Sunday, June 26, 2011

NE Statewide Reconciling Network : ACTION - Send individual & group petitions 4 General Conf 2012 (Tampa FL)

To :  RUM's and Reconciling Friends in NE and beyond
From:  Nebraska Statewide Reconciling Network of email friends
 
Remember :  IT IS ANOTHER YEAR OF GREAT SPIRITUAL AWAKENINGS!
Believe OUT LOUD -Take Reconciling on the Road - Give: Summer Email offering
 
Thanks to Jeanette Grenz, from WIDE IS GOD'S WELCOME group - KS East Reconciling Communications Contact - for Instructions ATTACHED on submitting a Petition to General Conference for the 2012 General Conference starting late April in Tampa, FL - as an INDIVIDUAL or GROUP of individuals, members of local churches  -  
 
NE did NOT overwhelmingly approve the GLBT friendly legislation in June in Lincoln as Kansas East did (see the note below) - so we would like our VOICES to be heard through Individual Petitions to General Conference from Individuals and Groups of Individuals  -  In MN and Cal Pac Conference the GLBT friendly Legislation was approved by about 80% too and in other Annual Conferences hopefully!
 
See DIFFERENT deadlines for online submission or USPS Submission and the directions are ATTACHED and one Petition is ATTACHED to send!  See jeanette's info below!
 
Thanks Kansas East Reconciling folks in the Wide is God's Welcome network of friends!   
 
Act today and send in this Petition or other GLBT friendly Petitions Individually or with folks from your local church who are UM members - before the deadlines! 
 
Urge elected Delegates in NE to vote for legislation that affirms full partipation of all persons in our churches and communities!   Send them letters, emails, meet with them personally -  see the NE Conference website for info on those elected  :  www.umcneb.org
 
Maureen Vetter and Wendy Smith, NE Statewide Reconciling network contacts
www.RMNetwork.org      www.nebraskarum.blogspot.com   Facebook new group:  search Nebraska Statewide Reconciling Network and ADD Friends, join in the discussion and send info on local reconciling groups etc.
 
----- Original Message -----
From: wigw-kc
Sent: Monday, June 20, 2011 11:24 AM
Subject: Send individual and/or group petitions

As you know, the 2011 Kansas East Annual Conference overwhelmingly approved the WIGW-KC request to Amend ¶161.F in the Book of Discipline so it will be sent on to General Conference! 

In addition, any group or individual in the United Methodist church can send a petition to General Conference and we think the impact would be greater if as many people as possible also submitted the petition.  A copy of the petition and instructions for submitting it are attached to this email.

You can download the petition, fill in the needed information, and then email as instructed by September 27 or send through USPS by July 1st.  I sent mine this morning and got a confirmation that it has been received.  
The following people were elected in KS East Annual Conference - as our delegates to General Conference and will be voting on this petition as well as others:
Adam Hamilton, Church of the Resurrection, clergy
Rena Yocom, Edgerton (Charge Conference) clergy
Luke Wetzel, Aldersgate Olathe, laity
Oliver Green, Asbury/Mt. Olive, laity
Delegates to Jurisdictional Conference (alternates to GC):
Courtney Fowler, College Ave, Manhattan, laity
Bryce Bowers, Burlington, laity
Gary Beach, Conf. treasurer and Dir. Of Admin. Services and Connectional Ministries, clergy
Eduardo Bousson, Washburn campus ministry, clergy
In addition, we have 6 more alternates:
Randall Hodgkinson, Topeka First, laity
Wes Gately, Wamego, laity
Mary Brooks, Lyndon, laity
Jan Todd, Pleasant Hill, clergy
Nanette Roberts, Olathe Grace, clergy
Mark Holland, Trinity, KCK, clergy
If you want to talk to any of our delegates about their position concerning our petition and others, feel free to do so.  They are representing us!
We are now on facebook – search for Wide Is God’s Welcome~KC and “friend” us!
Don’t forget to let us know if you change your email address so we can stay in touch with you. 
Jeanette Grenz, Wide is God's WELCOME, Communications person, KS East 
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of Wide Is God’s Welcome - KC is to strengthen the Body of Christ through the full inclusion in the United Methodist Church of persons who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.
VISION STATEMENT
This mission will be fulfilled as we unite Kansas City area United Methodists for education, advocacy, and empowerment. 

NE Statewide Reconciling Network : latest news : Love on trial - being Missionaries, Activists in summer

RUM's and friends in NE and beyond :   Summertime!
 
Our EMAIL Network is an OFFICIAL Reconciling Community for six years -  did you know this?  IT is time to support RMN again through our giving!
 
THANKS to all Reconciling Volunteers. AIDS Ambassadors who are Missionaries and justice Activists - reach out!
 
1) GET NEWS at www.RMNetwork.org on the lastest LOVE ON TRIAL  -  other info and resources!
SING A NEW SONG CONVO is this summer organized by MFSA and RMN -  think about going!
 
2) SUBSCRIBE to FLASHNET the weekly email news from Reconciling Ministries Network
 
3) BECOME a Reconciling United Methodist online:  www.RMNetwork.org  go to SIGN on or JOIN US!
 
4) GIVE to our Summer Email Offering -   to reach our Goal of $250 or more for Nebraska Statewide Reconciling Network (our email network of friends) emails and actions by Reconciling volunteers in NE  : write your love gift / check to RMN and send to : Maureen Vetter, 4422 Drake Lane, Grand Island, NE 6880l --  she will send them on from our NE network as our yearly commitment to RMN ministries and inclusive church advocacy!   
 
So far we have sent in $220 to RMN from our Email Network this Summer 2011 - we would like to send more than $250 if possible to RMN this summer to show our support for RMN in NE! 
 
