SDA Kinship - CONNECTION - June 2006

The Journal of Seventh-day Adventist Kinship International, Inc. June 2006 Vol. 30 No. 6…Of Sunshine and Souls …Of Patterns and BeadsRom Wilder - Virginia, U.S.A. Kenneth James - Maryland, U.S.A. I didn't realize how much it mattered to I regret it now. I stayed in the closet farme. The sunshine. It's not like it had been longer than I really needed. I regret missinggone for a long time. It's not like I didn't my first Kampmeeting opportunity. Iknow it would be back. I knew. chickened out at the last minute. Fear of the unknown. I had no idea you were such a What surprised me was how wide my supportive family. You would havespirit smiled when the sunshine returned. I welcomed me sooner, if I had allowed you.guess I hadn't been paying enough My Rehoboth weekend taught me that ourattention to realize how much the sunshine Church is not whole and cannot be healedmeant to my spirit. without its gay members. Zak said the church makes a terrible mistake when she I started to pay attention. I found out that rejects the talent, gifts, contributions andmy spirit smiled at a lot of things. very humanity of its gay members. He prays for change. My Rehoboth weekend helped! A teenage dog with a strong will and me meet thirty amazing people; as diverse asvelvet ears the hues of the rainbow and as singular as! Two adult geese being followed by a the brightness of white light itself. You gavelong line of fuzzy goslings me certainty. You gave me comfort.! An eight year old peeping over the top of I had hoped for the presence of my specialthe counter at my desk on take your kids to someone. I was prepared to leave thework day. weekend at a moment's notice; meeting him! Three green signal lights in a row. at the end of a flight from Ireland. I was in! Finding a stack of orange cover stock the group but alone; the solitude palpable atpaper at the top of a box labeled basura. times. I wanted to cry, at times. But the! Getting an invitation to my nephew's hugs; the compassionate understanding.high school graduation, with a new photo Those hugs made it possible to smile.of him enclosed. What else can I say about Kampmeeting?! Hearing an old song by Carly Simon. Shared experience. Healing balm. Hope.! Finding a 20-dollar bill in the pocket of a Comfort. Solace. Direction. Validation. Ijacket. AM gay. I am gay because I was selected,! My little sister turning 54 and telling us chosen, delegated, as one of the honoredhow glad she is to be 54. few of God's children, to be an exemplar of the diversity in God's family. I have been Now that I'm paying attention, I'm chosen to share in a special kind of love. !discovering more and more things thatmake my spirit smile. I'm looking forward to more sunshine. !

KINSHIP BOARD Who we are...President: Bob Bouchard Seventh-day Adventist Kinship International, Inc. (Kinship) is aVice President: Brenda McColpin non-profit support organization which ministers to the spiritual,Secretary: Bruce Harlow emotional, social, and physical well-being of Seventh-day AdventistTreasurer: Karen Wetherell lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, and intersex individuals and theirConnection Editor: Catherine families and friends. Kinship facilitates and promotes the understanding and affirmation of LGBTI Adventists among themselves and within the Taylor Seventh-day Adventist community through education, advocacy, andPublic Relations Coordinator: reconciliation. Kinship is an organization which supports the advance of human rights for all people. Robb CrouchChurch Liaison: David Ferguson Founded in 1976, the organization was incorporated in 1981 and isWomen‚’s Coordinator & recognized as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in the US. Kinship has a board of up to 15 officers and 13 regional coordinators. The current Chapter Development: list of members and friends includes several thousand people in 43 Yolanda Elliott countries.Kampmeeting Coordinator 2006: Marcos Apolonio SDA Kinship believes the Bible does not condemn, or even mention, homosexuality as a sexual orientation. Ellen G. White does not parallelBOARD MEMBERS AT LARGE any of the Bible texts, which are often used to condemn homosexuals.KinNet Coordinator: Floyd Most of the anguish imposed upon God’s children who grow up as LGBT has its roots in a misunderstanding of what the Bible says. PoenitzMember