GC Newsletter: Wednesday, April 23

“A Future With Hope” - “One Family Tree”

The theme for the 2008 General Conference of The United Methodist Church, "A Future With Hope," comes from a verse that seems to be written for expectant Reconciling people, Jeremiah 29:11.

Reconciling United Methodists are certainly a people of hope. Scripture supports our bold confidence in these words of Jeremiah and throughout the Gospels and Epistles of the New Testament: We claim the promise of inclusion as children of God.

Our hope in Christ envisions "One Family Tree" that thrives as persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

Such a tree must certainly be more than one color! Such a tree must have many branches, and be deeply rooted.

One Family Tree draws from the living water: our hope goes deep into the well of baptism, deep into God's love made clear to us in Jesus.

We proclaim "There is: One Body, One Spirit, One Hope, One Savior, One Faith, and One Baptism." Ephesians 4:4-5.

LGBTQ Pastoral Care Hotline Available
612-353-7445

A LGBTQ Pastoral Care Hotline sponsored by Affirmation Council will be staffed from April 24th through Friday May 2. Clergy will answer the phone at 612-353-7445, and can offer a phone clergy counselor to discuss the challenges of being at General Conference.  Watch for Chaplains wearing baseball caps at lunch each day in the First Christian Church. Appointments are welcome, or just come up and say hi.

United Methodist Parent Honored

Parents of LGBTQ persons held a press conference today, and honored a long-time UM member and parent of a lesbian daughter, Helen King, with the Hilton Award, named in honor of parents Bruce and Ginny Hilton.  Speakers included Rev. Bill Taylor, a UM minister forced to take a leave after refusing to reject his gay son, and Bishop Ray Chamberlain,  Southeastern Jurisdiction.