Donors Summer 2011 :  Iola and Loren Mullins, Betty Dorr and Friends at the RMN table in June, Cathy Denman for Maureen Vetter's Birthday, Wendy, Eric, Jenna, Brian Smith for birthdays of friends, Lloyd and Joan Byerhof for Jimmy Creech's birthday, Jim and Donna Lightbody for birthdays of friends, Maureen and Jay Vetter for birthdays of friends
 
5)  HAVE A SUMMER of Spiritual Awakenings!   Seek spiritual partners to renewal and gather strength --
rise up like EAGLES  
Maureen Vetter, Wendy Smith, Contacts and many other volunteers for inclusive church and community
 
ps  Sign the inclusive petitions sent our recently, check out our blog:  www.nebraskarum.blogspot.com   Go to our new Facebook today :  Search on Facebook - Nebraska statewide Reconciling network - add friends -
share info -  AIDS Walks Sept 18 in NE!  Gather a team, do fundraising for UM Global AIDS fund all year round -reach out to all God's children!   www.umcneb.org/AIDS   and www.UMglobalaidsfund.org 
 
Become an AIDS Ambassador today - write Andrewb@nap.org   Read Adam's Gift by Jimmy Creech and other stories of affirming all of God's children  - show movies, get together, meetup to share coffee, tea, art, music, stories, lamentations and about your spiritual lives and faith responses!  
 

Krusing the Capitol, 2011, June

“I Want my Country Back”
by Lowen Kruse
That is the plaintive cry. 
Back from whom? 
From the poor, who never had it?
From minorities, who did not own it but are changing our cultural values?
From corporations, who have bought and paid for congressional control?
Back from farmers, from politicians, from labor unions, from educators, from the military, from conservationists, from the oil companies … the special interests in which we all have a part?  Back from our latest priorities?
Back from anyone who has proposed a revised national agenda?
Going back is a tricky thought.  As a young pastor, I heard the pious cry, “Back to God!”  An older pastor asked, “How did we get ahead of God?”  Is somewhere in the past the Golden Age?  Is God not in our future?  Was “The Force” pure in the past?   Clearly our Founding Fathers did not think they had the permanent formula.  They were on a journey, had many questions, and were looking for serious-minded travelers to aid in the journey.
We are on their and our journey.  Our country has always been developing new models of economics and accepting ancient cultures in new forms.  Middle East and Arab states have been on the journey for centuries but their people now declare they must take steps to find the common good.
Politicians have it easy.  They supposedly were elected to represent us, but in this century corporate wealth selects the words and images for public postures.  No need for them to listen to us.  Put simply, politicians are the taillight, not the headlight.  A few put out a vision, but unless the public adopts it, the vision does not translate into political action.  We, the public, are in a contest to influence political action.
However, the good news is the public declares the policy.  We decide who should be protected by the government and we are very slow to change our collective mind.  For example, Social Security will be there for future generations.  Guaranteed.  The public overwhelmingly wants it.  Elected and corporate leaders can announce a vision, but unless the public adopts it, the vision does not translate into political action.  We, the people, are in a contest to influence political action.  We are on a journey.
It was different in earlier simpler times.  Washinton – Lincoln – Teddy Roosevelt – had a vision that guided public thought and thereby became the future.
FDR was a doubtful visionary, though he was bold.  Hoover quietly started the changes that Roosevelt implemented, for he realized that every citizen has to be a part of the action to have a true democracy.  FDR helped to develop that consensus through creative and far-reaching ways.  The new ways were so far ahead of us we are still not quite sure what Social Security means.  It enabled senior citizens to become volunteers and participate more fully in the community.  In wholly new ways.  Frankly, Fireside Chats are now replaced by expensive intimate-sounding ads (as, from oil companies and drug manufacturers.)  Political think tanks generate a lot of misleading info for those ads.  Where are the truth squads?
Ike, Kennedy, Carter, Reagan, Clinton and Obama each called for change, but the call was the reflection of public sentiment.  For Carter, the call to be moral on a global scale took the rest of his life.  We have not bought in.  For Reagan, the vision to be a leader in global economics found quicker assent because Ike and Kennedy laid the global foundation.  He could posture as a conservative while taking the lead in tripling the deficit. However, he became a key in our journey because the public bought in.
We are not going to get our country back from the 1900s.  Nor do we want to go there, in spite of the ‘free enterprise’ promotion by companies who lobby for a government big enough to protect them.  We had that in 1890.
We are a work in progress.  We will determine if our vote will outweigh the corporate vote.  It can, if we think “journey.”

Open Hearts Reconciling community, G Island area: upcoming dates : Sept 18, Sept 19 monday night!

Open hearts folks :   here are a few dates to get on your calendar for fall -  see you then if not before -  support pride events and other GLBT events, diversity events this summer!
 
Sept 18 : AIDS walks in NE (www.nap.org )  Get a team together to walk at Hastings college and U of NE at kearney in the AIDS Walks across NE  - get friends together, colleagues, families, church friends, neighbors etc!
 
Sept 19 :  MONDAY NIGHT -  We are JOINING with Hastings PFLAG for our Sept gathering on a MONDAY NIGHT this year!! -   This will be our Sept get together for Open hearts as we join with the Hastings PFLAG folks and the Hastings College alliance!
 
Get this on your calendar early as we will be providing the POTLUCK food for the Hastings College Alliance returning to Hastings College this fall!   Our two groups are providing the food for that evening -   I think the dinner will start about 5:30 PM but we watching for details -  also a unique program too and often it is at the Student Union on the Hastings college campus -   at the Hazellrigg union -   be watching for details on this EVENT -  this is the first time we are joining with HASTINGS PFLAG for an event other than supporting events together!
 
Coming out week : Oct 11 is Coming out DAY!  Be watching for Special events in Nebraska!   Get this week on your calendar as there are special events being planned at Hastings College chapel and around NE.
 
DIVERSITY SUMMER in Nebraska : Pride events in Omaha and Lincoln pride is in July! 
 
1) Reading Challenge for Hassan this summer at TUMC, support Hassan one orphan at the UMC Orphange in Jalingo, Nigeria :  read and get pledges or pledge yourself -  bring in pledges by Aug 7 to Trinity UMC  :  Read CHANGE THE WORLD by Mike Slaughter (through cokesbury press) for $10 at our special price this summer at TUMC and discussions in July and Oct for Book share -  dates and times TBA   JOIN US in reading this book and any others you choose
 
2) Getting Active 4 AIDS 4 an AIDS Free world :  get pledge forms at TUMC, G Island -  canoe ride for most pledges by Labor day weekend :  do by yourself or as a group
 
3) Ethnic Festival Grand island :  this weekend!   Art in the Park in July in Grand island! Support community!
 