Services: Fred Casey Support KinshipStrategic Planning: Isis MontalvoParents, Family & Friends Kinship operates solely on contributions from its members and friends. Help us reach out to more LGBT Adventists by making a Support: Carrol Grady tax-deductible donation to SDA Kinship International. Please send yourIMRU: Naveen Jonathan check or money order to the address below. (You can also donate, using your Visa or Master Card, by contacting Karen Wetherell atEXECUTIVE COMMITTEE [email protected]. She will phone you so that you can give your credit card information in a safe manner.)Bob Bouchard, Bruce Harlow,Karen Wetherell, Samuel Pang, SDA Kinship, P.O. Box 49375, Sarasota, FL 34230-6375, or call toll-freeCatherine Taylor, Brenda in the U.S. 866-732-5677 or toll from outside the U.S. 01 (941)McColpin, Sherri Babcock 371-7606, or visit SDA Kinship’s Web Site at: www.sdakinship.org.REGIONAL COORDINATORS‚ [email protected]; Michelle Uganda: Joseph BrownUSA Cornwell [email protected] [email protected] 1 (New England) AFFILIATED INTERNATIONAL United Kingdom & Republic of Catherine Taylor REGION COORDINATORS Ireland: Michael Lewis [email protected]; Karen [email protected] Wetherell Australia-New Zealand: Noel [email protected] Thorpe OTHER COORDINATORSRegion 2 (Mid-Atlantic) Yolanda [email protected] Intersexed: Carolyn Parsons Elliot [email protected] Brazil: Itamar Matos de SouzaRegion 3 (Deep South) Jon [email protected] [email protected] Roberts Canada: Jerry McKay Transgender/Transexual: Sandra [email protected] [email protected] 4 (Midwest) Chad Hicks Central & South America: Hoffecker [email protected] Alexander Gomez Pasco [email protected] 5 (Lone Star South) Floyd [email protected] Older Adult: Ren Reynolds Poenitz Europe: Ruud Kieboom [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] IMRU (Young Adults</=29):Region 6 (Mountain Plains) Philippines: Jonathan Coo Jeremy Brown, Suzy Wise Robb Crouch [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Web Master: Dave GilsdorfRegion 7 (Northwest) Doug [email protected] Bom [email protected] 8 (No. California, Nevada, Hawaii) Obed Vazquez-Ortiz [email protected] 9 (So. California, Arizona) Bruce Boyd

Making Love Michele O'Mara - Ohio, USA On a sunny Saturday feeling, chances are we've lost know that being loving is theafternoon, Amy arrived ten sight of our own lovin' behavior! right thing to do if I want ourminutes before her partner, I asked Amy, \"When is the last relationship to work.\" I say,Barbara, for their couple's time you have behaved toward \"That's exactly right.\" And Isession. While waiting for Barbara like a lover and not just added, \"If you behave in lovingBarbara, Amy tells me \"I don't a friend? The last time you ways, regardless of how youthink I love her anymore.\" She interacted with her in a loving, feel, you will likely begin to feelexplains, \"There's no spark, no passionate way?\" \"Hmmmm,\" more loving. The best way toexcitement left.\" Then came the she replied, \"But I don't FEEL get what we want, be thatfamiliar words I've heard a loving, so how am I supposed kindness, love, passion,hundred times before...\"She feels to BE loving?\" Then Amy asks, excitement... is to give it.\"more like a friend than a lover.\" \"Isn't that like lying - to show love when I don't feel loving?\" Think about all of the things And the band begins to To this I say, \"Amy If you possess you do throughout the day thatplay... You never close your eyes the desire to love Barbara - to you do because they need to beAnymore when I kiss your lips. continue being in love with her, done in order for you to getAnd there's no tenderness Like but you have lost that 'lovin' what you want. The simplebefore in your fingertips. You're feeling' that you used to have things like brushing our teeth sotrying hard not to show it, then it is not a lie for you to they won't fall out, putting gas(baby). But baby, baby I know behave in accordance with your in our cars so we can get fromit...You've lost that lovin' feeling, wants.\" I continue, \"Is it a lie to point \"a\" to point \"b,\" doingwhooah that lovin' feeling work out if you don't FEEL like laundry so we have clean clothes exercising?\" Quickly she replies, to wear. The list is endless. We Okay, back to reality. Have I \"If I waited until I wanted to do many things we don't FEELever mentioned that love is a workout I might never work like doing because in the endVERB? Though it is much easier out!