Update from Tennessee!

The All Means All Amendment vote in Tennessee took place this past Monday, June 15th.  There was an amazing level of energy around the amendment, with twenty speeches taking place in total (far more than ANY other group of amendments) and over 100 people wearing pink "All Means All" buttons.  The first 5 speeches were all in favor of the amendment, and then they went back in forth, so we had a few more speeches in favor than opposed from my calculations.  The first person to step up to the microphone was a young gay man with green hair who had found an amazing church to be in community with.  His two pastors stood behind him in support of all he had to say.  Our own Stephen Mallett shared a beautiful story about what it means to be open to all regarding a mission trip he did in a community that brought the United Methodists and the Catholics together.  Other persons shared the importance of grace while another person asked those present who they would like to exclude from their churches noting that if everyone isn't included, the body of Christ is harmed.  It was a moving experience, tears definitely glistened in my eyes.  In total we had 285 in favor of Amendment One and 340 against - 46%.  We in the Tennessee Annual Conference continue to move on towards perfection!

Comments

[George Oeser]

My name is George Oeser and I am the person with green hair mentioned in the post above.

It was truly a moving experience to hear so many people speak about the need to share Christ's love with everyone, especially after the previous day when in the laity meeting scare tactics were used to try and sway our votes against the amendment. We were told that if amendment 1 passed we would be opening our churches to terrorists and KKK members. Well at Hobson UMC where I attend church I believe we would even welcome terrorists and KKK members, I can't think of any groups of people who more need the love of Christ and a community of faith in their lives.

I am very grateful to have been led to a church where we challenge ourselves to love everyone, and I hope that some day this will be the norm for all churches of all denominations. In the mean time it was great to see the vote wind up as close as it did in Tennessee, even though the amendment didn't receive a majority of the votes here I think some hearts and minds were opened, and this will lead to the opening of even more doors.

[shox shoes]

No neighborhood could build a perpetual constitution, as well just like a perpetual law.(Thomas Jefferson, the states president)

[coach coin purses]

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[Justin Bieber Shoes]

Now I do understand more how music is related to our lives.I well remember the people stolidly, stubbornly walking everywhere, albeit sometimes given lifts by passing car.The recipe sure looks like it would produce a tasty muffin.

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