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From the Executive Director
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I
met Rev. Diane Hooge in August, 2005, at the meeting of the Welcoming Church
Program Leaders (WCPL), where Diane was serving as AWAB’s representative to
the WCPL. I was struck initially by her stature, poise, composure and
wisdom. Later, I was tickled to see her whiz out of the parking lot driving
her sporty red Miata! The next day, over lunch, Diane described to me her
sense of joy and privilege working as pastor of Judson Memorial Baptist
Church, Minneapolis, MN, a welcoming and affirming congregation with a wide
diversity of people and ministries.
Jump ahead one year.
Diane and I recently reconnected over breakfast at a retro diner in St.
Paul, MN. Diane shared with me:
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Her training through Parker Palmer in creating “Circles of Trust.”
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Judson’s engagement
with the community through Art Sunday, annual Street Festival, and “My
Green Eyes,” a rock opera written by Randy Baker and Doug Weatherhead
and directed by Pam Joern, all members of Judson. Judson presented “My
Green Eyes,” a take-off on the parable of the Prodigal Son, three nights
in a row to a packed house. “It was great…” exclaimed Diane. “…people
using their gifts and talents in ministry, totally free to be themselves
– gay, straight, whomever! I celebrate that people are coming to Judson
because it’s a safe place!”
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Her thoughts about
Judson and University Baptist Church, Minneapolis, MN (W&A), finding a
new regional home in Rochester-Genesee Region of the ABC/USA.* “For six
years I’ve had to brace myself before regional gatherings because of the
struggle to be freely who we’ve been called to be. It finally reached a
point where if we had stayed in the region, Judson would be compromising
its soul. It is such a relief to be part of a new region which honors
our Baptist principles and where we experience being welcomed and
supported. We have finally found a place of belonging!”
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Her energy for the
Welcoming & Affirming Movement. “I’m always looking for ‘the energy.’ I
found it in the W&A Movement - last night’s installation service for
Rebecca Voelkel, for instance.** Being a part of the W&A Movement has
been life giving! Sitting with others and discussing our theology and
practices of inclusion have gotten me out of the rut that one often
experiences when the region of one’s own denomination is not supportive.
I’m looking forward to a visit with First Baptist Church, Seattle (W&A).
They’ve invited me back to do something on hospitality.”
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Her vision for AWAB.
“I’d love for AWAB to focus on what really helps the local church, to
focus on the functional theology of living together. How can AWAB
churches build infrastructure to expand ministries of inclusion? How can
AWAB churches discover and use inclusive curricula for children and
youth? How can AWAB churches create more inclusive liturgies? Can AWAB
help me with tools to re-think how I might create ritual in worship such
as the infant dedication of a lesbian couple?
I’m wondering if we could poll AWAB clergy to see if they would be
interested in staying on for two days after the biennial so that we can
really listen to one another answer questions like ‘What are we learning
in the W&A Movement?’ ‘What are we collectively seeking?’ ‘How is the
Spirit moving in our communities?’ ‘What’s energizing to us that might
be shared with the larger Movement?’ ‘Might something new emerge from
our time together?’
I also think it would be important
for us to visualize timelines of major developments in AWAB and in
American society to help us envision the future.”
I was extraordinarily
energized and invigorated by my conversations with Diane! As iron
sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another (Prov. 27:17). May we
continue to expand ministries of inclusion for lesbian, gay, bisexual,
transgender, allied people through our personal life-giving relationships!
*The
University Baptist Church and Judson Memorial Baptist Church both of
Minneapolis MN were voted into the American Baptist Churches of the
Rochester/Genesee Region on June 28, 2006. After years of alienation from
their region (Mid-America ABC) and more recent actions by their region to
not recognize ordinations from both churches of GLBT clergy, a decision was
made to explore the possibility of a new home. Both Metro-Chicago and
Rochester Genesee Regions were considered for a potential new home. Both
regions were open to receive these congregations.
**United Church of Christ
Minister Rebecca Voelkel was installed as Pastor, Teacher and Leader of the
Institute for Welcoming Resources (IWR –
www.welcomingresouces.org) at a beautiful service of worship titled
“Hospitality & Justice – Acts of Resistance in the Time of Fear, on August
22, 2006, at Lyndale United Church of Christ, Minneapolis, MN.
Lovingly, Rev.
Ken Pennings
Executive Director
Powerful Letter
from American Baptist Churches of the South – A Must Read!