\" With a heavy sigh, she we want the reward we'll receiveto view love as this thing that says, \"Okay, I get where you're by doing so. To be sure I amwe either have or don't have, it's going with this, I don't have to clear, I explain to Amy, \"If, onactually an experience that we feel loving to be loving, I just the other hand, you MAKE THEeither create, or we don't. Love is have to want to be loving and CHOICE to stop loving, or youthe result of action. Hence the have decided you don't want toterm, \"Making Love!\" 3 love Barbara anymore, that is a different story. That is a choice The degree to which we feel to NOT love.\"love is determined by the degreeto which we behave in loving Loving someone is a choice.ways. Love is actually much Who we find attractive is not -more than just a feeling. Love is that happens with or without ourthe outcome of actually doing consent! I think most of us havesomething loving. In order to been attracted to someone atexpress love, we must first some point about whom inpossess love. We've all heard the retrospect we wonder, \"What wasold saying, \"You must love I thinking!?\" What we do withyourself before you can love our attractions is up to us. Theanother.\" This makes sense if you attraction is not the issue - it'sconsider that in order to give how we respond to it. This is ananything; we must have it to important concept for folks whogive. are tempted to have affairs. Developing an attraction is not When we lose that lovin'

the actual \"problem\" - it is the The Gospelchoices you make around thatattraction, but that's another Andrew Dykstra - Ontario, Canadanewsletter! When I was a teenager, I between Adam and Eve, and Love does not take care of became subject to seizures. Our between humankind and all ofitself. We take care of love. If you family doctor did not initially nature. God did not crowd thehave recently fallen in love, do believe I had epilepsy and pair. The Creator is portrayed asnot fool yourself into believing prescribed some medication a friend who came by frequently,that it will continue to self-renew consistent with what he thought evidently sharing their pleasures,without your input and work. If was wrong. I took the such as walking in the garden inyou have recently fallen out of medication as prescribed before the cool of the day. (Gen. 3:8)love, do not fool yourself into going to bed. In the morning I Adam and Eve were notbelieving that you will find was unable to lift my head off immortal, but continued to beanother love that will self- the pillow. This remedy may dependent upon God for foodrenew. When we take have been a solution for and drink and life. God hopedresponsibility for the love that something, but not for me. they would want to continuewe feel (by creating it ourselves!) their friendship with Him, butwe can create endless amounts The gospel can be expressed wisely made it possible for themof love. Love truly is an endless in numerous ways; each of them to choose otherwise.resource that can be generated only a facet of the whole. Whatin the blink of an eye - literally. we believe about the gospel All good relationships come[wink] (“good news”) depends on how with boundaries. God had only we perceive the problem. The one, clearly revealed, boundary. When Barbara arrived she gospel is God's solution to God provided everythinggreeted Amy with a hug and something. If the gospel is needed (Gen. 2:16). Adam andapologized for being late. God's remedy, then what is the Eve were asked not to eat of oneBarbara smiled at Amy with a “bad news” for which it is the specific tree. (Gen. 2:17) Didhopeful look, and as we walked solution? The answer begins God risk causing doubts byback to my office I heard Amy with Adam and Eve in the withholding something fromwhisper to Barbara, \"You look Garden of Eden. Even those of us them? As far as we know, Godbeautiful today.\" Genuinely who do not understand a did not provide explanations.surprised, (as was I!) Barbara theological formula can Here though was an opportunityresponded simply with, \"I love appreciate a good story. In for our first parents to be true toyou.