4) FROGS store in Wolbach this summer :  First Rural Organic Grocery store, Wolbach days this weekend!
 
5) GI YWCA Garden Tour day :  july 7  The YWCA's goal is Eliminating Racism!   Get tickets at Ace or call the YWCA in G Island for info
 
6) Grain Place Organic Farm Tour day July 9, Marquette, NE  (see website)   Support Locally grown foods, farmers markets, grocery stories  :  also NE FOOD coop online -   check out events at PPRI or Praire Plains Resource Center, Aurora and their Ed programs :  www.prairieplains.org
 
7) Read GLBT movies, books, have meetups, Rainbow Art shows and more :  "Adam's Gif" by Jimmy creech is published!  Find it online today -  Read it and others renewing, enlightening books this summer - share books, movies for our Open Hearts Rainbow Crate this fall -
 
8) Give to the Summer Email offering for Nebraska Statewide Reconciling Network as our yearly commitment as a Statewide EMAIL network of friends -  all gifts go directly to RMN offices in Chicago for their many ministries this summer and with General conference coming next spring.
 
Write checks to RMN and send to Maureen Vetter, 4422 Drake lane, Grand island, NE 68801  -  she will send them in for the statewide network of friends -we are to $220 and our goal is $250 or more this summer for GLBT ministries and giving support at the Amy DeLong trial, SING A NEW SONG convo coming and more!   
 
Our Open hearts group is FIVE years old this Nov and our statewide group is SIX years old as an official network this fall -   RUMOLA in Lincoln is 14 years old this summer and Omaha first umc has been a Reconciling congregation for 11 years -   General Conference for the UMC is next April in Tampa, Florida - thanks to all volunteers in all of our groups and those doing emailing to get out info for events, meetups, gatherings!  Give to your local Reconciling support group so that we can all send in our commitments to RMN each year!
 
9) Info on SING A NEW SONG CONVO is on the RMN website:  www.RMNetwork.org  Send prayers to Amy DeLong and all affected by the recent church trial in WI -  for the story :  www.umc.org or go towww.RMNetwork.org and future flashnets - sign up today as a Reconciling United Methodist online and sign onto the petitions, statements we have been sending out!  Take action, tell your stories, take reconciling on the road to events and have a summer of spiritual awakenings!
 
10)  Let's celebrate NY marriage equality about to become law in six states now!  Let's celebrate Becca Preisendorf being the recipient of the Jimmy Creech Profile of Justice Scholarship this year -  she is the 12th recipient so the witness of Jimmy lives on as it encourages students to be active in justice work!   If you have a gift for the new GSA at GISH -  make your check to GSA, GISH and get it to Becca or Cindi McDowell her mom.
 
Have a GREAT summer -   Maureen vetter and Mena Sprague, Open Hearts contacts, email
PS SPECIAL THANKS TO MENA FOR HELPING OUT WITH EMAIL THIS SUMMER and Early fall!

Nebraska Statewide Reconciling Network : Actions in NE: The Trial of Amy DeLong Has Begun : LOVE ON TRIAL

NE Statewide Reconciling United Methodists and friends:  '
 
This is a time of pain and change, LOVE ON TRIAL -  let's respond through our faith that gives us strength to know we are all CHILDREN OF GOD and we are ALL loved by God even during painful church trials, messiness and change!  
 
We can get through this by our faith actions, responses -  and becoming proactive - as givers, signers, activists and missionaries!
 
Actions: Send prayers, Sign Petitions, Give offerings, Write friends, Send love!
 
With the Trial of Amy DeLong this week and info below we have a few actions to send along with PRAYERS Daily this week -------  FOR ALL THOSE INVOLVED in the trial in Wisconsin -  
 
 1) Rev Gil Caldwell sent us the info on the Petition by Church Within A Church and the link to sign on TODAY-  let's grow the list of names from Nebraska and beyond: 
 
Colleagues for your information; The 592nd signature on our statement is that of my long-time
friend and colleague; The Rev. Dr.Yap Kim Hao, former Bishop of the Methodist Church in
Singapore and Malaysia. It would be great if you could secure additonal signatures from the USA,
or international, gay and straight, regardless of faith or non-faith perspective and inclusive of all races. 
 
Share with your friends and colleagues the following link for their signature:
 
Gil Caldwell
ps Would be great if  persons at the Amy DeLong trial would sign (or others too)
 
2)  Give to the Summer Email Offering for Nebraska Statewide Reconciling Network --  as all of our gifts to directly to RMN for their ministries at the trial and SING A NEW SONG CONVO this summer -  on behalf of our NEBRASKA Statewide Reconcliling network of friends!   
 
Just make your love gift and check to RMN and then send it to Maureen Vetter, 4422 Drake Lane, Grand Island, NE 68801 -   She will send it on to RMN on behalf of our network of friends in NE - We are at $120 sent in to Chicago offices for RMN -  and hoping for $250 to send in for our yearly commitment.  Last year we sent in over $500!    We will list the donors in our email news -
 
3) Write friends about these actions and grow the circle of friends in Nebraska and beyond!    WE have about 380 RUM"s in Nebraska and we want to get to 400 this summer!    Go towww.RMNetwork.org to become a Reconciling United Methodist - do this action -
 
Send prayers of love and see the info below about LOVE ON TRIAL - from Reconciling Ministries Network -   we are hoping that we can keep making change even through the deep pain and sadness of church trials for persons in loving committed relationships and doing loving ministry~  
 
4) Go to the RMN Facebook for updates this week and the website: www.RMNetwork.org  
 
Check out our blog :  www.Nebraskarum.blogspot.com   and new facebook group : SEARCH Nebraska Statewide Reconciling United Methodists, add friends and commments -   seek out Spiritual partners in the faith!  
 
