Just out., January 21, 1994, Page 10, Image 10

10 ▼ Ja n u a ry 2 1 , 100 4 ▼ ju s t out
S PI R I T U A L I T V
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A Free O ne-D ay Sem inar
Saturday, February 12, 1994
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Not every cloud has a silver lining.
Ecumenical Welcoming Sunday is a day set
nationally to celebrate the growing witness of
churches in the Welcoming Churches Movement
which publicly welcome gay, lesbian and bi­
sexual people into their local churches. The Lake
Oswego UnitedChurch of Chnst, 1111 SW Coun­
try Club Road, will celebrate Ecumenical Wel­
coming Sunday at its 10:30 am worship service,
Sunday, January 23. The Lake Oswego congre­
gation is one of 112 Open and Affirming churches
nationally within the United Church of Christ.
In its Open and Affirming statement adopted
last year, the congregation stated, “We celebrate
the family in all its diverse forms, and affirm all
loving and committed relationships. We wel­
come all people into our community of faith,
regardless of age, gender, race, sexual orienta­
tion, religion, ethnic background, socioeconomic
status, orphysical/mcntal abilities. Each person is
invited and encouraged to participate in all as­
pects of our church’s life and ministry.” The
service on Ecumenical Welcoming Sunday will
include special prayers and litanies honoring the
inclusion found in God.
Brethren/Mennonites have
mixed national meetings
in
PORTLAND 3125 E. Burnside
234-6567
in BEAVERTON 11345 SW Canyon Rd (Old Hawaiian Shop)
626-0400
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V M r : -----------------1-------- I------------------------------------------------------------- -
At separate national meetings of the Menno-
nite and Brethren churches, gay and lesbian con­
cerns created controversy. At the Mcnnonite
Church General Assembly and Convention, the
Supportive Congregations Network, a group of
churches affirming of gay and lesbian people, was
denied meeting space at the convention center. A
statement calling for homosexuality to be named
a sin, and for dialogue to stop, was submitted but
not acted upon.
On a more positive note, a seminar on homo­
sexuality was attended by over 450 people. Del­
egates to the meeting raised concerns about the
exclusion of gay men and lesbians from the del­
egate floor. A youth convention speaker addressed
the reality that some of the youth present were
lesbian or gay.
During the Brethren Annual Conference a
movement to remove the moderator of the Church
of Brethren was defeated. The moderator, Chuck
Boyer, had stated, “I have written very straight­
forwardly to individuals and said that I personally
am ready to accept gay, lesbian and bisexual
people into positions of leadership in the church.”
The conservative Right, and those who align
themselves with the belief that homosexuality is
evil, made an unsuccessful attempt to remove
Boyer from office.
Also during the conference, a panel presented
several views of gay and lesbian experiences in
the church, from a congregation’s decision to
affirm a gay member to a lesbian pastor’s story of
her calling. Over 500 people crowded the room
and hallways to hear members of the panel speak.
Reform Jews recognize gay
and lesbian relationships
At the biennial conference of the Union of
American Hebrew Congregations, a resolution
was passed that urged its members to consider
expanding benefits to lesbian and gay couples in
“committed relationships.” The union, which
represents 850 congregations in the US, Canada
and Puerto Rico, also encouraged its members to
strengthen their commitment to gay and lesbian
Jews. Rabbi Alexander M. Schindler, president of
the 120-year-old union said at the conference,
“We arc pledged to the concept that we are one
family.... They are our fellow congregants, our
friends and committee members— and yes, our
leaders both professional and lay.”
In his presidential address, Schindler presented
12 recommendations to the union. They included
proposals that it support the right of lesbian and
gay couples to adopt children, to file joint income
tax returns, and “to share in the benefits that
society normally assigns to married couples.” He
also recommended that benefits to staff, includ­
ing health care, be made available to lesbian and
gay couples. The president’s address sets the tone
for the union’s agenda over the next two years.
Reform Judaism, according to a conference del­
egate, is extremely supportive of gay and lesbian
issues over and above other religious communi­
ties. The conference also included workshops on
welcoming gay men and lesbians into synagogues,
social action work for people with AIDS, and a
reception for gay and lesbian delegates.
According to Rick Sholl, chair of gay and
lesbian concerns for the American Jewish Con­
gress, Reform Judaism has also been outspoken
on ending the ban on gays and lesbians in the
military; supporting a federal gay rights law;
supporting the ordination of openly gay and les­
bian rabbis and had a “high-level delegation” at
the March on Washington.
E-mail connection
Through electronic mail, a network of lesbian,
gay and bisexual Christians are dialoguing about
faith issues. The network was started by Dr. Louie
Crew, who is a founding member of the gay and
lesbian group Integrity. To participate in this
forum of discussion and ministry, contact Dr.
Crew at lcrcw@andromeda.rutgers.edu, through
the Internet.
Compiled by Matthew Nelson, an ordained
minister o f the United Church o f Christ
and Lee Norwood