous soul searching in all organizational practices and the provision of ongoing continuing education to all staff and board members to enhance skills and develop growth.

STRATEGIC DIRECTION 5: Participate in the current and future connectional processes and power structures of The United Methodist Church in collaboration with current and future emerging alternative Methodist/Wesleyan allies and structures, calling those at all levels of authority and discipleship to faithfulness for our shared mission.

STRATEGIC DIRECTION 6: Enhance RMN’s long-term success by emphasizing organizational excellence and financial sustainability.

STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS 2013 - 2016 The following Strategic Directions will guide Reconciling Ministries Network’s work and priorities over the next four years. These strategic directions will be considered in developing the organization’s program priorities and annual budgets.

STRATEGIC DIRECTION 1: Develop and disseminate a transformational frame of Biblical Obedience that supports faithful disciples of Jesus Christ doing justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly with God. STRATEGIC DIRECTION 2: Increase the quantity, capacity and vitality of Reconciling Communities (RCs), Reconciling United Methodists (RUMs), and regional action teams to faithfully act as the center of a renewed and revitalized United Methodist Church.

STRATEGIC DIRECTION 3: Model the diversity of God’s creation by training, equipping, and supporting new leadership, with intentional emphasis on the development of people of color, young adult, 73

Process Coach Trainings: In the fall of 2012, RMN launched a new organizing plan to train local volunteers to shepherd prospective Reconciling Communities through the Reconciling process. In the first year of the campaign we trained 254 people and signed up 153 Process Coaches. These trained Process Coaches volunteered to walk a congregation, class, or campus ministry through the Reconciling process offering support, encouragement, and wisdom born of their experience organizing with RMN. Building on the success of our first year of process coach trainings, RMN is expanding the number of trainings, locations, and coaches for our second year (Fall 2013-Summer 2014). The 15 training locations will be announced in September­—contact your Regional Organizer for more info and sign up for one near you!

If you subscribe to RMN’s Flashnet (semimonthly enewsletter), Katalyst (quarterly print magazine), read the daily blog or follow RMN on Twitter, Facebook and other social media you know many of the ways our movement is gaining strength through increasing relationships on the ground and through cyber space.

Our movement has grown to 50 Annual Conference Teams resourced by four part-time Regional Organizers, two national outreach staff, and four office staff. While we celebrate that our staff has grown to meet our expanding witness, the individuals and groups that deserve the credit are the thousands of Reconciling United Methodists who volunteer their time, talents, and tithes to follow the Spirits lead across the word. Through you we’ve engaged in life changing advocacy and organizing at General Conference where our Coalition showed the church what it means to be church in and out of the tabernacle. Over 12,000 of you shared your stories as we connected with all the US delegates to General Conference and sent our first team to meetings of Central Conference delegates in the Philippines and Africa. Many of you can be counted in the 1,000 and counting clergy and laity who support communities and clergy who are offering blessings to all couples who seek one. And you reached across pews, Sunday school tables, and UMW crockpots to build over 561 Reconciling Communities. You are a daily witness to the fully inclusive love of God and by working together we will make our Church and world a safe, loving, and affirming place for all people of all sexual orientations and gender identities.

Annual Conference Teams: Annual Conference Teams are actively organizing for a fully inclusive United Methodist Church in over 50 annual conferences.

Teams organize trainings and witnesses ranging from awareness raising, support, and advocacy. Many teams organize around Annual Conference and other large events to provide opportunities for Reconciling United Methodists to build relationships throughout the year. Find out how to connect to your annual conference team on pages 75-80.

Altar for All: More than a thousand United Methodist clergy, laity, and congregations across the world have signed statements committing themselves to fulfill their vow to ministry by marrying or blessing couples regardless of their gender. When parishioners come to their pastors to request that they officiate at their weddings, or hold a wedding in their church home clergy and communities face a conflict between their vow to minister to their whole congregation and their vow to uphold the Book of Discipline which asks them to deny ministry to some of their members. In the face of these conflicts, clergy and congregations are making conscientious decisions for ministry rather than exclusion. These clergy and congregations believe that to do so is a faithful act of witness that claims Jesus’ command to “love God and neighbor.” Altar for All organizers are listed on each jurisdiction page. If there is not coordinator in your conference, contact your Regional Organizer to get connected and sign up on-line at: http://www.rmnetwork.org/act-now/altar-for-all/

Reconciling Communities: Every month new Reconciling churches, communities and campus ministries join the movement. They engage in a process to explore and deepen their welcome to LGBT people and allies through Bible studies, sermon series, storytelling gatherings, and potlucks. The graph to the right shows the number of Reconciling Communities as of August 1, 2013. Find your annual conference’s Reconciling stats on the next few pages divided by jurisdiction.

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attending worship on Sundays. This doesn’t require a lengthy discernment process, it’s an individual decision to say, yes, I want to be counted among those who believe our church should be about inclusion, and welcome and justice for all. Will you join me in this challenge? ~Helen

Northeast Jurisdiction Helen Ryde Northeast Regional Organizer Helen@rmnetwork.org Office: 312-448- 5307 Cell: 508-247-7818

* statistics are an estimate based on the data available

NEJ Reconciling Communities

It’s been such a privilege and joy to serve as the Regional Organizer for the Northeast Jurisdiction this past year. My favorite thing by far has been getting to meet wonderful Reconciling United Methodists (RUMs) in so many places. We’ve shared stories, made plans, encouraged each other, and spurred each other along to keep our message of love, justice and acceptance for all spreading far and wide.

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We have challenges before us, as we support those who have had charges brought against them—some for conducting same-sex marriages, and some for being clergy and being gay. It’s an affront to me that these charges have been brought, that we still have a Book of Discipline that discriminates so shamefully. Yet, I am mostly excited—I am excited at the opportunities to speak truth to the powers that be in the UMC, to be joining with you in making sure our voices are loud, clear and mighty, in seeking ways to love, even as we have not been shown love. “The arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice”—Martin Luther King and others said it, I believe it’s true, let us join together and help make it happen.

