MLP staffer Michael Adee reports on
National Conference, held May 20 -23 in Kansas City,
Missouri [6-1-04]
A Place Called Justice,
From the Heartland to the Horizon
[6-1-04]
One week ago, this morning,
our Martha Juillerat was preaching. And was she ever preaching to me, to us,
to MLP, the LGBT Movement, the Presbyterian Church (USA), and to the body of
Christ, gathered around her that moment within Central Presbyterian Church,
Kansas City, and scattered all around our precious planet.
Click
here for Martha Juillerat's sermon.
Paul Peterson offers
a vast collection
of photos on the TAMFS website.
Inspired by the biblical texts
of Jonah 3: 1- 10 and Revelation 3: 14 - 18, 22, Martha called us to keep
doing the work of justice and said: "We flee from that place called justice
because the only road that gets you there is called outrage and it's just
too hard to get there. It's a rocky dirt road, straight up these hills one
after another, with potholes and ruts, it's hot and humid there and
sometimes it just rains buckets and then you get stuck in the mud and
everyone has to get out and push you out of the muck and move some trees out
of the way and you get dirty and hungry but there's no truck stops out there
so everyone gets tired and cranky.
The difference with this road, though, is that instead of
hitting a dead end, you get to the top of a hill and the sky clears for a
minute and you catch a glimpse of that place called justice. And you pull
over for a minute there so everyone can take a look, and you drink in that
view, and someone says, "Man, what a thing to see," and it takes your breath
away..."
With the stole of her beloved partner and our beloved sister and friend,
Tammy Lindahl, on the pulpit in front of her, Martha courageously returned
to the very same place that had held the presbytery meeting 9 years ago that
marked the end of their serving as Presbyterian pastors. This was the church
where Martha set aside her ordination, their stoles and the first collection
of other stoles became a witness to our Church of its unwelcoming,
unChristian, unjust and anti-LGBT attitudes, beliefs, policies, actions and
their consequences.
Since that time, much has changed in our Church and world in terms of
justice, equality, and the full welcome and embrace of LGBT persons and our
families, and there is much more yet to do. Now is the time for that change.
Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of More Light Presbyterians, 150
participants from all over the country, local volunteers, and members of the
host church, gathered for "From the Heartland to the Horizon." This was the
first-ever conference sponsored by More Light Presbyterians, That All May
Freely Serve and the Shower of Stoles Project.
Shelly Holle and Patrick Evans created worship, liturgy and music that was
joyful, inspiring, life-affirming, reflective and a celebration of our being
God's people, the Church. The keynote preachers were
Heidi
Peterson, pastor, Central Presbyterian;
Martha Juillerat, National Program Director, Shower of Stoles Project;
Tony
Hoshaw, M.Div. student, McCormick Seminary; and
Bill Tammeus,
Columnist, Kansas City Star. Michael Kirby wrote the Bible Study
materials for the small group gatherings. [Click on a name for that
person's sermon.]
An official proclamation from the City of Kansas City and personal greetings
by Mayor Kay Barnes, and by the Moderator of the Heartland Presbytery, Heidi
Peterson, also host pastor, offered a warm and genuine welcome to us. There
were members and pastors from 23 of our More Light Presbyterian Churches, as
well as seminary students and leaders from several of our Seminary and
Regional MLP Chapters.
MLP held its annual meeting which was convened by Donna Riley and Bill Moss.
Our annual report, budget, strategy for GA 2004, new projects, a Celebration
of our 30th Year, the nominating committee and a field outreach report were
shared. Outgoing National MLP Board Members, Bill Moss, Dick Lundy and Katie
Ricks were recognized, and new or returning Board Members, Erin Swenson, Deb
Mullen, Susan DeGeorge, Rob Cummings and Jack Cover were nominated and
confirmed.
Over 2 dozen workshops provided the educational component on a wide range of
topics including: LGBT 101, Liturgical Arts, the Bible, Becoming a
Welcoming/More Light Congregation, Same-Sex Marriage, Support for Parents
and Families of LGBT Children, LGBTQ Youth Identity & Inclusion, Working for
Change at General Assembly, Transgender & Intersex, Racism, Dismantling
Heterosexism, Economic Justice, Bisexualty, and Building A Church for All.
African drumming, the Heartland Men's Chorus, the Kansas City Women's
Chorus, and the Conference Choir led by Patrick Evans brought beautiful and
inspiring music along with all of us singing hymns and choral music together
in worship. A Jazz BBQ Celebration on Saturday evening gave us a chance for
extended conversations, making new friends, a time for joyful reunions, and
recognition of the local conference team, national committee and host
church.
Among us were the highest percentage of first-time Conference participants,
plus a strong number of transgender, intersex and bisexual persons, as well
as youth, young adults, college and seminary students. We were a wonderful,
rainbow family.
Katie Ricks and David Murad, Conference Co-Chairs, brought insight, depth
and a fresh spirit. The National Conference Committee, COLA Team, and the
host church deserve our deepest gratitude for putting together and offering
this remarkable, life-changing, national conference. A very good time was
had by all in Kansas City last weekend.
Not unlike the Olympics, three groups last Saturday night were already
bidding for hosting the next National Conference - Louisville, Tuscaloosa,
and Nashville! I am so grateful for those of you who made the trip to be
with us for your national conference. If you were not able to with us this
time you were missed, so join us next time! Keep posted for news of our next
regional and national conferences.
with hope and grace,
Michael
Michael J. Adee, M.Div., Ph.D., National Field Organizer
More Light Presbyterians, 369 Montezuma Avenue # 447, Santa Fe, NM 87501
(505) 820-7082, MichaelAdee@aol.com,
www.mlp.org
