)«•* out T m arcii 1 M 2 ▼ 9
liturgy; and they must assimilate into a regularly
scheduled parish liturgy. S l Philip Neri Parish, a
welcoming and reconciling congregation, invited
Dignity to join their worship. Dignity decided to
retain their identity by holding a weekly liturgy on
Friday evenings at 7:30 pm at S l Philip Neri
Parish in the upstairs of the Old Church/Parish
Center, located at southeast 16th and Division.
First Congregation “open
and affirming”
The city’s second-oldest church has decided
officially to become an “open and affirming”
congregation which invites all people to join
regardless of sexual orientation. The members of
First Congregational Church took the action at its
January 26, 1992 annual meeting. Members
voted overwhelmingly in favor of the resolution.
“Nowhere in the Ten Commandments or in the
teachings of Jesus Christ is homosexuality even
mentioned,“ said the Rev. John M. Rogers, Senior
Minister of First Congregational Church. “If it
was important enough to be prohibited by moral
sanction, it surely would have been mentioned
th e re .” Rogers — — ^
— ■
adds, “First Con-
greg ational
Church began in
1851- th e sam e
year Portland was
founded as a city-
and it has long
been open to
members regard-
less of sexual persuasion. In light of the growing
atmosphere of persecution of gay mep and lesbi
ans that is highlighted by ne Oregon Citizens
Alliance’s petition drive to remove their minority
status, the church felt it was important to publicly
declare its long-standing position.”
■ National Council of
Churches dialogues
with UFMCC
“I am pleased and encouraged that the Na
tional Council of Churches is continuing to dia
logue with us, despite pressure to break off rela
tions,” said the Rev. Elder Troy Perry, founder
and moderator of the Universal Fellowship of
Metropolitan Community Churches, after the NCC
General Board received a report on the dialogue.
The report marks the 10-year anniversary of the
UFMCC’s application for membership in the
NCC. Controversy arose because the UFMCC
affirms lesbian and gay people, and the applica
tion was never approved. In the report, the NCC
admits for the First time that “the issue of homo
sexuality appears to be firmly entrenched within
the lives of many (NCC) member communions.”
Second Stone
Dignity/Portland forced out
Welcoming churches
total 225
In December 1991 the pastor at St. Francis of
Assisi Parish notified Dignity/Portland that the
archbishop of Portland, William Levada, would
no longer allow Dignity to meet at St. Francis. In
dialogue with the archbishop, Dignity was in
formed that they could no longer worship at St.
Francis; they could not have their own Sunday
There are now over 225 local churches in the
United States and Canada that have made a public
declaration that they welcome lesbians and gay
m e n -15 percent more than a year ago, reports the
Reconciling Congregation Program.
• The programs represented at the meeting and
their number of churches are More Light (Presby-
terian)-46; Open and Affirming (United Church
o f Christ)-63; Reconciling Congregations (United
Methodist)-49; Reconciled-in-Christ (Luther an)-
69; Supportive (Brethren/Mennonite)-new.
Second Stone
Eastern Oregon Episcopal
HIV/AIDS work started
McMinnville Baptists
support gays
The First Baptist Church in McMinnville has
started a lesbian and gay support group for lesbi
ans and gay men, family and friends and to pro
vide support for people with HIV disease and
AIDS. Pastor Bemie Turner has been supportive
of lesbians and gays from his pulpit for some time,
reports one member of the church. There are
several families with gay children in the congre
gation.
On Dec. 1,1991 (World AIDS Day), the HIV/
AIDS Task Force of the Episcopal Diocese of
Eastern Oregon was formalized. The task force
consists of lay, clergy and HIV positive people
and is funded through the diocese. The goals of
the task force include educational workshops
throughout the rural parishes of eastern Oregon,
Members of Christian Lesbians Out Together
and helping to set up local referral lists of services * (CLOUT) had their first nationwide conference,
available for people affected by HIV disease. As
“A CLOUT of Witnesses.” It’s been one year
a first sign and step towards support and solidar
since 10 women met in New York to discuss what
ity, a diocese’s banner entitled “ For All Living
it means to be out of the closet and be a Christian.
With HIV/AIDS” has been created and is moving
Within three months o f that initial meeting,
from church to church. The task force has also
CLOUT had been formed and 113 women from
applied for membership in the National Episcopal
14 denominations had already signed a Statement
AIDS Coalition based in Washington, D.C.
of Commitment. CLOUT was conceived as an
intercultural, multiracial, solidarity coalition of
“out” lesbian Christians. Its primary purpose is to
empower lesbian Christians and to challenge the
churches to which members belong. The CLOUT
Statement of Commitment calls on lesbian Chris
“ Lesbian and Gay People and Catholicism:
tians to come out of the closet, whenever and
The State of the Question” is the title of the third
wherever possible, and to help empower and
national symposium put on by New Ways M inis
celebrate one another in taking this courageous
try. The symposium is designed for Catholic
step. CLOUT emphasizes the development of
Church leadership. Nationally known speakers
justice-based theologies and spiritual resources
such as John Boswell, author o f Christianity,
that grow from the lesbian Christian experience
Social Tolerance, and Homosexuality, Thomas
and the exploration o f new understandings of
Gumbleton; and Rosemary Radford Ruether will
sexuality and commitment and encourages net
be presenting. The symposium is being held in
working with organizations of other marginalized
Chicago from March 27 to 29. For more informa
women and men.
tion contact New Ways Ministry, 4012 29th
Street, Mt. Rainier, MD 20712.
Compiled by Matthew Nelson, an ordained
minister o f the United Church o f Christ
Clout gathers
National Catholic
symposium
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