Carol Abrahamson has prepared
the following chronology of the creation of
Reconciling Hearts Ministry
of First United
April 19, 2006: Carol Abrahamson wrote to United Methodists she
knew to alert them to the fact that Judicial Council was meeting in
April
26: 2006: After Carol participated in
one demonstration before Judicial Council in Overland Park, she sent a letter to FUMC
persons who she thought would be interested, describing how she felt after the
Council meeting and telling about the book she had read called Jesus, the
Bible, and Homosexuality, asking any who were interested in meeting to
affect change at FUMC to get back to her.
May 17, 2006: Sent email to Reconciling
Ministries Network about resources
June 13, 2006: Began communicating with Maureen Vetter in
June 20, 2006: Sent email and later talked by phone to Troy
Plummer of RMN for advice.
June 22, 2006: An initial meeting at FUMC with about 25 in
attendance. Brainstormed what we might do at
June 30, 2006: Carol began forwarding articles sent to her
by other members and writing and distributing book reviews of pertinent books. There is now an email list of supportive and interested persons in the
church.
July 7, 2006: Contacted Mary
Anne Shaw in
July 11, 2006: First meeting
of steering committee to get acquainted and to start brainstorming.
July 14, 2006: Contacted Carol Cline about our aligning with
August 28, 2006: Steering committee meets again to plan for
fall activities.
September,
2006: Carol A. gave a book review of Jesus,
the Bible, and Homosexuality to Just Us Circle.
September 24, 2006:
First Forum—“Risking the Truth:
When Children “Come Out” to their Parents” featuring Linda Penny and
Diane Stiles sharing their unique
family experiences.
September 28: Carol alerted everyone that the Judicial
Council would be meeting again.
October 8, 2006:
Second Forum—“Variations of Human Sexuality” featuring Dennis Dailey, recently retired KU professor
of Social Welfare.
October 22, 2006: Had a booth at the Ministry Fair, which was
not well attended.
October 26, 2006: Got word of the Kansas City Coalition, groups
with common interest.
November 12, 2006:
“Is Homosexuality a Choice?” featuring a DVD called “A Biological Explanation for Human
Orientation”—we had trouble with the DVD but had a good discussion.
January 4, 2007: Distributed information about Domestic
Registry in the city
January 23, 2007: Alerted members about the OUTFRONT workshop
in KC. Judy and Jerry Niebaum participate and later share resources.
January 24, 2007: Meeting of special group to discuss Tom Brady’s
ideas for the whole church, involving a series of small groups in dialogue.
January 27, 2007: Contacted Sandy Vigil Cruz and Gwen Bartlett
and Forrest Swall for Spring
seminars
February 2, 2007: Contacted Sue Laurie of RMN to get feedback
for Tom’s idea. She advised not being in too much of a hurry…to give people
time to think.
February 5, 2007: Ordered books from RMN, And God Loves Each
One.
February 11, 2007: Judy and Jerry Niebaum attended the OUTFRONT
workshop in KC.
February 20, 2007: Followup meeting
about Tom’s idea. People who had
assignments shared, i.e. Carol Abrahamson,
Sue Morgan, Tom Brady, Judy and Jerry Niebaum.
The
problem seemed to be when to have the series because of other church
activities.
February 21, 2007: Contacted Ryan and Linda Haywood from
February 23, 2007: Forwarded summary of conversation with Haywoods to Reconciling group.
February 24, 2007: Received printed info from Haywoods electronically
February 27, 2007: Spring planning group met to plan
informational sessions to educate the church while Tom’s idea is evolving.
March 11, 2007: Carol Abrahamson and Sue Morgan started
working on a statement to take to
March
and April, 2007 : Had an informational table two
different Sundays, distributing ribbons and
brochures.
April 15, 2007: Sandy Vigil-Cruz and Gwen Bartlett shared
about their relationship using a powerpoint
presentation, following a light lunch in Youth Place.
April 22, 2007:
Took a statement to
April 29, 2007:
Forrest and Donna Swall conducted a general
workshop which included information about
their family situation and relationship to PFlag.
May 3, 2007: Marceil Lauppe and Carol Abrahamson presented to Council on
Ministries, who suggested that since we have the passion, we should do the work
and proceed to Administrative Board.
May 10, 2007: Met with Jerry
Niebaum to prepare for Administrative Board meeting. Jerry was the current
chair of the Ad Board.
May 22, 2007: City Commissioners considered Domestic
Registry. We advertised the meeting to
our members.
May 29, 2007:
Reconciling Hearts met to consider a shortened statement for Ad Board,
which had evolved from email responses.
The group decided to have a committee rewrite it to make it more
forceful. Dennis Dailey and Rose and Gary
Schmidt volunteered to do so. Ann
Johnson, Carol Abrahamson, Judy Niebaum and Loanne
Martin volunteered to work on talking points to take to small groups in the church. It was decided to try to get Bishop Wilke to come to the church to preach and lead a
seminar. Tom is planning fall meetings
using the Conference DVD. Jerry Niebaum and Carol Abrahamson will work on a
compiled DVD for small groups.
June 7, 2007: Emailed Bishop Wilke
to request his coming and for him to suggest dates.
June 12: City
Commissioners approved a Domestic Registry
June 15: The
statement committee came up with an idea which was sent out to RH for
comments. It was again revised. Deadlines were removed from it. Some were disappointed; others relieved.
July 7, 2007: emailed Bishop Wilke
again that he was going to consider dates.
July 26, 2007: Bishop Wilke
suggested two fall dates and one after the first of the year.
August 1, 2007: Staff chose after the first of year for
Bishop Wilke.
Tom offered to make the next contact with the bishop to confirm the date
and suggest content.
August 7, 2007: Our statement was presented to Ad Board with
about 55 signatures.
Ad Board moved to support our efforts, nothing more. Their
affirmation is to be published. We
decided to proceed with our informational efforts.
August 22, 2007:
Bishop Wilke said he would come on January 20.
August
28, 2007: A fall planning meeting
decided to promote Tom Brady’s small group series on Homosexuality and the Church and the Jack Rogers (Jesus, the
Bible, and Homosexuality)
book signing and lecture to be held at ECM and at First Presbyterian Church, and to promote a KC area conference
(WIG) on October 7. There will be a later planning meeting for the Wilke event.
September
23 and 30: Set up a Reconciling Hearts
booth at Ministry Fair both Downtown and at West Campus to advertise and to get
new members.
September 30: About 15 members attended Jack Roger’s
lectures.
October 7: Carol Abrahamson and Rowena Pine attended the
“Wide is God’s Welcome” conference at Asbury UMC.
October,
through the 26th: Advertised
the need for persons to send petitions to General Conference before the date
due, October 26. Carol assisted
persons who cannot do it
themselves following computer directions. The petitions were designed in KS East
Conference. Supporters can offer them as well.
October
23, 2007: First planning meeting for
January Wilke event.
November
7, 2007: Wilke
suggested an honorarium. Tom Brady and
he communicated about what we want from him.
November
12, 2007: Followup
meeting for planners of January Wilke event. Survey designers, advertising planners, and
logistical oversight were discussed.
November
14, 2007: Jerry Niebaum began working on
our very own website. He also designed a
“Save This Date” card to be used when we visit small groups to advertise for
the Wilke event, which is to be called “The Bible, Our Church and
Homosexuality”.