Another Year of Great spiritual awakenings!   Believe Out Loud!   Called to Witness!    SING A NEW SONG!   Take Reconciling on the Road in Nebraska! 
 
Maureen Vetter and Wendy Smith, Nebraska Statewide Reconciling Network contact, PRN contacts, local contacts and Email contacts!   Recruit youth and young adults in local reconciling groups!

Katalyst Summer 2011

http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=qbixxacab&v=001Z75pTKZtbguDJrGq9MXrmtxLSN-bokd2xRRLVk2pAvN5CD5RVjq8lgZBq1k7yexfp2ttaOBOx-Ae8gvr0gvYluli1q8TvpoC2tiFgfyOUqqRTPsQoHVs9JjBDGLZ7J2ZoFemWitVOrp0BS1WbBNQxS9RtKDOBbCibTtCuOkTwLHrD-QgrMDuU5y6HFUgnSfxyqPQDS5a_hj05pkpVQY_ydvIUYxX32WrUKsNcGl36PbpPS1-g7FyV7R-mhkq5huDDfTKFVJrNzpi8lNnu88A87rflrLrryxFHQGerAj4-LLnc2273sg_Yg%3D%3D

Needed: Covenant Relationships Willow UMC : Rev Dan Lush : Bio sheet on Willow Alaska, Missionary Conference

THANKS to all NE UMC local churches and persons who have given to the Mission work @ Willow Alaska UMC!
 
Thanks to all of you in Nebraska who met Dan Lush our friend and missionary from Willow, Alaska this week -  and thanks to all of you for reading this bio of Dan to learn more about the Mission needs at Willow -  
 
The link below is the latest bio on Dan -  even though he really has FIVE children!
 
Dan was an intern at North Platte First UMC twenty years ago when we lived there too!  He was going to Iliff Seminary at the time in Denver.
 
The Willow UMC, Willow Alaska is in need of Covenant relationships with local churches in the lower 49 states to help them through the next two or three years of Transition -   Some work teams have gone to Willow from Christ UMC in the past to help with VBS and other projects -  guessing some of your churches have done the same -  they are really in need of Covenant Relationships and Advance giving for their financial needs into the future.
 
Dan was just appointed to Willow UMC after being the interim pastor there after Rev Steve Eldred from NE retired.
 
Thanks for support you can give through the UMC ADVANCE and contact Dan to start a Covenant Relationship with the Willow church of about 66 members. Willow UMC is partly a RESCUE mission site in Alaska and a congregation with outreach to the community - 
 
You can get the phone and address online by googling Willow UMC, Willow Alaska -  Dan's email : danlush@gmail.com   You will see the ADVANCE # on the BIO below:
 
 

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Flashnet June 15, 2011

This week's Flashnet

NE Statewide Reconciling Network Summer: REJOICE with us! Another year of Great spiritual awakenings!

We REJOICE in all of the RUMs in NE (Reconciling United Methodists) and friends around the globe!

We say thanks to YOU for being a part of Nebraska Statewide Reconciling Network!

We REJOICE that some of you are AIDS Ambassadors too! -We have about Sixty AIDS Ambassadors now in NE ! T

Thanks so much for all the volunteering hours and energy!

www.RMNetwork.org www.umcneb.org/AIDS www.umglobalaidsfund.org
Facebook : Nebraska Statewide Reconciling Network Blog: www.Nebraskarum.blogspot.com

WE REJOICE in the RAINBOWS of Hope ART SHOW at Christ UMC Lincoln in June - we hope you can view this show in the GREAT Hall or do one in your church! View it in June before it goes down this summer.



We REJOICE that nearly 200 Rainbow Stoles were given out at the RMN table and three boxes of info with lots of hugs! Thanks to Betty Dorr and friends again!

We REJOICE in the offering of $8,306.07 for UM Global AID Fund at the NE Annual Conference June 3 at morning worship! This is a MIRACLE to help others and help us be transformed! Thanks Bill Black for introducing the offering and all who worked at the UM Global AIDS fund task force table and organized it !
25 % will stay in NE to help with local AIDS projects (see www.umcneb.org/AIDS)

WE REJOICE in Becca Preisendorf, Grand Island Trinity UMC, being the 12th recipient of the NE MFSA Jimmy Creech Profile of Justice Scholarship!

We REJOICE in the news from the Presbyterians, USA on Gay Ordination! (along with UCC (former Congregational) , ELCA Lutherans, and the Episcopal Church!

We REJOICE IN the HEARTLAND STATEMENT of INCLUSION has been signed by 100 clergy in NE and the surrounding area with the Event at the Bob Kerry Pedestrian Bridge Bridge this Wed -- including River City chorus at 6 PM June 15 in Omaha! Contact Rev Jane Florence Pastor : janeflorence@gmail.com
She has a posting about this event our new Facebook about it : go to Nebraska Statewide Reconciling Network and Add friends too!

We REJOICE in the two statements to sign affirming Gay ordination as Clergy and laity : RMN has one on their website www.RMNetwork.org and Church Within a Church has one ( www.cwac.us )

Google the following for the one with CWAC: "End UMC discrimination against Gays and Lesbians": An Unprecedented Statement drafted and shared by 9 black clergy and scholars -- now they want ALL persons to sign on! They have 576 Signatures and invite YOU!

REJOICE : in Don Messer, Chair of the UM Global AIDS Fund, coming to NE last week to share his moving stories on Stigma and HIV AIDS at the NE MFSA Annual Dinner ~!

We REJOICE in Pride events and SING A NEW SONG CONVO this summer - www.RMNetwork.org Go to HRC as they need volunteers : www.hrc.org

We REJOICE in persons who volunteer to keep the Reconciling email going, meetups, support groups! We invite you to give to the Summer Email Offering!

We REJOICE in the UM Global AIDS Fund Task Force nearly two years old this September in NE!

