SDA Kinship - CONNECTION - February 1991

SDA KINSHIP@NtrCT=I@N{A Publication of seventh-day Adventist Gay tr,{en and Lesbians and their Friends February 1991 Volume 15 Number 2Ilebtaska IIDS Gonlerencebreaks ground for SIIA chutch \"lf we are serious about education, prevention and compassron for people with AIDS, we don't have time to be squeamishl' -MCicohnafeerel nNcoerCtoonordina torBy Kevin G. Richards * nationally and internationally recognized experts-scien- tists, physicians and public health specialists. He also Union College in Lincoln, Neb., was the unlikely site invited pastors, a hospital chaplain and five persons liv-for a first-of-its-kind AIDS conference held Oct.5-7 ,1,99A. ing with AIDS to address the conference. The conference was planned by SDA Kinship mem- Norton described the conference as a response to aber Michael Norton, 25, a former student at Union Col- deep need of the SDA church. \"When the educationallege and currently a pre-med student at a Nebraska Wes- institutions of a culture refuse to offer meaningful sexualleyan University. education, when medical institutions avoid treatment or involvement with AIDS patients, and when the clergy of The uniqueness of the conference, Norton said, was a church fear the issues surrounding human sexuality,that it was held in and partially funded by a Seventh-dayAdventist church. See Conference on page 3 Norton called together an impressive group of

SDA KINSHIP Dear Reader,coFNEcTtoN Sometimes... A Monthly Publication Sometimes, not often enough, we reflect upon the good things, of Seventh-day Adventist and our thoughts often center around those we loae.Gay Men and Lesbians and Their Friends And I think about those pmple, who mean so much to me, Editorial Board and for so many years haoe made me sa aery howy, Editor in Chief KsvrNG. Rrcruxos And I count the times I haoe forgotten to say \"thankyou\" Associate Editor Gnny Sreasrns and just how much I loae them.Dstribution Manager Roarnr FonncH - Felice and Henry Mancini Contributing Editor Hel lonr Contributing Editor Llnny Lle,llocx any of us have finally put on paper some of the things Contributing Editor LBB Su,uponn we've thought and shared since we heard the news about Tom Kopriva's death Dec. 4. In this issue, we Kinship Board Members share those sometimes-private thoughts. But what is sad is that Tom isn't here to read this issue. Too often we wait until it's too late to tell President M.qncn DoyLe someone we value their friendship. Vice President Davm Roocnns How much better it would be if we didn't need an occasion like Interim Secretary DenNEll SHpnRop this to say how much someone means to us. Saying \"Thank you,\" or \"I love you,\" or \"l'm thinking about you\" can be done in many sim- Treasurer Torrry Aoeus ple ways. Not only does it make the recipient feel good, but the Connection Editor Kpvw G. Rrcuenos giver feels good too. During this past year I learned a lot from others about the art of Public Relations DnNNrs Davrs appreciation. It doesn't take much to tell another person you care about them: Church Liaison Lanny FlqllocxWomen's Coordinator KRrs PrnlnpRc Call them. just a simple phone call can do wonders to lift some-Information Services Bnucr KnsLeNr one's spirits. I still remember Larry Hallock calling me a couple of times to tell me how much he liked something I had written in the Member at Large Krp Brannslnv Member at Large Jecxrn SwnarnroN Connection,I was on the other phone both times, but he quickly let Member at l-arge Joeru D'anc See Editorisl on next page Regional Directors North Atlantic (1) Boa Boucgnno O Copyright 1991. SDA Kinship lnternational is a worldwide support group for current or for- South Atlantic (2) D.qvro Roocsns mer Seventh-day Adventist gay men and lesbians and their friends. Kinship also provides Southeastern (3) JouerHeu Davrs Great Lakes (4) Bnla,N Dwlcsr educational materials and speakers for individuals and groups desiring greater understanding Great Plains (5) Floyn PonNrrz of homosexuality and related issues, and monthly publishes the SDA Kinship Connection, an Rocky Mountain (6) Wrs PnRnyPacific Northwest (7) Groncp Hnru inspirational and informational journal for its members and friends. The subscription rate is Central Pacific (8) HenRyWrr\"uors $24 per year U.S., $15 for additional subscriptions. Subscriber rate outside North America isPacific Southwest (9) D.rvro Bawrss $10 additional. Canada (10) Devlp RtcHaRosotrl Letters, articles, pictures, art and other materials are solicited from the Connection read- SDA Kinship International Inc. Box 3840, Los Angeles, CA 90078 ership. lnclude your name as you want it published. Some Connection contributors have cho- (213) 