2010 GALA Retreat
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We're working hard on planning the 2010 GALA Annual Retreat. The retreat will be held at Sammish Island over Labor Day weekend. Kepp checking back for more information.
50th Anniversity of the Auditorium Organ
GALA was one of the sponsors of the 50th anniversary Auditorium Organ Series. Jan Kraybell Program John Obetz ProgramTaco and Karaoke Night
The Taco & Karaoke night was a wonderful success even with the stormy weather we had a good turnout. What a wonderful taco bar of food we truly stuffed ourselves. Then we had some wonderful and questionable singing talent, everyone was a WINNER in my eyes. Let me tell you if you are familiar with Johnny Cash “walk the line” then wait till you hear Leon sing this number. Pam M. wooed us with her voice, and we were wooed with the delightful singing from, Lori G., Michael H. (he should have won, but I’m not prejudice) Doug R, Chuck H, Leon B. The list of songs included (just some) Dust in the wind, Feed the Birds, Strawberry Wine, King of the road, Rain drops on Roses, Killing me softly. Our first place winners we had a tie Pam M. & Doug R. and it just went downhill from there. We ended the evening with everyone sing YMCA what a way to finish.
A big, big thank you to Lori for her help with this activity, and also to Woods Chapel Congregation for the use of their facilities, THANK YOU.
We will look forward to seeing you at the next event (any Volunteers for the green party) we are looking into the Highlands Congregation for a location on March 20th.
Thanks
Chuck Hewitt
Check out pictures from this event.
Recent LGBT-Related News
In Globalizing the Culture Wars, Kaoma combines his own investigative research with existing journalistic and scholarly findings to reframe the context of the human rights struggles of sexual minorities in the United States and Africa. We cannot, he insists, understand—never mind win---either struggle without understanding their interaction. Kaoma argues that the cultivation of African clerics as proxies by the U.S. Right in its domestic culture wars has linked these sturggles in ways both startling and disturbing.
----from Forward, Globalizing the Culture Wars, U.S. Conservatives, African Churches, & Homophobia
To view the complete report by Kapya Kaoma: www.publiceye.org
Is LDS Church taking a step back on gay issues? - Salt Lake Tribune
"Coming Out in Middle School" - The New York Times
"The Episcopal Church and Gays" - Editorial from the LA Times
"McEntee: Kate Kendell takes her fight for gay civil rights from Utah to the city by the bay"
By Peg McEntee - Tribune Columnist from The Salt Lake Tribune
Letter from the Leadership of the Eastern Great Lakes Mission Center
Download the original document.
September 25, 2009
“There are significant decisions that will be coming before the World Conference… that is always the case. One of the fundamental decisions that we have before us is how it is that we as members of the church will choose to relate to one another as we consider difficult issues. The world around us provides all sorts of examples of how people of diverse opinions choose to relate to each other, and most of those examples are not very healthy.
The question before us is, can we as Community of Christ relate to each other with civility and Christian charity, while at the same time being true to our strongly held beliefs and feelings and opinions? Can we share our self forthrightly and clearly and strongly while still doing that in a manner that is mutually respectful?
I want to suggest that Conference is not the time to begin practicing that kind of civility and Christian charity...the time to begin practicing…is with one another in our MCs and elsewhere as we...discuss these issues now.
A wonderful grace coming to the Conference could be if the persons attending the conference had had opportunity in their home jurisdictions to practice the grace of generosity and mutual love and care and listening and respect that is appropriate for God’s people to model.
Some of these issues we will only sort through by the grace of the Holy Spirit. And so, it is really quite necessary for us to create climates in our inter-relational lives that are most amenable for the Holy Spirit’s indwelling. Such environments tend to be fostered by mutual care and mutual respect. And so let us create opportunities for the Holy Spirit’s ministry simply by the way we choose to talk with one another about issues that are difficult.”
These words, spoken by President David Schall, at the end of a recent gathering of World Church employees (in the Independence Temple and via webcast), are excellent words of counsel for all within the Community of Christ as we continue to grow into our call to be a prophetic people. They do not come with pre-conceived notions about how any particular issue will be resolved, nor are they intended to be used by persons on one side of an issue to demand the attention of those on the other side. Rather, they remind us that if we are to be the Community of Christ in more than name, we must be willing to approach one another with the same grace and generosity that God has shown to us in our own lives.
In recent months, as I have been engaging in the practice of Dwelling in the Word, I have been focusing on the passage in Matthew which tells of Jesus’ baptism (Matt. 3:13-17), but I have been particularly captured the words of the verses leading up to the baptism in which John the Baptist addresses the Pharisees and Saducees as a “brood of vipers.” Isn’t it just like us at times to think of those who would challenge our beliefs and opinions…those who would have the gall to disagree with us or see things a different way…as a “brood of vipers.” In order for us to experience the grace of which President Schall speaks, we must not fall into the “viper” trap. We must listen to one another in love and grace, refusing to judge or engage in name calling.