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437

1,114 306

677 92

145

690 246

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Baltimore-Washington Mittie Quinn – mittie.quinn@verizon.net Altar for All: Matt Mustard – mmustard@foundryumc.org Altar for All: Mary Kay Totty – revmktotty@yahoo.com Altar for All: Phil Wogaman – jpwogaman@aol.com http://www.bwarm.org https://www.facebook.com/pages /Baltimore-Washington-Area-Reconciling-United -Methodists/49551712171

The Northeast Jurisdiction while geographically small, is very densely populated—there are a LOT of people here! Legislatively extremely progressive­—75% of the states with legal same-sex marriage (plus DC) are here in the NEJ. What a tremendous opportunity! Since the last Convocation in August 2011 we’ve added 9 Reconciling Churches, 3 Reconciling Communities and nearly 300 Reconciling United Methodists. So we have much to celebrate.

Eastern Pennsylvania Anne Ewing – annec.ewing@verizon.net or acewing@me.com Greater New Jersey Tom Davidson – tomdavidson250@aol.com https://www.facebook.com/pages/Reconciling -Community-of-the-Greater-New-Jersey-Annual -Conference/579054805440879

We have about* 7,080 United Methodist Churches in our jurisdiction, of those 106 are Reconciling, 121 are in the discernment process, and 6 are interested. This leaves 6,847 churches (over 96%) that are not connected with RMN. A little over half a million people attend worship each Sunday, of those about 4,500 are RUMs—that’s less than 1%.

New England Marla Marcum – marla.marcum@gmail.com Leigh Dry (RMN team and Altar for All) – leighdry@verizon.net

Here’s a challenge that I think it is totally achievable— let’s get our number of NEJ RUMs up to 5% of those 75

way of doing business. I value the work that you all do, day in and day out, the conversations that you have, the seeds of justice that you plant. I know that we often need to start small in the South, encouraging a Sunday school or a local group to become Reconciling before we will be able to change our churches. But, I hear whisperings and great roars all across the Southeast about those working for equality and justice, and know that God has big things planned for us! In the last year we have seen Reconciling Churches birthed, a parents’ group of support formed in Jackson, MS, film screenings and Bible studies galore and prophetic witnesses in Annual Conferences.

Altar for All: Allen Ewing-Merrill – allen@hopegateway.com Altar for All: Vicki Woods – woodsv54@gmail.com New York Dr Dorothee Benz (RMN team and Altar for All) writetobenz@gmail.com Altar for All: Sara Lamar Sterling – sbs50@yahoo.com Altar for All: Scott Summerville – sumvil@aol.com http://www.mindny.org/ https://www.facebook.com/MIND.NYAC Peninsula-Delaware Glen Pruitt – debbyboonefan@yahoo.com

This year I am especially excited knowing that almost 200 people have signed the Altar for All witness in Virginia, Reconciling Methodists made it onto the nightly news in North Alabama in advance of Annual Conference and that there are so many new supporters coming forward acknowledging that the time has arrived for us in the Southeast to share our words of welcome to all of God’s children. We are setting up at least three Process Coach trainings in the Southeast in the coming year and will plan to have many more Bible studies, panel discussions and conversations to ensure that our word of hope is shared widely! I hope you will join us in this work by reaching out to me and/or the local folks in your Annual Conference who are building teams to impact our church.

The contact information for those locally are found below and they are waiting for your phone call or email ~Laura

Susquehanna Chuck Kaufmann – chuck@charltonchurch.org David Garrett – dlgarrett@verizon.net www.susrmn.org https://www.facebook.com/SusquehannaReconciling MinistryNetwork Upper New York Mary Jane Russell – wjmjrussell@gmail.com Jami Breedlove & Diane Crouch – dietmtdew@juno.com and dianalynne@juno.com Altar for All: Steve Heiss – stephenheiss@gmail.com Altar for All: Steve Smith – boston.redsoxfan@hotmail.com Altar for All: list – www.unymfsa.org http://www.unyrmn.org/ https://www.facebook.com/UNYRMN

SEJ Reconciling Communities

Western Pennsylvania Tracy Merrick – tracyrm@aol.com West Virginia Justin Hull – justinwvum@gmail.com Steve Peck – stephenpeck@yahoo.com

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Southeast Jurisdiction Rev. Laura Rossbert Director of Regional Organizing (Southeast Organizer) rossbert@rmnetwork.org office: 312-448-5306 cell: 615-788-4928

SEJ Reconciling United Methodists 438 31

Friends, as someone who has spent the last four+ years focusing on organizing with RMN in the Southeast from Virginia to Florida, it is a joy to journey with you all in our work in the Southeast. I know that the work that we are called to do here is distinct from that of other Jurisdictions—with different questions brought to the table, different strategies for making change, and a different 76

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Alabama—West Florida Laura Rossbert – rossbert@rmnetwork.org

Rives Priddy (RMN team and Altar for All) – t8rhill@comcast.net Altar for All: John D. Copenhaver, Jr – jcopenha@su.edu https://www.facebook.com/groups /192760890756586/?fref=ts

Florida Laura Rossbert – rossbert@rmnetwork.org Holston Robert Swing (RMN Board member) – rjwing@tds.net

Western North Carolina Rev. Josh Noblitt (RMN Board member) – Joshua.noblitt@gmail.com Rev. Kelly Carpenter – revkelly@gmail.com

*contact Laura Rossbert to be added to the private facebook group

Kentucky Laura Rossbert – rossbert@rmnetwork.org Memphis Laura Rossbert – rossbert@rmnetwork.org

North Central Jurisdiction Robyn Henderson-Espinoza North Central Regional Organizer robyn@rmnetwork.org office: 312-448-5308 cell: 312-823-6626

Mississippi Renee Sappington – rensappi@aol.com https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dream-Daring-to -Reconcile-and-Embrace-All-in-Mississippi /202226423129025?fref=ts

I am eager to join the North Central Jurisdiction as your Regional Organizer and join the ongoing struggle for a truly inclusive church. While there are several barriers to radical inclusion, let us not lose infinite hope for the margins of the margins to be included as fully human and active participants in every UMC liturgical space.