We REJOICE in the 70 UMC Clergy in MN who have signed a Statement to do same sex unions recently (see links in recent reconciling emails or go online)

We REJOICE in the news from Jeanette Grenz from KS East and "Wide is God's Welcome" Reconciling Communicator that all GLBT Petitions to General Conference in KS East Conference passed with an overwhelming Majority! Way to go KS East folks! Did you know that KS UMC has eight Reconciling Communities?

We just received word that the FREEDOM TO MARRY Organization has events planned all over the USA this week and weekend - Evan Wolfson the leader of Freedom to Marry spoke at the RMN CONVO last year on a panel on marriage and spoke at NWU once during the DOMA discussions in NE. See his interviews and about the events planned across the USA June 18 and this week more:
http://freedomtomarry.org/lush

We REJOICE in the showing of the movie TWO SPIRITS this week on June 16 at NET with sharing after by Rev Stephen Griffith:
*/Two Spirits/* will be shown on Thursday, June 16, at 6 p.m. CT at NET,
1800 No. 33rd Street in Lincoln, as this season’s final offering of
NET’s “Coffee and Conversation in the Community” film and discussion
series. A discussion will follow the screening, led by Reverend Stephen
Griffith, Minister to the Community, Saint Paul United Methodist Church
in Lincoln.
*//*
*/Two Spirits/* tells compelling stories about traditions that were once
widespread among the indigenous cultures of North America. Through the
tragic events Fred Martinez, a /nádleehí/, male-bodied person with a
feminine nature, the film explores the contemporary lives and history of
Native two-spirit people — who combine the traits of both men and women
with qualities that are also unique to individuals who express multiple
genders.
http://www.hrcbackstory.org/2011/06/two-spirits-story-of-murdered-navaho-teen-to-air-nationally-on-pbs-independent-lens/

We REJOICE in the UNITY Walk planned in Grand Island June 25 Saturday along with the ETHNIC FESTIVAL: celebrate diversity! Registration is at 9:45 am at 1306 W 3rd Street - the first 100 people receive a t shirt!

WE REJOICE that RUMOLA (Reconciling United Methodists of the Lincoln Area) is 14 years old this summer in Lincoln as an official Reconciling community! Thanks to Liz Bady for doing the email for RUMOLA the last six years - their hope is to attend as many events as possible to support GLBT persons and rights: to take RECONCILING ON THE ROAD and attend events, give support and create safe places!

RUMOLA started with a gathering of a few folks on a hot summer night the summer of l997 and six emails were taken that night -- our whole network springs from these six emails - it was held at Cornerstone the summer of l997 with a small group of folks and a POTLUCK! If you were there that night contact Maureen mvetter@charter.net

We REJOICE that OPEN HEARTS Reconciling Community is five years old this Nov!
We REJOICE that Omaha First UMC has been a Reconciling Congregation for 11 years! They had their 10th anniversary Celebration last summer!

We REJOICE that now we have a Reconciling Main Emailer again in the North Platte Area for RUM's! Thanks to Robert Wheeler for giving time and energy to get set up and start emailing info -- with support from Jo Macintosh! THANKS!


REJOICE WITH US:

1) that we have over 300 RUM's in NE now - Betty and others signed up new RUM's last week : ( Betty do you mind checking to see if our numbers have grown this summer and get a new updated list for a few of us from RMN? ) If you are not an RUM, go to www.RMNetwork.org today and sign up! check out the website too!

2) Betty Dorr, Omaha First umc, PRN contact (parents reconciling network) and friends gave away almost
200 Rainbow Stoles last week at the Reconciling table and created a safe place at the table for questions, support and God's love -- they gave out 3 boxes of info and lots of hugs! Thanks to Bob and Betty for donating the cost of the table and copying for many years! I would guess there has been a reconciling table(s) for fifteen -TWENTY years now - it is time for change in the UMC!

3) We signed up about five or six new AIDS Ambassadors at the UM Global AIDS fund table so we have almost sixty AIDS Ambassadors in local congregations now in only two years! We invite you to sign up as an AIDS Ambassador by emailing Andrew Brackett : andrewb@nap.org or maureen vetter mvetter@charter.net
You mainly 1) promote the offering Dec 4 and other times 2) give to offerings yourself 3) send prayers!
Check out our new URL at the conference website : www.umcneb.org/AIDS

4) We had great offerings for UM Global AIDS Fund with a Special offering Friday morning $8306.07 --Thanks Bill Black, Lincoln Trinity UMC - for introducing the offering! We also had a spontaneous offering after Don Messer spoke at the MFSA dinner totally $900 that is part of the total a week ago - you will hear more about the 20/20 campaign - giving $20 whenever you can : Visioning an AIDS free world by 2020 www.umglobalaidsfund.org

5) Lighten the Burden IV the HIV AIDS conference is coming April 23, 2012 to Tampa, FL and organized totally by volunteers -- it was in Dallas last Oct and we had two people from NE attending - bill and maureen - we would love to have a TEAM go from NE this time! www.umglobalaidsfund.org

6) Sing a NEW SONG Convo is coming this summer organized by MFSA and RMN ! Check it out at www.RMNetwork.org We have THREE people going from NE that we know about : Bob and Betty Dorr, Zach Anderson LET US KNOW IF YOU ARE GOING! Some us went last time and will never forget the singing and spirit of inclusiveness!

7) Steve Griffith, Saint Paul UMC attended the RMN SUMMIT meeting this past year and is reflecting after the movie TWO SPIRITS this Thurs evening at NET!

8) We have collected $120 so far for our SUMMER EMAIL OFFERING in NE : as our yearly commitment of $250 to RMN ministries. Our Nebraska Statewide Reconciling Network (the email network of friends) is an official RECONCILING COMMUNITY in NE along with one in G Island, two in Lincoln and Omaha First umc!

Donors : Lloyd and Joan Byerhof, Cathy Denman for Maureen Vetter's birthday, Wendy and Eric Smith, Jenna and brian, Jim and Donna Lightbody, Maureen and Jay Vetter for birthdays of friends

We invite you to make your checks to RMN and send to Maureen Vetter, 4422 Drake lane, G Island, NE 6880l Maureen will record them and send them on as our NE Statewide yearly gift together as an email community!

