News from the Gay, Lesbian, and Affirming Disciples Alliance

Contents: July/August 2005

Welcoming Programs Unite through The Institute for Welcoming Resources

The Institute for Welcoming Resources, created in 2002 to provide the resources for the welcoming church movement, is moving forward with new board members, more specific goals, and a new website.

The IWR is the next step towards ecumenical cooperation in the welcoming church movement.  Earlier uniting happened through the journal, Open Hands, and through WOW and WOW2003. There are seven sponsoring denominations and many other contributing groups.

Vaughn Beckman, Senior Minister, First Christian Church, San Jose, and former Alliance Council Member represents GLAD.

Several new members joined the board this past fall, bringing together a dynamic group with much insight and vision. These include Ken Sehested, pastor and former Executive Director of the Baptist Peace Fellowship, Rebecca Voelkel, Interim National Coordinator for the UCC Coalition, and Renee Waun, United Methodist minister serving a Unitarian Univeralist Church.

Returning Board Members are impressive. These include Michael Adee, Field Coordinator, More Light Presbyterians, Emily Eastwood, Executive Director, Concerned Lutherans (ELCA), John Selders, organizing pastor of Armistad UCC in Hartford, CT, and Howard Bess, Interim Executive Director, American Baptist pastor.

IWR is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. IWR's vision and goals further the missionof its sponsors, the welcoming church programs.  IWR's specific goals include:

• the development, production, and distribution of resources to support the welcoming church movement
• the development and planning of conferences and training events designed to inspire, empower, and equip members and leadership in the welcoming church movement
• the expansion of networks and the creation of coalitions within and beyond the welcoming church movement.

A new website has developed through IWR. You can find it at http://www.welcomingresources.org/.   Personal stories and the collection of additional resources is encouraged.

With the aid of grant funding, IWR is involved in a number of projects. These include the hiring of a permanent executive director; coordination with the Freedom to Marry Coalition, the National Religious Roundtable, and the Human Rights Campaign; and joint activities with national PFLAG.

In just a few short years, we are seeing the outworking of some major and dynamic projects which will bring the welcoming church resources to a new level. Some exciting activities are in the works and will be announced soon.

Uniting together is making this possible.

The GLAD Alliance has contributed to IWR since its inception. This support makes this emerging dynamic program possible as it grows and brings the welcoming church program to a new level.