NEWSLETTER OF RECONCILING MINISTRIES NETWORK
VOL. 26 NO. 4
Seeing Beyond
By Rachel Harvey
Fall is my favor-
ite season…and
wardrobe. From
the vibrant colors
of mums that often
grace the steps of
homes and churches,
to the sounds of leaves crunching
beneath my feet. I love the smell
of apples baking into pies and the
taste of apple butter on toast. I
look forward to the soft landing
a pile of leaves provides and the
solid seat of a hay bale on a hay-
ride…I love it all!
As I think back about my experi-
ences of fall, I realized that even
the parts I’m not so fond of hold
a memory of things I love. While
I remember waiting all evening
at an auction to get the best price
on a flat of mums, I also remem-
ber the joy my brother and I had
impersonating the auctioneer.
The hours we spent raking leaves
after school balanced out when
we’d take breaks to jump in the
huge piles we’d created. Now that
my Nana has passed and my mom
lives hundreds of miles away I
treasure the hours spent peeling
apples and rolling dough for pies
consumed in one sitting. I had to
think long and hard to find some
part of baling hay that I enjoyed,
I’m not fond of sweating, lifting
heavy, scratchy, awkward rect-
angles…but I do love community.
As much as I fought the activity,
baling hay was a way our family
came together and the meals we
shared after a long day in the barn
provided a deep communion that
held us together for a long time.
Continued on Page 6
WWW.RMNETWORK.ORG
KATALYST AUTUMN, 2009
I’ve Needed You
By Rev. Troy Plummer in their home church. Some will be
lucky enough to hear from one of
“Why didn’t I know about you? I’ve
you what it means to be involved in
needed you.” This oft heard refrain—
reconciling work. Others will keep
as folks discover Reconciling— en-
praying for that connection still un-
genders hope for the new one who
aware of this vital faith movement of
has found longed-for community and
inclusive United Methodists.
challenge to those of us who seek
to make sure no one is left out of Even as we celebrated at Justice
Christ’s inclusive church. and Joy, we knew we needed to come
down from the mountaintop and
Word of mouth is great. It has the
keep doing the valuable one-on-one
highest rate of engaging new persons
work spreading the word and to also
in the life of our church and move-
find new ways to reach more of those
ment. The new Believe Out Loud
who are in need. I’m so excited our
campaign celebrates RMN’s 25 years
blogging and Facebook communities
of ministry. It both strengthens local
are thriving. Additionally, I’m look-
work for inclusion in Annual Con-
ing forward with great anticipation
ference teams and builds the larger
to a new web tutorial and introduc-
movement for equality. It is built on
tory curriculum coming out in 2010.
the wisdom of knowing we change
Maybe we can make it “viral”— word
when we know one another. It is or-
of mouth keeps redefining itself.
ganized, intentional grassroots word
of mouth at its finest! Tens of thousands are still longing
to hear. Who will bring the word to
Yet, there are tens of thousands of
them? That’s you and me and all of
United Methodists longing to hear
us together…The fields are ready for
of God’s inclusive love for lesbian,
the harvest.
gay, bisexual, and transgender folk
Opening Worship at Justice & Joy. More photographs from Convo on pages 4-7.
Autumn 2009 • Katalyst | 1
 Spotlight: The Village Church
While over 500 members of the RMN
community gathered for worship at
the YMCA of the Rockies, members
of The Village Church in Toledo,
Ohio gathered for a simple prayer
service in the parking lot of their fu-
ture church. As we joined our voices
in song, they raised their voices for
justice, voting to join both the Recon-
ciling Ministries Network
and the Open and Affirm-
ing Churches of the UCC. RAISING KIDS WHO ARE
Why, you might ask, were
they in a parking lot?
CHANGING THE WORLD
The Village Church is
a new church plant of
the West Ohio Annual
Conference. Dreaming
of a community whose
love extended beyond
their walls, they met in
the parking lot because
they didn’t have the lease
for their building and
planted flowers as a sign
of their commitment to
growth and appreciation
You’re invited to the launch
for all God’s beauty.
RECONCILING MINISTRIES NETWORK
to be a new church plant rooted in mobilizes United Methodists of all
the inclusion of all God’s children is sexual orientations and gender
identities to transform our Church
not one they make alone.
and world into the full expression of
Christ’s inclusive love.
In the past three months, three new
church plants have begun the pro-
cess of becoming Reconciling congre- BOARD OF DIRECTORS
gations. The intentional decision of Helen Andrew
these churches to start from a place Rachel Birkhahn-Rommelfanger
Vincent Cervantes
Rev. Daniel Diss
Lawrence T. Duncan
Rev. Duane A. Ewers
Elizabeth A. Fimbres
Will E. Green
Will J. Green
Esther Villarreal Houser
David Mauzy
Rev. David Meredith
Dr. Randall Miller
Rev. Holland Morgan
Rev. Joshua M. Noblitt
Rev. John Oda
Elizabeth Okayama
Rev. Dr. Karen Oliveto
Rosario Quiñones
Rev. Dr. Bruce Robbins
Sally Sparks
Rev. Dr. Derrick Spiva

