See the Daily Messenger links BELOW from the last day of Annual Conference with a story about Don Messer's moving speech on Tues night, May 31 on the STIGMA of HIV AIDS! A spontaneous offering that night yielded $900 with an additional offering Friday -- and all totalling $4000 for Ministries directly through UM Global AIDS Fund around the globe and NE !
Let's double these June offerings in 2011 to $8000 by years end or better yet $10,000 with fundraisers all year and offerings Dec 4 weekend! Our initial challenge from General Conference in 2004 was $1 per member a year - that would be $78,000 a year in NE!
Thanks Don for coming to NE to ENLIGHTEN US and thanks for initiating the UM Global AIDS Fund in 2004 to start helping us to see persons we have never seen before and respond in faith!
Our new challenge: 20/20 Visioning an AIDS Free world by 2020 : giving $20 whenever possible!
Thanks to Bill Black for Introducing the Special Offering Friday June 3 for UM Global AIDS Fund at Worship 8:30 am at Annual Conference last week in Lincoln - we hope to share his opening words later this summer via email or blog - with fundraising ideas for UM Global AIDS Fund www.umcneb.org/AIDS for NE info and www.umglobalaidsfund.org
Give to the Summer Email Offering for NE Statewide Reconciling Network today : gifts to RMN and send to Maureen Vetter, 4422 Drake Lane, G island, NE 6880l Our goal is $250 !
We have a NEW Statewide Reconciling FACEBOOK that is more public -- Facebook archived our old one recently - Search Nebraska Statewide Reconciling Network and add FRIENDS today - that is how we will grow the list of Friends by adding friends! Check out recaps of Annual Conference and summer events on our new blog : www.Nebraskarum.blogspot.com
HAVE A GREAT SUMMER! SING A NEW SONG CONVO is coming this summer : www.RMNetwork.org Send prayers, gifts and go yourself! Believe out loud!
Open hearts, open minds, open doors! Another year of GREAT spiritual Awakenings!
PS See Becca Preisendorf, Grand Island, Trinity UMC : the recipient of the 12th MFSA Jimmy Creech Profile of Justice Award and Scholarship in NE on Jimmy Creech's Facebook for Adam's Gift his newly released book! Search on Facebook: Jimmy Creech, Adam's Gift
----- Original Message -----
From: Kathryn Witte
To: mvetter@charter.net
Sent: Monday, June 06, 2011 10:35 AM
Subject: Daily Messenger, June 4
Attached below are the Saturday, June 4 editions of the Daily Messenger and the Youth Daily Messenger.
Please note that all of the Daily Messenger editions will be archived on the 2011 Annual Conference Web page, www.umcneb.org/AC2011. Petition and Resolution results will be posted on this same page within the next day. Selected worship services and presentations that were streamed live will be archived on UMtube in the near future.
Daily Messenger, June 4 (PDF)
Youth Daily Messenger, June 4 (PDF)
Contact us
3333 Landmark Circle
Lincoln, NE 68504-4760
Phone: (402) 464-5994
Fax: (402) 464-6203
Showing posts with label AIDS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label AIDS. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Annual Conference 2011 Recap
As a delegate to AC again this year, I was disappointed with a lot of the conference. We were supposed to be "table conferencing" about the resolutions and petitions, except all we got to do is go around the table to give a concern and affirmation about the one petition or resolution we were assigned. On the day when we talked about the proposal to become 1 new conference with the 2 Kansas conferences, my table group abandoned the prescribed format and had a real conversation, which was much better (but not what we were supposed to be doing).
The following are based on my notes from being at AC:
Petitions & Resolutions related to GLBT Issues
PASSED:
--Resolution that churches in the Annual Conference study the retired bishops' statement and engage in "holy conferencing" (passed by 6 votes out of over 400)
--Petition to include "civil unions, civil marriage" in the list of equal civil rights regardless of sexual orientation
FAILED:
--Resolution all-encompassing to embraces all GLBT into full church life
--Petition to remove the "incompatible with Christian teaching" from the Discipline
--Petitions to end prohibition against homosexual clergy
When the first of these resolutions was brought up, there was a motion to "refer" all of them until next year, to give more time to talk. This motion failed (barely), with the argument that we've been talking for years, and referring all of these effectively means defeating all of them since now is the time to forward petitions to General Conference 2012.
During debate on the last of the petitions, although we had already had 2 speeches for and 2 against (rules of debate), Jim Keyser stood up to say that he was offering a substitution to the motion--if we are going to be "scriptural" to ban GLBT clergy, then we should be consistent and ban divorced people from full church life, since Jesus does speak against divorce in the Bible.
I found it almost sad/pathetic that so many people stood up to oppose these resolutions & petitions; the gist of their argument was begging to be allowed to continue their discriminatory ways. Their reasons to continue discrimination were (a) tradition, (b) fear, and (c) willingness to pick and choose certain parts of the Bible to take literally and other parts not. The Wallace UMC was especially vocal with this fear--they seem to believe that their church will close if homosexuality becomes compatible with Christian teaching. There were many allies who stood up to speak in support of the various resolutions & petitions, but it wasn't enough for this year. The votes were closer this year than they had ever been, but close is still discouraging. During the table conferencing, I had to sit next to a pastor who said he still believes GLBT is a lifestyle choice and un-Biblical.
The budget was adopted nearly unanimously; it is 2% increase over last year. Several of us pointed out during the table discussions that the theme of this year's annual conference was that we need to change--we can't keep doing what we've been doing if we want to change the course of church decline. Yet, the budget represents doing what we've always been doing.
Other resolutions & petitions:
PASSING: Support immigration reform, fully fund the African universities; support 20/20: Visioning an AIDS free world ($20 per member per year, spend 30 minutes in local churches, spend 30 minutes at 2012 Annual Conference); study the UMC's involvement with RCRC; don't shorten the UMC mission statement
FAILING: withdraw from RCRC; stop endorsing abortion; allow churches to serve/sell alcohol (the alcohol one failed unanimously; no one stood to speak in favor of it, only against).
The Transition Team (7 people each from Nebr, Kansas East, Kansas West) has been meeting for 18 months. After all this time, they have advanced a "plan" for this year's AC to consider. However, the entirety of the plan is: create 1 new conference that covers the area previously served by Nebraska, Kansas East, and Kansas West. The new conference will be better. Period. They had lots of pretty words, but there was zero substance to the plan. Many people pointed this out. As recently as March, the goal had been for each of the 3 conferences to vote on becoming 1 conference at this point in time. However, there was enough push-back that instead we did a "five-finger vote" to indicate our level of support for the Transition Team to move forward to create a new Great Plains conference. 5=I am in full support of becoming one conference; 4=I am supportive of becoming one conference, however I have a few questions; 3=I am supportive of becoming one conference, but I have many questions; 2=I am opposed to becoming one conference, but am not willing to halt the process; 1=I am opposed to becoming one conference as it is currently presented. The vote was by ballot: mark one of the 5 boxes, then have space to write questions/concerns/affirmations. The results of the ballot won't be announced until all 3 conferences have had a chance to do this; the Transition Team meets June 13th, and will learn the results then, and post the results on the umcneb.org website.
I pointed out that there really is no plan to vote on. The "plan" is to be "bold," to "thrive not survive," to be "spirit-led," and "risk-taking and creative"; not to be "timid." The Transition Team had zero details to offer. They say the bishop would be freed to be visionary, but there was no plan (such as 4 more district superintendents per region) for who would take on the extra administrative duties. There were no details offered about "technical details"--such as health care, retirement/pensions, and mission shares/apportionments being quite different among the 3 conferences. These technical details aren't as fun as dreaming, but they are critical to the success of a single conference.
It is a done deal that in September of 2012, 1 bishop will be assigned to the 3 conferences. It is likely inevitable that the 3 conferences merge to become one new conference. However, if it took the team 18 months to decide to merge, then it seems highly unlikely that they will produce a viable plan in the next 6-9 months and release it in time for discussion and suggestions prior to a vote June 6-9, 2012. The timeline as currently presented seems unrealistic.
After the table conferencing conversations, one retired pastor told me that the things I said convinced him to vote much lower than he had intended to vote initially. Jim McChesney, Lavina Schwaninger, and I sent a letter to all of the lay delegates prior to the conference urging a vote of "1" to say that this is not a viable plan right now, so we should not support it.
On a different topic, we raised money for UMCOR, after being told that UMCOR is completely out of disaster relief funds for this year--the number of disasters is unprecedented, and the needs greatly exceed the budget. Over $6000 was raised to send to the Alabama tornado victims, and 4000 UMCOR kits were donated.
**Please consider taking a special donation on Sunday June 4, 2011 to support UMCOR. 100% of money donated to UMCOR goes directly to disaster relief, providing food, shelter, and other necessary supplies to victims of tornadoes, fires, floods, hurricanes, and other natural disasters.**
One other task of the 2011 Annual Conference was to elect delegates to represent us at the 2012 General Conference and Jurisdictional Conference. Clergy elected clergy and laity elected laity.
General Conference delegates are: David Lux & Cindy Karges; Tom Watson & Lavina Schwaninger
Jurisdictional Conference delegates are: Charles Muritini & Nan Kaye-Skinner; Lisa Maupin & Katie Karges
Alternates are: Stephanie Ahlschwede & Galen Wray; Marilyn Zehring & Dave Mendyk
If you recognize the names, you can see that the clergy elected a far greater percentage of "progressive" people who will support causes that reconciling United Methodists believe in, than did the laity.
3 small churches are closing, and there are 3 new church starts. Churches are continued to be challenged to "rethink church" and devote more time to reaching out to the community (and have a broad vision of who "community" is).
The following are based on my notes from being at AC:
Petitions & Resolutions related to GLBT Issues
PASSED:
--Resolution that churches in the Annual Conference study the retired bishops' statement and engage in "holy conferencing" (passed by 6 votes out of over 400)
--Petition to include "civil unions, civil marriage" in the list of equal civil rights regardless of sexual orientation
FAILED:
--Resolution all-encompassing to embraces all GLBT into full church life
--Petition to remove the "incompatible with Christian teaching" from the Discipline
--Petitions to end prohibition against homosexual clergy
When the first of these resolutions was brought up, there was a motion to "refer" all of them until next year, to give more time to talk. This motion failed (barely), with the argument that we've been talking for years, and referring all of these effectively means defeating all of them since now is the time to forward petitions to General Conference 2012.