876-2076, TDD (509) 525-0202 sen to remain anonymous. Address all submissions to the editor, Kevin Richards, P.O. Box 2037, Collegedale, TN 37315, or eall (61S) 629-2028. The appearance of names, organizations or photographs of persons should not be con- strued as any indication of the affectional or sexual orientation of the person named or shown. Opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of SDA Kinship lnternational nor of the SDA Kinship Connection statf. Subscription requests and address changes should be sent to SDA Kinship, Box 3840, Los Angeles, CA 90078. The Kinship mailing list is contidential among officers and staff and is not sold, rented, or exchanged for any purpose. .TPhseeuCdoonnnyemctsio,nwihsearemuesmedb,eraroef the Gay and Lesbian Press Association, indicated. February 1991

Conference Pettis Memorial Hospital, and is an instructor at Loma Linda University.\"Continued from page 7. Official representatives of the General Con-1flSo.uo1rius1hc,.9\" -Nr-oeirgtonsn and isolation and suffering ference attended the conference, including the said. ,,This is the situation assistant editor of the Reaiew and Herald. whoinside much of the Seventh-day Adventist cul- wrote an article for the Dec. 6, 1990 issue.ture today.\" General Conference president Robert Norton said his feelings were echoed by Folkenberg also wrote a letter to College Viewseveral of the Adventist leaders attending th-e Church senior pastor Robert Bretsch stating hisconference. support for the effort. However he explicitly 'You can hear many of the same themes if stated that in no way was he endorsing theyou talk with Eunice Diaz, a member of the homosexual lifestyle.National AIDS task force and also a Seventh-day Adventist,\" he said. \"Or Harvey Elder, a Folkenberg said the conference was \"anSeventh-day Adventist physician who serves opportunity to graciously proclaim the com-as chief of infectious diseases at the Jerry L. passion of jesus and His people.\"Editorial But he also stressed that \"Much hasme know he liked what he read. already been said about the primary behaviors that cause AIDS. As a church, of course, weLeave a message. Call someone when cannot condone such destructive lifestyles or the militant organizations that support them.you know they won't be home, and just leave We need to use all our resources to eloquently promote a biblical picture of sexuality andan upbeat message on their answering marital fidelity as outlined in our church'smachine. (Tom was one of the few gay p- eopleI know who didn't have an answering recent Position Statement.\"machine). Keith Cordova called me one after- Folkenberg further stated, \"It's easy to lovenoon just to leave a message. Nothing grand. the innocent victims: helpless babies born with AIDS and bright-eyed teenagers tragicallyHe called to tell me he loved me and was glad wasted by a tainted blood transfusion. JesusI was his friend. My smile lasted all week. loved even the not-so-innocent victims. He reached out and touched those whose ailments Write a letter. It takes only about fiveminutes to write a brief letter. Go ahead and were caused by their own actions. Cod grantuse a yellow tablet if you can,t find your sta- us the caring and selfless spirit of ]esus so thattionery. Next to the Kinship hotline I taped a we may do the same today!\"letter and poem sent to me by a studeni atAtlantic Union College expressing apprecia- Above the platform of the college church hung a banner with jarring words such as big-tion. Each time I read it, I feel good again. otry homophobia, ignorance, child abuse, con- Send a postcard. This takes even less doms, sex education and IV drug use.time, but it lets people know you,re think- But, Norton said in his introduction, \"lf weing of them. are serious about education, prevention and Pass on compliments. When someonetells you something complimentary about compassion for people with AIDS, we don'tanother person, let that other person know. have time to be squeamish.\"We all need those \"warm fuzzies,, to makeus feel good. Squeamish the College View church is not. Death is a part of life. But let,s not make Senior pastor Bretsch said \"through thisdeath the time we tell people how much conference we simply want to continue to trighten the corner where we are./ We want tothey mean to us. I think what we,re doing in respond positively to the call from Generalthis issue of the Connection is appropriate. Conference leaders to be a caring Church. WeBut let's not wait until someone else dies to want to practice not only the love of Christ,tell them how much we think of them. but the presence of Christ-and that means we must be in the midst of critical issues crippling - Devm RoDcsns * society today.\" VIcs PRrsDsNr Norton said that of the 12 speakers, the tes- timony of Luz Diaz-Schreiber, a United Church of Christ chaplain at UCLA Medical Center, was the highlight of the whole weekend. A local newspaper article covering the con- ference focused on her presentation in its report. It said, \"her story was perhaps moreSDA Krusurp Coxrrlucnox

