Wow! We made it through our first full year as an organization! And a very good year it was.
- We hosted some 200 guests at our “free” Open Table Reception/Dinner on the first evening of Annual Conference in Charlotte, NC.
- We led two annual conference insight sessions, one on Christian Economics and the justice of Jesus, and one on Alternative Ways of Being Church featuring innovative approaches to faith communities.
- We led two workshops at NOAC on Children’s Spirituality and the Stewardship of Creation.
- We enjoyed working with our Summer Intern, Lauren Seganos, as she helped us with our Annual Conference booth and activities along with updating our data files.
- We co-sponsored the sixth fall Progressive Brethren Gathering featuring inspiring worship, dance and film events, speaker Sharon Groves of the Human Rights Campaign, and great hospitality by the Beacon Heights congregation of Fort Wayne, IN.
- We raised and spent some $9,400 through your generous support!
In 2014 we hope to do even more! We’ll continue our truly Open Table Reception at Annual Conference in Columbus, OH, our encouragement of emerging models of being church, and our electronic updates about issues of interest in the Church and beyond. And we’re looking for you to get involved by joining or creating a network on: Young Adult Inclusion in the Church, Christian Economics, Health Care Reform, Education, Non-Violence and sensible Firearms Legislation, and more.
Our vision for Open Table Cooperative is to facilitate and encourage a wide number of independent working groups focused on a variety of progressive faith interests. We can provide the platform for cooperative efforts, but we need you to step forward and become an advocate/organizer for one of these efforts or for something that has convicted your faith.
To further our work, we will be employing a part-time Open Table Cooperative Coordinator starting January 1, 2014. The position will be volunteer for now, becoming a paid position as funds permit. We’ve learned that staff is important for continuity, intensity, and follow-through if a non-profit organization is to be effective. We’ve called Elizabeth Ullery to that position starting January 1.
To do all of this, we need your involvement and support! We’re asking you to:
- Contact us to find out how you or your congregation can get involved! (info@opentablecoop.org)
- Host/Sponsor a table at the Annual Conference Open Table Reception for $250 (Co-sponsor for $125). Each table will have a sign “ (Your Name) Support an Open Table Church”, you can be present in spirit even if you can’t join us in body.
- Become an OTC pillar by making a donation of $20, 50, 100, 500, 1000 or a monthly contribution of $5, 10, 20, 50 or more. Donate now!
Thanks for your support and encouragement,
the Open Table Cooperative Board.
Kathy Fry-Miller, Josih Hostetler,
Ken Kline Smeltzer, and Elizabeth Ullery
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