During debate on the last of the petitions, although we had already had 2 speeches for and 2 against (rules of debate), Jim Keyser stood up to say that he was offering a substitution to the motion--if we are going to be "scriptural" to ban GLBT clergy, then we should be consistent and ban divorced people from full church life, since Jesus does speak against divorce in the Bible.
I found it almost sad/pathetic that so many people stood up to oppose these resolutions & petitions; the gist of their argument was begging to be allowed to continue their discriminatory ways. Their reasons to continue discrimination were (a) tradition, (b) fear, and (c) willingness to pick and choose certain parts of the Bible to take literally and other parts not. The Wallace UMC was especially vocal with this fear--they seem to believe that their church will close if homosexuality becomes compatible with Christian teaching. There were many allies who stood up to speak in support of the various resolutions & petitions, but it wasn't enough for this year. The votes were closer this year than they had ever been, but close is still discouraging. During the table conferencing, I had to sit next to a pastor who said he still believes GLBT is a lifestyle choice and un-Biblical.
The budget was adopted nearly unanimously; it is 2% increase over last year. Several of us pointed out during the table discussions that the theme of this year's annual conference was that we need to change--we can't keep doing what we've been doing if we want to change the course of church decline. Yet, the budget represents doing what we've always been doing.
Other resolutions & petitions:
PASSING: Support immigration reform, fully fund the African universities; support 20/20: Visioning an AIDS free world ($20 per member per year, spend 30 minutes in local churches, spend 30 minutes at 2012 Annual Conference); study the UMC's involvement with RCRC; don't shorten the UMC mission statement
FAILING: withdraw from RCRC; stop endorsing abortion; allow churches to serve/sell alcohol (the alcohol one failed unanimously; no one stood to speak in favor of it, only against).
The Transition Team (7 people each from Nebr, Kansas East, Kansas West) has been meeting for 18 months. After all this time, they have advanced a "plan" for this year's AC to consider. However, the entirety of the plan is: create 1 new conference that covers the area previously served by Nebraska, Kansas East, and Kansas West. The new conference will be better. Period. They had lots of pretty words, but there was zero substance to the plan. Many people pointed this out. As recently as March, the goal had been for each of the 3 conferences to vote on becoming 1 conference at this point in time. However, there was enough push-back that instead we did a "five-finger vote" to indicate our level of support for the Transition Team to move forward to create a new Great Plains conference. 5=I am in full support of becoming one conference; 4=I am supportive of becoming one conference, however I have a few questions; 3=I am supportive of becoming one conference, but I have many questions; 2=I am opposed to becoming one conference, but am not willing to halt the process; 1=I am opposed to becoming one conference as it is currently presented. The vote was by ballot: mark one of the 5 boxes, then have space to write questions/concerns/affirmations. The results of the ballot won't be announced until all 3 conferences have had a chance to do this; the Transition Team meets June 13th, and will learn the results then, and post the results on the umcneb.org website.
I pointed out that there really is no plan to vote on. The "plan" is to be "bold," to "thrive not survive," to be "spirit-led," and "risk-taking and creative"; not to be "timid." The Transition Team had zero details to offer. They say the bishop would be freed to be visionary, but there was no plan (such as 4 more district superintendents per region) for who would take on the extra administrative duties. There were no details offered about "technical details"--such as health care, retirement/pensions, and mission shares/apportionments being quite different among the 3 conferences. These technical details aren't as fun as dreaming, but they are critical to the success of a single conference.
It is a done deal that in September of 2012, 1 bishop will be assigned to the 3 conferences. It is likely inevitable that the 3 conferences merge to become one new conference. However, if it took the team 18 months to decide to merge, then it seems highly unlikely that they will produce a viable plan in the next 6-9 months and release it in time for discussion and suggestions prior to a vote June 6-9, 2012. The timeline as currently presented seems unrealistic.
After the table conferencing conversations, one retired pastor told me that the things I said convinced him to vote much lower than he had intended to vote initially. Jim McChesney, Lavina Schwaninger, and I sent a letter to all of the lay delegates prior to the conference urging a vote of "1" to say that this is not a viable plan right now, so we should not support it.
On a different topic, we raised money for UMCOR, after being told that UMCOR is completely out of disaster relief funds for this year--the number of disasters is unprecedented, and the needs greatly exceed the budget. Over $6000 was raised to send to the Alabama tornado victims, and 4000 UMCOR kits were donated.
**Please consider taking a special donation on Sunday June 4, 2011 to support UMCOR. 100% of money donated to UMCOR goes directly to disaster relief, providing food, shelter, and other necessary supplies to victims of tornadoes, fires, floods, hurricanes, and other natural disasters.**
One other task of the 2011 Annual Conference was to elect delegates to represent us at the 2012 General Conference and Jurisdictional Conference. Clergy elected clergy and laity elected laity.
General Conference delegates are: David Lux & Cindy Karges; Tom Watson & Lavina Schwaninger
Jurisdictional Conference delegates are: Charles Muritini & Nan Kaye-Skinner; Lisa Maupin & Katie Karges
Alternates are: Stephanie Ahlschwede & Galen Wray; Marilyn Zehring & Dave Mendyk
If you recognize the names, you can see that the clergy elected a far greater percentage of "progressive" people who will support causes that reconciling United Methodists believe in, than did the laity.
3 small churches are closing, and there are 3 new church starts. Churches are continued to be challenged to "rethink church" and devote more time to reaching out to the community (and have a broad vision of who "community" is).
Thursday, May 26, 2011
RUM Summer update
Reconciling United Methodists of NE, Friends: Another year of great awakenings!
THIS IS YOUR SUMMER NEWS & DATES : SAVE IT and Send it on to friends! Thanks to those helping with summer emailing~
We have over 300 RUM's in NE! Let's make it 400 friends by growing the circle!
Join us at the RMN table in June or go to the website: www.RMNetwork.org :
Go to JOIN US! Cards are available too by calling RMN offices - that you can send in to join! RMN has no membership fee : just a desire for a fully inclusive UMC and commitment to that goal!
Thanks to the WEST Email Contacts: We have FOUR Reconciling Communities in NE and One Reconciling Congregation at Omaha First UMC (thanks omaha),
We are happy to announce New Main Email contacts in the WEST with Robert Wheeler as the new Main Contact and Jo Macintosh assisting (thanks to Margaret Engle for volunteering the past few years - and best wishes moving EAST!
Other WAY WEST Local contacts we are featuring this time: Carolyn Dickinson, Scottsbluff; Mary Ellen Kilmer Harrison, NE and Connie Hansen, Anselmo, Broken Bow area! Thanks to all the emailers and local contacts who lend support to others, listen, get together -- and help us get out reconciling info thru email!
Carolyn Reports -- Way out WEST:
Check out www.amendment10a.org for the latest update on the More Light Presbyterian website. Click on the vote updates near the top sort of right middle.
Presently 94 presbyteries have approved the wording, which so far is 7 more than required. Another 10 presbyteries to go.
By Carolyn Dickinson, Way West
*********************************************
Summer is here! Schools are ending and summer plans are being made!
Try Getting Active 4 AIDS for the UM Global AIDS fund this summer : see attach
We now have 50 AIDS Ambassadors in NE : to become one : andrewb@nap.org
To take ACTION on Inclusive statements go to : www.nebraskarum.blogspot.com
Here are Upcoming Happenings and Ways to Renew your Spirit, offer support this summer to friends:
Update -- Summer Email offering 2 RMN 4 NE Statewide Reconciling Network : Giving is a way to thank volunteers who email, do the new blog, Facebook, gather folks for meetups, organize Rainbows of HOPE Art exhibists, Reconciling tables & events:
We have $95 now to STARTUP our Summer Email Offering to raise $250 for our yearly support this summer -- as an email network of friends (NE Statewide Reconciling Network) Thanks to attending the Birthday Lunch Fundraiser May 11 too!
Thanks to Donors this May / Gifts from: Cathy Denman (Maureen's Birthday), Jim and Donna Lightbody, Wendy, Eric, Brian and Jenna Smith, Maureen and Jay Vetter (everyone's birthday)
To reach our GOAL OF $250 TO RMN this summer: Write checks to RMN, send to Maureen Vetter, 4422 Drake Lane, Grand Island, NE 68801 .. she will record GIFTS and send directly to RMN Ministries in Chicago -- with Sing a NEW SONG CONVO coming IN AUGUST and Gen Conf SPRING 2012!
UPCOMING DATES: Come join us!
May 23: Noon, 313 3rd St, G Island: Thank Scott Taylor for organizing 3 HIV AIDS Benefit concerts in GI so far!
May 28: RAINBOWS OF HOPE Art Exhibit starts at Christ UMC, Great Hall, Lincoln, NE : gather an Art Exhibit locally with children's or art, fibers, quilts, stoles, paintings, drawings of all ages!
May 31: NE MFSA Dinner, 6 PM, Trinity UMC, Lincoln, speaker : Dr Don Messer, Chair of UM Global AIDS Fund, Awards, UM Global AIDS Fund info, $15 per ticket : www.umcneb.org for info - go to UM Connects : the weekly news from NE UMC Conference : see articles on Don Messer coming!
June 1 - 4: Annual Conference, St Marks UMC Lincoln: RMN Table: Betty: bobcdorr@cox.net , HIV AIDS Table, Bill: biobb@bellsouth.net Volunteer today! Thanks to all delegates too!
June 3, Friday morning worship 8:30 am, Annual Conference, St Marks UMC Lincoln, 84th St South : Special Offering for UM Global AIDS fund, Visitors welcome
COME TO OUR TABLES to get info and make new friends! Thanks to ALL the volunteers in may and june~
June 4: Noon, 313 3rd Street, G Island : Thank You Lunch 4 Becca and Breanne Preisendorf, Becca worked hard to start the first GSA at GISH; Breanne, leadership: Bring donations checks to GSA, GISH or cash 4 GISH GSA (Grand Island Sr High Gay Straight Alliance)
June 4, 5 : 24th Annual Danish Days, Dannebrog with Pawnee Art Center, readings, signings: Celebrate Diversity!
June 24-25 : Heartland Pride : Omaha ----- June 25 Parade: 10th and Pacific Get together! Get a table!
June 24-26 : Ethnic Festival, G Island Celebrate Diversity downtown, 3rd st area, www.grand-island.com/ethnic
July 9 : Grain Place Farm Tour Day, near Marquette ,NE ( see website for info and reservations ) : Renew your health and spirit, learn about organic foods, local foods in NE; Visit FROGS this summer: the new Organic food grocery in Wolbach, NE : First Rural Organic Grocery Store (friends from Open Hearts Reconciling Community)
July 15 - 17: Lincoln Pride Event : weekend go to Website and Facebook ; Get together! Get a Table!