powerful than any formal presentation at the conference something the speaker said. Then they all split afterwhich drew nationally acclaimed experts on Human church and hardly anybody came back.\"Immunodeficiency Virus and AIDS.\" He said between 50-100 people attended, but byDiaz-Schreiber described the still-fresh memories of Sunday afternoon the audience had dwindled to awatching her former husband die the summer of 1990. Car- core of about 30 people, mostly members of the gaylos, a former Seventh-day Adventist pastor and a bisexual, community from Omaha and Lincoln, plus a fewhad left her eight years earlier. Following their divorce she nursing students who received continuing educationhad taken chaplaincy training at Loma Linda university and credit for attending.then also left the SDA church. \"None of the college faculty was there,\" YoungThey met on a Friday in a Hollywood, Calif., hospital- said. \"It was certainly a very discouraging turnout,the first time since their divorce. Carlos had been admitted or at least it seemed so because the hall was built forfor full-blown AIDS. On Monday Diaz-Schreiber sent him 15 2,000, and 100 seemed like just a handful. But theyellow roses like the bouquet she had carried at their wed- conference was so good I kept thinking the peopleding; and on Tuesday Carlos died. didn't know what they were missing.\"\"I'm a trained hospital chaplain,\" Diaz-schreiber said. \"I Norton said people who planned and attendedthought I knew how to handle death. We're all afraid, We're the conference agreed the conference should beall being touched by AIDS.\" shared with Adventist churches across North Ameri-The Saturday afternoon panel featured five Nebraskans ca. To that end, he is producing a videotape that hewhose lives had also been touched by AIDS-two gay men, expects to receive the General Conference's blessingthe mother of a heterosexual male thought to have contract- and be distributed to North American SDA churches.ed AIDS from a tattoo he got in \"The video we're puttingthe Philippines, an HlV-positive \"Nlne of the college faculty was there,\" together will meet far more Young sdid. \"It was certainly a uery dis- than we could ever fit intofemale and a 15-year-old an auditorium,\" he said.hemophiliac who did not yethave full-blown AIDS, like the In addition, the conferencelate Ryan White whose story will be part of a future Mis-captured national attention. couraging turnlut, 0r at ledst it seemed sion Spotlight. Norton had met Eunice Diaz \"Mission Spotlight is is thewhen she spoke at the 1990 Kin- so because the hall was built for 2,000, early stages of producing aship Kampmeeting in Ohio and slide show on AIDS, andinvited her to attend this confer- and 100 seemed like just a handful. they are including some pic- tures and an interview withence. Diaz teaches family But the clnference DAs s0 good I kept me on it,\" Norton said.medicine at the University ofSouthern California Medical \"Eunice Diaz asked me to beSchool, serves on the President's thinhing the people didn't know what on it\" This program will go toNational Commission on AIDS they were missing.\" 1,700 churches in Northand is vice chair of the Los America. At the end theyAngeles County Commission on will advertise the video ifAIDS. people want to obtain it.\"\"AIDS is a modern parallel Currentlv Norton is eager toof leprosy that calls Christians not to condemnation but for- get the video ready. He has a total of 25 hours of tapegiveness, not to judgement but healing,\" she said. he plans to cut down to about two hours, which heShe pointed out that if churches are evangelizing, they will send to members of the advisory board. Thatwill naturally bring in population groups with a high risk of board, which includes prominent names such asexposure to AIDS. Minority groups in North America and Fritz Guy, Harvey Elder, Dick Winn, Eunice Diaz,populations in the Third World represent the fastest-growing Louis Venden and Bob Bretsch, will write notessegments of in the SDA church, she said. about what they do and don't want to see includedKinship president Marge Doyle and member Jeremy on the video. Then the production company,located in Holly-Young were both able to attend the conference.