2013 March Katalyst

Planned Giving p10 have you remembered RMN in your will?

march 2013

Process Coach Training p3 join the movement by becoming a guide

Reconciling Communities p3 welcome our new friends into the fold

CQ13 Registration is live! p6 convocation coming to DC Labor Day weekend, are you?

katalyst reconciling ministries network

www.rmnetwork.org

BAYARD RUSTIN From Montgomery to Stonewall p2

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survey says... and what we plan to do about it. p8

INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

dr. randall miller equality is blooming p4

bishop rader on board

meet the new members p12

“Bayard Rustin� by Ken Kusterer, a Reconciling United Methodist - Heroes of Human Liberation series - www.kustererartworks.com

by Bayard Rustin | 1986

From Montgomery to Stonewall In 1955 when Rosa Parks sat down and began the Montgomery Bus Protest, if anyone had said that it would be the beginning of a most extraordinary revolution, most people, including myself, would have doubted it. But revolutionary beginnings are often unpredictable.

Consider now gay rights. In 1969, in New York of all places, in Greenwich Village, a group of gay people were in a bar. Recall that the 1960’s was period of extreme militancy--there were antiwar demonstrations, civil rights demonstrations, and women’s rights demonstrations.

The patrons of the bard added gay rights demonstration to the list. The events began when several cops moved into the bar to close it down, a very common practice in that period, forcing many gay bars to go underground. The cops were rough and violent, and, for the first time in the history of the United States, gays, as a collective group, fought back--and not just that night but the following night, and the next, and the night after that.

That was the beginning of an extraordinary revolution, similar to the Montgomery Bus Boycott in that it was not expected that anything extraordinary would occur. As in the case of Rosa Parks who sat down in the white part of the bus, something began to happen. People began to protest. They began to fight for the right to live in dignity, the right to resist arbitrary behavior on the part

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of authorities, the right essentially to be one’s self in every respect, and the right to be protected under law.

In other words, people began to fight for their human rights.

Gay people must continue this protest. This will not be easy, in part because homosexuality remains an identity that is subject to a “we/ they” distinction. That’s what makes our struggle the central struggle of our time, the central struggle for democracy and the central struggle for human rights.

There are four burdens, which gays, along with every other despised group must address. The first is to recognize that one must overcome fear. The second is overcoming self-hate. The third is overcoming self-denial. The fourth burden is more political. It is to recognize that the job of the gay community is not to deal with extremists who would castrate us or put us on an island and drop an H-bomb on us. The fact of the matter is that there is a small percentage of people in America who understand the true nature of the homosexual community. There is another small percentage who

will never understand us. Our job is not to get those people who dislike us to love us. Nor was our aim in the civil rights movement to get prejudiced white people to love us.

Our aim was to try to create the kind of America, legislatively, morally, and psychologically, such that even though some whites continued to hate use, they could not openly manifest that hate. That’s our job today: to control the extent to which people can publicly manifest antigay sentiment.

Well, what do we have to do that is concrete? We have to fight for legislation wherever we are, to state our case clearly, as Blacks had to do in the South when it was profoundly uncomfortable. Some people say to me, “Well, Mr. Rustin, how long is it going to take?” Let me point out to you that it doesn’t take a law to get rid of a practice. The NAACP worked for sixty years to get an antilynch law in this county. We never got an antilynch law, and now we don’t need one. It was the propaganda for the law we never got that liberated us. ...

Learn more about Bayard Rustin at www.rustin.org

get trained

I n the past five months over 1 0 0 Reconciling U nited M ethodists have been trained as P rocess C oaches and over 50 signed up to actively coach one of RM N ’s 5 0 0 + prospective Reconciling communities!

By rachel harvey, Deaconess

total reconciling communities: 534

As you read, your coaches are working with their neighbors down the street and across state lines exploring the limits of their welcome, crafting a welcome statement that mirrors their community’s values and building relationships across the theological gaps that fill the aisles of many United Methodist Churches. This is hard and important work. It is essential work for those who seek to live out the gospel’s teachings of peace, love, and justice.

