The Welcoming Congregations Program Leaders Network, an association of national church leaders from the United States and Canada working for the full embrace of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons in church and society, met recently near Houston, Texas.
An ecumenical effort, representatives from seven Christian denominations and their national welcoming church programs, gathered at the home of Sharon and Tom Hart for a working retreat. Donna Red Wing, Field Consultant, The Interfaith Alliance, offered a training session on development and organizing. She challenged the leaders to think about what it would take for them to move from being a network of organizations to an ecumenical movement. This training was made possible through a generous grant from The Institute for Welcoming Resources.
Those attending this semi-annual gathering were: Emily Eastwood, Reconciling in Christ/Lutherans Concerned, North America; Troy Plummer, Reconciling Ministries Network, United Methodist Church; Diane Hooge, Welcoming and Affirming Baptists, American Baptist; Sam Loliger, Open and Affirming Program, United Church of Christ; Sharon Hart, GLAD, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ); Sharon Troyer and Arthur Butler, GALA, Community of Christ; Sally Harris, Gloria Lawton, Affirm United, United Church of Canada; Martha Juillerat, The Shower of Stoles Project; and Michael Adee, More Light Presbyterians, Presbyterian Church (USA).
In addition to the training session offered by Donna Red Wing, the leaders shared ideas, insights and resources from each of their national welcoming church programs. This network has been involved in projects such as the Witness Our Welcome (WOW) Conferences in 2000 and 2003; the creation of the Institute for Welcoming Resources which is the fiscal agent for the network; as well as resources such as the Claiming the Promise Bible study, the journal Open Hands, and the Shaping Sanctuary worship resources.
The next meeting of the Welcoming Congregations Program Leaders will be held in August 2005 in Minneapolis.
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