9) Becca Preisendorf is the 12th Recipient of the MFSA Jimmy Creech Profile of Justice Scholarship in NE. Becca is a member of Trinity UMC, G island and is headed to Hastings College this fall - she has been taking college credit classes and started the First GSA in G Island this past year with many challenges along the way!
You can see Becca on the Jimmy Creech Adams Gift Facebook - go to - Jimmy Creech Adam's Gift!

This $1000 yearly Scholarship honors a student active in Justice ministry each year and honors Jimmy Creech and his witness among us for GLBT Justice - was given May 31 at the Annual MFSA Dinner in Lincoln at Trinity UMC - We rejoice in the new GSA that was started in Grand Island by Becca! She shared at our February meeting for Open Hearts and was nominated by the Open Hearts Reconciling Community in Grand Island, NE.

10) Go to our new FACEBOOK and ADD Friends! Search : Nebraska Statewide Reconciling Network

11) Go to our new blog for info, Annual conference recap and comments, Events this summer in the Archives to the right, sign onto statements of inclusion, gay ordination : www.nebraskarum.blogspot.com

12) in Pride events this summer, AIDS Walks are coming Sept 18 across NE www.nap.org Coming out Day is Oct 11 - do a meetup with friends, form a support group, do a book share, have a Rainbow ART SHOW

13) in building collaborations with students at NWU this summer for HIV AIDS work

14) in four Reconciling communities in NE, one congregation, email contacts, local contacts and growing a circle of Friends across NE who care about a fully inclusive UMC and creating SAFE PLACES for all God's children!

15) a nearly two year old UM Global AIDS fund Task force that meets again Sept 19, 1 PM at Central Health Center, Grand Island (let us know if you are an AIDS Ambassador and have an interest on the task force or if you can be an AIDS ambassador in your local church, let us know! We need YOU!
Go to our new URL for more info : www.umcneb.org/AIDS for info on NE and www.umglobalaidsfund.org

16) that we have a new Email contact in the North Platte area :
Thanks to Robert Wheeler with help from Jo Macintosh and the Way West folks too : Carolyn Dickinson Scottsbluff and Mary Ellen Kilmer Harrison, NE

REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS - AGAIN I SAY REJOICE!

Maureen Vetter and Wendy Smith, NE Contacts for NE Statewide Reconciling Network of friends
PRN Contacts, Email contact, local contacts and recruit youth and young adult RUM's locally!

COLLABORATE with other GLBTgroups, GLBT Faith groups for Reconciling work, other faith traditions -- Health groups for HIV AIDS : become an AIDS Ambassador, start a task force locally: do a project with NAP in your area, start a testing site at your local church, learn where testing sites are in your area, contact NAP offices and collaborate with them --- GROW the circle of reconcilingfriends doing MISSIONS and reaching out to All of God's Children!

NE Statewide Reconciling Network: Good news from from KS East Annual Conf : Petitions passed! telling stories!

Reconciling United Methodists and friends in Ne and beyond:

Here is the latest news from the group: "Wide is God's Welcome" the Reconciling folks in Kansas East Conference of the UMC -

Jeanette Grenz who wrote this reflection is from NE, a college friend, seminary friend and a long time friend - she sends us the good news ! Thanks Jeanette for taking time to write this up and share it with everyone!

We hope that local churches will send in LGBTQA Friendly Petitions this summer - to General Conference and also members of the UMC can do the same this summer!

None of our GLBT friendly Petitions in NE passed this year to send to General Conference 2012 but they were very close at about 50/50. The HIV AIDS Resolution to our annual conference in NE did pass. Almost 200 Rainbow stoles were also given out at the RMN table in NE too -- and lots of info - thanks Betty Dorr and friends!

It sounds like Kansas East had the SHOWER of STOLES on DISPLAY with the moving stories from the stoles!

The stories shared below on the KS conference floor are very moving! Telling the stories is so important as painful as they are to tell and share! Hopefully we can keep sharing the stories this year and next! The personal stories change the hearts and minds of people as they are told.

BE thinking of doing a STORIES of SACRED WORTH project in your local church or group - having people write their stories : allies and GLBT persons - copy them and share them locally and at the Reconciling table next June or share the stories at Reconciling Gatherings! HOPE, Healing and Hospitality!
Peace and justice Maureen Vetter Contact

PS Become a Reconciling United Methodist today - an RUM making a difference and raising your voice for others in the UMC! I found out today we have 380 RUM's in NE and we are very close to 400 RUM's - let's see if we can hit 400 RUM's by the end of summer and reach our Summer Email Offering goal too to support the ministries of RMN - to lend support as an RUM just go to the website : www.RMNetwork.org Then go to Sign on or Join us on the website.

There is no cost of membership to be an RUM per se -- just a commitment to work for a fully inclusive UMC!
There are cards you can sign too and send in to RMN offices.. you need to request those cards online or by calling RMN offices - sending email - or there are sheets you can print out to sign onto on the website as one of the RESOURCES too - www.RMNetwork.org Let us know if you have trouble signing up! mvetter@charter.net or wsmith28@gmail.com

----- Original Message -----
From: wigw-kc
To: wigw-kc@hotmail.com
Sent: Friday, June 10, 2011 6:20 PM
Subject: Petitions passed

From Jeanette last Friday, June 10, 2011 in KS:
Our petition passed this morning with an overwhelming majority! We were asked who would be presenting it and Frank stepped forward - once again I wasn't aware that someone who had submitted the petition would be expected to present it on the Conference floor. I was very grateful Frank was there to do that and of course, once again, he did a great job. Pastor Lane Bailey, serving Wellsville and Clearfield UMCs came to the microphone to speak. He said that he wanted to take this opportunity to share why he was wearing a stole but he had had to get the permission from two people first. He got their permission yesterday and he had two stories to share. The first was about his ex-wife, Colleen, the mother of his children. She surrendered her orders as an ordained elder several years ago because she said she could not serve under the current UMC Discipline. He talked about the painful affect of her needing to do this on their whole family. He also told a story about a young man, who at the age of 5 was cross-dressing, who was whipped by his mother and step-dad for doing that, who was eventually turned out on the street, ended up in juvenile detention where he was repeatedly raped, contracted AIDS and died at the age of 34. He had received the consistent message that God could not love him. Lane said it's time for this to end. Thank you, Lane for your testimony and please forgive any errors in my attempt to summarize.