This spring RMN will offer process coach trainings in

Jackson MS, Hoover AL, Charlotte NC, Dallas TX, Minneapolis MN, and Red Bank NJ. We have space for 30 people at each training. Sign up for a training by logging on to: www.rmnetwork.org/coachtraining.

If you’re attending ChurchQuake, plan to join us for the process coach training, Friday, August 30th.

You don’t have to wait to attend a training to be involved. Contact your Regional Organizer today to build our list of prospective Reconciling communities, coach a community through the process and hold a Reconciling United Methodist drive in your church!

WElcome new reconciling communities Crescenta Valley UMC Montrose, California

St. Paul’s UMC Lenexa, Kansas

Novato UMC Novato, California

First UMC Missoula, Montana

St. Luke’s UMC Austin, Texas

North Oxnard UMC Oxnard, California

Roundtable Gathering at First UMC Waynesville, North Carolina

Church of the Reconciler Birmingham, Alabama

Faith UMC Genoa, Illinois

Wesley Class of Pulaski Heights UMC Little Rock, Arkansas

Glenview UMC Glenview, Illinois

UMW Eugene of First UMC Eugene, Oregon

First UMC Hapeville, Gorgia

Parker Memorial UMC New Orleans, Louisiana

Emmanuel UMC Laurel, Maryland

Silver Spring UM Cooperative Parish Silver Spring, Maryland

www.rmnetwork.org | 3

A Thousand Flowers blooming

A thousand flowers blooming

By Dr. randall Miller, rmn interim executive director

O ur deepest fear is not that we are inadequate . Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure . I t is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.

W e ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous , talented, fabulous ? Actually, who are you not to be ? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. – Marianne Williamson

I must confess that these days, I rarely pay any attention at all to what those who oppose the full inclusion of LGBT people are writing and saying. This is due in part to a measure of self-protectiveness and in part due to the conviction that we are engaged in an inevitable clash of worldviews and theologies.

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You see, despite every effort to portray the Reconciling Movement as strange or alien, what I constantly see is an array of beautiful, albeit off-beat people who are committed to being active members of vibrant, faithful communities. I count myself blessed because on a regular basis, I’m immersed in a motley collection of saints and sinners, who have the effrontery to challenge the claims that the primary role and function of the Church is to enforce compulsory heterosexuality.

All of this is preamble to my observation that lately, there has been enough conservative crowing about the downfall of the progressive movement within the United Methodist Church that even I have begun to take notice. As I heard one conservative leader put it, “If nothing else, General Conference 2012 sounded the death-knell of the Liberal Church.”

In response, I’m only too happy to report that the rumors of our premature death are more than a bit exaggerated. Indeed, if we step back for just a few minutes and take the long view of history, the future

of the Reconciling Movement seems decidedly positive. How can I say this? Well consider the facts: • Since the 1970’s, every major national poll has shown that LGBT acceptance is slowly but steadily rising.

• In the U.S., this increase in acceptance is happening in every major demographic group, even where you might not expect it— among young, evangelical Christians.

• In the religious sphere, four major Protestant denominations, the Presbyterians, Episcopalians, Lutherans, and United Church of Christ, have repealed most of their antigay policies.

• As of 2012, nine states, the District of Columbia, and two Native American nations have legalized same-sex marriage, with another three or four states on the immediate horizon.

The larger movement towards full equality and inclusion is progressing nicely, but that’s no reason to become complacent. To paraphrase Martin King, freedom will not be gained by sitting back on our good intentions and hoping that people who now oppose us will gradually come around. As religious advocates, we’ve chosen one of the

most difficult arenas in which to witness and work towards equality and inclusion. After all, the best organized and most recalcitrant opponents of LGBT equality regularly call upon the name of Jesus, too.

As people of faith, we are reminded in Hebrews that “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” This means that we are, perhaps, better equipped than others, to dream of, lay the seeds for, and live into new realities that others just can’t see.