Let us remember the words of M.L. King, Jr. when he said: “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter.” Let us never be silent in the face of injustice!

North Alabama Joe Openshaw – joe.openshaw@gmail.com Rev. Emily Freeman-Penfield – Emily@woodlawnbham.com https://www.facebook.com/groups/515936055111691 /?fref=ts North Carolina Phillip H. Jefferson – phillip.h.jefferson@gmail.com Sam Isley – sam_isley@hotmail.com

The North Central Jurisdiction is an exciting place to be in ministry—we have a diverse set of perspectives on Reconciling and inclusion, yet each annual conference is actively finding ways to work for greater inclusion and witness to God’s love. In the last year, we’ve had Process Coach trainings for West Ohio and Minnesota, and are looking forward to up to three more in the coming year.

Each annual conference has people working in many ways, but here are people who’ve agreed to have their contact information published for anyone who wants to know more about what’s going on in their area or get more involved. ~Robyn

North Georgia Giselle Lawn (RMN Board member) – gisellelawn@comcast.net https://www.facebook.com/NorthGeorgiaReconciling UnitedMethodists?fref=ts Red Bird Missionary Laura Rossbert – rossbert@rmnetwork.org South Carolina Charles Lippy – Charles-lippy@utc.edu South Georgia Tim Burkett – tim.m.burkett@gmail.com Lance Willimas – lance.j.wilhelm@gmail.com

NCJ Reconciling Communities

Tennessee Nashville Area Reconciling Ministries – nashvillereconcilingministries@gmail.com Altar for All: Brian Rossbert – brianrossbert@gmail.com http://narministries.org/ https://www.facebook.com/NashvilleRMN?fref=ts

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Virginia Mark Elder – markuselder@gmail.com 77

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West Ohio James (Jim) Waugh: jwaugh2@mac.com https://www.facebook.com/groups/132826323396673/

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Wisconsin Steven Webste – swebster2@aol.com

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South Central Jurisdiction Laura Young South Central Regional Organizer laura@rmnetwork.org office: 312-448-5309 cell: 936-581-9401

Dakotas Brook McBride – brookmcbride@gmail.com Detroit Joey Lopez – minjlopez@me.com

I joined the RMN leadership team in 2007 when Tiffany Steinwert came to Houston to lead a group of Reconciling United Methodists (RUMs) in the Called to Witness campaign. It was a year before the 2008 General Conference in Ft Worth. We were taught how to tell our story and asked to share it with a delegate from our conference. I didn’t think I had a story. In fact, I was quite uncomfortable and stumbled through random thoughts with my conversation partner. By the end of the evening, still certain I wasn’t ready, I signed up to speak to 3 delegates and volunteered to help organize and report our results back to Tiffany. I’m sure many of you remember this same training in your conference. Quite an experience, wasn’t it? The launching of the Call to Witness campaign gave birth to new momentum in the reconciling movement and I realized that perhaps I was capable of answering a call I had not yet known how to answer.

It was the beginning of an amazing journey, with an amazing staff, as part of an amazing RMN family. Today I recognize that I have countless stories, and while I still prefer to rehearse them in advance, it’s almost impossible to stop me from sharing them. You have countless stories, too. They inform and inspire me! Getting to meet and helping to connect, organize, teach, and serve with RUMs across the connection is both a calling and a gift. I am grateful, hopeful, determined.

East Ohio Joy Watts – joywatts@sbcglobal.net https://www.facebook.com/groups/107337002622397/ Illinois Great Rivers Jean Peters – jeangpeters@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/groups/107163775967945/ Indiana Mark DeVore – markdevore@aol.com https://www.facebook.com/RmnIndiana Iowa Linda Butler – sttimsrevlinda@cfu.net Altar for All: Diane McClanahan – Dianne.mcclanahan@me.com Minnesota Walter Lockhart (RMN and Altar for All) – revwalt@juno.com Altar for All: Amy Jo Bur – stpumc@hickorytech.net Altar for All: Bruce Robbins – bruce@haumc.org www.mnrcumc.org Northern Illinois Rev. Lois Parr (RMN team and Altar for All) – gizhilois@yahoo.com Rev. Gregory Gross (RMN team and Altar for All) gregorygross@yahoo.com Altar for All: Bonnie Beckonchrist – bbeckonchrist@gmail.com West Michigan Lindsay Oaster – lindsayerin@gmail.com Altar for All: David Lundquist – dlundquist@ameritech.net Altar for All: Zack Oaster – zack@fattoaster.com Altar for All: Barry Petrucci – barrypetrucci@pchum.org https://www.facebook.com/Reconciling 78

Arkansas Harold Hughes – rainbowharold@yahoo.com Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/arkrums

What a privilege it is to serve with you in the South Central Jurisdiction! Yes, you read that correctly. There is no doubt that our churches and challenges are unique, but our passion for justice and full inclusion is also unique and my vantage point allows me the joy of watching it grow stronger each year. Since the Called to Witness campaign moved through the South Central Jurisdiction (SCJ) in 2007, we haven’t been the same. Storytelling, relationship building, courage, more courage, social media, and healthy doses of love are proving to be the key to steady progress. New voices for justice are always emerging and leadership teams are happy to welcome new ideas and energy—your ideas and energy! The reconciling movement needs you! We’re moving into season two of Process Coach trainings. More than ever, new folks are inquiring about beginning reconciling conversations in their churches and Sunday school classes, the number of Reconciling Communities is growing at a pace that has us celebrating on almost a daily basis, and before you know it we’ll be preparing for General Conference 2016. This is a wonderful time to join your Annual Conference Team and help bring about full inclusion in your area and throughout the United Methodist Church. ~Laura