As you may or may not be aware, at our recent mission center conference, we passed three resolutions that will be sent to the 2010 World Conference for consideration. A link to those resolutions can be found on the right side of our mission center website home page under “Recent Updates.” We know from our own experience at that conference that we have by no means reached a consensus on the difficult issues before us as a church. Rather, we have found that even in the 56 out of 1100+ members of this mission center who attended the conference, we represent a diverse spectrum of thoughts and opinions and life experiences. This is perhaps both the blessing and the challenge of being a people open to the movement of God in our midst.
We were very pleased with the Spirit in which those gathered at the conference engaged in open dialogue. And, we recognize that there is still need for much more dialogue, prayer, study, listening and discernment. What we have expressed by our passing of resolutions at the mission center level is that we believe the issues to be of significant enough import that they need to be dealt with by the larger body of the church, rather than tabled or swept under the proverbial carpet. What we take upon ourselves as a result of passing the resolutions is a responsibility to be intentional about making the dialogue, prayer, study, listening and discernment a daily spiritual practice.
The Mission Center Presidency would like to encourage all members of the mission center to engage in any of a variety of dialogue opportunities, and is currently working on a plan to create such opportunities. We also strongly encourage individuals to engage this process in whatever ways are most appropriate for your own spiritual journey. Finally, we would encourage you to share your thoughts, and insights with those who have been elected to represent the MC as delegates to the World Conference. The link to the list of those delegates can also be found on the right side of the eglmc.org home page under “Recent Updates.”
Of course, if you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact a member of the MC Presidency.
In Christ,
Blake Smith
Cindy Christian
Julie Deuble
Stonewall: An Open and Affirming Ministry of Norton Heights Community of Christ
436 South Norton Avenue
Kansas City, MO 64124
Information: 816-547-2805
Press Release
A new ministry serving the Kansas City area gay community will begin services Sunday evening, Nov. 1, at Norton Heights Community of Christ, 436 South Norton Ave., Kansas City, Mo.
The ministry, known as Stonewall, will meet at 7:30 p.m. each Sunday at the sponsoring church, located a block north of Independence Avenue between Benton and Van Brunt.
According to Norton Heights Pastor Janet Dellinger, Stonewall was created to provide a safe and welcoming place for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) persons and their advocates to meet for worship, study and fellowship. The ministry’s mission statement says services will be open to all, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, race, socio-economic status, religious affiliation or family structure. The Norton Heights congregation will continue to meet for worship on Sunday mornings and its other outreach ministries, including ministry to the area’s homeless, will continue at other times during the week.
Dr. Dale Luffman of Lee’s Summit, Mo., a member of the Community of Christ Quorum of Twelve Apostles, the leading missionary arm of the denomination, will deliver the sermon at the opening Stonewall service.
A native of Woodburn, Ore., Luffman graduated from Woodburn High School. He received a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Mt. Angel College, Mt. Angel, Ore., and a master’s of education in counseling from Lewis and Clark College, Portland, Ore. He was awarded a master’s of theology degree from Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, N.J., and a doctor of ministry degree from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, Pittsburgh, Pa. His present assignment is the West Central USA Field, which includes the denomination’s Midlands Mission Center and Norton Heights.
Stonewall is headed by a ministry team of seven persons from the sponsoring church and the Northeast community. Velton Peabody, a member of the Norton Heights congregation, is team leader. He has served as pastor of two Community of Christ congregations in Buffalo, N. Y., and one in Rochester, N.Y. For two years, he was secretary of the national board of the Welcoming Community Network (WCN), a body formed to assist congregations desiring to become more welcoming to LGBT persons. WCN is not officially connected with Community of Christ, but its board is made up of members of the church. Peabody said Stonewall is being established explicitly as a welcoming ministry that will seek recognition as such from WCN.
Anyone desiring more information about Stonewall may email Peabody at misterpeabody@comcast.net.
Stonewall is requesting your assistance in determining the needs of the community. If you are in the Kansas City area, please take a moment to complete the survey.
Wedding at Graceland University
05.21.2009 Charles A and Michael J Hewitt were married on May 17, 2009, in Roy A Cheville Chapel at Graceland University Lamoni Iowa. Curtis Filer officiated with accompaniment by Skip Frizzell, and witnesses Zach McLaughlin and Ann Frizzell. Present at the service were George B and Anna M Hewitt Parents of Charles along with many friends and supporters. Charles & Michael are members of Cornerstone Community of Christ congregation.
Please send donations to:
Cornerstone Community of Christ
Outreach Ministries
1316 S Osage
Independence Mo, 64055
or
www.galaweb.org
GALA plants at the Temple
May 9, 2009 - We had a great time today planting the planters at the Temple circle drive, Bratt our dog even helped. Thanks to everyone that helped and a big thank you to David Howard for arranging this event. Mike Hewitt spent time planning and picking out the plants and meeting with the grounds people to help coordinate this event. Thanks to the people at the Temple for their help with this event. THANKS THANKS THANKS...