Here at the RMN Office, we’re working hard to provide a Bigger, Bolder, and more Determined witness and response to God’s inclusive message of equality and justice.

Even while we search for a new fulltime executive director we’re laying the groundwork for the next stages of our journey together: • Since the conclusion of the 2012 General Conference, we’ve added roughly 50 Reconciling communities to our network, with many more working through the process of formally declaring themselves open and welcoming to every person.

• In the next six months, we’ll launch a more intentional effort to build partnerships and coalitions

with progressive United Methodists in the Central Conferences, i.e., regions outside of the U.S. As part of this effort, we’ve begun online outreach that has already netted significant support in the Philippines, Africa, and Europe.

• To support the next surge of states moving forward to legalize same-sex marriage, we’ve begun forging new partnerships with secular advocacy groups in targeted states. Our hope is that by formally speaking out on behalf of marriage equality, more people will hear that there are Christian leaders who are standing on the right side of history.

• At “ChurchQuake: Embracing Freedom,” the RMN Convocation taking place in Chevy Chase, MD over Labor Day Weekend, we hope to announce bold new plans for greatly expanding our movement over the next ten years and moving us closer to a tipping-point in the United Methodist Church.

“Let a thousand flowers bloom!”

Whoever you are and in whatever place you live, we pray that this is the year when your “fabulousness” will be fully realized, and that this is the time when God’s beloved community of love, justice, and acceptance will be made manifest in your life. Keep the Faith!

At Convocation we will announce bold new plans for greatly expanding our movement and moving us closer to a tippingpoint in the UMC.

Dr. randall miller rmn interim executive director

www.rmnetwork.org | 5

< convo Washington DC area, Labor Day weekend, join hundreds getting involved in the movement for full LGBTQ inclusion in The United Methodist Church through worship, conversation, and action. www.rmnetwork.org/CQ13 Join us on twitter at #CQ13!

< leaders & preachers > Bible Study: Peterson Toscano Preachers: Marcus Briggs-Cloud, Vicki Flippin, Karen Oliveto, and Joseph Tolton Plenary: Cheryl B. Anderson, Bonnie Beckonchrist, C. Kristian Clauser, and more!

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< hosts Pamela Lightsey and Josh Noblitt will help us “Embrace Freedom” based on Acts 16:19: Paul and Silas were praying & singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was an earthquake, so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened.

ubuntU groups >

Visit a justice agency, museum, or congregation in the DC area, drawing on the South African concept of “Ubuntu” or “interrelatedness of all life”.

Intensify your understanding of how LGBTQ equality intersects with other justice movements.

< concert Join Ysaye M. Barnwell of African American women’s a cappella ensemble Sweet Honey In The Rock and others.

worship > DeLyn Celec and Sarah Celec are passionate about using art to build community, teach, and learn from one another.

< biblical obediEnce 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. We will also listen to others who are living out Biblical Obedience and consider how each of us responds in faith to this challenge.

www.rmnetwork.org | 7

you spoke

WE

listened Over the summer, RMN’s board of directors surveyed its constituents as part of the board’s strategic planning process for the next quadrennium. Thank you for your honest and constructive feedback.

Your recommendations and insights have helped shape RMN’s strategies R M N survey results By david e. braden

1 ,1 1 7 Recon cil i n g U n ited M et hod ists c om pl ete d surv e ys 5 .6 % responded to the survey that we sent them

and here is what we plan to do about it... for the next four years and beyond.

Because of you, RMN is advancing a movement for Biblical Obedience to support marriage equality and end LGBT discrimination. We have heard your concerns about not always knowing how RMN is making a difference. So we are developing a comprehensive communications plan to improve RMN’s messaging through traditional and online media.

We have heard your calls for deeper impact in local churches. So we are amplifying our grassroots organizing to coach more churches through the process of becoming Reconciling. We are also launching an unprecedented effort to reach 30,000 United Methodist congregations through a mass-mailing initiative and targeted outreach.