There were some questions asked of Frank and he handled them well, including his rationale for removing the phrase, "created in the image of God." There was a motion to amend the petition to put this phrase back in, and that passed. Then the vote was taken on the amended petition and it passed.

This afternoon, a petition submitted by a study group from St. Paul's UMC in Lenexa was discussed. This petition was to remove all homosexual language from the Discipline. There was discussion about whether or not this would be ruled out of order by the General Conference Secretary. Bishop Jones read the rules for petitions and said that it would be up to the General Conference secretary (I think that is who does this) to determine whether it is out of order and our Annual Conference could go ahead and submit it and see what happens. It too passed with an overwhelming majority. Thank you, Jan Rhind, for presenting this petition.

I don't know how our General Conference delegates voted on these petitions but they are certainly aware of how the vote went in our conference and since they are representing us, hopefully they will be supportive.

I will be sending out individual petitions that you can sign and send to General Conference in a later email. Thank you for all your support and prayers.

Jeanette Grenz, Communication Chair

MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of Wide Is God’s Welcome - KC is to strengthen the Body of Christ through the full inclusion in the United Methodist Church of persons who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.
VISION STATEMENT
This mission will be fulfilled as we unite Kansas City area United Methodists for education, advocacy, and empowerment.

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Annual Conference Reflection

See Steve Griffith's blog for his reflection on this year's AC:
http://gatherfragments.wordpress.com/

Celebrations, Lamentations, Actions: MN links: 70 pastors sign, ways to give!

Reconciling United Methodists (RUM's),
friends in NE and beyond:
After a week of Annual Conference in the NE UMC In Lincoln May 31 - June 4 at St Marks UMC and with General conference coming in the spring of 2012 -- we have some Celebrations, some Lamentations and some Actions for the future : for a more inclusive church and world -- spiritual Awakenings!!

Celebrations: 1) THANKS to ALL who helped at the Reconciling table/booth for info and support with Betty Dorr as the main volunteer; all who helped at the UM Global AIDS fund table/booth as Volunteers : Bill Black, Display; Vicki McDermott, Basket / volunteering Wed; Megan from NWU Thurs; Liz Bady and Maureen Vetter, Friday morning, Becca Wolfe, Friday afternoon; Maureen Vetter and Bill Black organizing - thanks to STOP AIDS NE for copying and giveaways! Thanks to RTMJT for helping with support and the table!

2) Celebrate: Dr Don Messer, Chair of the UM Global AIDS Fund, who came and spoke at the MFSA Dinner May 31 -- Don shared the gospel of Christ through the stories of those struggling with HIV AIDS and our response with the UM Global AIDS fund! Thanks for coming from Denver area to share with us DON!

2) Celebrate : Special Offerings of $4005 for UM Global AIDS Fund that were given at the MFSA dinner (spontaneous offering of $900 May 31 at the MFSA dinner - and the Special Offering June 3 at 8:30 am worship! One fourth of this will stay in NE for local aids projects in local churches: www.umcneb.org/AIDS for our new URL with info!

We are Grateful to ALL persons who responded in FAITH to offerings for ministries to those who are marginalized in our world - persons with HIV AIDS -www.umglobalaidsfund.org

3) Celebrate : the UM Global AIDS fund brings persons with HIV AIDS out of the closet and onto the Radar screen of God's work in the world : MISSIONS -- being missionaries / AIDS ambassadors! We now have about 58 AIDS Ambassadors in NE - if you want to sign up : write to Andrewb@nap.org today!

4) Celebrate: Becca Preisendorf, Trinity UMC, Grand Island, a student at Hastings College as the 12th Recipient of the Jimmy Creech Profile of Justice Award receiving a $1000 Scholarship and the honoring Jimmy for his courageous witness among us in NE and his new book!

5) Celebrate: Rainbows of HOPE ART SHOW this June at Christ UMC, Lincoln!
Go see the art show and do in your local church in June next year or this summer! Thanks to everyone at Christ UMC who put this together on the ART show team! Check out the new community orchard too!

6) Celebrate: The new HIV AIDS Resolution : approved encouraging the 20/20 Visioning an AIDS Free World by 2020 Campaign - give $20 to UM Global AIDS Fund whenever you can each year! Send gifts / offerings to the Conf Treas in Lincoln and mark it for NE Advance # 578 Global AIDS - so that 25 % of all of our gifts and offerings stay in NE for local AIDS projects!

7) Celebrate: the 70 Clergy in the MN UMC who signed onto a statement to do Same Sex unions - see the articles below and thanks to Rev Bruce Robbins of Hennepin AVE UMC for initiating this justice and advocacy work :

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/06/02/same-sex-marriage-clergy/

http://www.umc.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=lwL4KnN1LtH&b=2789393&ct=10860667&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+umnsheadlines+(United+Methodist+News+Service+Headlines

http://wjon.com/40-united-methodist-clergy-pledge-to-marry-gay-couples/

http://www.hrc.org/issues/religion/4955.htm?gclid=CJi2jpLmnqkCFQM6gwodVCMhuA

8) Celebrate : newly elected delegates going to General conference, April 2012 - who are Reconciling United Methodists from NE!

Lamentations: 1) the GLBT legislation from NE that was not approved to go to General Conference in 2012 -- thanks for all the efforts writing, submitting them, speaking on the Conference floor, advocacy and amendments - Petitions can be sent to General Conference this summer by local churches and members -
we hope to have some Petitions for folks to sign onto via email or our blog ... or send Petitions from your local churches / local members.

Actions: 1) Give to Inclusive Ministries : Give to our SUMMER EMAIL Offering in NE for our yearly commitment to Reconciling Ministries Network - our Ne STATEWIDE Reconciling Network is an "official reconciling community" now for six years - we are growing the circle of friends in the faith locally and statewide through sending our our reconciling emails and info!

