News from the Gay, Lesbian, and Affirming Disciples Alliance

Contents: August 2006

Highlights from the Moderator's Report to the Annual Meeting

At Tapestry 2006 GLAD held it's annual meeting.  Here are some highlights from the report given by our moderator Patricia Case.

Accomplishments from the last year

• GLAD is listed in the General Church's Yearbooks for the first time.
• GLAD's high profile at General Assembly included a visit at our pre-assembly event from Sharon Watkins, candidate for GMP.  She also attended the GLAD dinner along with several former GMPs, and the speaker at the dinner was John Thomas, GMP of the United Church of Christ.  The GLAD dinner was packed to overflowing.
• Resolution 0514, sponsored by several Open & Affirming churches, "Denouncing Hateful Speech and Action Aimed at Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Persons, and Renewing Our Commitment to the Process of Discernment,"
  passed, with strong support.
• The Shower of Stoles was front and center on the assembly stage, the first time a denominational assembly had presented the The Shower of Stoles front and center.
• Crossbeams is now a monthly newsletter.
• Our Development & Finance Team has provided strong leadership in funding, budgeting, and membership development.
• New brochures have been developed and are available on our web site

New Initiatives

• MISSION INITIATIVE financially supporting New Covenant Christian Church, a new, intentionally Open & Affirming Disciples congregation in Houston, Texas. 
• MEMBERSHIP GROWTH A strategy to grow GLAD's membership so we more fully reflect the full diversity of Disciples.
• SAME-GENDER MARRIAGE STATEMENT A task force to develop a statement on same-gender marriage equality, which is underway now, under the capable direction of council member Maria Perez and her partner, Nancy Brink, who together were part of a group of folks in Nebraska that challenged laws regarding same-gender marriage and won. Once GLAD has a statement, we anticipate being in a position to follow through on challenges to the Pension Fund to open pension benefits to same-gender couples.
• DEVELOPING DIALOGUE FROM COMMON THEOLOGICAL GROUND GLAD Council is working to create a resource intended to open dialogue with those with whom we historically have struggled to open dialogue. This resource is intended to use the language of our dialogue partners to communicate a solid biblical apology for inclusive gospel, especially LGBTQ community.
• DEVELOPING PARTNERSHIPS ACROSS ETHNIC BOUNDS GLAD is working to open dialogue with Disciples partners across the denomination.
• LGBTQ YOUTH MINISTRIES GLAD is working to develop space/opportunities for young LGBTQ people to grow in Christian Spirituality. We are exploring creating events for high school students and young adults, including discussions with our ecumenical partners about creating large events such as weekends or weeklong, camp-like experiences.

These initiatives are ambitious, take time, talent, and energy.  Thus, Moderator Patricia Case reports that staffing ministry teams is a top priority, seeking the right leadership to see these initiatives through.

[ed. note: Don't hesitate to contact David Downing, Human Resources Team Leader, if you have the time, talent, and energy to assist with the work of GLAD.]