Your responses also marked deep differences in opinion about the future of our denomination. Nearly half of respondents are committed to working for change in the denomination no matter what.

The other half would like RMN and its allies to pursue other options,

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including leaving the denomination.

RMN is committed to ministries of reconciliation. So, RMN will continue to support efforts to make The United Methodist Church more inclusive for people of all sexual orientations and gender identities while also serving as a resource to those considering other options.

Thank you, once again, for your participation in RMN’s strategic planning process. Please stay tuned to future Flashnets and Katalysts for news of RMN’s updated strategic plan and directives.

We have broken down the numbers for you. Some of this information will not come as a surprise, and some might shock you. If what you read encourages you join us in taking action, please contact us and let us know how you see yourself involved in the movement.

Survey Participation • 3 surveys were sent out • 1,117 completed surveys • 5.6% response rate • 275 completed all three

Survey by the numbers we heard your call for deeper impact in local churches , so we are launching an unprecedented effort to reach 3 0 ,0 0 0 united methodist churches through strategic messaging

Central Conferences • 73% believe reaching out is a priority • Continue to partner with justice groups.

• Indigenous voices will lead to change.

• Many cultural obstacles to overcome.

IMPROVE COMMUNICATION • Many “don’t know” responses suggests RMN can improve how it communicates.

• Many UMC members are not aware of RMN; could benefit from the support and become stronger activists.

• Communicate directly to the individual members of congregations.

Issues of Autonomy • 86% support US Regional Conference • 50/50 division on new denomination • “Done waiting 4 more years. RMN should be helping people talk about separation.”

• “LGBTQ babies will still be baptized in UMC. Breaking away is not a solution.”

I WOULD FEEL INSPIRED TO GIVE MONEY IF...

• RMN better articulated plan for winning and ending discriminatory policies.

• We could see RMN presence and impact.

• RMN was learning and adapting actions to realities, instead of reusing techniques.

Diversity • LGBTQ well represented and equipped • Need to do a better job of recruiting and equipping young people and people of color for leadership.

BIBLICAL OBEDIENCE • 98% support Bishop Talbert’s call for United Methodist clergy to be faithful to the inclusive Gospel by officiating LGBTQ marriage ceremonies.

• Significant agreement that Reconciling Communities can advance inclusion by engaging in political action, e.g. collecting names for marriage equality.

Resisting Oppression in All Its Forms • 96% agree collaboration with allied organizations is important • Less agreement that Reconciling Teams and local churches are equipped to work in collaboration with allied organizations • Nearly half believe that LGBTQ voices are silenced or minimized in collaboration.

• Build relationships with racial-ethnic congregations. Build solidarity with different movements. Make LGBTQ inclusivity part of every conversation

www.rmnetwork.org | 9

By david e. braden

gain, save, give A Mensa member and professional corporate librarian, Stan loved cataloging with a plan – making sense out of so many bits of details it would drive most others crazy.

As the AIDS pandemic emerged in Houston, Stan’s church, Bering Memorial UMC (a Reconciling Congregation), began a support network for those living with HIV and their families. Starting with one family, the ministry grew to serve thousands.

Planned giving enables you or someone you know to leave a lasting impact.

At the very beginning, Stan set up a database and kept track of all the participants and volunteers. He not only provided stats but the stories of families and faith in crisis. He did this faithfully weekly for over two decades.

Stan was also passionate about fighting for full inclusion for people of all sexual orientations and gender identities in The United Methodist Church. He wanted to make a difference but knew that he was limited in what he could give to RMN for an annual appeal. But through a bequest in his will, Stan knew that he could have a lasting impact on the movement for LGBT inclusion.

In 2012, RMN received a gift of over $56,000 from Stan’s estate. Because of Stan’s planning and faithfulness, RMN now has the opportunity to reach more United Methodist

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communities than ever before.

This past fall, RMN’s board directed Stan’s gift to support RMN’s initiative to reach 30,000 United Methodist congregations in the US through mass mailings and targeted outreach.

