What the hell are the "b" and "t" questions?

Bible and theology perhaps?

I suspect they relate to Bi-sexual and Transgender.

I suspect you're right, but how are you going to address the questions if you can't bring yourself to type the words?

I am going to offer myself as a resource for this event.   And of course I will be learning as much as I can as well.

I am only a 3 1/2 hr drive away.

My experience here in Northern Ontario may be useful.

Regards

Rita

Jobam,

How can one find out more or register?

Hi SG - Registration, hotel information, location etc will be posted here and on Weclome Friend Associaiton's webpage by mid Febrary.

That's great to hear, Rita! Your gentle and knowledgeable approach will be a wonderful asset for the event.

Hi chansen,

That is a good point

I can't speak for whomever wrote the advertisement copy or their motivations for using the letters. 

Grace and peace to you.

John

This looks quite good!  Can someone (in the organizing committee) be tasked with posting the details on the CLN (http://churchleadership.united-church.ca ? and on Twitter using the hashtag #UCCan?

If not, please send me the details and I'll spread the word: MinistryandEmployment@united-church.ca

Thanks!

I agree that the initials assume someone knows something they may or may not.   It could just as easy be
dealing with those difficult questions about bottoms and tops.
LOL

Where are you on the welcoming scale....

My UU fellowship has been formally Welcoming for about a decade and likely welcoming informally for a lot longer than that. The UU first principle kind of requires it.

We've improved our accessibility after having an interim minister with a disability give us guidance on that front. On the LGBTQ front, we have LG members actively involved in our Board and committees so that their issues and concerns are often front and centre. We do same-sex weddings and were doing so well before the famous Ontario court decision that let us actually legally call the results a "marriage". Not sure about any BT in our membership. If there are, I don't know them personally.

If we have a failing on the welcoming front, it may be that theologically, we aren't as open to diversity as we might think. I suspect that even a fairly mainline Christian (let alone a conservative or evangelical) might find us less than welcoming if they expressed their views too openly or sought to add their voice to discussions or worship. I'm fairly non-traditional in my view of The Divine and I still find myself feeling a need to back off a bit or at least carefully consider my choice of words and hymns at times (minimizing my use of the "G-word" for instance).

Mendalla

The congregation I am a part of will make a decison on Sunday about becoming (or Not) an offical Affirming Church. It's been an 18 month project.

Good luck on that Tabitha! I'll be praying for you and your congregation. How do you think the vote will go?

.... I am hoping and expecting it will go splendidly!!!

Hugs Tabitha!

Rita

Are there any numbers on how many congregations have had such a vote, and how many of those votes passed?

This congregation is not doing a vote but a consensus making process. I'm just an active watcher. I certianly hope the decison is in favour.

We already have a rainbow sticker on our door, have married folks of the same gender, and have LGBT folks in active positions in the congregation.

Chansen-check out Affirmunited.ca  Churches are listed by province. There are 27 formally Affirming congregations in Ontario for example.

A rainbow flag or Affirm status is wonderful for informing people, but it is not necessary. I would say that my home charge is very welcoming and affirming, without having went through Affirm. Depending how one perceives or looks at us, my wife and/or I represent the letters LBTQ... of LGBTQ.

That does not mean it was always a smooth ride for myself or others. The bumps that were hit in the road we knew were not deliberate or even from being reckless. We knew that there were bound to be rough patches and accidents, even hurt....          That can always happen as we navigate new roads.

It strikes people as odd, since they are mostly seniors and rural. Yet, they have an equal marriage policy, use male pronouns (or avoid their use by using a masculine name), they sponsored me... I also have preached in various local congregations and have been welcomed and affirmed there as well.

Affirming Ministries by Province and City

http://www.affirmunited.ca/english/looking.htm

Looks like we are on our way.

After much work and listening our stuff is ready to be submiited to Affirm United.

Yay Tabitha - and congrats to your congregation!

Are you as open as you think?

CTV Montreal:  Candid ads to fight homophobia

Online Registration is now available.

Register online

Welcoming/Affirming Training in Algoma Presbytery!

Welcome Friend Association is hosting a Welcoming/Affirming Training Seminar in September 2013 in Sault Ste. Marie.  This opportunity for continuing education and leadership development is available to all clergy, spiritual directors, lay people, as well as individuals in or considering leadership roles within all faith communities.  

The 20-hour seminar is subsidized so the cost is affordable for as many individuals from any one agency to attend.  All faith communities are welcome and indeed encouraged to attend.  There will be ample opportunity for community building, questions and conversation.  The United Church location is fully accessible and close to several local hotels, motels and restaurants.  Sault Ste. Marie is also served by Air Canada & Porter Airlines.

The Welcome Friend Association is an independent organization that has strong ties to the United Church in Algoma Presbytery.  

As Chair of Algoma Presbytery, I think this is a great training opportunity and I challenge you to send at least one person from your Presbytery to this important training.  The information learned from this training can then be passed on to local congregations etc. should they wish to become an Affirming Congregation. 

Please accept this email as your invitation to be part of the above named training seminar.  I hope you will give this opportunity serious consideration. 