Central Texas (Ft. Worth area) Brendan Peoples – bkpcpa_fortworth@yahoo.com Eddie Castlow – edcastlow@yahoo.com Great Plains Brian Sutton – brian.sutton@collegehillumc.org Jeanette Grenz – jgrenz@sbcglobal.net Louisiana Rev. Anita Dinwiddie – anita@frenchquarterumc.org Missouri Kenneth Pruitt – kenneth.j.pruitt@gmail.com New Mexico Laura Young – laura@rmnetwork.org North Texas (Dallas area) Brittany Burrows – burrows.brittany@gmail.com Northwest Texas (Lubbock area) Laura Young – laura@rmnetwork.org Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com /NWTexasRUMs

SCJ Reconciling Communities

0

Oklahoma Indian Missionary TC Cassidy – tc.cassidy@yahoo.com

5 Texas (Houston Area)

Oklahoma

4

Southwest Texas (Austin/San Antonion Area)

1

28

Rio Grande

9

6

Northwest Texas (Lubbock Area)

Louisiana

Great Plains

3

North Texas (Dallas Area)

17

Missiouri

5

Central Texas (Ft Worth Area)

Arkansas

7

Oklahoma Rev. Jeni Markham Clewell – jeniandpaul@gmail.com TC Cassidy – tc.cassidy@yahoo.com

Rio Grande Laura Young – laura@rmnetwork.org Southwest Texas (Austin/San Antonio area) Joy Butler – joylbutler@gmail.com Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/swtxrmteam

SCJ Reconciling United Methodists

Southwest Texas (Austin/ San Antonio Area)

Rio Grande

0

Texas (Houston area) Rev. Glynden Bode – glyndenbode@gmail.com Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Breaking TheSilence.TAC.UMC

557

Texas (Houston Area)

685

501 Oklahoma

191

Northwest Texas (Lubbock Area)

81

464 North Texas (Dallas Area)

Missouri

Louisiana

320

New Mexico

101

Great Plains

Central Texas (Ft Worth Area)

Araknsas

187 180

878

79

Western Jurisdiction

WJ Reconciling Communities

Rev. Israel Alvaraz Western Regional Organizer israel@rmnetwork.org office: 312-448-5313 cell: 510-717-4894

62 23

2

I think I’m a religious social justice junkie­—always looking out for opportunities to engage in community outreach and organizing—inspired by Marx’s challenge: “Philosophers have only interpreted the world, in various ways: the point, however, is to change it.” What that “change” means for our church and society brought me to RMN’s work of advocating full inclusion of all people in the life of the church. Restoring broken relationships and radical hospitality are fundamentals in effecting systemic change, making our common work in RMN pretty darn exciting! I’m honored to serve as your new Western Regional Organizer!

9

22

28

17

4

WJ Reconciling United Methodists 2,578

58

In the Western Jurisdiction we have many opportunities for change. The ways we’ll live out our Biblical Obedience resolution is a huge opportunity to enliven our values in concrete ways. The societal advances in the West around employment, housing, education and marriage equality can be a catalyst for change in our churches. We have the largest number of Reconciling United Methodists and Reconciling Communities in our jurisdiction which means we have a lot of hands and hearts to continue conversations about reconciling on both individual and community levels. In the past year we had one Process Coach training in Bothell, Washington. This year RMN is supporting three trainings in the West. I look forward to connecting with you as we change the world together! ~Izzy

1,069

693

836

1,023

734

101

Alaska Rev. Drew Phoenix – druphx@gmail.com California-Nevada Rev. John Oda (RMN Board member, RMN team and Altar for All) – revjohnoda@yahoo.com Altar for All: Karen Oliveto – koliveto@glide.org California-Pacific Jeanne Roe Smith, Deaconess – wfsucla@gmail.com Desert Southwest Rev. Stephen Govett – revgovett@gmail.com Oregon-Idaho Deborah Maria (RMN Board member) – yourbest@juno.com Pacific Northwest Rev. Vince Hart – vince@fumcot.com Altar for All: Monica Corsaro – revmokat@yahoo.com Rocky Mountain Gheeta Smith (RMN Board member) – gheeta.smith@gmail.com Altar for All: Eric Strader – strader.eric@gmail.com Yellowstone Mary Maheras – lazydblmm@msn.com

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Reconciling Process and Witness

Curricula and Studies:

RMN Process Page: A great first stop for churches, Sunday school classes and campus ministries engaging in the process. Contains resources including a series of webinars and videos related to common topics engaged in the Reconciling process. http://www.rmnetwork.org/act-now/rc-process/

Hearts Unbounded: Engaging Biblical Texts of God’s Radical Love: A ten-session small-group Bible Study examining ten stories of radical love and welcome using the format of Reader’s Theater. But fear not…no costumes, sets, or refined acting chops needed! All you need are six to eight people around a table, reading the script, having fun. http://www.rmnetwork.org/hearts-unbound-engaging -biblical-texts-of-gods-radical-love-through-readers -theater/

Building an Inclusive Church Toolkit: Drawing on twenty five years experience within a variety of Christian denominations, this Toolkit is a step-bystep guide to help facilitate a Welcoming Process.