\bung said, \"there is no question it was top-notch. These wood, Calif., will do the editing and add trailers,are people who are nationally and internationally known, narration, captions and music.who I was honored just to be in their presence.\" But he and \"In the end it will be 60-90 minutes,\" NortonDoyle were both disappointed by the local support. said. \"l'm hoping to have it done by the end of this'The Sabbath morning program was packed as it usually summer, but I'd love to have a copy to send tois because everybody showed up for church out of habit, Kampmeeting.\"even though the AIDS conference was being held,\" Young Fund-raising for the conference did not go as Nor-said. \"During that service, sometimes a whole row of kids ton planned, even though SDA Kinship gave $1,000would get up and leave because they were offended by and money also came from several other sources. February 1991

KampmectingExperience... Kompmeeting 1991 will be held June 9-.l6 ot the some beoutiful comp os in the summer of l9B9; Menucho Con- The beoutiful Pocific Northwest ference Center is locoted just outside of Portlond, Ore. The grond Cotumbio Gorge The City of Roses Prices for week-long occommodotions will ronge A river cruise on the sternwheeler from 5250 for \"communol\" (three or more); 5250 for semi- privote; to 5450 for privote. This price includes meols,Learn... Doily rotes ore olso ovoiloble. New spirituol insights June 9-16 is olso one of the weeks of Porllond's Rose Volunteer survivol skills The lotest in AIDS reseorch Festivol. Not only will there be o lot of extro things to do in New findings in sofe sex the oreo. but people will olso need to book their flightsEnjoy... eorlier thon usuql to ensure spoce during the busiest time Notionol ond locol speokers of our summer. New ond old friends Spirituol, physicol ond sociol renewol We hove orronged for Kinship members to gei spe- ciol oir fores on United ond Delto oirlines through o Port-Questions? Comments? lond trovel ogency. The rotes ore os follows: Suggestions? Unrted, AirlinesContoct: Kompmeeting Coord inotor I 5% discount off the lowest discounied ovoiloble P.O. Box 6476 fore for dotes of trovel, Portlond, OR 97 228-647 6 a 45\"/o discount off the full unrestricted cooch fore. (503) 452-r0r3 Volid dotes of trovel for this discount ore June 7-.l8. Delta Airlines f 5% discount off the lowest discounted ovoiloble fore for dotes of trovel. f 4oo/o discount off the full unrestricted cooch fore. Volid dotes of trovel for this discount ore Moy 26- June30. Cor rentol ond hotel reservotions ore olso ovoiloble through the some ogency. Contoct: I Eric Mortin ot (503) 274-1302 or l-800-533-.i302 WestMork Trovel OR-936; Security Pocific Bonk Ore- gon; P.O Box 3066; Portlond, OR 97208-3066 Norton ended up paying a large sum out of his dition for the member's donation was that SDA Kinshipown pocket. The video company still has not been would be listed at the end of the video as a supporter, topaid, and it will not release the tape until it receives help the church see that Kinship is in the business of edu-about $5,000. Another $12,000 needed to have the cation.tape edited for release. Kinship members who wish to support this cause Norton said a Kinship member has anonymously should send their tax-deductible donations to College View SDA Church, c/o Michael Norton, 1745 North 65th,agreed to match any money donated by Kinship Lincoln, NE 68505-12221. t3amembers or other supporters-up to $7,500. One con-SDA Kmssrp ColtvscuoN

Funeral revealed the side ofTom everyone lovedBy Larry Hallock inside of the mailing this tirne; it was to those who needed encourage- usually on the outside. His letter was ment and support-whether he he large envelope Tom used signed (with a great big grin, I'm knew them or not. Where did he for sending me some informa- sure), \"The Virgin of Memphis.\" find the time? tion shortly before his deathsports a little blue teddy bear sticker, After pondering the purpose of At his funeral I learned that hefive different postage stamps, all the blank stickers, I discovered they apparently devoted a similarfrom the lighthouse series, and a row covered up an old address label on amount of time to other individualsof those blank stickers from the bot- (outside of Kinship) and to another the pre-used envelope Tom used.tom edge of a sheet of stamps-the group, his railroad club. Whenpart that sane people usually trim off Held to the light, it reads \"Director, mourners were invited to share theirand throw away. Boxcar Pool...\" memories of Tom, a woman in the front row rose to her fect. \"IrVould it be asking too much for Readers who knew Tom even ayou to cut out the stamps from this little will smile knowingly at all of \"I'll be first,\" she said. She spokeenvelope (don't trim too close) and this, and the number who do will bereturn to me when you next write?