Give Love Gifts / Write Checks to : RMN and send to : Maureen Vetter, 4422 Drake Lane, G Island, NE 68801 Maureen will send them on to RMN.. we have no membership per se or account other than being an RUM - this Summer Email offering is our way of supporting the RMN ministries through our NE group and a way to thank all of our emailers who VOLUNTEER their time and energies on home computers for many moons!

So far we have gifts from Cathy Denman for Maureen Vetter's birthday, Jim and Donna Lightbody, Wendy and Eric, Jenna and Brian Smith, Maureen and Jay Vetter for the birthdays of all friends - Lloyd and Joan Byerhof too!
We are to $120 so far for the Summer Email offering - and we need $250 this summer for our yearly commitment to RMN for ministries - to help with General Conference 2012 and the many ministries of RMN and staff, events, resources to create change and do justice work ~

2) Give to local reconciling groups, the GSA in your town or the PFLAG in your area - have a birthday party fundraiser and raise funds for RMN for our NE Statewide Reconciling Network yearly commitment!

3) Sign onto the gay ordination statements through Church Within A Church and RMN .. the statements are also on our blog along with a RECAP of Annual Conference and the archives or summer events! www.nebraskarum.blogspot.com

4) Become a Facebook friend on our newly formatted Facebook page that is more public!

Go to Nebraska Statewide Reconciling Network and find us! Send info on to your friends! WE are starting all over on Facebook with new friends so find us if you were friends before!

5) Get friends together this summer for a meetup - have a summer book group with an inclusive book share : read "Adam's Gift" the new book out by Jimmy Creech, have a BBQ with Reconciling friends this summer or promote dialogue in your local church with Telling our stories! BELIEVE OUT LOUD : give to RMN, share stories, sign up folks as RUM's

6) Go to a PRIDE event this summer : see events on the blog!

7) Do a fundraiser for UM Global AIDS fund this summer like GETTING ACTIVE 4 AIDS 4 an AIDS Free world - we went the attach earlier and will send again this summer! or make your own pledge sheet to pledge yourself or have an event that also raises funds for UM Global AIDS Fund and those battling HIV AIDS!

8) Remember that AIDS walks are coming in NE on Sept 18 - www.nap.org
Get together a team at your church this summer and start making plans!

9) Make plans to attend SING A NEW SONG the Convo planned by MFSA and RMN this summer - www.RMNetwork.org Let us know if you are going to SING A NEW SONG CONVO!

10) Become a Reconciling United Methodist today! Go to the website and sign on to become involved and share your faith of diversity and being inclusive!

11) Ethnic festival, Grand Island, NE promote diversity and missions pf outreach and justice : June 24 - 26, 2011

12) Coming Out Day Oct 11 - start making plans for summer and fall -

12) Lighten the burden IV Conference on HIV AIDS, April 23, 2012, Tampa, FL
www.umglobalaidsfund.org NE: www.umcneb.org/AIDS for info on UM Global AIDS fund

Find ways to share God's love that is inclusive love -- for All God's children!

Maureen Vetter, Wendy Smith, NE RMN Contacts, PRN contacts, Local contacts and Email contacts! Recruit Reconciling youth and young adult contacts locally!
www.RMNetwork.org
www.nebraskarum.blogspot.com Facebook: Nebraska Statewide Reconciling Network
www.umcneb.org/AIDS www.umglobalaidsfund.org
www.cwac.us

Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño's statement for "Clergy Call for Justice and Equality" press conference

Statement copied from here

At the beginning of this year the state of Arizona experienced yet one more tragedy. We have had one tragedy after another in the way that our political leaders have treated immigrants, have failed the people of our state in providing leadership in a time of economic recession, and have contributed to a blatant revival of out and out racism. Then we had a shooting. Congresswoman Gabriel Giffords continues to struggle to overcome the impact of the shooting upon her body and her life. Six other people died. Several others were wounded. The world looked upon Arizona and thought, 'how much worse can it get?'

But on the day of the funeral of 9-year-old Christina Green, one of the shooting victims, when we heard that the gay-bashing Fred Phelps group was coming to town to bring their message of hate, people of every race and every culture, citizens and undocumented immigrants, and people of different sexual orientation and gender identity, made a human line on both sides of the street so long and so strong that it blocked the Phelps group from any and all access to little Christina's funeral. It was an empowering and life-giving experience. Out of a moment of deep sadness came the recognition that we are bound together in our humanity, and hate is not the way.

Our states and this country will find a way to build strong and healthy communities when we fully accept that in all of our diversity of sexual orientation, economic status, race and culture, and immigration status, we are all persons of sacred worth. Without exception we are all created in the image of God, and are all beloved of God. Standing together we must denounce and deplore all acts of hate and violence in our communities.

As Christians we believe that God calls us to nurture human beings into the fullness of their humanity. We cannot be about this sacred task and allow hate and violence to stand. Hate and violence against persons, whether it is bullying in our schools, the taunting and violating of a person's privacy to the point of humiliating that person and destroying his or her sense of self worth and belonging, to beatings and even murder on our streets or on the outskirts of our towns, all because of a person's sexual orientation or gender identity, cannot be left unchallenged or unconquered. Such violence against our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender sisters and brothers is a violation of all that is good within us, and destroys the inherent human dignity of all of us.

Violence also comes in the form of lack of full employment rights. Every person has the right to a job at a living wage. Employment is basic to the well being of persons and families. Gainful employment also makes possible persons' contribution of their gifts, skills, and wisdom to our communities of faith and to society in ways that better our communities and our world. In a just society there is no room for employment discrimination. Employment discrimination undermines our human potential and our responsibilities in God's world.

Finally, I have come to see the deep intersection of the work we must do together for justice for the LGBT and the immigrant communities. Both have for too long been the victims of hate and violence, and both struggle for the right to employment without prejudice. I am convinced, however, that together we can overcome hate and discrimination of every kind and build a nation and a world that will one day value all God's people; a world of justice full of the love and peace we all long for. May God be our help.