village
of the Village Church
on Sunday, October 25 the Monica L. Swink
For over a year, Rev. at 10:30am at Joy T. Watts
Cheri Holdridge and a 3992 Monroe St. church Ralph A. Williams
team of lay people have and Central Ave. Christina Wright
been laying the ground Pastor Cheri Holdridge
villageohio.org
work for a progressive LEGAL COUNSEL
justice focused congre- Jennifer Soule
of inclusion calls our church to live
gation in NW Ohio. “The Village
out the gospel of Jesus Christ. This
Church has been committed to the RMN STAFF
is exciting news for both our commu- Meg Carey
values of RMN even before The
nity and church! Business Manager
Village was a church! Inclusion is
absolutely a part of our DNA” she Welcome Village Church! We cel-
Rev. Carl Davis
shared. Rev. Holdridge has been ebrate your courage to live authen- Director of Development
a pastor in the West Ohio annual tically and welcome you into the
conference for 20 years; part of that family of which you were always Antony Hebblethwaite
time was spent with the community a member. Check out The Village Communication/Technology Manager
at Central United Methodist Church, Church at their website www.vil-
the oldest Reconciling congregation lageohio.org or find them on Stephanie Harris
in Ohio. The Village Church’s choice Facebook!!! Admin & Donor Relations Associate

Rachel Harvey
New Reconciling Communities Associate Executive Director

Congregations Urban Village Church of Chicago, IL Audrey Krumbach, M.Div.

The Village Church of Toledo, OH Field Organizer
Saint Paul UMC of Everett, WA
Trinity UMC of Lafayette, IN Community Rev. Troy Plummer
St. Nicholas UMC of Hull, MA Executive Director
Lebanon-Sweet Home Reconciling
UMC of the Terrytowns, Terrytown,
Group, Southern District of the Or-
NY
egon-Idaho AC
Chestnut UMC and New Light Com-
munity of Portland, ME
2 | Katalyst • Autumn 2009
 Called to Witness 3: Believe Out Loud
This year, Reconciling nizing and storytell-
United Methodists will ing. This training was
Believe Out Loud in particularly designed
a national grassroots to offer something for
campaign to grow the both new and expe-
movement for full rienced Reconciling
inclusion of all persons United Methodists.
through stories, teams
Because we are train-
and gatherings.
ing in 50 Annual Con-
More than 41% of Unit- ferences, we are hoping
ed Methodist clergy to involve 1000 Recon-
and lay leaders person- ciling United Method-
ally feel that transgen- ists in Annual Con-
der, homosexual, and ference teams. These
queer persons should people will become
be fully welcomed but BOLD Teams, and each
do not publically sup- team will host a gath-
port the movement for ering, for a total of 250
full inclusion. across the connection!
At each BOLD Gather-
Therefore, this year’s
ing, silently supportive
Called to Witness campaign is a grassroots effort to in-
United Methodists will be invited to become Believe Out
vite our silent supporters to Believe Out Loud by orga-
Loud Disciples who Commit to the Reconciling move-
nizing in teams to plan small gatherings or parties. In
ment, Pledge $10 per month to the movement, and Share
order to equip RUMs for this work, Annual Conference
their reconciling story to two other people.
Teams (ACTs) will plan where national trainers from
RMN will offer skills for team building, strategic orga- Visit the campaign website at www.rmnwitness.org.