\" many. I have been amazed to learn of how proud she was to have hadasked Tom. \"I'd like them for my col- how extensively he kept in touchlection...\" He wrote this on the with Kinship members far and near. Tom as her son, and of her regret that Not just with friends, but with many others as a friend. As a friend, it was for too short a time.Longtime KinShip member Tom Kopriva, Reminiscent of an old-time tes-50, of Memphig Tenn., was killed Dec. 3, timony service, person after person1990, in an airplane disaster in Detroit. stood to relate anecdotes In this issue several members have writ- that portrayed Tom asten their tributes to him. Several common the loyal friend who real-threads iun through them, especially Tom's ly cared and as the per- son who could always besense of humor and his preferred nickname, counted on to do what-the'Yiqgin of Memphis.\" ever was needed. \"He was a one-man net- Tom was a longtime Kinship member and work,\" said one. I sensedone of its strongest financial supporters. He a depth of truth to what I heard. It was more thanwas serving in his second term as Kinship generous rhetoric.secretary and had also served as Region 7 Many of the shareddirector. memories related to Tom's Each Kinship member who knew him world travels, to his life-will have their own special memories of theunique person Tom Kopriva was. We will all long love of trains and togreatly miss him and his contribution to our his enjoyment and supportHves and our organization. of the railroad club. (When he discovered from a mail- ing list that a fellow club member lived right across the street from me, Tom asked if I would introduce them during his upcoming trip to Chicago; but our plans would vanish the very next day.) Perhaps it Februarv 1991

was only fitting that the funeral \"f neuer rruet Torn\"procession en route to the ceme-tery was delayed by a freight train By Herb Sheltonpassing before the hearse. Ithough I never met Tom Kopriva, I was looking forward to seeing Tornls mother was delighted him for the first time on Dec. 8 in Orlando, Fla. He was the first per-to meet someone from Kinship. son from Kinship who responded to my inquiry about the organiza-\"Oh,\" she said, turning to friends, tion. Using a phone number he included in the letter, I called him and he told\"this gentleman is fromKinship, me he was hoping to get a group started somewhere in central Florida.the Adventist singles group! Tom Even at the first phone call, Tom seemed like a warm and jolly friend,was treasurer of the group.\" and I felt at ease talking with him. After an exchange of a few letters, I real- ized that he also had quite a sense of humor. The last letter from him, con- \"I believe he was secretary,\" I firming the tinres and places for our first Florida group meeting, had beencorrected. signed \"The Virgin of Memphis.\" I cracked up when I read that. I thought \"This man is from theAdventist singles group that Tom that this guy was really down to earth, \"easy to be entreated,\" (James. 3:17).was treasurer of,\" she repeated to When the day of the meeting came, I arrived just a little bit early and metothers. I had to wonder if Tomhad actually told her that, think- a couple of Kinship members in the hotel lobby. Then I saw David Rodgersing it sounded more masculine walk in but Tom wasn't with him as I had expected knowing they were stay-than secretary! I mean, c'mon,Tom... Adventist singles group? ing together in another hotel. I first thought he would be coming a little later. Tom was proud of his But then I heard the shocking news, and I, along with the other members,Advent Christian heritage; but hebelieved in the seventh-day Sab- were astonished and dismayed.bath (witness a sticker he often Apparently, Tom had written to quite a few of us. Although we hadput on envelopes that said so!),and he loved Kinship for the never met him personally, it seemed that his presence was missed through-important spiritual dimensionthis added to his life. out the meeting. After all, our gathering was arranged, as far as I understood, mostly by \"He just went on and onabout how much he enjoyed Kin- his effort and influence. Therefore, Tom, you will be remembered by thoseship camp meetings,\" his mother who never met you along with those who knew you well.said. She appreciated the severaldozen deep red roses Kinship A living memorial in order to keep. But most of all,sent, and the flowers sent by anSDA church Tom had attended in By Marcus Stringer help me be perfectly happy not tothe Northwest. She commentedabout the pleasant experience of Yes, there are too many cold, lifeless be perfect.