It uses tools of relational organizing, congregational assessment, conflict management, and change theory. Contact the RMN office for a hard copy: http://welcomingresources.org/welcoming.xml

To Do Justice: A Study of Welcoming Congregations: This groundbreaking study shows the positive effects possible when a congregation goes through a welldesigned and successful welcoming process. The study found successfully completing a welcoming process makes a congregation more likely to work and witness for other justice issues and have low levels of conflict. http://welcomingresources.org/welcoming.xml

Reconciling Journeys (video): This 15 minute video uses personal stories and interviews with Reconciling United Methodists and simple explanations; it’s a great intro to RMN for a Reconciling team starting the process http://vimeo.com/1107195

Reconciling Sunday Resources: Reconciling Sundays are an opportunity for annual celebration of a community’s commitment to full inclusion of people all sexual orientations and gender identities. Some communities commemorate their Reconciling anniversary; others mark Human Relations Sunday (Third Sunday in January) or a Sunday in June to highlight Pride festivities. http://www.rmnetwork.org/archive-of-reconciling -sunday-resources/

Rethink Inclusion: This four-week study for groups and classes includes Bible readings, videos, on-line quizzes, and guided questions for leading group discussions about several facets of inclusion and the Biblical command to hospitality. www.rethinkinclusion.org

A La Familia: A Conversation About Our Families, the Bible, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity: This bilingual, six-chapter resource is an effort to foster a dialogue with Latino/a families and churches on the unique challenges faced by LGBT people in Latino/a families and churches. http://www.welcomingresources.org/espanol.xml

Claiming the Promise: Seven-week Bible study introduction to thinking about the historical context of the Bible. Includes examination of the passages traditionally used to “clobber” gay, lesbian, bisexual, and tansgender persons. Now available as a free download! http://www.rmnetwork.org/claiming-the-promise-an -ecumenical-welcoming-bible-study-on-homosexuality -leader-guide/

transACTION: A Transgender Curriculum For Churches and Religious Institutions: A three session educational program to help congregations and learn more about the issues of gender identity and gender presentation as part of their welcoming process. http://www.welcomingresources.org/transgender.xml

Convo video archives: Ever wonder what Convo was like 10 years ago? RMN recently uploaded sermons, Bible studies and plenary messages from past convocations to vimeo. Highlighting voices from across the movement these videos are great for small group studies, and Sunday school classes. http://vimeo.com/rmnetwork/videos/page:1/sort:date

Shaping Sanctuary: Over 300 pages of inclusive worship materials (including essays, liturgies, and hymns) with an eight-week study guide on inclusive worship planning. Now available as a free download! http://www.rmnetwork.org/shaping -sanctuary-proclaiming-gods-grace-in-an-inclusive-church/ 81

Best Films for Discussion:

offered staff, resources, training, political organizing opportunities and other support to our staff and local leaders. Visit HRC at www.hrc.org and The Task Force at www.thetaskforce.org

Incompatible With Christian Teaching (2010): A documentary film by RMN board member Anne P. Brown details the stories of clergy and laity working for full inclusion in the church they love. Some have been arrested and others tried by the Judicial Council. Each has demanded that the church live into the true meaning of the Gospel. Learn more, purchase the film, and/or schedule a screening by contacting Anne at anne_p_brown@live.com.

Many Voices: Many Voices is committed to creating a national movement for gay and transgender justice from within the Black church. Through trainings, mentoring, and online resources that provide a safe place to ask questions, learn, and take new steps, Many Voices equips African American pastors and church members to publicly share the faith journeys. http://www.manyvoices.org/

For the Bible Tells Me So (2007): Through the experiences of five Christian American families—including those of former House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt and Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson—For the Bible Tells Me So offers healing, clarity and understanding to anyone caught in the crosshairs of scripture and sexual identity. Learn more or order the film at: http://www.forthebibletellsmeso.org Purchase a companion study guide here: http://www.thisiknowstudy.org/

Fish Out of Water (2009): In this spirited documentary, filmmaker Ky Dickens explores the seven Bible passages notoriously used to condemn homosexuality and justify discrimination. With the help of a cartoon narrator, animated recollections of Bible passages and witty illustrations, Fish out of Water makes this polarizing subject accessible and non threatening. http://www.fishoutofwaterfilm.com/

LGBT Allied Organizations:

Believe Out Loud: Believe Out Loud is an online network that empowers Christians to work for LGBT equality. Reaching nearly one million individuals a week, Believe Out Loud elevates the people and places where Christianity and LGBT justice intersect. http://www.believeoutloud.com/

Institute for Welcoming Resources (IWR): RMN’s ecumenical partners provide training and resources to help build inclusive congregations and denominations through IWR. Visit www.welcomingresources.org to learn more about upcoming events, trainings and explore new resources!

Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and The Task Force (NGLTF): These political organizing powerhouses work for LGBTQ equality throughout our nation and world. As partners with RMN both organization have

82

RMN: Growth and Growng

(for more history, visit www.rmnetwork.org/about-us)

In September 1982, Affirmation: United Methodists for Lesbian/ Gay Concerns in Boston, explored “developing a program in which local churches will declare their support for the concerns of lesbians and gay men.” One year later, an initial plan addressing the need for “reconciliation” between The United Methodist Church and gay and lesbian individuals became the cornerstone on which the Reconciling Ministries Network is based today.

After the 1984 General Conference added “no self-avowed, practicing homosexual shall be ordained or appointed in The United Methodist Church” to the UMC Book of Discipline, the first grassroots invitation for Reconciling Congregations (RC) to publicly affirm gay and lesbian persons and dissent from church policy was immediately launched. Mark Bowman and Beth Richardson served as founders for this new ministry.

Within one month, two congregations vote to become RCs- symbolically located on both ends of the continent—Washington Square UMC in New York City and Wesley UMC in Fresno, California.

Resourcing this fledgling movement became critical and in 1985, the first issue of Manna for the Journey quarterly magazine is published offering a “theological context for the RCP” and “resources for those who choose to be reconcilers.” Sixteen years of this award-winning publication (later published as Open Hands until 2001) are now archived at Drew University in New Jersey.