August : Get a Team Together for AIDS walks in NE Sept 18 ( www.nap.org )
Sept 19 : Welcome Alliance GSA back to Hastings College: Potluck: Hastings PFLAG, Open Hearts hosting
Oct 11 : Coming Out Day and Week : get together with friends! Lend support!
Nov : Thanksgiving Get togethers, coffee get togethers! Give thanks and share Awakening stories
Dec 1 : World AIDS Day, Special offerings, Fundraisers for UM Global AIDS fund Dec 4 in NE
BELIEVE OUT LOUD - Reconciling Goes on the Road to events in NE this summer!
Another Great year of Spiritual Awakenings through Meetups, email, events, support groups, books, writing and telling our stories!
Read Awakening books this summer or write an Awakening Story for fall to share locally in your groups -- with friends drinking coffee or tea (one page front and back that people could print )
www.RMNetwork.org with Sing a new Song CONVO coming in August sponsored by RMN and MFSA .. if you are going let us know! mvetter@charter.net or wsmith28@gmail.com or lizabethjoan@aol.com We know of one person attending so far!
Thanks to EVERYONE who helps through VOLUNTEERING .. our group email network would not work without lots of volunteers and lots of time, energy, home computers, in house donations and passion! Thanks everyone!
Maureen Vetter and Wendy Smith, mvetter@charter.net and wsmith28@gmail.com
NE Statewide Reonciling Network Contacts Emails and www.nebraskarum.blogspot.com
Our group Facebook is being redone for new group Facebook formats!
PRN contacts, Local reconciling contacts,
Main Email Reconciling contacts -- recruit your children, youth and young adult contacts locally now!
We wish all GRADUATES a more fully inclusive world and faith communities -- congrats with graduations!
THIS IS YOUR SUMMER NEWS & DATES : SAVE IT and Send it on to friends! Thanks to those helping with summer emailing~
We have over 300 RUM's in NE! Let's make it 400 friends by growing the circle!
Join us at the RMN table in June or go to the website: www.RMNetwork.org :
Go to JOIN US! Cards are available too by calling RMN offices - that you can send in to join! RMN has no membership fee : just a desire for a fully inclusive UMC and commitment to that goal!
Thanks to the WEST Email Contacts: We have FOUR Reconciling Communities in NE and One Reconciling Congregation at Omaha First UMC (thanks omaha),
We are happy to announce New Main Email contacts in the WEST with Robert Wheeler as the new Main Contact and Jo Macintosh assisting (thanks to Margaret Engle for volunteering the past few years - and best wishes moving EAST!
Other WAY WEST Local contacts we are featuring this time: Carolyn Dickinson, Scottsbluff; Mary Ellen Kilmer Harrison, NE and Connie Hansen, Anselmo, Broken Bow area! Thanks to all the emailers and local contacts who lend support to others, listen, get together -- and help us get out reconciling info thru email!
Carolyn Reports -- Way out WEST:
Check out www.amendment10a.org for the latest update on the More Light Presbyterian website. Click on the vote updates near the top sort of right middle.
Presently 94 presbyteries have approved the wording, which so far is 7 more than required. Another 10 presbyteries to go.
By Carolyn Dickinson, Way West
*********************************************
Summer is here! Schools are ending and summer plans are being made!
Try Getting Active 4 AIDS for the UM Global AIDS fund this summer : see attach
We now have 50 AIDS Ambassadors in NE : to become one : andrewb@nap.org
To take ACTION on Inclusive statements go to : www.nebraskarum.blogspot.com
Here are Upcoming Happenings and Ways to Renew your Spirit, offer support this summer to friends:
Update -- Summer Email offering 2 RMN 4 NE Statewide Reconciling Network : Giving is a way to thank volunteers who email, do the new blog, Facebook, gather folks for meetups, organize Rainbows of HOPE Art exhibists, Reconciling tables & events:
We have $95 now to STARTUP our Summer Email Offering to raise $250 for our yearly support this summer -- as an email network of friends (NE Statewide Reconciling Network) Thanks to attending the Birthday Lunch Fundraiser May 11 too!
Thanks to Donors this May / Gifts from: Cathy Denman (Maureen's Birthday), Jim and Donna Lightbody, Wendy, Eric, Brian and Jenna Smith, Maureen and Jay Vetter (everyone's birthday)
To reach our GOAL OF $250 TO RMN this summer: Write checks to RMN, send to Maureen Vetter, 4422 Drake Lane, Grand Island, NE 68801 .. she will record GIFTS and send directly to RMN Ministries in Chicago -- with Sing a NEW SONG CONVO coming IN AUGUST and Gen Conf SPRING 2012!
UPCOMING DATES: Come join us!
May 23: Noon, 313 3rd St, G Island: Thank Scott Taylor for organizing 3 HIV AIDS Benefit concerts in GI so far!
May 28: RAINBOWS OF HOPE Art Exhibit starts at Christ UMC, Great Hall, Lincoln, NE : gather an Art Exhibit locally with children's or art, fibers, quilts, stoles, paintings, drawings of all ages!
May 31: NE MFSA Dinner, 6 PM, Trinity UMC, Lincoln, speaker : Dr Don Messer, Chair of UM Global AIDS Fund, Awards, UM Global AIDS Fund info, $15 per ticket : www.umcneb.org for info - go to UM Connects : the weekly news from NE UMC Conference : see articles on Don Messer coming!
June 1 - 4: Annual Conference, St Marks UMC Lincoln: RMN Table: Betty: bobcdorr@cox.net , HIV AIDS Table, Bill: biobb@bellsouth.net Volunteer today! Thanks to all delegates too!
June 3, Friday morning worship 8:30 am, Annual Conference, St Marks UMC Lincoln, 84th St South : Special Offering for UM Global AIDS fund, Visitors welcome
COME TO OUR TABLES to get info and make new friends! Thanks to ALL the volunteers in may and june~
June 4: Noon, 313 3rd Street, G Island : Thank You Lunch 4 Becca and Breanne Preisendorf, Becca worked hard to start the first GSA at GISH; Breanne, leadership: Bring donations checks to GSA, GISH or cash 4 GISH GSA (Grand Island Sr High Gay Straight Alliance)
June 4, 5 : 24th Annual Danish Days, Dannebrog with Pawnee Art Center, readings, signings: Celebrate Diversity!
June 24-25 : Heartland Pride : Omaha ----- June 25 Parade: 10th and Pacific Get together! Get a table!
June 24-26 : Ethnic Festival, G Island Celebrate Diversity downtown, 3rd st area, www.grand-island.com/ethnic
July 9 : Grain Place Farm Tour Day, near Marquette ,NE ( see website for info and reservations ) : Renew your health and spirit, learn about organic foods, local foods in NE; Visit FROGS this summer: the new Organic food grocery in Wolbach, NE : First Rural Organic Grocery Store (friends from Open Hearts Reconciling Community)
July 15 - 17: Lincoln Pride Event : weekend go to Website and Facebook ; Get together! Get a Table!
August : Get a Team Together for AIDS walks in NE Sept 18 ( www.nap.org )
Sept 19 : Welcome Alliance GSA back to Hastings College: Potluck: Hastings PFLAG, Open Hearts hosting
Oct 11 : Coming Out Day and Week : get together with friends! Lend support!
Nov : Thanksgiving Get togethers, coffee get togethers! Give thanks and share Awakening stories
Dec 1 : World AIDS Day, Special offerings, Fundraisers for UM Global AIDS fund Dec 4 in NE
BELIEVE OUT LOUD - Reconciling Goes on the Road to events in NE this summer!
Another Great year of Spiritual Awakenings through Meetups, email, events, support groups, books, writing and telling our stories!
Read Awakening books this summer or write an Awakening Story for fall to share locally in your groups -- with friends drinking coffee or tea (one page front and back that people could print )
www.RMNetwork.org with Sing a new Song CONVO coming in August sponsored by RMN and MFSA .. if you are going let us know! mvetter@charter.net or wsmith28@gmail.com or lizabethjoan@aol.com We know of one person attending so far!
Thanks to EVERYONE who helps through VOLUNTEERING .. our group email network would not work without lots of volunteers and lots of time, energy, home computers, in house donations and passion! Thanks everyone!
Maureen Vetter and Wendy Smith, mvetter@charter.net and wsmith28@gmail.com
NE Statewide Reonciling Network Contacts Emails and www.nebraskarum.blogspot.com
Our group Facebook is being redone for new group Facebook formats!
PRN contacts, Local reconciling contacts,
Main Email Reconciling contacts -- recruit your children, youth and young adult contacts locally now!
We wish all GRADUATES a more fully inclusive world and faith communities -- congrats with graduations!
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Benefit Concert: Posters / 3rd Annual HIV AIDS Benefit concert. Friday April 8, 7 pm: TUMC, G Island How u can help!
Working for an AIDS - Free World! APRIL 8, 2011
Help Clients with Medical Emergencies at NAP (NE AIDS PROJECT) Kearney : Trinity UMC Emergency HIV AIDS fund!
Let's join together and make music to make a difference!
3rd Annual HIV AIDS Benefit Concert, Gollaher Chapel, April 8
Trinity UMC, 511 N Elm, Grand Island, NE 68801
Doors open at 6:15 PM, Come and get info on HIV AIDS & health
Four Musicians Sharing at 7 PM : Scott Taylor, Paul Siebert, Peggy Lang, Emily Dunbar
Intermission, DVD's for sale, Freewill offerings, Blankets of Love
(bring new blankets for clients at NAP kearney)
Bring YOURSELF friends, cookies for intermission to share at Intermission, red baskets 4 donations, AIDSribbons / bracelets an, household items for clients and donations! Suggested donation: $5 or more if you can give more!
Gifts/Checks: TUMC, in the memo : Emergency HIV AIDS Fund
Send to: TUMC, 511 N Elm St, Grand Island, NE 68801
Working for an AIDS Free World! www.umglobalaidsfund.org
Note: The Power of Hope fundraiser Attached was last Sunday night and a success in Kearney!
We have a SECOND fundraiser for HIV AIDS this week April 8, Friday night!
Join us at Trinity UMC, 5th and Elm, Grand Island in Gollaher Chapel/ Hall
(west end of the building, use South side doors) with 4 area musicians
lending support with music for the 3rd Annual Grand Island HIV AIDS Benefit concert!
Tell your friends! Print the attached flyer!
See the musicians on the poster and print it out, give to friends, hang it at work!
The Daily NE at UNL is running a story about the concert today we think!