\"attending the SDA church with memorials of bright, warm and live- Tom, as you were a brother toher son, noting that the two faithsare not really all that far apart. ly people. This must not happen to me when I attended Southern Col- the memory of Tom Kopriva. Per- lege, showing me that there was Tom's mother said she has such a thing as gay Christians, so Ireceived cards and phone calls haps the greatest thing we friends or hope to be for those who follow infrom all over the country. She hadno idea that Tiom was so actively acquaintances can do in \"reflective- my path.involved in so many causes, and ly\" honoring the memory of him issuch a friend to so many. Neither to actively pledge to honor what or My challenge to my Kinshipdid I. Learning it made her friends is to be a living memorial toproud. And it made me think. who he was to us. Tom's memory.Editor's note: Lee Stanford and For those without the privilegeDavid, of the Detroit area, also of knowing Tom, contemplate this One way this can be done is torepresented Kinship at Tom'sfuneral. prayer of mine, for in it you may adopt the library of the nearest Adventist college or university to find a small picture of him: \"Dear God, I ask this of you today, to be you and donate books (particulariy emptied so I can be filled; to for- with gaylChristian themes) in mem- sake in order to have; to give away ory of Tom Kopriva. You can provide students with resources you or I may not have had. I'm sure Tom would have liked it that way,SDA KrssurP CoNNECTToN

_l!'ll miss Tbmls ltumor the most.,. other mailings I did regarding campusBy David Rodgers* a plane ticket. Tom had started outreach. We encouraged each other, planning this meeting back at and he was always sending interest-M_ -em\"pHhiisdacarllilningg,.\"this is the Virgin of Kampmeeting in ]uly. Knowing ing material to me-from right-wing A friend of mine who was at the how Tom would have felt, I stil church literature to suggestive car-house distracted my mother while toons. I always hung up laughingthe answering machine continued: ,,I attended the meeting. after on of his phone calls, and then could hardly wait until the next timeneed to go over with you some Tom was one of the first Kinship members I met, first at the portland to share the iokes I had just heard.details about the Florida meeting. pride parade, and then at TorontoI'm going to be flying to Erie tomoi- Kampmeeting. Although we saw What I'm going to miss mostrow, but I'll be back on Tuesday. Give each other only a couple of times a year, usually at Kampmeeting and about Tom is the sharing. I know weme a call then. Love ya, hon.,, board meeting, we kept in frequent would have chuckled all the way to-bef-oTreh{TowmaswSausnkdiallyedn.igIhts,ctrhibebdleady phone contact. Those calls built a the Orlando airport if he had seenmyself an reminder to call him on friendship. We shared jokes, personal the desk clerk who was dressed inTuesday. I was going to see him the stories, ideas, Kinship plans, gossip drag. (I suppose if you get to choosenext weekend-he had invited me your bra size, you might as well goto attend the Region 3 meeting in and dreams.Orlando, Fla., and had provided me all the way.) I wished I could have Tom was one with whom I could kidded him about the tacky motel develop ideas. He read, edited and room he had reserved for us, espe- gave suggestions about letters and cially after he had canceled the reser- vation I had made. Cood-bye, \"Debbie.\" I'll miss you.Gontrasts Born March 15,1940 By Lee Stanford Passed Away om Kopriva. How shall I remember this friend who was a man December 3, L990 of contrasts? He was both generous and frugal. He was a rock of stability and, at the same time, vulnerable. He was some_ In loving memory oftimes a man of few words, but capable of speaking with passion and Thomas Koprivaeloquence on topics that mattered to him. of all of his characteristics, though, I believe Tom's generosity Let not your heart be troubled; ye thatwill be the thing I'll remember most. Tom and I often workedtogether to assure that those who were unable to afford to go to belieue in God, belieue abo in me.Kampmeeting were able to attend. I believe I have a pretty-goodsense-of how many people Tom helped with his seemingly Indless IfIn my Fatheri house are many mansions;supply of airline tickets. Yet, I'm sure there were others that I am notaware of' Tom wasn't given to talking about the good things he did. it were not so, I would haue told you. I go to pre- Tom called himself a Bohemian. At his funerar, I smiled and nod-ded in agreement when his friend who gave the eulogy spoke of Tom pare a place for you.as being the only person he knew wtro paia bills in pJ.ro\" to save