Friends and
Churches of ABCOTS:
September 15, 2006
Our
American Baptist family is wonderfully diverse, reflecting the intricate
design of our Creator. Part of this diversity is our differing theological
understandings. We don’t all agree, and we don’t have to agree: we are
Baptists! Recently American Baptists, like other Christians in the United
States, have struggled over finances, structuring, styles, and theology,
especially regarding the ministry of the church with homosexual persons. On
July 17, 2006 our General Secretary Dr. A. Roy Medley, sent out a “Call for
American Baptists to Live Lives of High Moral and Ethical Responsibility”
noting the official position of ABCUSA (in a resolution adopted in 1992)
that “the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching”
while calling all American Baptists to Christ-like compassion and ministry
to all persons. This letter has raised concern among those congregations
who sincerely dissent from the 1992 resolution with regard to their place in
our denomination.
With all due respect to Dr. Medley and our prayers for God’s guidance in his
leadership through these troubled times, the leaders of the American Baptist
Churches of the South wish to reassure all churches, clergy, and congregants
of the region of our continuing commitment to historic Baptist biblical
principles, including soul freedom and the autonomy of the local church. We
respect the spiritual freedom and moral and ethical integrity of our people
and not only recognize, but prize the differing views we share as we seek
God’s truth together on matters that so deeply affect the lives of God’s
beloved children. We agree with the call to moral and ethical behavior in
human sexuality and to compassionate ministry to all persons while
recognizing we do not all agree on biblical teachings or Divine will in
these matters. Throughout our history God has used conservative voices to
preserve the church from error and prophetic voices to move the church past
error. Consequently, we believe it is important precisely in the time of
controversy not to exclude the voices of either side but to let the debate
and spiritual experience of the churches continue as God’s Spirit leads us
towards the healing truth. On matters where the churches are not in clear
agreement and the search for God’s will continues, we believe it best to
follow the wisdom of Gamaliel in Acts 5: “If this plan or this
undertaking is of human origin, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will
not be able to overthrow them-- in that case you may even be found fighting
against God!" (Acts 5:37-38).
Therefore, we celebrate the diversity God has given our region and call our
people to continue this important spiritual journey with mutual respect and
humility as we seek God’s guidance together and continue our common ministry
of the gospel of Christ. And we will not exclude any churches who are loyal
members of the ABCOTS family because of their prayerful and principled
stands on important matters of our time. We believe in God’s good time, the
Spirit will bring us clarity on these matters and that in the meantime God
longs for us to remain in loving relationship as brothers and sisters in the
American Baptist family.
Prayerfully,
 Dr.
W. L. Parrish II, Executive Minister Dr.
Larry Bethune, 1st Vice President
AWAB Council Seeking New Member
The AWAB Council is seeking someone with interest and gifts in finance to
join the Council as the Chair of the Finance Team. The job is not as
demanding as it sounds! Please consider this opportunity to join a dynamic,
energetic organization that is growing. Email Ken Pennings at
mail@wabaptists.org to
nominate yourself or another for this exciting position.
AWAB Development Team Seeking New
Members
Would you be willing to
serve on AWAB's Development Team? C. Burton Bagby, of Houston, TX, has
agreed to chair the Development Team. Serving on the Team will require a
two-year commitment and participation in monthly meetings by way of
conference calls.
The team will move in at least three directions: 1) identifying and
approaching major donors, 2) providing opportunities for planned giving
(estate planning, etc.), and 3) grant-writing to foundations. Contact Burton
at
cbbagby@sbcglobal.net or
713-721-0202.
2006 Regional AWAB Gatherings: Expanding the Welcoming Church
Movement 12-Stop Tour
- Flyers and Registration
Info at www.wabaptists.org
October 14-15:
Northwest Gathering.
Hosted by
Seattle
First Baptist Church and University Baptist Church, Seattle, Washington.
Contact Elizabeth Patrick lizpatrick@comcast.net,
206-459-0206 for more information.
October 20-22:
Texas AWAB Retreat.
Hosted by University Baptist Church, 2130 Guadalupe St., Austin, TX 78705.
Contact Bill Cox,
(512)
619-4909,
bcoxal@yahoo.com.
November 3-5:
Philadelphia Area Gathering.
Hosted by Drexel Hill Baptist Church, 4400 State Rd., Drexel Hill, PA
19026. Contact Harry Rickards (610)
259-2356,
rickardsh@msn.com.