We will have Freewill offerings all evening and at Intermission to raise funds!
Bring cookies, bars or cupcakes if you want to help - bring household items for clients at NAP kearney
or Blankets of love .. new blankets!
Come at 6:30 for info on HIV AIDS and visiting with the musicians!
For questions call Trinity UMC 308-382-1952 offices or First Christian, GI (Scott Taylor)
Thanks to Rev Scott Taylor for organizing this event with the help of the TUMC World AIDS Day Team and Missions Committee!
The proceeds help raise money for the TUMC Emergency HIV AIDS fund that give assistance to
those battling HIV AIDS with medical emergencies at NAP kearney! www.nap.org
To BECOME an AIDS Ambassador in the UMC (promote UM Global AIDS Fund offering, give yourself and pray for
those with HIV AIDS and this fund, contact Andrew : casemanager2@kearneynap.org
or Bill : biobb@bellsouth.net or maureen : mvetter@charter.net
We have FIFTY AIDS ambassadors in NE Local UM churches and we want 350 - 400!
For more about the UM Global AIDS Fund Task Force in NE : www.umcneb.org/AIDS
For more on the UM Global AIDS fund: www.umglobalaidsfund.org
Thanks tons! Maureen Vetter, World AIDS Day Team at TUMC, TUMC Mission Committee Chair,
UM Global AIDS Fund Co Chair, Open Hearts Reconciling Community Contact,
Nebraska Statewide Reconciling Network Contact: Group Facebook & blog:
www.nebraskarum.blogspot.org RMN or Reconciling Ministries Network: www.RMNetwork.org
Help Clients with Medical Emergencies at NAP (NE AIDS PROJECT) Kearney : Trinity UMC Emergency HIV AIDS fund!
Let's join together and make music to make a difference!
3rd Annual HIV AIDS Benefit Concert, Gollaher Chapel, April 8
Trinity UMC, 511 N Elm, Grand Island, NE 68801
Doors open at 6:15 PM, Come and get info on HIV AIDS & health
Four Musicians Sharing at 7 PM : Scott Taylor, Paul Siebert, Peggy Lang, Emily Dunbar
Intermission, DVD's for sale, Freewill offerings, Blankets of Love
(bring new blankets for clients at NAP kearney)
Bring YOURSELF friends, cookies for intermission to share at Intermission, red baskets 4 donations, AIDSribbons / bracelets an, household items for clients and donations! Suggested donation: $5 or more if you can give more!
Gifts/Checks: TUMC, in the memo : Emergency HIV AIDS Fund
Send to: TUMC, 511 N Elm St, Grand Island, NE 68801
Working for an AIDS Free World! www.umglobalaidsfund.org
Note: The Power of Hope fundraiser Attached was last Sunday night and a success in Kearney!
We have a SECOND fundraiser for HIV AIDS this week April 8, Friday night!
Join us at Trinity UMC, 5th and Elm, Grand Island in Gollaher Chapel/ Hall
(west end of the building, use South side doors) with 4 area musicians
lending support with music for the 3rd Annual Grand Island HIV AIDS Benefit concert!
Tell your friends! Print the attached flyer!
See the musicians on the poster and print it out, give to friends, hang it at work!
The Daily NE at UNL is running a story about the concert today we think!
We will have Freewill offerings all evening and at Intermission to raise funds!
Bring cookies, bars or cupcakes if you want to help - bring household items for clients at NAP kearney
or Blankets of love .. new blankets!
Come at 6:30 for info on HIV AIDS and visiting with the musicians!
For questions call Trinity UMC 308-382-1952 offices or First Christian, GI (Scott Taylor)
Thanks to Rev Scott Taylor for organizing this event with the help of the TUMC World AIDS Day Team and Missions Committee!
The proceeds help raise money for the TUMC Emergency HIV AIDS fund that give assistance to
those battling HIV AIDS with medical emergencies at NAP kearney! www.nap.org
To BECOME an AIDS Ambassador in the UMC (promote UM Global AIDS Fund offering, give yourself and pray for
those with HIV AIDS and this fund, contact Andrew : casemanager2@kearneynap.org
or Bill : biobb@bellsouth.net or maureen : mvetter@charter.net
We have FIFTY AIDS ambassadors in NE Local UM churches and we want 350 - 400!
For more about the UM Global AIDS Fund Task Force in NE : www.umcneb.org/AIDS
For more on the UM Global AIDS fund: www.umglobalaidsfund.org
Thanks tons! Maureen Vetter, World AIDS Day Team at TUMC, TUMC Mission Committee Chair,
UM Global AIDS Fund Co Chair, Open Hearts Reconciling Community Contact,
Nebraska Statewide Reconciling Network Contact: Group Facebook & blog:
www.nebraskarum.blogspot.org RMN or Reconciling Ministries Network: www.RMNetwork.org
April New: NE Statewide Reconciling Network: Ap 18 LGBT Health Town Hall at Saint Paul UMC, Lincoln, dates, petitions, info
NE Reconciling U Methodists and friends: Another Great Year of Spiritual Awakenings!
Pass this NEWS on to friends! See our new blog for info: www.Nebraskarum@blogsot.com and Group Facebook : Nebraska Statewide Reconciling Network and www.RMNetwork.org
Sorry i have had the blog wrong the last few times! I apologize!
During Lent and Easter : Seek out Spiritual Partners for your faith journey,
renew yourself spiritually each week .. seek out marginalized friends or
persons different from you to enrich your life! Find new ways to be
inclusive in your local church, your faith group and friends!
Challenge: Another year of Spiritual Awakenings and Actions!
We are Taking Reconciling on the Road daily as you meetup with other
reconciling friends in Nebraska and beyond, go to events, advocate for justice, go to events,
lend support - You are Called to Witness and Believe Out loud as you sign up
friends to be Reconciling United Methodists (online at www.RMNetwork.org) as
you give to RMN and GLBT ministries ... and tell stories! Gather Rainbows
of HOPE this spring and summer to share with others!
NEWS: Get involved in Pride events this summer in Lincoln and Omaha : give
out info about your reconciling group!
April 1 is the day that Jimmy Creech's new book is out - published
through the Duke U Press! Go online to find this moving story and journey
in the book :: "ADAM's GIFT" by Jimmy Creech - justice & hope!
It is also our story together as people of faith! "Adam's Gift" has a longer title as a memoir!
Read it as a group or SS class this summer or get a few friends to order it and share about it!
Nominations were due April 1: for the MFSA Jimmy Creech Profile of Justice College Student Award / Scholarship!
Contact person: Zach Anderson : zachan85@gmail.com
Another book out: David Weekly as author: In From the Wilderness, his journey as a UMC transgender pastor -- go to RMN webpage www.RMNetwork.org or Church Within a Church for more info: www.cwac.us
Did you know that there are TWO Reconciling Congregations in Tucson, AZ? St Francis of the Foothills UMC and First UMC, Tucson!
Celebrate Reconciling Communities, Welcoming and affirming congregations and
Reconciling Congregations like Omaha First umc who organize Horizons of
Faith each year and do inclusive work faithfully -- and our four reconciling communities in NE: AWE Christ umc, Lincoln; RUMOLA Lincoln; Open Hearts Grand Island and NE statewide Reconciling community, our group
email network of reconciling friends in NE
Go to RMN Facebook, to www.RMNetwork.org for info on Reconciling Ministries Network!
Go to our Nebraska Statewide Reconciling Network Group FACEBOOK today.. or our new blog: www.Nebraskarum.blogspot.com Thanks to Wendy Smith of Christ UMC, Lincoln for administering FB and our
new blog!
*************************************
We hope that April showers bring May Flowers --- and June Rainbows of HOPE in your local churches!
Plan to gather Rainbows of HOPE this spring for art shows, Quilts and
Fibers, Children's Rainbow art displayed, Rainbow Photos displayed,
Rainbow Suitcases or baskets with Rainbow things to share with others as a
fundraiser, Rainbow Tables, Rainbow Sunday, Rainbow Bake sales or Rainbow
Movie night, Sign up party, RMN Rainbow Birthday Lunch Fundraiser or a
Rainbow meetup for coffee!
If you want to bring Rainbows things (from origami to stoles, pins, ribbons
to wear) to Annual Conference for the Reconciling table, bring them on June
1 to the RMN table at St marks UMC on 84th street south -- Betty Dorr of
Omaha First UMC will be there at the RMN table of hope and rainbows,
volunteer to help her out or bring info on a group or project, pride event
for the Reconciling Table to affirm all God's children : bobcdorr@cox.net
If you want to donate Rainbow items to the OPEN HEARTS Reconciling
Community Rainbow Suitcase for events contact Mvetter@charter.net
Our Open Hearts group in Grand Island is hoping to start a Rainbow Suitcase
for Gatherings and Reconciling on the Road events along with a Rainbow Crate
of GLBT and allies RESOURCES -- like DVD's, music, books, magazines, book
studies, GLBT studies for the group here -- you might want to do this in your group?
THANKS for ALL THE DONATIONS this past winter! WE are very grateful! Seek
out Resources at the Resource Center in Lincoln at Conference offices too!
www.umcneb.org through Diane .. they have the DVD: Call Me Malcolm and
other GLBT, faith resources! Donate to the Resource Center in Lincoln too!
The DVD: FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO would be a great one to donate to the NE UMC Resource
Center, your church library or share in local groups or start a Rainbow Crate with Resources locally! *
*At Open Hearts we could use a copy of the DVD "INCOMPATIBLE with Christian Teaching" when it goes
on Sale if someone wants to donate it -- and a copy of the movie "The Kids
are All right" or other notable GLBTQA movies, documentaries for faith groups!
***********************************************************************
Petitions and Resolutions:
1) Omaha First UMC and the HIV AIDS task force in NE have sent in Petitions to
NE Annual Conference for 2012 General Conference on GLBT Legislation
2) The UM Global AIDS FUND and HIV AIDS Task force for the NE UMC has
submitted a Resolution to Annual
Conference for the 20 / 20 Campaign of Visioning an AIDS Free World by
2020 -- giving $20 whenever possible to eliminate HIV AIDS by 2020 as we
respond in faith to persons battling HIV AIDS in NE and beyond!
Send Gifts for UM Global AIDS Fund to the NE Conf Treas : ADVANCE # 578
Global AIDS - so that 25 % of offerings and gifts stays in Ne for local AIDS
projects! see the new URL: www.umcneb.org/AIDS
See the NE UMC Workbook for Annual conference coming out for Petitions to
General Conf 2012 as legislation -- and the HIV AIDS Resolution -- all to be voted on by our NE UMC Annual Conference.