aperfectly good return envelope. All of Tom,s friends will, I,m sure, And if I go to prepare a place for you, I u.,illrecall receiving letters in envelopes intended for another purpose. Tom was a deeply spiritual person. For him, the Friday evening come again, and receiue you unto myself thatcommunion service was probably the highlight of Kampmeeting.some of us in Kinship know tha[it was iomwho donated the blsins yultere I arn, there may be ako.and beautiful communion service which have added to the meaningof that service the past two years. And whither I go 1te hnow, arud the way ye-. Tom's memory will li,ve on in hearts of the many people whose hnow.lives were enriched through his friendship and generosity. Thomas saith unto Him, Lord, we hnout not whither thou goest; and hou can u.,e hnou., the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way and the truth and the life; no man cometh unto the Father bat by me. John 14: 1-6 February 1991

Bddto Hbetin ort Mclaughlin and jerry Fox. Thank you gentlemen, and thank you too,By Bruce Keelan within the organization continued to to those preparing and bringing all receive mail from him that he hadllFinship's annual mid-year the delicious food! posted just prior to his last trip...N,'.'J11#\"i},1ffiffiT*: Afternoon sessions included dis- Tom, we miss you deeply! cussions on the ultimate mission ofber in Redlands, Calil, the weekend Kinship, and what long range plans Local region 9 board members should be developed for the organi-ofJan. Xg and 20,1991.. zation. Several members expressed were pleased to be joined by Bob Kinship board meetings, for Bouchard, region 1 director; Brian concern that the size of the oiganiza-those who have not experienced Dwight, Region 4 director; Floyd tion seems to remain static, almost athem, can only be described as Poenitz, Region 5 director; and Willie Lantz from Norway. Other revolving door, with lots of newq1u'Caainyt.SAtallnmdaeerdtinTgsimcelo/fsefl6y yfopl6lo{w* out-of-town board members in attendance included David Rodgers, members joining, and a number ofannounced start time, plus (or the longer time members leaving. vicE president; Larry Hall6ck,minus??) up to two hours. The question was raised about This particular set of meetings church liaison; Kevin G. Richards, Connection editor; and Kip Beardsl how to care for and nurture longbegan on a sad not+-a brief memo- term members who frequentlyrial serv'ice for Tom Kopriva, a long- ley, 1991 Kampmeeting coordinator, become deeply involved with differ-time Kinship member, close frieridand confidant of many within the The major activities of the rtrorn- ent tasks, gct burned out, and drop ing session were the board member out of circulation.organization. Tom was rememberedfondly by attendees as a person who reports and a presentation by Kin- Sunday's meeting covered thecared deeply for both the organiza- ship's attorney describing the cur- developing plans for Karnprneeting,tion and its members. (See tributes rent state of the lawsuit by the Gen- and a further discussion of how toto Tom in this issue.) best plan for any eventualig as the eral Conference regarding our use of trial date for the lawsuit draws near. Bob Bouchard said that evcn the term \"SDA\" in our name.after his death, Tom still seemed to All Kinship board meetings arebe in our midst. For up to a week After the presentations, theafter his tragic accident, individuals open to all members, and are a won- meeting broke up so members could participate in a potluck lunch, host- derful place to renew your acquain- ed by Region 9 and skillfully coordi- tance with other board members nated by Hal Iobe, Michael and local regional members. Please plan to join r\"rs for the next official board meetings, to tre held during the week of Karmpnrecting, June $16, near Portlarrd, OrL:. CGAccepting the unwanted meat. But God told him not to consider anything unclean that God called clean. While Peter was contemplatingBy David Bayless this strange vision, Cornelius' people knocked at the door.Our church recently held a sermon series based upon thelives of people the Bible barely mentioned, but n ho were The follor,ving morning Peter accompanied the mes- sengers back to Corneiius. Upon their arrival, they foundimportant in furthering God's cause nonetheless. One a house full of people eagerly awaiting God's instruc-service in particular piqued my interest, and I w,ould liketo share it with you. tions. While still pondering what he was doing in a Gen- tile home, Pcter informed Cornelius what would happen The sermon was on Cornelius, a centurion in the Ital- if the church learned of his visit.ian regiment near the time of Pentecost. He was a Cen-tile, but that