Believe Out Loud Disciples are people who:

Commit – Sign a Reconciling United Methodist (RUM) card.
Share – Tell their story to at least two other people and ask them to join the movement.
Pledge – Donate a monthly contribution to the Reconciling Ministries Network.

The National Believe Out Loud

Training Team
at Justice & Joy.
Autumn 2009 • Katalyst | 3
 1

2 3

Welcome: 1. Registration, 2. B
Stanovsky shares Rocky Mou
Past to Future: 4. Founders: B
Bowman, 5. Celebrating Sue
Believe Out Loud.
Sound of Music: 7. MOSAIC: y
9. Rev. Malcolm Himschoot: t
Worship: 10. Dr. Marcia McFe
Drew Phoenix, 13. Rev. Dr. E
Plenaries: 14-15. Religion & R
Birkhahn-Rommelfanger, 16.
5 6 riage Equality: Roland String
4 | Katalyst • Autumn 2009
 11 12
7

10 13

14 15

Board bring greetings, 3. Bishop

untain gifts.
eth Richardson & Mark
Laurie’s Ministry, 6. Launch of

young adults, 8. Mountain music,

trans justice.
ee, 11. Bishop Hagiya, 12. Rev.
Eunice Iliya.
Race Rocks: Erin Hawkins & BJ
Circles of Privilege, 17. Mar-
gfellow & Evan Wolfson. 16 17
Autumn 2009 • Katalyst | 5
 “Transitions” Continued from Page 1
When I was a teenager, I did not
appreciate these experiences but
over time developing the skill of
seeing beyond, as described in The
Giver by Lois Lowry has helped
me treasure these moments. The
book takes us to a society where
one person holds the collective
memory of both pain and joy of not
only the community, but the whole
world. At twelve years old, Jonas
is selected to be the next Receiver
of Memory. He has exhibited the
qualities needed, intelligence,
integrity, courage, wisdom and the
capacity to see beyond. Jonas has
a budding sense of an ability to see
color in a world where everyone
literally sees grey. In a society
of sameness Jonas explores and
questions the gift of his inherited
difference. His experience calls the
giver (the person holding the mem-
ories) to decide if the community
is ready to share both the joy and
pain of the world or if it should
remain limited to one person.
Both fall and our commitment to
work for an inclusive church call
us to see beyond. Both offer us
the choice to honestly look at the
things we love and to see visions
beyond what’s before us. As we
journey together we’ll cultivate
a deeper sense of community. As
we challenge the church to see
and move beyond the exclusionary
practices that inhibit the kin-dom
of God from being whole, we too
must look within our movement
to make sure each voice is heard.
I believe our church and world are
ready for a new shared memory,
an offering of both our joy and
pain. I look forward to seeing,
moving and living beyond with
you.
5 4
6 | Katalyst • Autumn 2009
Justice & Joy Awards
The Cup of Justice Award is given for
taking bold action to invoke justice
where injustice, oppression and ex-
clusion exist.
Recipient: Baltimore-Washington
Area Reconciling United Methodists
(B-WARM). Photo 1. Among their
many efforts, B-WARM organized a
sit down meeting with their bishop
1
and Conference Board of Church and
Society to emphasize how Confer-
ence publications and information
channels can neglect and
marginalize ministries
to the LGBT commu-
nity. This group will
not accept anything less
than full participation
and active involvement in
shaping their Conference’s
mission and identity from
the center of the church.
The Voice in the Wilderness
Award is for taking risks,
despite isolation in a wilder-
ness, to proclaim the right-
ness of inclusion for all people
in the church, and for standing
against injustice despite that lack of
support.
Recipient: Rev. David Weekley. Photo
2. Over 30 years ago, David began
his transition from female to male
and has served his entire career in
his identity as a male. Now he is
coming out—to his bishop, district 2
superintendent, church, and the
world. David has been active in the
Reconciling Movement throughout
his career.
The Hilton Award is given to those
parents of LGBTQ children who
through outstanding compassion-
ate witness and work give signifi-
cant support to other parents and
increased hope for a more inclusive
3
denomination.
Recipient: Beverly Cole. Photo 3.
Recipient: Bob and Betty Dorr. Photo
4.
Recipient: Gary Pennington (Received
by Carolyn Pennington). Photo 5.
For more information about the Jus-
tice and Joy Awards, visit the Flash-
nets for 8/18/2009 and 9/7/2009.
 Thy Will Be Done “For m
e,
By Rev. Carl Davis to a wi signing my n for and you can ensure that your
ll whic a m e resources continue to be used to
charita hc
Most of us have prayed those words ble gift ontains a do God’s work on earth, leaving
prayer i
since we were small children. In our . Havin s a form of
sures t p ortan g a wil a legacy of justice and hope for
prayer they are followed by the re- he smo t to me beca l is im- the future, by making a bequest to
to my l ot us
quest “on earth as it is in heaven.” oved o h transfer of e it en- RMN.
have g ne my ass
iven m s and the ca e
As we have grown into adult- giving y life m uses th ts
is the u eaning at A bequest can take on a number
hood saying this prayer we have withou lt .L
t expec imate form o egacy of forms including: a specific dollar
learned that doing God’s will on thing- ting so f givin
in me g amount, a percentage of the estate, or
earth is our responsibility and and de return. My w thing –any-
ed’ and ill is m the gift of a specific asset. While many
it refle t y
privilege. God’s realm comes to cts my hat’s why I m last ‘act people think that legacy giving is only
w ade su
earth through our own actions. onor Fr ishes and v
RMN D
ank Sta alues.” re for a select few, the truth is that every
We each have a part to play in ggs
bequest to RMN has a positive impact
transforming our church and
that can never be erased.
world into the full expression of
Christ’s inclusive love, we each have a part in doing Visit our web site www.rmnetwork.org
God’s will. and click on the planned giving link for more informa-
tion or call Carl Davis, Director of Development at (773)
One way we do this is through our own will and estate
736-5526 to request a copy of RMN’s estate planning
planning. Having a will is important for people of all
brochure and learn about ways you can support RMN
ages, income levels and stages of life. No one is too young
through planned giving.
or too poor to benefit from a good will. Through legacy
giving you can ensure that your loved ones are cared