**************************************
Spring Events:
We have some Spring events coming for Reconciling groups and check for PFLAG
meetings, other Inclusive faith groups in your area ------ Collaboration
is a good way to build alliances and allies:
April 8: Take Reconciling on the Road: 7 PM Friday night is the 3rd Annual
HIV AIDS Benefit Concert at TUMC, G island at 5th and Elm. Four musicians from Central NE will SHARE
their SONGS, time and talents to raise funds for the TUMC Emergency HIV AIDS fund! This fund needs to be replenished each year as it gives assistance for medical emergencies at NAP Kearney in Central NE. There are Waiting lists in 21 states for medical emergencies at AIDS centers! NE is one of
them!
April 8 : Come early at 6:30 PM to get info on HIV AIDS in the Gathering
Place at TUMC and testing sites in the area! We celebrate the new TESTING
Site through Trinity UMC in GI with Central Health Center two times a month!
KNOW YOUR STATUS : come get tested the first thurs of each month (am) and
the third Thurs of the month (afternoon). There are many other testing
sites across NE and through NAP in five sites in NE (NE AIDS Project ..
www.nap.org -- or go to STOP AIDS NE or other online resources!
We will have an Intermission at the HIV AIDS Benefit Concert too and
musicians will bring DVD's to sell .. bring cookies if you want to help that
way with Intermission and if you want to help with washing coffee mugs etc!
We hope that this fund brings hope to those battling HIV AIDS in Central NE! Bring new blankets of love
too or household items, cleaning items, personal items to replenish the
caring cupboard at NAP kearney to serve clients in 30 plus counties!
********************************
April 10 : Open Hearts Reconciling Community and Support Group.. 3 PM
with fellowship time at 2:30 PM in the Gathering Place, TUMC, 5th and Elm,
Grand Island, NE.
Program: Sharing stories, Writing up our Stories: Spiritual Awakenings,
upcoming events for GLBT justice and support! Contact Mvetter@charter.net
for info or Mena ottomine1971@gmail.com Bring a snack to share and meet new
friends!
******************************
June 1 - 4, Reconciling Table at NE UMC Annual Conference: Share Rainbow
things you might have or create at this table! Betty Dorr and folks from
Omaha First UMC will staff the table or volunteer : bobcdorr@cox.net today!
June 1 - 4, Special Offering June 3 at 8:30 Worship for UM Global AIDS fund
and HIV AIDS / UM Global AIDS fund Info at the Risk Taking Mission Table, St Marks UMC, Lincoln, IF YOU CAN HELP at the TABLE signing up AIDS Ambassadors and
with and info contact : maureen: mvetter@charter.net or bob: biobb@bellsouth.net
You receive a FREE UMC HIV AIDS Toolkit if you sign up as an AIDS Ambassador
at the Table at Annual Conference (as long as supplies last) or download the
TOOLKIT today yourself at www.umglobalaids.fund.org IT is designed for YOU!
Support the Resolution for the 20/20 Campaign for UM Global AIDS fund in the
NE UMC Annual Conference along with the challenge of $1 per member yearly
approved in 2006 in NE UMC.
*******************************************
Join us by becoming a Reconciling UM in NE -- join the 300 folks in NE by
signing up today : www.RMNetwork.org
If you want to do a Signup party / MEETUP at Annual Conference, movie night
get together, you can organize an events in your local groups and then let
us know~ Thanks to all Local Contacts and Main Email contacts for keeping
the news flowing in NE as volunteers! We have no budget per se and all our
work is in house and through volunteers like YOU ... all of our fundraising
goes to RMN for ministries (chicago offices) and a more fully Inclusive UMC!
See info about SING A NEW SONG the next CONVO for RMN at the website!
www.RMNetwork.org
****************************************************
Important Gathering: Town Hall in Lincoln APRIL 18.. see below:
LGBT TOWNHALL MEETING in Lincoln, April 18, Saint Paul UMC, downtown
FREE PARKING
Enter parking garage on
11th Street, between M
and N Streets. Also ample
street parking.
LGBT COMMUNITY
Physical, Mental, Social & Sexual Health
TOWNHALL
Monday, April 18, 7–8:30
Saint Paul United Methodist
1144 M St, Room 155, Lincoln
Join Dr. Christopher Fisher and Dr. Jay Irwin for preliminary data
from their current research on health issues in the LGBT community,
and a community discussion about how the information should be
analyzed and reported.
What information do you want to see?
How do you want to see the data presented?
What will be most useful for you, LGBT organizations and allies?
The Midlands LGBT Community Needs Assessment was launched at
Omaha Pride 2010. Over 750 lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender
Midlanders who live, work, and play in Nebraska answered questions
about their physical, mental, social, sexual health and the health of the
LGBT community.
Results will be released at Omaha Pride 2011
Dr. Fisher, Assistant Professor of Health Promotion, Social and
Behavioral Health at UNMCs College of Public Health, is the lead investigator.
Co-investigators are Dr.Irwin, UNO Assistant Professor of Sociology, and Dr. Jason Coleman, UNO
Assistant Professor of Health Education. All three have conducted previous research with LGBT populations in Indiana, California, Alabama, and South Carolina. Team also includes UNMC and UNO graduate students. Research sponsored by the University of Nebraska Medical Center's College of Public Health.
****************************************
Support RMN or Reconciling Ministries Network - become a Reconciling UM today! www.RMNetwork.org
Maureen Vetter and Wendy Smith, Statewide Contacts for Group email and Group Facebook & our new blog www.nebraskarum.blogspot.com and wsmith28@gmail.com, Main Email Contacts, PRN contacts and Local Contacts!
Recruit Youth and Young Adult Contacts in your local groups!
Become a local Reconciling contact or start a reconciling coffee group,
book group, Sunday school class, choir, UMW or UMM or support group today!
Let us know : mvetter@charter.net or wendy at wsmith28@gmail.com
For info on the UM global AIDS fund or being an AIDS ambassador and on a District UM Global AIDS fund team : contact Maureen mvetter@charter.net
and Bill black biobb@bellsouth.net
Co chairs of the NE UMC HIV AIDS Task force going for two years Fall 2011. www.umcneb.org/AIDS
www.umglobalaidsfund.org for general info .. send all giving to NE Conf treas so that 25 % of all offerings and fundraisers stay in NE for local AIDS projects with local churches.. we do grants with the 25 % (see URL above)
TIME FOR EGGS and all kinds of spiritual awakenings this spring! We pray for a more fully inclusive and compassionate world!
Pass this NEWS on to friends! See our new blog for info: www.Nebraskarum@blogsot.com and Group Facebook : Nebraska Statewide Reconciling Network and www.RMNetwork.org
Sorry i have had the blog wrong the last few times! I apologize!
During Lent and Easter : Seek out Spiritual Partners for your faith journey,
renew yourself spiritually each week .. seek out marginalized friends or
persons different from you to enrich your life! Find new ways to be
inclusive in your local church, your faith group and friends!
Challenge: Another year of Spiritual Awakenings and Actions!
We are Taking Reconciling on the Road daily as you meetup with other
reconciling friends in Nebraska and beyond, go to events, advocate for justice, go to events,
lend support - You are Called to Witness and Believe Out loud as you sign up
friends to be Reconciling United Methodists (online at www.RMNetwork.org) as
you give to RMN and GLBT ministries ... and tell stories! Gather Rainbows
of HOPE this spring and summer to share with others!
NEWS: Get involved in Pride events this summer in Lincoln and Omaha : give
out info about your reconciling group!
April 1 is the day that Jimmy Creech's new book is out - published
through the Duke U Press! Go online to find this moving story and journey
in the book :: "ADAM's GIFT" by Jimmy Creech - justice & hope!
It is also our story together as people of faith! "Adam's Gift" has a longer title as a memoir!
Read it as a group or SS class this summer or get a few friends to order it and share about it!
Nominations were due April 1: for the MFSA Jimmy Creech Profile of Justice College Student Award / Scholarship!
Contact person: Zach Anderson : zachan85@gmail.com
Another book out: David Weekly as author: In From the Wilderness, his journey as a UMC transgender pastor -- go to RMN webpage www.RMNetwork.org or Church Within a Church for more info: www.cwac.us
Did you know that there are TWO Reconciling Congregations in Tucson, AZ? St Francis of the Foothills UMC and First UMC, Tucson!
Celebrate Reconciling Communities, Welcoming and affirming congregations and
Reconciling Congregations like Omaha First umc who organize Horizons of
Faith each year and do inclusive work faithfully -- and our four reconciling communities in NE: AWE Christ umc, Lincoln; RUMOLA Lincoln; Open Hearts Grand Island and NE statewide Reconciling community, our group
email network of reconciling friends in NE
Go to RMN Facebook, to www.RMNetwork.org for info on Reconciling Ministries Network!
Go to our Nebraska Statewide Reconciling Network Group FACEBOOK today.. or our new blog: www.Nebraskarum.blogspot.com Thanks to Wendy Smith of Christ UMC, Lincoln for administering FB and our
new blog!
*************************************
We hope that April showers bring May Flowers --- and June Rainbows of HOPE in your local churches!
Plan to gather Rainbows of HOPE this spring for art shows, Quilts and
Fibers, Children's Rainbow art displayed, Rainbow Photos displayed,
Rainbow Suitcases or baskets with Rainbow things to share with others as a
fundraiser, Rainbow Tables, Rainbow Sunday, Rainbow Bake sales or Rainbow
Movie night, Sign up party, RMN Rainbow Birthday Lunch Fundraiser or a
Rainbow meetup for coffee!
If you want to bring Rainbows things (from origami to stoles, pins, ribbons
to wear) to Annual Conference for the Reconciling table, bring them on June
1 to the RMN table at St marks UMC on 84th street south -- Betty Dorr of
Omaha First UMC will be there at the RMN table of hope and rainbows,
volunteer to help her out or bring info on a group or project, pride event
for the Reconciling Table to affirm all God's children : bobcdorr@cox.net
If you want to donate Rainbow items to the OPEN HEARTS Reconciling
Community Rainbow Suitcase for events contact Mvetter@charter.net
Our Open Hearts group in Grand Island is hoping to start a Rainbow Suitcase
for Gatherings and Reconciling on the Road events along with a Rainbow Crate
of GLBT and allies RESOURCES -- like DVD's, music, books, magazines, book
studies, GLBT studies for the group here -- you might want to do this in your group?
