Activist groups strategize for Pittsburgh 2011

Mennonite Church USA leaders may provide discussion rooms with facilitators

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Groups advocating for the inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) individuals in Mennonite Church USA gathered for a strategy summit May 21-22 at the Chicago Community Mennonite Church.

Representatives from Brethren Mennonite Council (BMC) for LGBTQ interests, Pink Menno, MennoNeighbors and Open Letter (see box below) pastors met. The purpose of the summit was to plan for a presence at the Mennonite Church USA convention and delegate assembly to be held July 4-9, 2011, in Pittsburgh.

On Aug. 6, Carol Wise of BMC said one purpose of the summit was to "begin to understand more fully and address the tension that has sometimes existed between communities of color and the LGBTQ community."

Cynthia Lapp and Karl Shelly of the Open Letter pastors group emailed a statement on Aug. 10: "Justice and inclusion of LGBT folks is one important part of that work. We also talked about immigration and ways to work at racism in the church as well as in justice movements like ours." The Open Letter was sent to Mennonite Church USA in 2009.

At Columbus 2009, the Pink Menno campaign held a press conference, sponsored seminars, film viewings and hymn sings.

"We'd like to have a bigger, even more vibrant effort over the next year,” said Luke Yoder, a Pink Menno founder, on Aug. 3. "There would be things people could do in anticipation of and preparation for Pittsburgh."

Pink Menno started primarily with college and congregational networks. The groups hope to broaden their network for Pittsburgh 2011. At the May summit, participants decided to work on a national campaign for the months leading up to Pittsburgh 2011.

Yoder described tentative plans for the campaign as a national effort in which people in congregations can plug into a broader movement calling for the inclusion of LGBTQ individuals.

Yoder said the merged group hopes to continue in the same vein as the campaign last year: "visible, participatory, joyful, playful," but not confrontational. Also, they hope to build on the convention theme, "Bridges to the Cross."

Wise described what each group offers a broader movement: "Pink Menno brings the energy, passion and leadership of youth and young adults," she said. "Open Letter pastors bring their wisdom, access to formal church structures, and theological and pastoral skills. Individuals from the MennoNeighbors listserv bring their local experience and insights gained from an engagement with a variety of church issues. And BMC brings a long history of commitment to the LGBT community, education, resources and a persistence in working within the Mennonite church."

As far as informing Mennonite Church USA about plans for Pittsburgh, Wise said, "my assumption would be that leadership will certainly be informed of our general intentions. ... We have already initiated communication––for example, we notified denominational leadership about the [summit].

"I would welcome a more mutual engagement and think it is past time for church leadership to take more responsibility for a more genuine conversation," Wise said.

Ervin Stutzman, Mennonite Church USA executive director, said on Aug. 16 Executive Leadership has had informal conversations with the summit leaders and anticipates more.

"We would like to develop some agreements about the way these groups will carry on activities at the convention," Stutzman said.

"We have talked about the idea of providing a place, perhaps a designated room, where adults could discuss a number of difficult resolutions that the delegates have passed recently," said Stutzman. "That could include resolutions on immigration, human trafficking, health care and 'following Christ and growing together as communities even in conflict.' ... We would also provide facilitators to help keep the discussion balanced and respectful."

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Additional Notes

Glossary of group names

MennoNeighbors is a network of individuals and congregations that provides support and discusses theology, beliefs
and practices of Mennonite Church USA. Website: www.mennoneighbors.org/mailman/listinfo/neighbors

Open Letter is an open letter written in 2008 calling for inclusion of LGBTQ members in Mennonite Church USA; 83 signers currently hold ministerial credentials in Mennonite Church USA. Website: www.openlettertomcusa.org/

Brethren Mennonite Council for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Interests is a network for Menno­nite and Brethren lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and allied members. Website: www.bmclgbt.org

Pink Menno is a campaign that supports the inclusion of LGBTQ individuals in marriage, in ordination and in Mennonite Church USA. Website: www.pinkmenno.org/