Events Sponsored by AWAB’s Partners
October
11…Filmmaker
Lina Hoshino and the PANA Institute’s project on Civil Liberties and Faith
present the premier showing of
“In God’s
House: Asian American Lesbian & Gay Families in the Church”
at 7:00 pm in the Chapel Building of Pacific School of Religion (PSR), 1798
Scenic Ave (corner of LeConte Ave), Berkeley, CA 94709. Doors open at 6:30
pm. Parking is available in the PSR lot, on Scenic Ave. near the corner of
Virginia St. Reflection, conversation and refreshments to follow the
showing. For more information: PANA Institute, 510-849-8244,
shcolligan@psr.edu
.
October 14-15…
A Weekend Retreat with James Alison. Together with the Coalition of Welcoming Congregations,
California Central Coast, and the Bay Area Coalition of Welcoming
Congregations, Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies is pleased to co-sponsor a
special retreat weekend with Catholic priest, theologian and writer James
Alison, October 14 – 15 on the Pacific School of Religion campus. Attendance
is limited for this event and registration is required. For more
information, go to
www.clgs.org.
October 21-22…
Interfaith Conference: Transforming Faith - A Transgender Witness,
at First United Methodist Church, Corvallis, OR. Sponsored by The Community
of Welcoming Congregations and the Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies.
Keynote: Dr. Virginia Ramey Mollenkott. Plenary Speakers: The Rev. Dr. Erin
Swenson, The Rev. Malcolm Himschoot, The Rev. Dr. Justin Tanis. Concert by
the gospel choir Transcendence. Contact: The Community of Welcoming
Congregations,
PO Box 14948,
Portland, OR 97293,
503-665-8741,
tara@welcomingcongregations.org
November 4…The
Bay Area Coalition of Welcoming Congregations announces a weekend workshop
from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm at Fremont United Methodist Church (2950 Washington
Boulevard in Fremont, CA) entitled Asian American Allies of LGBT People
of Faith. This workshop will feature the following panelists: Belinda
Dronkers-Laureta (API Family Pride); Rev. Nobu Hanaoka (Bethany United
Methodist Church, San Francisco); Jeffrey Kuan (Associate Professor of Old
Testament, Pacific School of Religion) and Rev. Michael Yoshii (Buena Vista
United Methodist Church). To register for this no-cost weekend workshop,
please contact Bernie Schlager at (510) 849-8298 or
bschlager@clgs.org.
April 27-28,
2007…Revive
Us Again! Revival of our Spirit, Revival of our Baptist Principles
at
Andover
Newton
Theological School,
Newton,
Mass.
This is a gathering of progressive Baptists from around the country, ready
to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. We are gathering to say that we are
Christian, we are Baptist, and we believe our Baptist Principles are
foundational to our understanding and sharing of the Gospel. We are
gathering to say that we can be both progressive and evangelical!Friday,
April 27th,
7:00 PM Healing Service and Worship at
First
Baptist
Church
in
Newton
Centre. A time to acknowledge that we have been hurt, that we have been
broken by the divisions in our churches and denomination, and to come
together to seek healing from Christ.
Saturday,
April 28th,
9AM-9PM:
Bible Study and Discussion Groups on Engaging Scripture and Soul Freedom,
Progressive Evangelicals, How to Have Meaningful Dialogue. Evangelism in
Progressive Churches, Teaching Baptist Principles to our Children and Youth,
Reviving Baptist Principles and Spiritual Life in our Congregations.
Afternoon Forum: Update on ABC-USA, and Where Do We Go from Here? A time of
reflection and discussion.Closing Revival Worship at
First
Baptist
Church
in Newton Centre. We will gather in prayer and praise and celebration as
only Baptists do it! There will be limited affordable on-campus rooms
available. More information will be made available soon.
Associational
is a periodic e-newsletter of the Association of Welcoming & Affirming
Baptists, a network of 67 churches and hundreds of individuals who have
joined together to advocate for the full inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual
and transgender persons within Baptist communities of faith. Please forward
this e-newsletter to interested friends. Copy relevant information into
your organization’s bulletin and newsletter. To subscribe, send an e-mail to
subscribe@wabaptists.org
with SUBSCRIBE in the subject
line. To be removed from this list, send an e-mail to
unsubscribe@wabaptists.org
with REMOVE in the subject
line. To read back issues of Associational, go to:
www.wabaptists.org/associational.htm.
To learn more about the Association, go to:
www.wabaptists.org.
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