THANKS for ALL THE DONATIONS this past winter! WE are very grateful! Seek
out Resources at the Resource Center in Lincoln at Conference offices too!
www.umcneb.org through Diane .. they have the DVD: Call Me Malcolm and
other GLBT, faith resources! Donate to the Resource Center in Lincoln too!
The DVD: FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO would be a great one to donate to the NE UMC Resource
Center, your church library or share in local groups or start a Rainbow Crate with Resources locally! *
*At Open Hearts we could use a copy of the DVD "INCOMPATIBLE with Christian Teaching" when it goes
on Sale if someone wants to donate it -- and a copy of the movie "The Kids
are All right" or other notable GLBTQA movies, documentaries for faith groups!
***********************************************************************
Petitions and Resolutions:
1) Omaha First UMC and the HIV AIDS task force in NE have sent in Petitions to
NE Annual Conference for 2012 General Conference on GLBT Legislation
2) The UM Global AIDS FUND and HIV AIDS Task force for the NE UMC has
submitted a Resolution to Annual
Conference for the 20 / 20 Campaign of Visioning an AIDS Free World by
2020 -- giving $20 whenever possible to eliminate HIV AIDS by 2020 as we
respond in faith to persons battling HIV AIDS in NE and beyond!
Send Gifts for UM Global AIDS Fund to the NE Conf Treas : ADVANCE # 578
Global AIDS - so that 25 % of offerings and gifts stays in Ne for local AIDS
projects! see the new URL: www.umcneb.org/AIDS
See the NE UMC Workbook for Annual conference coming out for Petitions to
General Conf 2012 as legislation -- and the HIV AIDS Resolution -- all to be voted on by our NE UMC Annual Conference.
**************************************
Spring Events:
We have some Spring events coming for Reconciling groups and check for PFLAG
meetings, other Inclusive faith groups in your area ------ Collaboration
is a good way to build alliances and allies:
April 8: Take Reconciling on the Road: 7 PM Friday night is the 3rd Annual
HIV AIDS Benefit Concert at TUMC, G island at 5th and Elm. Four musicians from Central NE will SHARE
their SONGS, time and talents to raise funds for the TUMC Emergency HIV AIDS fund! This fund needs to be replenished each year as it gives assistance for medical emergencies at NAP Kearney in Central NE. There are Waiting lists in 21 states for medical emergencies at AIDS centers! NE is one of
them!
April 8 : Come early at 6:30 PM to get info on HIV AIDS in the Gathering
Place at TUMC and testing sites in the area! We celebrate the new TESTING
Site through Trinity UMC in GI with Central Health Center two times a month!
KNOW YOUR STATUS : come get tested the first thurs of each month (am) and
the third Thurs of the month (afternoon). There are many other testing
sites across NE and through NAP in five sites in NE (NE AIDS Project ..
www.nap.org -- or go to STOP AIDS NE or other online resources!
We will have an Intermission at the HIV AIDS Benefit Concert too and
musicians will bring DVD's to sell .. bring cookies if you want to help that
way with Intermission and if you want to help with washing coffee mugs etc!
We hope that this fund brings hope to those battling HIV AIDS in Central NE! Bring new blankets of love
too or household items, cleaning items, personal items to replenish the
caring cupboard at NAP kearney to serve clients in 30 plus counties!
********************************
April 10 : Open Hearts Reconciling Community and Support Group.. 3 PM
with fellowship time at 2:30 PM in the Gathering Place, TUMC, 5th and Elm,
Grand Island, NE.
Program: Sharing stories, Writing up our Stories: Spiritual Awakenings,
upcoming events for GLBT justice and support! Contact Mvetter@charter.net
for info or Mena ottomine1971@gmail.com Bring a snack to share and meet new
friends!
******************************
June 1 - 4, Reconciling Table at NE UMC Annual Conference: Share Rainbow
things you might have or create at this table! Betty Dorr and folks from
Omaha First UMC will staff the table or volunteer : bobcdorr@cox.net today!
June 1 - 4, Special Offering June 3 at 8:30 Worship for UM Global AIDS fund
and HIV AIDS / UM Global AIDS fund Info at the Risk Taking Mission Table, St Marks UMC, Lincoln, IF YOU CAN HELP at the TABLE signing up AIDS Ambassadors and
with and info contact : maureen: mvetter@charter.net or bob: biobb@bellsouth.net
You receive a FREE UMC HIV AIDS Toolkit if you sign up as an AIDS Ambassador
at the Table at Annual Conference (as long as supplies last) or download the
TOOLKIT today yourself at www.umglobalaids.fund.org IT is designed for YOU!
Support the Resolution for the 20/20 Campaign for UM Global AIDS fund in the
NE UMC Annual Conference along with the challenge of $1 per member yearly
approved in 2006 in NE UMC.
*******************************************
Join us by becoming a Reconciling UM in NE -- join the 300 folks in NE by
signing up today : www.RMNetwork.org
If you want to do a Signup party / MEETUP at Annual Conference, movie night
get together, you can organize an events in your local groups and then let
us know~ Thanks to all Local Contacts and Main Email contacts for keeping
the news flowing in NE as volunteers! We have no budget per se and all our
work is in house and through volunteers like YOU ... all of our fundraising
goes to RMN for ministries (chicago offices) and a more fully Inclusive UMC!
See info about SING A NEW SONG the next CONVO for RMN at the website!
www.RMNetwork.org
****************************************************
Important Gathering: Town Hall in Lincoln APRIL 18.. see below:
LGBT TOWNHALL MEETING in Lincoln, April 18, Saint Paul UMC, downtown
FREE PARKING
Enter parking garage on
11th Street, between M
and N Streets. Also ample
street parking.
LGBT COMMUNITY
Physical, Mental, Social & Sexual Health
TOWNHALL
Monday, April 18, 7–8:30
Saint Paul United Methodist
1144 M St, Room 155, Lincoln
Join Dr. Christopher Fisher and Dr. Jay Irwin for preliminary data
from their current research on health issues in the LGBT community,
and a community discussion about how the information should be
analyzed and reported.
What information do you want to see?
How do you want to see the data presented?
What will be most useful for you, LGBT organizations and allies?
The Midlands LGBT Community Needs Assessment was launched at
Omaha Pride 2010. Over 750 lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender
Midlanders who live, work, and play in Nebraska answered questions
about their physical, mental, social, sexual health and the health of the
LGBT community.
Results will be released at Omaha Pride 2011
Dr. Fisher, Assistant Professor of Health Promotion, Social and
Behavioral Health at UNMCs College of Public Health, is the lead investigator.
Co-investigators are Dr.Irwin, UNO Assistant Professor of Sociology, and Dr. Jason Coleman, UNO
Assistant Professor of Health Education. All three have conducted previous research with LGBT populations in Indiana, California, Alabama, and South Carolina. Team also includes UNMC and UNO graduate students. Research sponsored by the University of Nebraska Medical Center's College of Public Health.
****************************************
Support RMN or Reconciling Ministries Network - become a Reconciling UM today! www.RMNetwork.org
Maureen Vetter and Wendy Smith, Statewide Contacts for Group email and Group Facebook & our new blog www.nebraskarum.blogspot.com and wsmith28@gmail.com, Main Email Contacts, PRN contacts and Local Contacts!
Recruit Youth and Young Adult Contacts in your local groups!
Become a local Reconciling contact or start a reconciling coffee group,
book group, Sunday school class, choir, UMW or UMM or support group today!
Let us know : mvetter@charter.net or wendy at wsmith28@gmail.com
For info on the UM global AIDS fund or being an AIDS ambassador and on a District UM Global AIDS fund team : contact Maureen mvetter@charter.net
and Bill black biobb@bellsouth.net
Co chairs of the NE UMC HIV AIDS Task force going for two years Fall 2011. www.umcneb.org/AIDS
www.umglobalaidsfund.org for general info .. send all giving to NE Conf treas so that 25 % of all offerings and fundraisers stay in NE for local AIDS projects with local churches.. we do grants with the 25 % (see URL above)
TIME FOR EGGS and all kinds of spiritual awakenings this spring! We pray for a more fully inclusive and compassionate world!
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Nebraska AIDS task force
Nebraska AIDS task force has a new website: I’m happy to report that people can now readily access the AIDS Task Force page by going to www.umcneb.org/AIDS
AIDS event April 8, 2011
Working for an AIDS - Free World! APRIL 8, 2011
Help Clients with Medical Emergencies at NAP (NE AIDS PROJECT) Kearney : Trinity UMC Emergency HIV AIDS fund!
Let's join together and make music to make a difference!
3rd Annual HIV AIDS Benefit Concert, Gollaher Chapel, April 8
Trinity UMC, 511 N Elm, Grand Island, NE 68801
Doors open at 6:15 PM, Come and get info on HIV AIDS & health
Four Musicians Sharing : Scott Taylor, Paul Siebert, Peggy Lang, Emily Dunbar
Intermission, DVD's for sale, Freewill offerings, Blankets of Love
(bring new blankets for clients at NAP kearney)
Bring red baskets, AIDS ribbons / bracelets and cookies to share at Intermission!
Gifts/Checks: TUMC, in the memo : Emergency HIV AIDS Fund
Send to: TUMC, 511 N Elm St, Grand Island, NE 68801
Working for an AIDS Free World!
Help Clients with Medical Emergencies at NAP (NE AIDS PROJECT) Kearney : Trinity UMC Emergency HIV AIDS fund!
Let's join together and make music to make a difference!
3rd Annual HIV AIDS Benefit Concert, Gollaher Chapel, April 8
Trinity UMC, 511 N Elm, Grand Island, NE 68801
Doors open at 6:15 PM, Come and get info on HIV AIDS & health
Four Musicians Sharing : Scott Taylor, Paul Siebert, Peggy Lang, Emily Dunbar
Intermission, DVD's for sale, Freewill offerings, Blankets of Love
(bring new blankets for clients at NAP kearney)
Bring red baskets, AIDS ribbons / bracelets and cookies to share at Intermission!
Gifts/Checks: TUMC, in the memo : Emergency HIV AIDS Fund
Send to: TUMC, 511 N Elm St, Grand Island, NE 68801
Working for an AIDS Free World!
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
AIDS: action item
Reconciling United Methodists of NE and friends: We need your help writing and calling your senators and the senators in NE with emails below on the Judiciary committee! Please pass this on to friend and neighbors! Writing personal notes
and letters, emails, calls to senators are always very effective! Always be respectful! Thank you NAP! The Hearing is Feb 8 - so contact senators before that date!
See information on LB 226 below!
