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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 1, 1993)
just out ▼ octobor 1, 1 0 0 3 ▼ 0 S P IR IT U A L IT Y Methodists begin new ministry This past summer the Oregon-Idaho Confer ence cabinet of the United Methodist Church approved the creation of Shalom Ministries, an urban ministry that works with gay men and lesbi ans, with people who have been turned off (or never turned on) by church and with justice issues. The Reverend Jeanne G. Knepper and the Rever end Alice G. Knotts began the ministry under the umbrella organization Portland Urban Ministries Association. Shalom Ministries offers support groups, Bible study, worship and fellowship. Sha lom Ministries also offers eight-hour workshops on conflict management, family communication, getting on track and experiencing the holy. Knotts and Knepper have shared their lives and work together for over ten years. They are not new to the Portland area, having both been bom and raised in part here. Knotts has had pastorates in two churches in the Portland area. They come most recently from the Denver area where both have done doctoral work in Religion and Social change. This work is the girding for their urban ministry of education, justice and empowerment. Knotts, who did her Ph.D. on the civil rights movement, asserts, “Religion was im portant in the civil rights movement and will be in the gay and lesbian civil rights movement. Reli gion will help provide the vision. We can help the gay and lesbian community access the power of its spiritual roots. We work with people who are looking for the vision to empower their civil rights work. “Shalom Ministries starts with direct services or empowerment for gays and lesbians,” she con tinues. “Local church services to lesbians and gays are scattered. We offer bold and forthright services,” which include a grief group, an HIV/ AIDS group and a “coming out” group. They are offered at Southeast 52nd and Lincoln. Shalom Ministries will not be easily accepted by the Methodist church. Current church policy states that, “Although we do not condone the practice of homosexuality and consider this prac tice incompatible with Christian teaching, we af firm that God’s grace is available to all. We commit ourselves to ministry for and with all persons.” This policy provides both the basis and also the conflict for Shalom Ministries. Because Shalom Ministries is not a local church ministry there is greater freedom to do outreach and em powerment activities in the gay and lesbian com munity. Only Knotts has been officially appointed to this ministry. Knepper continues to seek offi cial appointment and to challenge church policies that bar “self-avowed practicing homosexuals” from ministry. Pope not welcome When Pope John Paul II arrived in Denver in August for a world youth conference, a small group of lesbian and gay protesters awaited him. In the days immediately preceding the pope’s arrival. Dignity, the national lesbian and gay Ro man Catholic group, staged a series of low-key events, such as a prayer service attended by about 150 people on the steps of the Colorado state capitol. Kevin Clegari, president of Dignity, ac knowledged, “We did not do anything when the pope was actually here. There was no sense in trying to compete with this guy.” On the day before the pope’s arrival. New Ways Ministry, a group advocating that the church embrace a more gay-friendly dogma, purchased an ad in The Denver Post that urged the pope to “speak words of encouragement and healing" to young gays and lesbians. The text was an open letter to the pontiff, and was endorsed by 900 organizations and individuals, including one sit ting bishop and three retired ones. New Ways Ministry director Greg Link said that before the letter was published, the group sent a copy of it to the Vatican in a diplomatic pouch but did not receive a reply. In light of such unresponsiveness, many Colo rado gay and lesbian activists said they were unhappy with the placidity of the pope’s recep tion. “Here we had the president, the vice presi dent and the pope, and nobody was doing any thing," said Sue Larson, a lesbian activist from Boulder. Added Terry Schleder, one of two people arrested for handcuffing themselves to a fence at a Lesbian Avengers protest, “Getting people in Colorado out to fight for their own civil rights is like pulling teeth. The president can’t come here, vacation in Vail, meet the biggest homophobe in the world and not address our need for civil rights.” Letters from home Letters from Home, a video history of Oregon’s Jewish people, is in the process of being com pleted. The film is based on Steve Lowenstein’s book. The Jews of Oregon. The project is spon sored in part by New Jewish Agenda. Once completed. Lettersfrom Home will include a study guide and run 20 minutes for use in the public school system. The film opens with interviews with Russian Jewish families telling about their recent immigration experiences. Jan Baross, cre ator of the film, hopes it will counter the hate that she reads about in the newspapers. Says Baross, “I feel that the only hope is to reach children.” Compiled by Matthew Nelson, an ordained minister of the United Church of Christ. A Different Level of Service Bridgetown Realty is pleased to announce that we have opened our second office at 21570 Willamette Drive (Highway 43) in West Linn. Find out why our satisfied customers have afforded us a reputation since 1979 for the highest level of honesty, hard work and intelligence in an office atmosphere of teamwork and community involvement. For the quality service you deserve. ' 655-8015 Bridgetown Realty Ju s t o u t ms OIM B R O A D W A Y 2300 NE BROADWAY • PORTLAND 284-2300 THOMAS M. 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