Minnesota’s Reconciling Ministries Network
November Minutes
WELCOME NEW
RECONCILING CHURCHES: Congratulations to our TWO NEW Reconciling churches in Minnesota: Edgewater
Emmanuel in Minneapolis; and Spirit of Hope, in Golden Valley (Does anybody
know a contact for Spirit of Hope so we could invite them to our monthly
meeting?). Welcome to our welcoming circle.
Those in attendance: Jeanne Exline
(Edgewater Emmanuel); Bob Kohl (Peace UMC in Shoreview); Mary Grant
(Woodbury); Sara Schoen (Walker UMC); Nancy
V-V (Prospect Park); Dar Lundeen (Peace); Betty Lundeen (Peace, RRCC) Faith Buss (Wesley); Brian Boysen (Good
Samaritan);
Churches in progress in
attendance: Tina Barsky (Eden
Prairie);
Absent Churches: Hennepin;
Minnehaha; Hamline;
In these minutes you
will find information on:
1) YOUR part in the OUTFRONT Minnesota
resolution: www.outfront.org
2) Our
discussion and processing about the Judicial Council’s decisions:
3) A good petition to sign in response to the
Judicial Council’s decision:
4)
Woodbury’s
education on human sexuality beginning in January (both sides of the debate
will be presented)
5)
National
RMN board meeting points:
6)
Retired
Reconciling Clergy Caucus meeting points:
7)
Report
from churches in progress (or recently reconciling):
1)
OUTFRONT Minnesota www.outfront.org
is organizing a list of organizations (like ours and more) that have officially
stated they are against the anti-gay marriage amendment. The idea is to
present a huge list of organizations stating they represent an even large
number of individuals who do not want to see this go to the voters. We at the Reconciling Ministries Network want
to add our name to the list, but in order to do this we need to get every
church to agree that they are an organization that would officially sign their
name to a resolution stating they are against the anti-gay marriage amendment. So THIS IS YOUR REMINDER to go to your ad
board or church council or whoever it is in your church to get the vote to make
it official. I know Walker and Peace
have done the official AOK, so work on your church too. WE WANT TO GET AS MANY ORGANIZATIONS OF FAITH AS POSSIBLE.
2)
For those new or
unaware people: The Judicial Council of the UMC made some decisions not so in favor of
GLBT rights. One decision
specifically gave permission to pastors to decide that someone can NOT become a
member of the church based entirely on the fact they may be GLBT. We discussed the pain this decision has/can
cause, but also had an enlightening conversation discussing the larger
perspective on the issues.
a.
Looking at this as a historical event: In time things
will come to pass. For example, Rosa
Parks, who was one of the few civilians (and female) to have a state
burial. Her courageous life shows how we
never really know where things will be with the GLBT persons/family/friends in
the UMC in the stretch of a young life today.
b.
The “Pastoral Letter to the People of the United
Methodist Church from the Council of Bishops” This letter is the first of its kind (to my understanding)
stating that they disagree with the Judicial Council’s decision. From the letter
“While pastors have the responsibility to discern
readiness for membership, homosexuality
is not a barrier.” (let me sara.e.schoen@wellsfargo.com
know if you want another copy of that letter)
c.
Logistically
there are 9 members on the Judicial Council that are elected in rotating terms
for 8 years, so we can work on keeping
in (the dissenters) and vote out the concurring voters to vote some new ones
in.
d.
We have a
different thinking here in the north than they have in the south, and though we
want to change things in the south we can be appreciative we are here in the north.
e.
Our big thing is working on getting the phrase about
homosexuality being “incompatible with Christian teaching” out of the Book of
Discipline.
3)
SIGN THIS PETITION: This petition is in response to the Judicial
Council’s decision and is the most official petition I’ve ever signed. www.inclusiveministry.org
4)
Beginning in
January Woodbury is having their
education on human sexuality presenting both sides (are there really 2
sides?). Anyone is welcome to the
presentations which will be held on Thursdays.
1st session: Jan 26th Dr. Simon Rosser-- History
of the churchs’ understanding of homosexuality – (liberal)
2nd
session: Conservative view of the scriptures
3rd
session: David Fredrickson, (did
marriage thing at Hamline University, liberal)
4th
session: Duane ? how to we live together
(conservative)
More detailed information will be coming
later.
5) NATIONAL
RMN BOARD MEETING POINTS:
a) At the National RMN Board meeting they approved
a budget of $371,000 where, $333,000 is to “maintain” what they already have
going, and $38,000 will be used to expand.
What this means for us is that they need more money to continue
expanding. If you’re so inspired to
donate or help get more members to the national reconciling UMC check the
website www.rmnetwork.org
3801 North Keeler Ave. 3rd
floor Chicago, IL 60641-3007 is the
address if you want to donate or contact them for membership information.
b) Part
of the “maintaining” what they already have is because their new strategy will
focus on getting GLBT persons full
participation in the UM Church. In other
words, they are going all out for gay-marriage rights; ordination rights, and
getting out the language that “the UMC does not condone the practice of
homosexuality and considers this practice incompatible with Christian teaching.”
c) They are working on a NEW LOGO and are looking for designs similar to Hearts on Fire
(rainbow flames). They have discussed
the new logo will need to be in place at least 2 years before general
conference so it will be recognizable and organized.
6) RETIRED RECONCILING CLERGY CAUCUS:
The RRRC is working on supporting OUTFRONT Minnesota’s
resolution against the anti-gay marriage amendment. They are also working on bylaws and the book
of discipline. The next BIG EVENT they
are putting together is getting Beth Stroud to speak here in Minnesota. Beth Stroud wants to go to a church that’s
thinking of becoming a reconciling church.
We need to decide which church Beth should go to at our Dec. 19thmeeting.
Woodbury, Eden Prairie were the
churches in progress that were present. Michelle
and/or Cindy might be able to get the list to give a personal invitation to the
pastors and/or congregations that are still in progress to come to our next
meeting to discuss which church would work best or wants her most.
7) Report from Churches in process (or recently
reconciling):
Edgewater: After months
of discussions, groups etc. they sent a letter out to all members and
active/participating members with basically a yes vs. no question. 79% said yes.
They announced it the same Sunday Max the minister also announced the
decision from Judicial Council, and read Bishop Sally Dyck’s response to the
judicial council’s decision so that was a nice balance for them (and us). NOTE:
They need to get on our Reconciling Ministries Network website (Judy?). We think it’s been 2 years since the last
church officially voted to be reconciling.
Spirit of Hope also voted and decided to become a reconciling church
but no one was present to report on their process. We need to know if any of us know anyone
from there to invite them to our monthly meetings.
Eden Prairie is hesitating on having an official vote because if
it is premature and fails then it would take even longer to work toward and
become reconciling. Suggestions were to SET
A DATE and that will encourage more discussions with hopefully more than just
the same people showing up. Since they
have a budget; statements on their website that supports RMN; they gave money
for an ad in the newspaper supporting GLBT people in the UMC; and have members who think they already are
reconciling we think they are pretty much there. Another suggestion was to have random phone
calls home to the people who have been around awhile to get their perspective
on the changes at the church. It could
help generate more discussions and thinking.
We
ended the evening by singing the attached hymn.
In Peace and Reconciling
Love,
Sara E. Schoen
Minnesota’s Reconciling
Ministries Network Secretary