Maureen Vetter and Wendy Smith, NE RMN Email Contacts, see our new blog: www.nebraskarum.blogspot.org
PS Info on SING A NEW SONG CONVO sponsored the Reconciling Ministries Network and MFSA on the latest Flashnet for RMN website.. sign up today to be an RUM (Reconciling United Methodist) TEN NEW RECONCILING COMMUNITIES the last two mos with RMN! www.RMNetwork.org Group FACEBOOK: Nebraska Statewide Reconciling Network
Hello all,
I’m sure some, if not all, of you are aware of LB 226 (the Assault with Bodily Fluid bill) in the Nebraska Legislature. The bill is designed to protect law enforcement and public safety officers from getting attacked with a person’s bodily fluids. The protection of law enforcement officers is a worthy cause, HOWEVER the bill singles out HIV and Hepatitis as well as dramatically increases the penalty for individuals living with HIV or Hep. No other “assault with bodily fluid” statute in any other state singles out specific pathogens or conditions. The specific naming of HIV only increases fear and stigma which will give people a disincentive to get tested for HIV. The bill was introduced by Senator Gloor of Grand Island, on behalf of Attorney General Bruning. The hearing for this bill is fast approaching, February 8th.
I’ve been working with Senator Gloor’s office and they have been VERY helpful, especially his legislative aide Margaret. Through working with her there is a very small possibility of amendments that remove the language targeting and increasing the penalty for people living with HIV or Hepatitis for broader language that does not increase stigma. Again, a very small possibility.
I am writing you today to ask that you activate your personal networks to contact Senators and voice opposition to this bill. Let’s be clear, we are all in favor of the protection of law enforcement and public safety officers, but the way this bill is written and the way it targets HIV causes more harm than good, especially since already existing assault statutes (like those in other states) are more than adequate in dealing with this issue.
We need to make special efforts to voice our opinions to Senator Gloor, as well as the Senators on the Judiciary Committee. Phone or email works. You will probably speak to one of their staff. Please remember to be respectful in voicing your opinion.
Senator Gloor, Grand Island (introducer): (402) 471-2617, mgloor@leg.ne.gov
Senator Ashford, Omaha (Chair of Judiciary): (402) 471-2622, bashford@leg.ne.gov
Senator Colby Coash, Lincoln (Judiciary): (402) 471-2632, ccoash@leg.ne.gov
Senator Brenda Council, Omaha (Judiciary): (402) 471-2612, bcouncil@leg.ne.gov
Senator Burke Harr, Omaha (Judiciary): (402) 471-2722, bharr@leg.ne.gov
Senator Tyson Larson, O’Neill/Randolph (Judiciary): (402) 471-2801, tlarson@leg.ne.gov
Senator Steve Lathrop, Omaha (Judiciary): (402) 471-2623, slathrop@leg.ne.gov
Senator Scott Laughtenbaugh, Omaha/Blair (Judiciary): (402) 471-2618, slaughtenbaugh@leg.ne.gov
Senator Amanda McGill, Lincoln (Judiciary): (402) 471-2610, amcgill@leg.ne.gov
Here is a copy of the bill: http://www.
(I’ve already voiced to them concerns about confusing language and that the named “acquired immunodeficiency virus does not exist”)
Some basic talking points 1) Criminalizing spitting and biting of HIV positive persons flies in the face of all established science; 2) It codifies discrimination and the exceptional treatment of HIV (and in this case Hepatitis) which encourages stigma; 3) In light of the actual risk of harm to police and correctional officers, the punishment is draconian; 4) The proposed language puts serious strain on the relationship between doctors and HIV positive patients and undermines the hard work that public health professionals do; and 5) The proposed bill contradicts the National AIDS Strategy.
The biggest point to communicate is: we are all in favor of the protection of law enforcement and public safety officers, but the way this bill is written and the way it targets HIV causes more harm than good, especially since already existing assault statutes (like those in other states) are more than adequate in dealing with this issue.
Please send this out to people interested. Remember the hearing is scheduled for Feb 8. Please contact your Senators before then!
Feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns!
Best,
Jordan Delmundo MPA, MSW
Grants and Public Policy Manager
Nebraska AIDS Project
250 S. 77th St. Suite A
Omaha, NE 68114
(402) 552-9260 x115
Events & Human Rights Campaign
HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN is seeking help with posting resources people have written! see below! Pass this on to friends! Check out Human Rights Campaign and their work .. they have a Religion and Faith Program and Work area!
www.hrc.org Collaborate with other groups, other faiths, PFLAG, NAP (Ne AIDS Project) in your town or area!
To become an AIDS Ambassador in your local church, contact Maureen Vetter today : mvetter@charter.net Go to the website to learn more about UM Global AIDS fund started in 2004 in the United Methodist Church and 2006 in NE! $1 a member is the goal for each church and a new campaign is going to give $20 a year per person .. 20 X 20 Visioning for an AIDS Free world! go towww.umglobalaidfund.org for more info and an upcoming conference on African American Women and AIDS early March in SC.. we would love to hear someone from NE is going! Totals for NE offerings in 2010 are coming!
Maureen and Wendy, NE RMN Email contacts .....
PS check out www.RMNetwork.org and sign up as a Reconciling United Methodist today online -- go to Sign up on the home page and our new NE blog: www.nebraskarum.blogspot.com or go to our GROUPS page for facebook -- Nebraska Statewide Reconciling Network --- let's grow the number of reconciling friends around NE and beyond for inclusive church :
Remember it is : ANOTHER GREAT YEAR OF SPIRITUAL AWAKENING -- Seek ways to awaken your spiritual life in your personal actions and in your faith community.. seek our spiritual partners to share joys and concerns, laments .. remember lamentations?
We invite you to seek a faith group or reconciling group! Believe OUT LOUD and take Reconciling on the Road.. carpool to events, read Bishop Spong books for March and Horizons of Faith or even if you cannot go! Share with some local friends, meet at a coffee shop and keep the conversations going! Tell your sacred stories to friends, each others, in groups as a witness to others!
Send Gifts to RMN - Reconciling Ministries Network through local groups and offerings, fundraisers or send directly to RMN in Chicago either online or snail mail! RMN operates through our gifts / offerings as many grants are gone!
We will have a Summer Email Offering again this summer for our NE Statewide group of friends since we are an "official" Reconciling community! We send all gifts to RMN in statewide network and groups!
Keep warm! Be watching for Rainbows of HOPE this spring!
Try to find a Bishop John Shelby Spong book to read this winter/spring! STRETCH YOUR THINKING!
He is the featured speaker / theologian at Horizons of Faith Tenth Anniversary march 25 - 27 at Omaha first umc.. www.horizonsoffaith.com for registering and info! Or Do your own Bishop Spong read or get a few folks together to reflect..
he has written 20 books of new thinking and openness to awakening our spiritual senses! His new book is Eternal life .. others are : Why Christianity must change or die and more! Go online and he has a website for daily inspiration!
----- Original Message -----
From: Religion
Cc: Joanna Blotner ; Sharon Groves
Sent: Friday, January 21, 2011 12:15 PM
Subject: Seeking Sermons, Spiritual Reflections and Other Inspirational Resources
Greetings!
I hope this message finds you well. HRC’s Religion and Faith Program is in the process of updating itsSermons & Spiritual Reflections archive and we’re asking for your help with this undertaking. If you have given a sermon recently (within the last year) on issues relating to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender equality – becoming an affirming congregation, LGBT public policy issues, responding to youth suicides and bullying, inviting LGBT sisters & brothers to the table, overcoming oppression, etc – we’d love to feature your words of wisdom as a resource for others in the community seeking inspiration.
Please send sermons, spiritual reflections, speeches, op-eds, liturgical resources, blessings, etc toreligion@hrc.org. In that email please include your title, name, congregation/organization, date the sermon was delivered, and any other information you deem necessary so that we may properly cite and attribute the content provided. All submissions for our Sermons and Spirituals Reflections resource page will be vetted prior to posting and due to volume constraints we cannot guarantee our ability to post all materials submitted.
Thank you very much for your contributions and assistance,
~ Joanna
Joanna Blotner | Religion & Faith Program Coordinator | Human Rights Campaign Foundationjoanna.blotner@hrc.org | 202.572.8973 | 866.892.7459 (fax)
1640 Rhode Island Ave NW; Washington, DC 20036
Join us at the 2011 Clergy Call for Justice and Equality
May 22-24, 2011 | Washington, DC
RSVP now: www.hrc.org/ClergyCall
Lowen Kruse & MLK
After an extremely hectic January, I'm catching up on the blogging now.
Reconciling United Methodists in Nebraska and friends: (see reflection below by Lowen Kruse in honor of MLK birthday)
Our new theme for NE Statewide Reconciling Network is "Another Great Spiritual Awakening" along with "Reconciling on the Road" and "Believe OUT LOUD!" We hope to highlight other great spiritual awakenings in history as we seek new SPIRITUAL Awakenings in our own lives.
In light of the last week of horrifying events in Tucson, we have had -- Another GREAT Spiritual Awakening as a nation. We were not even counting on having a great spiritual awakening this week. It came "out of the blue" along with a call to look at ourselves, to find spiritual comfort and healing, to find ways to reach out to others and share, support do service, more caring actions and to seek spiritual partners! Our prayers went up and came down .... back to us each day.
Now with Rev Martin Luther King Jr's Birthday weekend coming before us, we hope we can find ways to go forward in our lives, in our faith groups, in our communities and work, volunteering with friends and neighbors as we send prayers to persons in Tucson! MLK's life and death have together been a huge spiritual awakening too as we dream the dream of a more whole world.
Our prayer is to OPEN OUR EYES to ways to reach out to neighbors and persons in our communties in love and service.
Start a reconciling support group and find ways you can support each other / reach out! Become an AIDS Ambassador this year for UM Global AIDS fund .. write us and we will help you get started mvetter@charter.net and wsmith28@gmail.com
Start a book group, make music, do service, meet some new people who are different from you.
Sing a NEW SONG event is opening Registration at www.RMNetwork.org and Horizons of faith Weekend with Bishop Spong in Omaha is opening registrations too: www.horizonsoffaith.com Read some Bishop Spong books.. he has twenty of them!
We are sharing what Rev Lowen Kruse sent today as his "Krusin the Capital" Reflection as another spiritual awakening!
Thanks Lowen as you didn't know you were going to be our spiritual awakening today! ----
Maureen Vetter and Wendy Smith, Email contacts for NE Statewide Reconciling Network an official reconciling community of www.RMNetwork.org See our NE group Facebook: Nebraska Statewide Reconciling Network or our new blog: www.Nebraskarum.