Because of Stan’s generosity, thousands of United Methodists who are hungering to hear the Good News of Jesus’ everlasting love will hear the testimony of how RMN is making a difference in the church and world.

Stan would love that his bequest is advancing RMN’s cataloging with a plan to reach out strategically to United Methodist congregations with resources for follow up. He knew the importance of good data.

He might have wanted to see how the database would work and even offer a few ideas. He also knew that if it was the right thing to do, he could invest wholeheartedly— confident that his part was making a difference.

You can make your legacy gift too when you name RMN as a beneficiary in your will or life insurance policy like Stan.

To learn how to make the gift you have always wanted to make, please contact me, David Braden, at 312-448-5303, david@rmnetwork.org and ask about planned giving.

Having, first, gained all you can, and, secondly saved all you can, then “give all you can.” from john wesley’s Sermon on the use of money

all you can in honor of: Bishops Witnessing for Full

- Andy & Marilyn Belcher - Linda Bergh - Bering

Rev Tom & Nell Taylor, John & Amy Wheeler, Rev

Inclusion - C David & Georgia T Lundquist | Rev

Memorial UMC, Houston, TX - Larry T Broughton

& Mrs Ken Chalker, Audrey Krumbach, Rev Mark

Dr Brian R Bodt - Eileen Doyle | David Braden

- Margaret E Carey - Melinda L Carter & Loretta

Steiger - Bill & Joy Watts | Trinity UMC RMN,

- Claudia Braden - Phil Braden | John Brooks -

Dahlstrom - Judy Cayot - Rev Charles J Chipman

Grand Island - David E Harris | Bishop & Mrs

Rev Katherine Paisley | Rev Hazel Anne Burnett,

- Mimi Herring Ciarletta - Andrew Collins - Inday

Jack Tuell - Rev James H & Nancy V Knowles-

Bishop & Mrs Cal McConnell, & the OR-ID

Day - Elizabeth & Robert Dorr - Rev Joe Elmore

Tuell | Dwight & Linda Vogel - Rev Margaret Ann

RUM Teams - Deborah Maria | Rev Dr Wilson

- Margaret Schutz Gordon - Norma J & Richard C

Crain & Rev Jack L Seymour | Rev Dr Traci West

Canafax - Susie Canafax | Melinda Carter &

Graves - Julia A Hall - Linda & Bradley K Harmes

- J Terry Todd | Roger Wolsey & Wesley Chapel at

Loretta Dahlstrom - David & Ann Swarts - Bill

- Leslie A & Marshall D Hastings - Sylvia &

CU - Cynthia Beard

& Joy Watts | Rev Dick Clark - Jean A & Paul A

Scott Hibbard - Barbara E & Rev Robert E Hoeft

Swenson | Mary Kay Clark - Matthew Winkel

- Frank A Hudgik - Dr John A Kelly - Linda J &

in memory of: Julie Auer - Rev John J Auer | Tg

| Bishop Sally Dyck - Lucille M Bates - Rev

Gary T Kerr - Deborah Maria - Frances O & Rev

Belcheir - Gayle Woods | Art Brandenburg - Rev

Nancy Kollhoff - Rocky Shoemaker - Rev Roger

William K McElvaney - Bert Morris - Caroleann

Timothy Tennant-Jayne | Robert Crocker - Nancy

G Talbott - Martha L Vaughan - Robert Wulff |

Myers - Caroleann Myers - Barbara J Nelson

J Crocker Horstman | Alice Cromwell - Rev Janet

Michael Eaton & Sean Higgins - Marilyn Eaton

- Stephen M & Leigh H Noblitt - Elizabeth T

Cromwell - East Ohio Reconciling Ministries,

| Rev Robert Epps - Jo Ellen & Stephen C Ham |

Okayama - Rev Andy Oliver - Barbara & Reginald

Cleveland Heights, OH - Rev Jeanne Audrey

First UMC, Germantown - Chris Constant | First

Olson - Jan Olson - Betsy Pilmer - Natalie AC &

Powers - Leland G Spencer IV - Bill & Joy Watts |

