Today as I do some reading and writing in preparation for guiding a small group of my congregation’s members in crafting an Open and Affirming statement to present to the full congregation I came across an article that speaks to what it means to be a welcoming congregation. It speaks to the truth that being a welcoming faith community is more than a well wordsmithed statement and sticking a rainbow flag on your building. Being a welcoming community calls us to love, commune, serve, practice radical grace and extravagant welcome. The article, published in Whosoever Magazine, an online magazine for LGBT Christians, is speaking specificity to congregations welcoming their gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered brothers and sisters but I think the words hold meaning well beyond the LGBT community. Just as Jesus welcomed Gentiles to the table, we are called to be people of radical grace and extravagant welcome to all and we must do so with more than words. “Peter recognized that there is no such thing as a grace too far. God’s grace extends to even the Gentiles — those people that Jesus called “dogs” (Matthew 15:26). The church continues to hinder and cheapen God’s grace by casting out God’s gay and lesbian children because of some perceived “sin.”” For too long the words of the Christian church have been used to determine who is “fit” to be a follower of Christ. Church leaders have spent far too much time preaching the “Thou Shalt Nots” instead of the unconditional love of Jesus. As the Church of the Brethren there are voices in our midst who would like to silence the “sinner” in hopes of having a pure-unified voice. But it is my belief that the diversity of our voice is the strength of our faith.

How might we live that radical grace and extravagant welcome? Where are the places in our lives where we do not welcome everyone to our table? Whose voice are we silencing? At Annual Conference someone mentioned to me in a conversation at the OTC booth that they thought it would be a good idea for OTC to have a conservative voice on our board. This really struck me. What would that look like? What might happen if we brought more voices to the table? How could we invite those with differing opinions without making them the “token conservative”? I’m going to keep thinking about this and I welcome your thought and insight too.

Our summer intern, Lauren, has wrapped up her work with us this summer and is preparing to start seminary this fall. We are so very appreciative and thankful for her time and energy this summer. She helped by organizing and updating our mailing lists, both email and snail mail, so if you have changed your address recently let us know so we can continue to share in the ministry of Open Table. Lauren also joined us in Charlotte, NC for Annual Conference and spent a lot of time a the booth. If you had the opportunity to stop by you probably saw our discussion board where we asked you to share your answers and insight to some questions. Lauren has taken those responses and made them into a short video. Take a minute to watch it and join in the continued conversation on Facebook or email me at info@opentablecoop.org.

Peace,

and the
Open Table Cooperative Board,
Kathy Fry-Miller, Josih Hostetler, Aaron Ross,
Ken Kline Smeltzer, Elizabeth Ullery

Greetings!
I’m writing you today on this decidedly mid-winter day. Some of you are shoveling driveways and, if you are lucky, enjoying a snow day. Here on the west coast after several sunny spring-like days I am finding the return to wet and cold a harsh reminder that spring is indeed the way, but not here yet. As we are making our way through Lent heading towards Jerusalem, this time of patience and diligence can often feel as cold and dark as we sky outside the window. We journey on knowing that with the resurrection of Easter comes the possibility of rebirth and renewal, just as the bulbs push through the frozen ground or emerge from the mud puddles every year. With our regular phone meetings the Open Table board is journeying forward too. I am excited to share with you a couple opportunities for you to join in the journey too.

Love’s Obedience 
Brethren Mennonite Council, building on an idea from the 2012 Progressive Gathering, has developed a document entitled Love’s Obedience as a way for pastors, individuals, and congregations to bear witness to LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) inclusion.

Follow this link to the full document and join Open Table and others by adding your name: http://www.bmclgbt.org/LovesObedience.shtml

Summer Internship
As Open Table continues to develop as an organization some generous donors have provided resources so that we might be able to offer a Summer Internship opportunity. This would be a wonderful experience for a young adult to connect with the work of Open Table and the larger church community while supporting the foundation work of a small non-profit. If you or someone you know would be interested in this experience you can get the full internship description on the OTC website http://www.opentablecoop.org/summer-internship. Applications are due April 1! We are so excited to be able to offer this opportunity.