New resources equip the expanding movement from individual and congregational efforts to ecumeni-

cal collaborations including Bible studies (1997), worship resources (2000), sexual orientation (1988) and gender identity primers (2003), teaching children (2009), and the first resource in Spanish (2006).

Gathering this passionate national effort face to face began in 1987 with 120 persons at the first convocation, “Empowering Reconciling Ministries” at United Church of Rodgers Park in Chicago. This gathering inspired a first-of-its-kind video, Casting Out Fear. Twelve convocations and counting, these gatherings now typically exceed 500 participants, include international participants, and coalition partners. Participants and leaders return home motivated to launch new grassroots efforts; some even become bishops.

In 1989, Reconciling Congregation Program—RCP (later renamed Reconciling Ministries Network— RMN in 2000) was incorporated as an independent nonprofit organization. In 1992, the RCP national office relocated from Washington, D.C. to Irving Park UMC in Chicago. In 2012, RMN relocated its national office to accommodate a growing staff from Irving Park UMC to a commercial office building in the heart of downtown Chicago. RCP celebrated its 10th anniversary in 1994 by commissioning an original musical drama HOME: The Parable of Beatrice and Neal, written by Tim McGinley, for a 15-city tour throughout the Midwest.

The movement grew with the addition of more congregations, annual conferences (1986), UM boards and agencies (1990), campus ministries (1992), individuals (1996), and launching historic ecumenical collaboration between Presbyterians, Lutherans, Congregationalists, and Unitarians (1989). This collaboration of welcoming church programs 83

grew into the Institute for Welcoming Resources and continues to add faith partners.

As Reconciling grew, organized resistance formed birthing the anti-gay Transforming Congregations (1988). Though the voting margins continue to narrow at General Conference, the decreasing majority added anti-gay policies banning funding for the “promotion of homosexuality” (1976), ordination (1984), same-gender blessings (1996), and a Judicial Council ruling allowed pastors to discriminate in membership (2005).

Challenging exclusion, prophetic witnesses take action and are tested by church trials with varying results: Rose Mary Denman, defrocked after coming out (1987); Jimmy Creech, defrocked after conducting same-sex weddings (1998 and 1999); Greg Dell, suspended after conducting a same-sex wedding (1999); Mark Williams, kept credentials after coming out (2002); Karen Damman, kept credentials after she came out (2004); Beth Stroud, defrocked after coming out (2005); Drew Phoenix, complaints dismissed after coming out as a trans-man (2007); Amy DeLong, kept credentials after she came out but suspended 20 days for conducting a same-sex wedding (2011); Rev. Thomas Ogletree, in process after conducting same-sex wedding of his son; and several other cases currently pending. This list does not approach the numerous complaints where clergy turned in their credentials quietly, or where complaints were filed and dismissed.

Regardless of resistance and church trials, the movement grows and broadens. Unique voices emerge that carry forward the witness of students (1995), parents (2000), persons of color (2000), clergy (2001),

and transgender persons (2011) that both inform and challenge us and have grown into the current extension ministries of RMN providing resources and leadership. These voices have provided creative, strategic support for change from Student Forum action, the Sacramento 95 blessing a lesbian couple (1999), “My Child is of Sacred Worth” badges (2000), reconciling stoles (2004), Pastoral Letter to the denomination from 75 closeted LGBT clergy (2005), regional clergy groups organizing to conduct same-sex marriages as a part of Altar for All (2011), to flash mobs by young adults at General Conference (2012).

Groundbreaking advocacy campaigns with coalition partners to impact the international General Conference of the UMC were launched in 1996 in Denver with the historic Open the Doors campaign, continued each General Conference thereafter with Wide is God’s Welcome: Extend the Table (2000—Cleveland); Watermarked (2004—Pittsburgh); One Family Tree (2008—Fort Worth); and Love Your Neighbor (2012—Tampa). These campaigns have grown in strength and scope to include legislative action, delegate organizing, grounded gospel obedience through public witness and nonviolent action, media expertise, and inventive internet technology.

The 2012 General Conference also marked the expansion of the progressive coalition of RMN, MFSA, and Affirmation to also include several United Methodist ethnic caucuses, including Black Methodists for Church Renewal (BMCR), National Federation of Asian American United Methodists (NFAAUM), and the Native American International Caucus of The United Methodist Church. 2012 was the first General Conference RMN worked in coalition to advance a strategy of

welcome with international delegates and deployed translators for printed materials, during events, and conversations with international delegates. While the discriminatory policies of the Church on “incompatibility”, ordination, membership, and marriage did not change in 2012, RMN and its coalition partners did successfully add “gender identity” to the denomination’s protected classes against hate crimes.

Near the close of General Conference, Bishop Melvin Talbert addressed the Love Your Neighbor coalition saying, “I declare to you that the derogatory language and restrictive laws in the Book of Discipline are immoral, and unjust and no longer deserve our loyalty and obedience.”

Bishop Talbert described “biblical obedience” as our Christian imperative to be faithful to the inclusive Gospel of Jesus—to welcome, empower, and be in ministry with and for all people. After the 2012 General Conference, there has been a perceivable shift in the political landscape in the church and across the U.S. This sentiment of Bibli84

cal Obedience has spread rapidly across the Connection with annual conferences and jurisdictions voting to act as if the discriminatory laws of the Book of Discipline don’t exist.

Hundreds of clergy and laity have added their names to Altar for All pledging their support of clergy and congregations willing to celebrate ceremonies of Christian marriage for gay and lesbian couples. Interest and energy around the concept of Biblical Obedience continues to grow and is breathing new winds of the Spirit within our movement.

The two initial maverick congregations in 1984 have multiplied to over 550 congregations, campuses, and communities that include laypersons, clergy, and bishops; U.S. and international Reconciling United Methodists; persons of color, parents, students, transgender, female, male, straight, lesbian, gay, and bisexual; progressive, conservative, moderate, and undeclared; children, youth, young adult, adult, and elders; angry, leaving, staying, and acting for change—a diversity and breadth which still has room for more!

