Minnesota’s Reconciling Ministries Network

Minutes for Thursday January 19^th 2006

Reconciling Churches Present: Cindy Clauser (Hennepin Ave); Steve Bloom (Prospect Park); Bob Kohl (Peace UMC); Jeanne Exline (Spirit of Hope); Sara Schoen (Walker UMC); Faith Buss (Wesley); Brian Boysen (Good Samaritan)

Reconciling Churches Absent: Hamline, Duluth, Onamia, Edgewater Emmanuel

Churches in progress: Kelly and Brenda Jones (Minnehaha); Lori Johnson (Eden Prairie);

Leslie Albers (Central; Winona); Mary Grant (Woodbury); Walter Lockhart (Harron UMC)

AGENDA: These are especially long minutes but there are several points where we would like your feedback; so refer to the ??? if you just want to skip to those important questions.

1) OutFront Minnesota Resolution/talking points/People of Faith Roundtable/events

2) UM of color www.umoc.org How do we get more churches/individuals of color to join the reconciling movement in Minnesota?

3) Churches in Progress (there are several interactive questions here)

4) Bills

5) Annual Conference

This is a low-tech interactive email. Throughout the minutes there will be questions we would like responses/answers to, especially from churches (reconciling or in process) or person’s not present during our meetings. Feel free to reply back to me (sara.e.schoen@wellsfargo.com), or to specifically write the person/church who posed the original question. All questions will begin and end with “???”

??? First interactive question… Would churches find it useful if we (the Minnesota’s Reconciling Ministries Network) purchased various sets of reconciling literature so we could check out materials to churches (or individuals) in need???

1) OUTFRONT MINNESOTA: RESOLUTION against the anti-gay, anti-civil rights, anti-domestic partner amendment WHICH CHURCHES HAVE SIGNED IT?

A) Those who have signed the resolution as a church: Good Samaritan; Peace; Prospect Park; Wesley; and Walker. Those who have it on their agenda to vote on signing the resolution: Spirit of Hope; Hennepin. ??? Those who we have not heard from one way or the other: Duluth; Onamia; Edgewater Emmanuel; or Hamline. If you are a member/pastor of one of these churches and you have no idea what this is about, please email me for more details. Otherwise let us know your progress???

B) If you believe that some “talking points” would be helpful check out www.outfrontmn.org . At the last “People of Faith Roundtable” OutfrontMN gave out articles entitled “TALKING POINTS ON THE BIBLE, CHRISTIANITY, and HOMOSEXUALALITY” and “”Talking Points against the Constitutional Amendment” that can be useful to read and know when engaging in conversations about the homophobic amendment. A few things mentioned: When we talk about the amendment, be sure to make it clear that it would deny “gay marriage” AND deny “civil marriage” AS WELL AS how it will affect heterosexual domestic partners, as well as straight elderly domestic partners who are unmarried so they don’t lose their benefits.

C) OUTFRONT’s Next meetings is Jan. 30^th : Meg Riley will be the guest speaker and Unitarian Universalisits Out for Marriage

D) On Feb. 27^th the topic for the “People of Faith Roundtable” will be about Affirming Catholics and Rainbow Catholic Parents.

2) CHURCHES OF COLOR:

??? How do we get more churches and/or individuals of color involved with Minnesota’s Reconciling Ministries Network??? Despite the stereotype that primarily non-white churches are not supportive of the Reconciling Movement, we know there are individuals out there who are supportive (just like in primarily white churches as well). Suggestions on contacting individuals in of non-reconciling churches: Stand outside the church and handout reconciling material; Put something explicitly on our website inviting people of color; Post blogs or find more communities of color bulletin boards. ??? How can we do a better job of communicating to and including more communities and individuals of color???

Here is a link from the “National Black Justice Coalition” www.nbjcoalition.org This is an ad “which will be published in the Afro-American Newspapers in Baltimore, Washington, and in Roll Call, the Congressional newspaper.” This comes from the RMN Flashnet 2006-01-18 View ad: http://www.nbjcoalition.org/donate/sustaining-membershipi/thomas_BJC_wht.pdf

#3) CHURCHES IN PROGRESS: Eden Prairie, Minnehaha, Winona, Woodbury

a. Eden Prairie: ??? They want to know what they need to be doing to make sure that Beth Stroud comes to their church??? Suggestions: Talk to RRCC (Lyle Christianson?) to make sure we don’t step on toes. Then check the UMC of Germantown, PA is where she was. If you know who to talk to and what’s been/being done contact Lori Johnson (lj-turtle@mn.rr.com) .

- ??? Eden Prairie would also like a letter from a Reconciling Church explaining the process of what has happened to their church since becoming Reconciling. Any volunteers???

- ??? Eden Prairie’s Reconciling group has been asked, “why do we need to do something specific for GLBT people when we already have a welcoming committee?” ??? We spent some time as a group discussion with a few responses:

o Those of us that are GLBT are not a protected group of people. We (as a church) have members among us who are targeted in the Methodist church to be excluded (GLBT). It is because of this ostracizing that there has been the Reconciling Ministries movement and will continue to be until there is no more marginalization of a group of people.

- Eden Prairie has done several things over the years such as bring in the “Shower of Stoles”, their pastor has talked about the need to welcome GLBT person’s into the church and about his own lesbian daughter.

- Suggestions were made that anytime there is a ‘learning session’ it should be done during prime time (Sunday’s) not during the week (that limits who can come). Have a pot luck, offer a session to watch the reconciling panel from the national reconciling conference “Hearts on Fire”, go through the “Claiming the Promise” or other reconciling curriculum.

b. Minnehaha: They hope to vote before annual conference!!!!