Gun Control
As a people of faith with a strong commitment to pacifism The Church of the Brethren has long been an outspoken voice in favor is gun control. As gun control legislation has once again entered the public conversation it is important for us to actively engage in the conversation. We would like to encourage you to send a letter to your legislator expressing your non-violence stance and encouraging them to enact real gun control legislation. On our website you will find a draft letter that you can edit as you wish along with a link to help identify who your current legislator is. It is important that as people of peace we speak out from our faith perspective. http://www.opentablecoop.org/send-a-letter-to-your-legislator-supporting-gun-control/

With hope and visions of a warm spring we journey forward engulfed in a spirit of bold, visionary, inclusive love!

Peace,
Elizabeth Ullery &
Open Table Cooperative Board,

As a people of faith with a strong commitment to pacifism The Church of the Brethren has long been an outspoken voice in favor is gun control. As gun control legislation has once again entered the public conversation it is important for us to actively engage in the conversation. Below is a template of a letter that we encourage you to send to your legislators in Washington DC. Feel free to elaborate or edit to reflect your own voice.

Find your Representative 

Find your Senator

For more information on the Church of the Brethren’s stance on gun control read the 2010 resolution on gun violence with more current actions outlined in the January 24 Newsline “Church of the Brethren joins in religious coalition working to end gun violence”.

Greetings!

This winter has kept the Open Table board busy making preparations for Annual Conference (non-delegate registration opens on February 20!), submitting Article of Incorporation paperwork and establishing 501c3, not-for-profit status. While this work is important for the organization as a whole, there isn’t much to see or participate in yet. Which brings me to the main reason for this email. This Sunday, February 10 at 5:00 pacific time I will be joining Audrey deCoursey, the pastor of Living Stream Church of the Brethren, for evening worship. Living Stream is a new, inclusive, creative, adventurous, online worship community that started in 2012. From their website;

“The Living Stream is an exploration in community-building through new visual and social media. Think of this as a kind of laboratory for exploring worship with new media, where we learn together what draws us to each other, what soothes our spirits, what uplifts us from our alienation, and what challenges us to grow.”

I have the pleasure of joining Pastor Audrey in Portland, Oregon for a time of worship and conversation focused on community and relationships. Please make time this Sunday to log in and join in the conversation. I will also be sharing a bit about what we, the OTC board, have been up to since the Progressive Gathering and what is in the works for the coming months and Annual Conference. There will be an opportunity to ask questions and engage in conversation as we continue this important work of gathering individuals and communities in seeking the movement of the Divine within and among us, for celebration and action.

For more information about Living Stream visit their website: http://www.livingstreamcob.org

Use this direct link to join us for worship on Sunday or watch archived services: http://new.livestream.com/livingstreamcob/Epiphany2013

Peace,

Elizabeth Ullery &
The Open Table Cooperative Board

Registration for the Fall 2012 Progressive Brethren Gathering is now open!

Head on over now to sign up for “Holy Work: Becoming Beloved Community” at LaVerne Church of the Brethren, October 26-28, 2012.

Featured guests include Abigail A. Fuller, Associate Professor of Sociology and Chair, Dept. of Sociology and Social Work, at Manchester University  & Katy Gray Brown, Associate professor of philosophy and peace studies at Manchester University. Professors Abby and Katy will help deepen our understanding of social change theory, non-violent action, and the dynamics and configuration of successful social movements. We will also have opportunities to explore how the Civil Rights, Anti-War, Labor, Feminist, and the LGBT Movements have impacted the Church of the Brethren, as well as how they can continue to guide us as we struggle to grow as a Beloved Community.

There will also be plenty of opportunities for group discussion, a film screening, and a special music and worship experience “Songs of the Movement” led by LaVerne musicians.

Check out the full information brochure (PDF)

The Progressive Brethren Gathering is a collaborative venture of Open Table Cooperative, Womaen’s Caucus, and the Brethren Mennonite Council for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Interests. We hope to see many of our friends and supporters at this special event this fall!