85

ChurchQuake is an event of immense magnitude that requires a great deal of support and volunteer assistance.

Here are some of the many persons and groups who helped make ChurchQuake happen.

Organizational Co-Sponsors who provided significant support for the ChurchQuake program: Contributors to the ChurchQuake scholarship fund (as of August 2, 2013): Rev. Chip Aldridge

Rev. Robert L. Gamble

Joseph and Deborah Mannino

Chris Hong & Wil Rumble

Linda C. Atwood

Margaret Schutz Gordon

Many Voices

Rev. Leonard F. Sjogren

James H. & Rev. Jane P. Baker

Shirley Elaine & Rev. James Gragg

Nancy Marsh

Donna M. & John C. Soderberg

Rev. Bonnie Beckonchrist

Martin N. & Mary M. Hanzlik

Martin L. Matson

Beth Anne Strausser

Paul R. Belyea

Barbara E. & Rev. Robert E. Hoeft

Frances O. & Rev. William K. McElvaney

Mary Ellen & Scott Summerville

Richard and Mary Breuninger

Rev. Barbara Hoffman

I. Lee & James McKlenshaw

Rev. Albert Eugene & Margaret Tomer

Rev. Charles J. Chipman

Marion Hosey

Rev. David W. Meredith

Rev. Mary Kay Totty

Kristian and Donell Clauser

Jen E. Ihlo

Kathryn E. Meredith

Rev. Frank E. Trotter, Jr.

Alice J. Clearwater

Matt and Jennifer Johnson

Dr. Mary Elizabeth & Allen Moore

Bishop Jack M. & Marjorie I. Tuell

Michael Cox

Craig & Valerie Johnson

Paul Newhouse & Ray Goodrow

Ella Pritchard Curry

Rev. Elizabeth Jones

Stephen M. & Leigh H. Noblitt

Bruce & Lillian Venner in memory of Nancy Law & in honor of Nancy Carter

Rebecca Davis

Rev. Lynne Josselyn

Rev. Dr. Karen P. Oliveto

Rev. Janine M. Watkins

Emily J. & Gordon Denton, USAF (Ret.)

Paul R. Kinney

Rev. Mary L. Peacock

Dr. Carol L. & Jeffrey W. Waymack

Elizabeth & Robert Dorr

Dorothy Forinash & Piet R. Knetsch

Rev. L. Paul Pitkin

Rev. Nancy J. Webb

Helen M. Eason

Rev. Nancy Kollhoff

Robin T. Ridenour

Walter G. Wells

Rev. Paul Ernst

Rev. Fred Lewis

Benjamin & Margaret Roe

Carol West and Sharon L. Vermilyea

Mary I. Everitt

Rev. Dr. Wendell D. & Reba K. Luke

Brian & Laura Rossbert

Rev. Laura Cean Wilson Carol M. Woods

ChurchQuake Planning Team: Bonnie Beckonchrist, Matt Berryman, Rachel Birkhahn-Rommelfanger, Mark Bowman, David Braden, Rachel Harvey, Deborah Maria, John Oda, Andy Oliver, Mittie Quinn, Troy Plummer Treash Preconvocation Gatherings Planning: Helen Andrew, C. Kristian Clauser, Johnny Gall, Giselle Lawn, Anne K. Lynch, Jamie Michaels, Dave Nuckols, Gheeta Smith, Robert Swing Ubuntu GoGroup Planning: Rachel Birkhahn-Rommelfanger, Mark Bowman, Anne P. Brown, Rachel Harvey, Joey Heath, Chett Pritchett, Laura Rossbert Ubuntu GoGroup Leaders: Logan Alley, Izzy Alvaran, Bonnie Beckonchrist, Matt Berryman, Judy Birch, Rachel Birkhahn-Rommelfanger, David Braden, Anne P. Brown, Meg Carey, Daniel Colbert, Jayson Dobney, Ray Goodrow, Youtha Hardman-Cromwell, Rachel Harvey, Ken Hawes, Joey Heath, Robyn Henderson-Espinoza, Ted Jackson, Kathryn Johnson, Jen Kidwell Heald, Virginia Lapham, Giselle Lawn, Pamela Lightsey, Anne Lynch, Deborah Maria, Lisa McFarland, David Meredith, Matt Mustard, Paul Newhouse, Josh Noblitt, John Oda, Mittie Quinn, Laura Rossbert, Helen Ryde, Gheeta Smith, Elizabeth Stripe, Shannon Sullivan, Robert Swing, Stephanie Vader, Rob Vaughn, Carol Waymack, Kevin Webb, Linda Worthington, Laura Young Communications/Audio-Visuals: Anthony Brooks, Chelsea Cott, Cameron Helwege, Wilton McKinley, Skylar Nimmons, Andy Oliver, Jeremy Smith Local Hospitality Team Coordinators: TC Morrow & Mittie Quinn Registration Volunteers: Joanna Marceron, Virginia Lapham, Marge Kumaki, Jim Quinn, Linda Worthington

Hospitality Volunteers: Team Hughes UMC: Ellen Durigg, Marge Kumaki, Ken Hawes, Carol Whitney Team Grace Baltimore: Ann Dahl, George Kahl, Rev. Nancy Webb, and   Rev. David Shank Team Dumbarton: Linda Lacy, Angela Maeves Team Foundry: Chris Hong Team Middletown: Sherie Koob, Lisa Coles, Kathy VanArnum Team Fairlington UMC: Mark Elder Team Old Otterbein: Daniel Fisher Members of Baltimore Washington Area Reconciling Methodists (BWARM) Sunday Evening Celebration planning: Chip Aldridge, Mary Kay Totty, Rachel Cornwell, Mary Brown Oliver, Charles Parker, Stanley Thurston Transportation Coordinator: Mark Elder Sign Language Interpreters: Leo Yates & Libby McKnight Organizations who purchased ad space in the ChurchQuake program book: Affirmation: United Methodists for LGBTQ Concerns (p. 12) Brite Divinity School (p. 41) Center for Lesbian & Gay Studies in Religion & Ministry (p. 40) Family Diversity Project (p. 13) Iliff School of Theology (p. 85) Institute for Welcoming Resources (p. 71) Many Voices (p. 82) Methodist Theological School in Ohio (p. 27) PFLAG National (p. 15) Wesley Theological Seminary (p. 7)

A special thanks to the congregation and staff of Metropolitan Memorial U.M. Church for hosting the gala celebration on Sunday night.

