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PRESBYTERIAN
PROMISE Inc. |
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704
Whitney Avenue
New Haven CT 06511 |
Proclaiming the Promise of God's Justice and Inclusive Love | |||||||||||||
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Highlights
of the |
Third Annual Meeting 3
- 5 PM
First
Presbyterian Church
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Service
of
Celebration and Dedication |
Opening
Worship - Richard Lindsay
Invocation of Spirit (from Hildegard of Bingen) Leader: Fiery Spirit, fount of courage,
Leader's words from Barbara Newman's translation of Symphonia, by Hildegard of Bingen. People's words by Richard Lindsay. Hymn: Called as Partners in Christ's Service
Scripture Reading: Philippians 3: 4-16 Prayer for Guidance and Commitment: Rev. Terry
Davis
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| Co-moderator's
Report 2003 |
Our second annual meeting was held on January
19, 2003 at First Presbyterian Church in Hartford. A "Service of Celebration
and Dedication," the worship included a song sung by Sharon Fennema, and
a reading from Isaiah 61 bringing "good news to the oppressed." A meeting
highlight was conversation with representatives from Christ Church, of
Burlington, Vermont, about their efforts to welcome people regardless of
sexual orientation into the life, membership and leadership of their congregation.
First Presbyterian (Hartford) continued their generous hospitality as we
enjoyed light refreshments to end a meaningful and informative meeting.
Following our annual meeting, Ralph Jones and Cheryl Molina were elected as Co-Moderators, Dan Blackford continued in his dedicated service as Secretary. Jane Hindenlang was elected Treasurer. In January 2003, Providence voted to become our fourth sponsoring congregation, and in March, Crossroads in Waterford became our fifth! Alleluia!! In April, Lisa Larges preached at Providence. In September, Crossroads welcomed Chris Glaser to their pulpit. As a Study and Advocacy Group, we reported to the Presbytery of Southern New England at their May annual meeting and also were available at their informational tables for those interested in the inclusivity movement. With able assistance from Rev. Katie Morrison and Brian Cave, Pres Promise met with youth from the New Haven, New Canaan and Wilton churches as well as Yale students. In April, joined by Presbyterian Welcome and the Act of Conscience Churches (Hudson River), Presbyterian Promise held a celebration of justice ministries at First Pres in Stamford CT to commission Rev. Cliff Frasier as he prepared to serve six months in jail for his non-violent witness of civil disobedience at the School of the Americas (now renamed). Cliff preached. Wayne Osborne, who had just released his new CD "So Serious," sang. Summer is Pride season! We've exhibited at the New Haven, Hartford, and Providence events. We also marched with Presbyterian Welcome in the grand New York City parade. That's a lot of pride! Each time, we find people excited by our presence and curious about developments in the justice struggle. Most important, we meet people interested in finding welcoming Presbyterian churches! In September, Chris Glaser, M. Div., noted author and pioneer in the struggle of GLBT persons to find welcome and inclusion in Christian churches, led a retreat titled "The Inner Voice of Love: Be Still! Be loved! Be grateful! Three Imperatives of Spiritual Life" at the Sanctuary at Shepardfields in East Haddam, CT. This wonderful, day long retreat was held in a yurt in the middle of a warm country field of green grass just about in the geographical middle our presbytery! Chris encouraged all in attendance to be still, and listen for the voice of God. When we come to know that we are beloved children of God, it is harder to deny that love and welcome to others. Presbyterian Promise found itself increasingly involved in the issue of same-sex marriage, a reflection of what has been happening in our culture in 2003. In early January, on a wintry day in Hartford, Presbyterian Promise and People of Faith for Gay Civil Rights (PFGCR) and others gathered in Hartford to show their support for same-sex marriage. The group journeyed across the street to a press conference in the Legislative Office Building held by Love Makes A Family, a group also dedicated to widening the circle of privilege around the issue of marriage. Later in the year, Presbyterian Promise participated in "Should Marriage = Love" a forum with Welcoming Congregations of New Haven, and Love Makes A Family. Also, Ralph Jones wrote an informative piece in our August 2003 newsletter, titled "Civics and Faith" enlisting our thoughts, prayers, and conversation around pastors doing marriages – or not! Our major funding effort this year was our letter sent at Thanksgiving. Response was indeed generous, raising well over $6,000. A small group of individuals braved this December's cold weather to enjoy pizza and The Connecticut Gay Men's Chorus performance "Queer Eye for the Magi" in New Haven as a mini-fundraiser for Presbyterian Promise. We hope to do more of these mini-events to allow donors to get to know each other and to help to increase the circle of people who donate funds to our organization. We mailed an three issues of our informative and attractive newsletter, Presbyterian Promise News during the year, and our web site, http://presbypromise.home.att.net continues to educate, speak out, and celebrate. Our editor, Ralph Jones, can be reached at presbypromise@tamfs.org for further information. Cheryl Molina and
Ralph Jones
Co-Moderators |
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Search
Committee Report |
The Presbyterian Promise Search Committee main
goal for 2003 was to think through and put into place the administrative
structures the organization will need when it comes time to hire a coordinator
or evangelist. With a job description and set of qualifications already
drafted, the committee set to work to draw up plans for a personnel committee
that will oversee all the supervision and personnel issues that arise when
we have staffing. The board will consider the committee's proposal at its
next regular meeting. With advice from a lawyer, the Search Committee also
drafted a proposed approach to handling sexual misconduct, relative to
a hired staff person, board members, and ongoing volunteers. This policy
makes use of member church and presbytery guidelines, and is characterized
by prevention through awareness, attendance at presbytery training events,
and close supervision. This draft policy will also be considered by the
board as a whole at its next regular meeting.
With these policies in place, the job and qualifications descriptions complete, and the treasury nearing a figure required for possible hiring, the search committee anticipates that 2004 may see an actual search as part of its work. Search committee members are Dan Blackford, Dick
Hasbany, Ralph Jones, Letty Russell, and Elaine Shields.
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Election
of the Board |
Our bylaws provide that "at the Annual Meeting
the membership shall elect members to serve on the Board. These members
are in addition to those appointed to the Board by Sponsoring Members."
Further, "There shall be not fewer that nine (9) nor more than twenty-one
(21) directorships. ...Each director shall hold office for a term
of three years from the time of his or her election and qualification.
... The Board will have at least one appointed director from each
Sponsoring Member."
The Nominating Committee is composed of the following
three members: Dan Blackford, Cheryl Molina and Pat Wales. The committee
offers the following names to fill positions on the board:
Respectfully submitted,
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New Hope
in An Old Debate: Advocacy in This Time |
Next steps toward ending exclusion
of lesbian, gay, transgender, and bisexual Presbyterians from ministry, and the momentous movement toward recognizing same-gender relationships in marriage. Discussion led by Revs. Letty Russell and Terry Davis
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PRESBYTERIAN
PROMISE |
is a ministry called to proclaim God's
promise
of justice and love in Jesus Christ by organizing inclusive and inquiring churches in the Presbytery of Southern New England into a community of mutual support for the empowerment of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons, and for outreach, education, and Christian evangelism. |