Become a Reconciling UM today by going to the main website for RMN to SIGN UP .. join the over 300 NE Reconciling folks who have signed on!
Upcoming dates: Immigration workshop at First UMC, Lincoln, Jan 16 from 1:30 on; Ecumenical Legislative Day, Feb 12, Christ UMC, Lincoln; A Greater Spectrum ART SHOW: African American Artists in NE 1912 - 2010, Museum of NE Art, Kearney downtown, Dec 4 - April 3, 2011, ground breaking art show; Horizons of Faith, Omaha First UMC, March 25 - 27, Tenth anniversary, www.horizonsoffaith.com with Bishop John Shelby Spong coming as Theologian for the 10th Annivesary!
He has 20 books out and a new one called ETERNAL LIFE.. good reading for Reconciling groups! SING A NEW SONG RMN Convocation coming! Go to the website for info: www.RMNetwork.org Other groups: Church Within A Church : www.cwac.us Human Rights Campaign: www.hrc.org Soulforce: www.soulforce.org and NE PLAG groups, omaha, Lincoln, Grand island, NE AIDS Project: www.nap.org UM global AIDS fund: www.umglobalaidsfund.org Feb
******************************
----- Original Message -----
From: Lowen Kruse
Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2011 10:48 AM
Subject: Krusing the Capitol, 2011, January
Protesters Rescued Me
by Lowen Kruse
Fifty years ago our country was in the midst of Civil Rights protests that shook our society. And changed us. “Freedom” for slaves was declared in 1863, but in 1963 descendents of slaves were not free to vote, or to ride any bus, or to eat at any lunch counter, or to stay at any hotel, or to attend any school or to walk on any sidewalk. We were a racist society and many of us saw little chance of change. Bold protesters showed us how to respond to mean.
A Black Christian leader, with a brilliant mind and instinctive insights in planning for true change, thought 1963 was the time to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation. Bayard Rustin, a quiet hero of those gritty protesters, was the key mover of the March on Washington in 1963. He recruited fluent, respected leaders to summarize the case for reform. So many (of several races) had given so much in the mayhem of racial madness that it was not hard to recruit hardy souls to join others at a crowded national mall.
There Martin Luther King, Jr. declared “I have a dream” and summarized the longing of those who had fought in literal war zones. A secretary, who prompted King to use the dream sequence as he was going to the podium, is a symbol of the broad support base. A researcher who has thoroughly studied the people, places and politics of the movement, Charles Euchner states correctly that the familiar title was not the heart of what King had prepared. As dramatic as ‘dream’ was in unifying the various voices of the protest, King planned to recognize: “You have come here out of great tribulation …. Unearned suffering is redemptive. (Go back home knowing you are a people redeemed.)” They had watched loved ones killed, been beaten and jailed, and were isolated in their own towns. Yet redeemed.
One of the “ordinary heroes” was an older woman who said “Ain’t gonna let nobody
turn me around.” Euchner uses that in the title of his new book which gives a comprehensive look at the years of protest: “Nobody Turn Me Around…” He points out that Americans who did not have Black friends slowly came to understand the painful pleas of a decent people. There was no excuse to turn police dogs on them. It was un-American to ignore enforcement of bombings and murders. Yet protest was considered subversive by our government. The FBI was moving in on King as an enemy of the people, with plans to silence him. Few of us had been supportive of protesters, but we changed when we realized the cause was just and the barriers were not coming down by ordinary means.
The awakened nation turned a sharp corner. The following year came the Civil Rights Act of 1964, with follow-up action on the massive changes in the Act of 1965.
The protesters rescued me – rescued all of us – from living in a racist country. I am different, living among a people with a different attitude, a citizen in a nation with goals which would have been unthinkable then. I am a grateful recipient of a costly gift.
Also rescued in the process was King himself, by Bayard Rustin. When King’s church member, Rosa Parks, decided nobody was going to turn her around, he was fearful. He purchased and carried a pistol, to defend himself and protect his family. His trusted friend, Rustin, saw the potential of the moment and the foolishness of expecting to try to win by shooting it out with the Whites. He moved into King’s basement for two months, where they studied and prayed and developed a comprehensive non-violent protest to the awful circumstances of Black lives.
Not everyone liked being rescued. On the morning after King was killed, I walked the streets of our town, unable in my agony to sit down. We were the same age, 39. Brothers and pastors. I was not ready to hang it up, even for a worthy cause. Two of my members were digging a ditch to repair a water main. Perhaps they could be pastoral to me? They recognized my pain, but…. “Don’t you worry about this, Lowen. He was a trouble maker. We are better off without him.” He was a troublemaker – who rescued us against our will.
Euchner says it was ordinary heroes, not fluent speakers, who changed our country. Those “ordinary” protesters are the ones I am so grateful for. In some miraculous way, after 100 years of mean, they unanimously came to say nobody going to turn me around.
In the Civil Rights Acts we expressed a universal demand for public justice. However, after ’65 we strayed to the contentious tensions of “I want my piece of the pie. Now.”
We now have students who want to do the right thing, who volunteer for causes and give part of their time and energy for the benefit of hurting people. However, we live in a society where it is hard to do the right thing. The mean spirit of our times lacks the “redemptive acts of unselfish suffering.” Can we recover?
Are we swinging back? Perhaps. Many are now reacting to senseless violence. Repeal of “Don’t Ask” is simple justice. Critics of Blacks in the 50s blamed their rejection on “those people’s behavior.” Detractors of gays do the same now -- speak of behavior rather than differences of birth. The military has a long history of dealing with sexual behavior, so that is not the issue. Rejection is still by appearance. A majority in congress favored the Dream Act. Objectors say we must punish the parents. Simple justice looks at the child. Will we move from the mean?
King entered a process by which he rid himself of hatred for whites, to live Jesus’ teaching to “love your enemies.” He welcomed a new vision, a dream of what we can become. I am grateful for those who redefined who we are and demonstrated how to boldly respond to mean.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
NE UMC HIV AIDS task force
MERRY CHRISTMAS NE UMC HIV AIDS Task force and friends! Sending prayers at christmas to all affected by HIV AIDS in the world! We send thanks to our caseworkers at NAP kearney and in NE! We know their burden needs to be lightened!
We collected EIGHT blankets of love at TUMC for clients at NAP kearney to bring over in January if not before! Collaborate with NAP in your area and find out how you can support each other! They may not know about the UM Global aids fund offerings and we can do the AIDS walks in fall to lend them support!
Good news that our Baskets of Love for our two HIV AIDS funds in G Island at TUMC: brought in $370 the last two weekends.. on 13 baskets created in love -- and so now time to get them all delivered and collect all monies to send in by year's end! We hope to have $526 with offerings and gifts last sunday -- to divide now between UM Global AIDS fund and our local TUMC Emergency HIV AIDS fund!
We are hoping that other churches are now sending in offerings with articles and reminders in UM connect! Bill said they gave $391 at Trinity UMC in Lincoln for UM Global AIDS fund! Lots of hope in the air -- yet we have large goals to eliminate HIV AIDS in our world! WE are hoping to come up with a date for our GI HIV AIDS Benefit concert this spring soon!
We have our TUMC book group on NAMES NOT JUST NUMBERS, Don Messer's new book tomorrow at my home at 10 am.. better get reading to finish it or get a good start! i purchased 11 copies and only one remains..
NOTE: Marta i need to get a copy to you and $20 to TUMC and then put forum fund in the memo or cash.. let me know when you can get together!
CELEBRATE: Our new HIV AIDS testing site at TUMC through Parish nurse office has been going for six mos.. now time to promote it!
You can get confidential testing there (across from our church at Old walnut apartments and offices: two times a month at Old Walnut offices, first thurs morning 9:30 to 11:30 am and third thurs of the month from 3 - 5 pm.. start to identify nurses and health professionals, missions folks in your church who will promote the offerings, do education and do collaboration and education with NAP in the area, health offices, etc.
Feb 1 at our Task force meeting we hope to award grants to local churches which is our main Task! Our meeting for our task force is at 10 am in Grand island at the new primary site for: Central Health Center: www.centralhealthcenter.org in the Conference room arranged by Susan Goodman, Educator there! Just go to the Locust Street exit on i-80 and it is a new strip mall on the EAST side of S locust where Stolley park crosses it! Susan Goodman is the contact person if you need to call for directions that day!
Primary Site
217 East Stolley Park Road Ste E
Grand Island NE 68801
308-384-7625
888-308-2134
Fax: 308-384-8904
Hours: Monday, Wednesday,
Thursday, Friday 9-5, Tuesday 1-7
Our next meeting is in LINCOLN on Jan 19, 2:30 in UMC Conferenceoffices at 2:30 PM with Carol Otto, Insurance person and also Wellness screening coordinator at Annual conference in June.. talking to her about having HIV AIDS testing with Wellness screening somehow!
217 East Stolley Park Road Ste E
Grand Island NE 68801
308-384-7625
888-308-2134
Fax: 308-384-8904
Hours: Monday, Wednesday,
Thursday, Friday 9-5, Tuesday 1-7
Our next meeting is in LINCOLN on Jan 19, 2:30 in UMC Conferenceoffices at 2:30 PM with Carol Otto, Insurance person and also Wellness screening coordinator at Annual conference in June.. talking to her about having HIV AIDS testing with Wellness screening somehow!
RSVP if you can come! If anyone can contact Thurman Hoskins about doing testing again that would be GREAT! We might need more than one nurse or health professional who is trained to do such testing if we go forward with this!
Thanks to all churches and AIDS ambassadors in local churches -- for Offerings for UM Global AIDS fund Dec 5 or other dates in Dec, fundraising projects, alternative giving at holidays etc. Merry Christmas to all and thanks everyone for a year of HOPE with HIV AIDS projects, events and UM Global aids fund offerings!
Saturday Feb 12 is an event at Christ UMC on A Street in Lincoln for all the groups that get support from Risk taking mission and justice team for the UMC.. let me know if you might come or lend support on this event! we might need a display and Liz has volunteered to help on a trifold.. thanks tons liz! we might need a three to five min DVD .. have the ones from UMCOR and one from Don messer if can find it or bill if you can bring a short piece on Zoe ministry -- also Nigerian orphanage support too.. many of the children lost parents to HIV AIDS that are there or malaria! peace and preparing the way for our hearts at christmas and in 2011 ----- maureen and marta co chairs
Note: We will set a date then for an April Meeting too and Andrew is chair of selection for Feb 1 at 10 am in G island. I am gone all of march on renewal leave. I will also be gone most of the summer and info Sept to co again. If anyone can come on as Co chair with marta by summer, let me know!
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