Child Playing at Justice & Joy. Justice & Joy Final Communion.

“Gifts in honor of...” “Gifts in memory of...”

In Honor of Honored by
Mark Hanson Sherry Dorman First UMC of Oneonta NY and
William Nunn
Carla M. Moore Carl E. Moore remember
Amory Peck, Fred Brewington, Deborah Maria Bill Bouton
Jim Lane
Violet and Bill Taylor 60th Norma Graves Dr. Robert J. Hawthorne
Anniversary remembers
Bishop Melvin E. Wheatley
Darci Vetter Nebraska Statewide Rums
Ann Thompson Cook OI Rums
Weslie E. Buss
remembers
In Honor of Sue Laurie: Clyde Gates
Andrew Family, Bowles Family, Faith Buss, Alice Cromwell, Crowder
Family, Dorr Family, Larry L. Fox, Joan M. Gillis, Lewis Family, Olson
Family, Carolyn D. Pennington, Simons Family, Watts Family
Autumn 2009 • Katalyst | 7
 RMN Convocation
DVD Order Form
DVDs will be mailed as soon as they are available. Please contact the
Reconciling Ministries Network if you have any questions.

Name: __________________________________________

Email: __________________________________________

Address: ________________________________________

8 | Katalyst • Autumn 2009

City/State/Zip: __________________________________

Phone: __________________________________________

Description Price Quantity Total

#1 Worship Fri. evening & Sat. morning–Vince
$10.00
Cervantes & Drew Phoenix preachers
#2 Worship Sun. & Mon. morning–Eunice Iliya
$10.00
& Grant Hagiya
Address Service Requested

#3 Bible Studies with Elaine Heath $10.00

#4 Intersections Plenary with Erin Hawkins &
$10.00
Barbara Isaacs
#5 Marriage Equality Plenary with Evan
Chicago, IL 60641-3007

$10.00
Wolfson & Roland Stringfellow
#6 Global Connections Plenary with Daniel
$10.00
Arichea, Araceli Ezzatti & Eunice Iliya
#7 Silver Anniversary Celebration & Awards $10.00

#8 Complete Set $50.00

Merchandise Total
Shipping $ 7.00
TOTAL
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Reconciling Ministries Network

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