86

Event Survey We would so like you to spend a few minutes to take this survey. Your responses will help us learn more about how better to serve you and plan future convocations. Thank you!

5. Saturday Morning Worship 1. Did you attend a Pre-­‐day Forum?

B. Preaching A. Worship  No. Skip to question 4.  Excellent  E xcellent  Yes. Continue to question 2.  Good  Good

 Fair  Fair 2. Which Pre-­‐day Forum did you attend?  Poor  Poor  Not applicable  N ot a pplicable  Central Conferences

 Parents (PRN) C. Additional comments:  Process Coach Training

 Reconciling Clergy

 Students & Young Adults (MOSAIC)

 Transgender Justice 6. Plenary: State of the Movement  UM of Color (UMOC) B. Leadership A. Content:

 Excellent  Excellent Please rate each of the following scheduled  Good  Good events.  Fair  Fair  Poor  P oor 3. Pre-­‐day forum you attended: A. Content  Excellent  Good  Fair  Poor  Not applicable

 Not applicable

B. Leadership  Excellent  Good  Fair  Poor  Not applicable

7. Ubuntu GoGroups

C. Additional comments:

A. Content:  Excellent  Good  Fair  Poor  Not applicable

4. Friday Evening Opening Worship A. Worship  Excellent  Good  Fair  Poor  Not applicable

 Not applicable

C. Additional comments:

B. Preaching  Excellent  Good  Fair  Poor  Not applicable

B. Leadership  Excellent  Good  Fair  Poor  Not applicable

C. Additional comments:

C. Additional comments:

Rather fill this out online? Go to: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ChurchQuake 87

Survey continued 8. Plenary: Embracing our Interconnectedness A. Content:  Excellent  Good  Fair  Poor  Not applicable

11. Sunday Workshop #2 A. Title: ____________________________ B. Presenter: ________________________

B. Leadership  Excellent  Good  Fair  Poor  Not applicable

C. Content  Excellent  Good  Fair  Poor  Not applicable

C. Additional comments:

E. Additional comments:

9. Sunday Morning Worship A. Worship  Excellent  Good  Fair  Poor  Not applicable

12. Plenary: Biblical Obedience

B. Preaching  Excellent  Good  Fair  Poor  Not applicable

A. Content:  Excellent  Good  Fair  Poor  Not applicable

C. Additional comments:

B. Leadership  Excellent  Good  Fair  Poor  Not applicable

C. Additional comments:

10. Sunday Workshop #1 A. Title: ____________________________ B. Presenter: ________________________ C. Content  Excellent  Good  Fair  Poor  Not applicable

D. Leadership  Excellent  Good  Fair  Poor  Not applicable

13. Celebration at Metropolitan Memorial A. Content:  Excellent  Good  Fair  Poor  Not applicable

D. Leadership  Excellent  Good  Fair  Poor  Not applicable

B. Leadership  Excellent  Good  Fair  Poor  Not applicable

C. Additional comments:

E. Additional comments:

Rather fill this out online? Go to: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ChurchQuake 88

Survey continued 17. Please rate your level of satisfaction of:

14. Plenary: Jurisdictional Organizing Coaching a ChurchQuake B. Leadership  Excellent  Good  Fair  Poor  Not applicable

Very Dissatisfied

Not Applicable

B. Preaching  Excellent  Good  Fair  Poor  Not applicable

Inclusive Language

Accessibility: Physical Space

Accessibility: Sound/Visuals

Resource Room

Overall Schedule

Timeliness of Events

Childcare Program

Amount of Free Time

Location Cost

C. Additional comments:

Housing

16. Bible Study (Fri, Sat, Sun, and Mon) A. Content:  Excellent  Good  Fair  Poor  Not applicable

Overall Event

15. Monday Closing Worship A. Worship  Excellent  Good  Fair  Poor  Not applicable

Somewhat Dissatisfied

C. Additional comments:

Somewhat Satisfied

Very Satisfied

A. Content:  Excellent  Good  Fair  Poor  Not applicable

Food Registration Process

B. Leadership  Excellent  Good  Fair  Poor  Not applicable

Event Office

C. Additional comments:

Youth Program

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Survey continued 18. Why did you attend ChurchQuake?

19. Please tell us one thing you learned or gained at ChurchQuake:

20. Please tell us your most important suggestion:

21. Please tell us any other comments and suggestions:

22. Optional Information: A. Name: _____________________________________________________________________ B. Gender: ____________________________________________________________________ C. Sexual Orientation: ___________________________________________________________ D. Race/Ethnicity: ______________________________________________________________ E. Age: _______________________________________________________________________ F. E-­‐mail: _____________________________________________________________________

Thank you for taking RMN’s ChurchQuake Survey!

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National 4-H Youth Conference Center 1-800-FOUR-H-DC (1-800-368-7432) • www.4HCenter.org 7100 Connecticut Avenue Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815

123 W. Madison Street, Suite 2150 Chicago, IL 60602 Phone: 773-736-5526 Fax: 773-736-5475 www.rmnetwork.org