The training has been designed specifically with congregations-faith communities and their leaders in mind.  The workshop will explore topics which will help you to become a more effective leader in working with congregations on issues related to human sexuality and gender identity for the purpose of helping a congregation discern God's call to become more welcoming and inclusive, particularly of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered, Two-spirit, & Queer/Questioning (LGBT2SQ) persons.

Topics will include:
Faith-based community organizing techniques
Congregational conflict theory and resolution
Managing change in congregations well
Effective strategies for helping congregations discern the call to be welcoming
Building relationships for change
Dealing with difficult conversations around biblical material, stereotypes, and other areas of concern
Opportunity to build relationships with others who share your concerns
Personal spiritual enrichment
Opportunity for growth and challenge
Intense few days of hard work, laughter, and fun

Who should come?

Anyone who is interested in seeing the Church (meaning denominations/faith communities) become more welcoming, supportive and inclusive of LGBT2SQ persons.

This could include:

Lay leaders, Ordained leaders, Denominational or judicatory leaders, Members who care about these issues, Leaders and members in denominational LGBT groups.

Lead Presenter:

The Rev. Vicki Wunsch has worked in both nonprofit organizations and churches for the last 15 years. In addition to her position as an Institute for Welcoming Resources (IWR) trainer, she is a trainer with Family and Children's Services in Minneapolis. In this position, Vicki works with schools, nonprofits and faith communities in helping communities support families and parents. Vicki's experience has included facilitating a wide variety of workshops and trainings for churches. Topics have included “Building Strengths and Assets in our Church Family,” “Developing Family Prayer Practices,” “Faith Communities responding to Immigration,” “Creating and Implementing an Intergenerational Social Justice Program,” “All are Welcome: Building an Inclusive Church Community,” “Fostering Children’s Spiritual Development,” and “Celebrating Family Traditions.” 

Vicki received her Masters Degree in Training and Instructional Design from the University of Minnesota and focused her thesis on “Building Community through Education in our Faith Communities.” Vicki recently received her Masters of Divinity at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities and is ordained in the United Church of Christ. She is also co-authoring a book entitled "Reclaiming our History: Finding the Community in our Faith Communities."  Vicki was a guest speaker at the first training event several years ago and Welcome Friend Association is delighted to welcome her back! 

Please go to the Welcome Friend Association website for more information, registration and contact details:   www.welcomefriend.ca/events/welcomingaffirming-training-seminar

Peace

Thom McDonough

Chair, Algoma Presbytery

A Straight Apology

View video

A Pastor Asks A Politician Why He Supports Gay Marriage. It Seems He Wasn't Prepared For His Reply.

http://www.upworthy.com/a-pastor-asks-a-politician-why-he-supports-gay-marriage-it-seems-he-wasnt-prepared-for-his-reply?g=2&c=la2

"My son had no friends, he's gay. I was so afraid he was going to commit suicide. Someone mentioned Rainbow Camp. My son went, he came back from camp happier than I have ever seen him. I believe Rainbow Camp saved my son's life....."

Is your church affirming? If not, why not? With the Affirming Training coming up in Sault Ste. Marie on September 18-20th, you can help spread the seeds of becoming an Affirming Congregation ..... if we aren't reaching the parents of these youth, how can we expect to make a difference in any of their lives.....

https://www.facebook.com/events/605401742837327/

Are we Affirming? No, we are not. Why not? I can't discuss that without being attacked by the clique, and warned by Admin. It seems one can only speak in one direction on these forums.

Jae, we get that you've set your feet in cement on the wrong side of history. That's your choice. When we're talking about the acceptance and lives of GLBT youth, yes, people aren't going to accept biblically-based bigotry as an answer. At least, in this case, not these Christians.

That said, I still don't believe you're as entrenched in this as you pretend to be. I don't think you're personally as idiotic as your denomination tells you to be. I do think you enjoy getting a rise out of people by weighing in on GLBT discussions and parrotting the Baptist positions. Is that for sport?

Here, let me embed the video. People should see this. It's quite good.

Technically, it also demonstrates how you can use the bible to justify both sides of an argument.

Whatever makes you think that way?

Of course the biblical teachings of my denomination have influenced my thinking.

I am a leader within my denomination, so should it really be hard to believe if I hold denominational views.

If the Bible did not oppose homosexual behavior, neither would I. Honestly, what should I care if other people are gay.

You're toying with words. You're trolling us. Why?

You see, this is exactly the situation here on wondercafe. Only one direction of voice is allowed to be heard. Anything else is negatively labeled, flagged, or otherwise attacked.

Nope, that's not what's happening here at all. I'm saying that you're not the closed-minded bigot you play online. I think you're pretending, probably to get a rise out of people. I base this on observing how you always backtrack to what your denomination says, instead of what you think.

Of course, your denomination doesn't want you thinking, so maybe I'm wrong. But if I were to place a wager, I'd say you're at least torn between the official Baptist theology on the matter, and the more inclusive and accepting views we see prevalent here.

I'm not about to bet against your thinking.

So why do you do it? Why come here to paste the official Baptist beliefs to the forum, when you don't buy into them 100%, just to complain when people loudly reject them? I sincerely do not get that. It feels like you're just toying with us.

Chansen:1<3U

It could be partially that, however I think it stems much more from my own uncertainty on the issue, my desire to represent the views of my denomination, and my dislike for a fair amount of United Church theology, practice, and policies.