UMC, Oberlin, Ohio - Bill & Joy Watts | Floyd &

Timothy A Rice - Benjamin & Margaret Roe -

Dee Crooch - Rev Karen Crooch | Bob Hawthorne

Carlos on their wedding - Jane Ross | Danielle

Helen Ryde - Jeffrey R Spelman & Ivan Lo - Rev

- Robert & Laurel Blaney | Dr Robert Hawthorne

Gadomski - Rev Jared Littleton | Linnea Good &

Kathryn Forest Talley - Tara Thronson - Rev

- Marilyn Crandall | Jean Howie Johnson - Mary

David Jonsson - Revs April & Craig Hall Cutting

Frank E Trotter, Jr - Bishop Jack M & Marjorie I

H Johnson & Charles G Beltz | Dale McAllister -

| Sid Hall - David C Smith | Melissa Hinnen

Tuell - James Waugh - David & Deborah Weekley

Jeannine Jensen - Rev Nancy Kollhoff - Beverly

& Christopher Coleman’s Wedding - Melissa

- Alan York & Michael Rutledge - Kevin & Laura

McCurdy - K S Scarbrough | Sharon K Ramby

Hinnen | R Elizabeth Holcomb - Lynda Calkins

Young | Benjamin & Joshua Rantz - Rev Laurie

- Mary Ann Moffitt | Rev J Samuel Shelby - Rev

| Harold Hughes - Kirsten Hancock | Irving Park

Hays Coffman | Ty Reeves - James Paul | Sam

Elaine Shelby | Rev Wayne Underhill - Jane

UMC - Joyce & Gerry Mylander | Robert (BJ)

Smith’s baptism - Susan & John Chesney |

Chamberlain - Rev Dr Wendell D & Reba K Luke

Jackson - Rev Andy Oliver | Rev Theon Johnson

Elizabeth Anne Strickland - James Strickland |

- Bonnie & Jim Rice | James Vincent - Marilyn

III - Joseph & Deborah Mannino | Rev Nancy

Bishop Melvin Talbert - John & Sylvia Corson |

Crandall | Vicki Yoder - Bill & Joy Watts

Kollhoff - Erin Wiesner | Will Lehnertz & Cheryl Swing - Joyce & Robert Swing | John & Linda Lewis - Dr Wesley J & Pamela L Lewis | Sandy Lutz - Bill & Joy Watts | Tommy MacFarland & Daniel Nash; Rev David Meredith & Clifton UMC; Denise MacFarland - Rev Thomas N MacFarland | Deborah Maria - Rev Hazel Anne Burnett | Christopher McBride - Jeanne Rozman | Bishop Susan Morrison - Rev Dr Brolin Parker | Rev Troy Plummer & Walter Treash - Rev Chip Aldridge - Linda Allen & Sally Cook - Helen & Leonard Andrew - Mark Elder & Jim Barthmaier

www.heqigallery.com $48,835 was given responding to end of the year requests thank you for helping us reach more people! www.rmnetwork.org | 11

meet the new rmn board members

Garlinda Burton>

Journalist, editor, speaker, advocate, motivational speaker, and former General Secretary of the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women of The UMC.

<Rev. Dr. Jeffrey kaun

Dean and Professor of Hebrew Bible of the Theological School at Drew University.

Deborah Maria>

RUM for 20 years thanks to an activist pastor, and has led Pacific Northwest and the Oregon-Idaho Reconciling United Methodists.

<Rev. Drew Phoenix

First ordained minister in The UMC to come out as transgender in â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;07. Dedicated to educating others about transgender people.

Bishop sharon rader>

First woman elected an officer of the Council of Bishops in 1996, she joins the board as a retired bishop of The United Methodist Church.

< gheeta smith

Passionate about equality, equity, poverty and education. She is the newly-elected co-chair of UMOC.

Dr. Carol waymack >

Active in RMN after LGBT pastors at her church were charged.

Serves on PRN as editor of Kindred Connection.

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