- ??? Minnehaha would like to know what resources are out there for parents who have gay children??? Suggestions that were made: (1) PFLAG: Mayflower Church holds a PFLAG meeting (www.pflag.org ). (2) Call Mary Grant at 651-735-5789 or email her at mjg369@comcast.net . (3) National Reconciling Ministries also has a Parent of GLBT Group (Parent’s Reconciling Group) (www.rmnetwork.org ) (4) Suggested to start a parent’s group within the church as a parent’s support group. If you have any more suggestions feel free to email thepoweroflovehaha@yahoo.com or Kelly and Brenda Jones at their email vndbjones@ikon.com

- ??? Is there training for Sunday School teachers to address GLBT questions from youth of different ages??? Are there curriculums??? Suggestions were to talk to the National RMN (www.rmnetwork.org ); check our “Spirit Soar” a GLBT friendly curriculum; Watch “It’s Elementary” (a movie/documentary addressing families of all kinds done with showing kids and teachers interacting in a lesson).

- thepoweroflovehaha@yahoo.com is an email site set up by Minnehaha church (thus the haha part) for people to go and ask questions and have them answered (so they don’t have to do it if they don’t feel comfortable being face to face) .

- Minnehaha is planning a city and country retreat for educating all of us on reconciling issues. This is open to all people. If you are interested in attending some/all of the retreats contact Gail (the church’s secretary) at Minnehaha 612-721-6231. The dates for the country are Feb 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th, the dates for the city are Feb. 10^th, 11^th and 12^th.

c. WINONA: Winona’s task force has grown to 15 people who meet every other Sunday. These meetings are open meetings and more and more people have been coming with feelings and questions that range the whole gamut. They are getting great questions at their meetings but have been moving away from any new planning. It was suggested that they have a task force for planning and that be a closed group or at least a group that if you come you are aware it is time to plan and not process.

- In church someone read an open letter from a Dad whose son came out to the family. The father was apparently thrown for a loop when his son talked about how scared he was to come out to the family. The father assumed that their family had always been open and made it clear how much they loved one another and was confused about how his son could be so afraid. This was a real eye opener to the father about how many families out there aren’t as open and how scared most GLBT people must be to come out to their family (open or not).

- Since their group has been growing it was suggested to start a designated fund for their Reconciling group.

- ??? Leslie Albers would also like to know if anyone in Southern and/or Eastern Minnesota would like to connect-up/communicate with one another over their experiences outside the Twin Cities area.??? Leslie.albers@roch.edu

- ??? Winona would like any suggestions on what to do??? Contact Leslie Albers at leslie.albers@roch.edu The only suggestion made was to be careful what you put in print especially quoting people who are controversial.

d. WOODBURY: Here is the summary of speakers they have coming in the next few weeks dealing with Reconciling Issues. The series is called “Christian Discipleship in Diversity: A Four-Part Forum on Homosexuality and the Church” All forums are being held at Woodbury United Methodist Church:

THIS THURSDAY JANUARY 26^th from 7:00 to 8:30 “History of the Church’s Understanding of Sexuality and Medical and Psychological Information” by Dr. Simon Rosser, Sexologist at The University of Minnesota”

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 2^nd from 7 to 8:30 pm “The Bible and Homosexuality, A Conservative Understanding” Speaker Pastor David Brown,

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 9^th from 7 to 8:30 pm “The Bible and Homosexuality, A Progressive Understanding” Speaker Dr. David Fredrickson

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 16^th from 7 to 8:30 pm “How to be in Community with Different Understandings of Homosexuality” Speaker still in process.

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 23^rd from 7 to 8:30 pm Special Follow-up Session for anyone interested in forming a small group study on this topic

#4) BILLS: 2006 Bills are being mailed/handed out for the Reconciling churches of Minnesota to help support Minnesota’s RMN. Each church is charged $300 to help support what we do throughout the year. This year we are anticipating paying for a full page ad in the Pride Guide (that comes out in June around Minneapolis’ Gay Pride Weekend), printing new “Menu’s” or something with the listing of the new Reconciling Churches, helping Beth Stroud come to Minnesota and much, much more.

5) ANNUAL CONFERENCE is May 30 (Tuesday) to June 2^nd (Friday)

March 1^st is the deadline for legislation to be in to the conference:

NEXT MEETING (Feb. 16^th) WILL BE DEVOTED TO PLANNING FOR ANNUAL CONFERENCE;

The Template has been released for legislation (Walter will be emailing out several proposals for legislation so that anyone can make suggestions/endorsements/names to put under etc…)

??? We need something to hand out at Annual Conference like the “Menu’s” at the state fair. We can’t use the exact “Menu’s” because we are now up 11 churches…but we want some thing creative. So is there anyone (Dee?) who has an idea on what we can do to advertise at Annual Conference. ??? We did discuss waiting to see if the National RMN sets up a theme so we can model our materials with a similar/same theme.

???Should we hand out “Quilt Pins” at annual conference??? We can get 500 for $.92 each or 1000 for $.53 each. Mary Grant will front $500 but we need to put together the rest of the money ($30 with this new information). We did not have the price #’s at the time of the meeting so decided that we need to see the button first and then make sure we still have money to help pay for Beth Stroud before officially voting on it but if you have any input on the button idea feel free to share. Mary thinks we should attach a small card identifying them as a gift from Minnesota’s RMN as well as contact information. She will not be at the next meeting (she will be celebrating her 50^th wedding anniversary with family from all over).

There has been a lot of new information coming out the past few weeks politically in the country as well as within the Reconciling movement. You will be receiving some forwarded emails as some can not be condensed very well.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUING RECONCILING EFFORTS,

In peace and reconciling love,

Sara Schoen

Your Secretary of Minnesota’s Reconciling Ministries Network