did not keep him or his family from loving Cornelius then testified of the vision and Petcr finalll,'and serving God. As a result of his rlevotion, he wai understood the purpose of his own vision. Peter proceed-prompted though a vision to send for peter. ed to preach and everyone rvas filled with the Holy Spint. He closed the service by baptizing Cornelius' family.]ust prior to the messenger's arrival, peter, too, had a C)nce word of this reached the apostles in Jerusalem,vision. You may recall that he saw all kinds of unclean the Elders became enraged. When Peter returned, he to killanimals and was told and eat them. Being a iew, was criticized and called in for interrogation. He wasPeter did not want to defile himself by eating unclean See Unutanted onpage 1.0SDA KrNsHrr CoNrscrros

NewsN otesLee Harding, who is a psychiatric social worker for ship spirit he brought back to Nova Scotia a lot of thethe public schoot system where he lives, currenily hastwo kids in college. Right now he is concentrating on love that keeps our Kinship family united.i;;survival, so he can quit his job and do what he realtyenjoys-travel He iudt returnid i-rrip to Morocco. James Mays, former secretary of Kinship Canada, hadHe has also recently been to Thailand, Singapore and a trying year with an unpleasant move from northernEastern Europe. Canada. He is currently living in Montreal, Quebec, and is planning to start work on his doctorate degree this year.Fulton Jennings has started an auto restorationbusiness with his lover, Alan Sauer. They are now Andrew Hunt recenlly returned from a 50-day trip inlooking to buy a house with some land. the United States. He is currently living and working in New Brunswick, Canada.Region 7 director, George Atan Hein, and his lover, IverrsNlores is a feature designed to keep you up-to-Don Barr, celebrated their new house,s lirst anniver- date on other Kinship members and friends. lf you havesary on Jan, 1. They are currenfly planning a lavish partyfor neighbors and friends to watch the Academy Awardi something you would like to share about yoursell orceremony. another Kinship member, drop a note to: Connection NewsNotes, P.O. Box 3840, Los Angeles, CA 90078.Nelson Hubley, treasurer of Kinship Canada, recent- These notes have been compiled by David Rodgers,ly returned from a trip to Calilornia where he had a whose thought for the month is: \"Sometimes it's easier to\"Kampmeeting\" experience all his own. ln the true Kin- get lorgiveness than it is to get permission,Unwanted had similar feelings when they are that homosexuals will be saved too. told Cod could not possibly admitContinued from page 9 The one major difference between them into heaven?forced to explain the events that dic- the biblical story and the experience Secondly, Peter was criticizedtated his actions. In Acts 11.:77, we and placed on trial for ministering to of homosexuais today is that the earlyfind his closing argument, which I Christian chrirch accepted its gentilehave paraphrased from the New Centiles. What do you think happens neighbors into its fellowship. CayInternational version. to ministers and lay people when the Peter said, \"If God gave them the mainstream church learns they min- Christians can't even feel comfortablesame gift given to us who believe in ister to homosexuals? Those who do in their home churches. The apostles learned that God's love stretchedChrist, then who was I to think I so openly may be expelled or worse. beyond their traditional thinking, Others do so secretly to avoid incur-could oppose God?\" After hearing ring the wrath of the mother church. while church leaders today cannot seePeter's testimony, the apostles finally past their dogma to understand that Cod's love, however, knows norealized God's love stretched beyond Cod loves homosexuals as well as boundaries. We are all God's chil-|udiasm. heterosexuals, dren. There is not one person whom Do you see any similarities in Jesus would not have died for. This Regardless of race, national,your life today? Let me share a few was the point God made when he used the unclean animals in Peter's social class, gender or sexual orienta-that came to my mind. vision. Unfortunately, too many have tion, Cod loves us all. No group is failed to learn that particular lesson. First, prior to Cornelius' bap- excluded. Therefore, please don't Many people believe only those with oppose Cod, but allow the Holytism, ]ews believed the gift of eternal Spirit to move within so you maylife was granted solely to their race. ideals similar to their own will be experience unconditional love. ThatDo you think gay Christians have is something no one can take from saved, and they gag on the concept you. KEI