Welcome to the GALA website

The June Newsletter is now available.

Check out pictures of the Temple planting and of current board members.

GALA Elections

By‐Laws:
Article IV, Section 3, Paragraph 3:
Any individual members may nominate a candidate for election to the Board of Directors in addition to those proposed on the Nominating Committee slate. Such nomination must have the consent of the nominee, and identify the specific position(s) for the Nominating Committee's slate. The nomination must be received by the Secretary of the Board of Directors no later than July 1. Please submit nominations to: Cindy Campbell, 2210NW 46th St., Gainesville, FL 32605or cicamp7@gmail.com

Please remember that GALA members with annual dues paid are eligible to stand for election.

Report of the Nominating Committee:

• Erin Cavanaugh - Vice-President
• Gabe Horner - Under-Secretary for Publications
• Della Mowrey - Member-at-Large
• Jerry Dale - Member-at-Large

There are a few of the GALA bags left from the World Conference booth. Check out the "Merchandise" page to order. If all you are ordering is the bag, shipping is included in the $20 price so you do not need to check the "shipping and handling" choice. If you are ordering other merchandise, you will need to check "shipping and handling."

April 19-21, 2013
Independence, Missouri
International Headquarters

21 April 2013

USA National Conference Recommends Policy Changes (PDF)

First Presidency and Council of Twelve Will Have to Approve before Implementation

The Community of Christ USA National Conference was held April 19–21. After a three-year consent-building process of study, dialogue, and prayer, members from across the nation gathered at Community of Christ Auditorium in Independence, Missouri, to address two issues: same-sex/gender marriage where legal, and covenant commitment services where marriage is not legal; and ordination of people regardless of sexual orientation. After hearing multiple perspectives, the USA National Conference, by more than the required 67-percent majority, made the following recommendations to the Community of Christ First Presidency and Council of Twelve Apostles.

• The 2013 USA National Conference recommends the sacrament of marriage be extended, where legal in the USA, to persons of the same sex/gender. Thus the 2013 USA National Conference recommends a change to the current policy for the USA on the sacrament of marriage; and
• The 2013 USA National Conference recommends that a church-recognized way for two persons of the same sex/gender to publicly express their covenant to each other be made available in places in the USA where marriage is not legal. Thus, the 2013 USA National Conference recommends a change to the current policy for the USA regarding same-sex/gender covenant commitment services where marriage is not legal; and
• The 2013 USA National Conference recommends allowing a priesthood call to be processed according to established procedures regardless of sexual orientation, including a person in a monogamous, committed, same-sex/gender relationship (e.g., legal marriage, civil partnership, covenant relationship) in the USA. Thus, the 2013 USA National Conference recommends a change to the current policy on ordination for the USA.

Photos from the 2012 retreat

Plan on joining us for the 2013 GALA retreat (Labor Day weekend) at the Temple Grove campgrounds. Guest ministry will be brought by Becky Savage, a member of the Community of Christ First Presidency.

If you are looking for a good movie that is LGBT-friendly, check out the "Movies" link under the "Resources" tab.

New Opportunity for Creating Local GALA Affiliates

Touched by Grace is another wonderful compilation of life stories from members of GALA--members, family, and friends. After months of work collecting stories, reading stories, editing stories, designing covers, finding pictures, the final proof reading and implementing the corrections, the GALA Board and John Whitmer Books is proud to announce Touched by Grace is now available!

Order here!

Read stories of some of our LGBT sisters and brothers and their allies as they journey in Community of Christ.

If you would like to share your story, please send it to Saundra Merth.