Success in West Michigan

Our West Michigan Annual Conference was held from June 4 through June 7 at Calvin College in Grand Rapids.  Here are some highlights of a very positive experience for us:

• As you know, we voted on a number of Constitutional Amendments.  The vote on Constitutional Amendment I which modifies the paragraph in the Constitution on Inclusion to make sure all persons who seek membership and are willing to take the vows are accepted was passed by a vote of 467 Yes and 197 No. This is 70.3% in favor.
  
• The only other legislation of interest to our group was another attempt revoke health care benefits denied for domestic partners.  This was soundly defeated.  We voted to grant these benefits by a narrow majority a few years ago.  Every year since there has been an attempt to overturn that decision and every year our majority in favor of retaining them grows.
• We held a catered luncheon on Friday attended by nearly one hundred of you.  These numbers included 35 who have been added to our e-mail distribution for the first time.  We heard a great presentation by Deb Search Willoughby and Jonathan Richardson from Kalamazoo First on their successful effort to become a reconciling congregation this past year.
• We had a table at the Ministry Fair which was well attended on Saturday afternoon.  We sold several copies of "Claiming the Promise" and "All God's Children", gave away over 400 rainbow crosses and over 125 "All means All" buttons.  Many of the crosses and buttons were picked up early by delegates and worn prominently throughout the conference.
• We also gave out small rainbow stoles for the clergy choir to wear with their regular stoles and robes at the Sunday afternoon Ordination Service.  Over half of the choir took them and wore them.  Some of those being commissioned and ordained wore rainbow crosses on their robes.  A beautiful witness by all.  Our Bishop, Johnathan Keaton, made a statement supporting inclusion of all in his Ordination sermon.  Thanks to Lana Hunter, Benita Fyan's church group and Sandra McDonald for making the stoles
• A follow up on our pre-conference "Called to Witness" advocacy for Amendment I.  We conducted over 40 one on one sessions with delegates, obtained supportive statements from five congregations or organizations and spoke in support at one district pre-conference meeting.
• We collected $415.00 in a free will offering at our luncheon.  The money has been deposited in an account at First UMC in Grand Rapids.  We plan to send $250 to the Reconciling Ministries Network as the annual dues for our West Michigan Reconciling organization and keep the rest to cover miscellaneous expenses to support our efforts during the year.  If you wish to make additional donations, please write a check to First UMC Grand Rapids put WM Reconciling in the memo line and send it to Lois Moseley, 1753 Breton Rd SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506.
• Other celebrations:
  • We were glad to have Pastor Steve at our luncheon again and in the pastor's choir in his beautiful rainbow stole.
  • We were blessed to meet several LBGT delegates and youth attendees
  • Youth delegates who spoke strongly on the conference floor in favor of Amendment I
  • Each year the number of delegates wearing rainbow crosses grows and the supportive statements become stronger
  • The West Michigan RUM's are a wonderful, caring, supportive and growing (now 170 strong) group
• Sandra and I will be attending the "Justice and Joy" bi-annual convocation in Estes Park, CO in September.  We will attend the Called to Witness III training there.  The third phase of Called to Witness will be about strengthening our local organizations.  More to come on this when we return from Estes Park.

We will prevail, one person at a time, one congregation at a time, one conference at a time and finally one UMC.

 

God bless you,

 

Mike and Sandra McDonald