\" Though this is just the simple narrative, the story of their relationship with thebeginning, I smiled a quiet Eden gives insight, first to the Creator. Though they did notsmile. For in that moment, Love problem and then, in very understand the reasons, theywas in the Air - and when we germinal form, to God's could have trusted God basedstring enough of those moments solution. on past experience. Their livestogether, we can get love back were not diminished by this onein our life and in our hearts. When God first placed us on prohibition. earth, we were created into an My parting thought is this: ideal environment. God was Eve did not seem to findLove is not something that we openly accessible to Adam and anything unusual in talkinghave, it's something that we are. Eve. Everything they could ever serpents. Neither did she think itBe love! need or want was readily odd that one of God's creatures available. There was harmony stated, as fact, an idea that If you are partnered, I between God and creation, directly contradicted what Godencourage you to consciously had said. Something was verybehave in at least one loving Michele O’Mara will be offering a wrong. The enemy's attack cameway toward your partner every workshop during Kampmeeting. in three steps. First, he castday. This could be as simple as Later in the year she is willing to doubt (Gen.3:1) “…Did Godgreeting him or her with a smile schedule a weekend of really say?...” When Eveand a big welcome kiss and hug relationship building for Kinship misquoted God “…you must notwhen they come home. Or it couple members, if there is touch it…” (Compare Gen.3:3B,could be as involved as writing enough interest. to Gen. 2:16,17) the enemy dida long letter to them explaining not pause to correct her, butall of the reasons you love them. 4If you want to spice it up with alittle more passion and romance,by all means do! !

proceeded to contradict God: the spiral ending with murder. caused. He took upon Himself“You will not surely die...Your The harmony between God, the fate to which we condemnedeyes will be opened and you humanity, and the earth was our self. Without sin, God livedwill be like God...Gen. 3:4,5 gone. It looked like nothing the life of humanity, including would ever be the same again. the ultimate fate of death. A statement made centuries God knew He could gainlater enlarges our understanding nothing by mere counter claims. The gospel is a sign of theof what happened in Eden. The God had the more difficult task end. The generation followingprophet Isaiah reassured Israel by of regaining trust through Jesus' resurrection thought theycalling out God's judgment another means: time, love and were the last one because Godupon the King of Babylon who shared experience. The gospel is Himself had invaded history.had held God's people captive. the story of what God did. Not since the Exodus had GodBut in pronouncing doom on done something so startling. Inthe King of Babylon, (Isaiah God shares with the pair the the Person of Jesus, the long14:12-14,) the message seems fate of the earth, caused by those awaited Kingdom of God hadalso to allude to another. “How who believed a lie rather than broken into the present.you have fallen from heaven, God. Life would become filled Somehow, God had donemorning star, son of the dawn! with conflict and great burden. something new. The old orderHow you are cut down to the Humanity would be allowed to was gone. Everything may haveground, who laid the nations see, in a limited way, the results looked the same, but all betslow! You said in your heart, \"I of their choice. For a time, the were off. “And I saw anotherwill ascend into heaven! I will consequences would continue. angel flying in the midst ofexalt my throne above the stars However, one day, God heaven having the everlastingof God! I will sit on the promised, a descendent of the gospel to preach....saying, fearmountain of assembly, in the far woman will do great damage to God, and give glory to him, fornorth! I will ascend above the the cause of the serpent and the hour of his judgment isheights of the clouds! I will indeed to the serpent himself. come.” God has been on trial inmake myself like the Most This descendent will sustain the great controversy over HisHigh!\" The prophet uses epic injury from the serpent. This is character and His name. We willlanguage - beyond immediate the gospel contained in a single more truly reflect his characterpolitical context, and into kernel. when we speak the truth aboutterritory where it seems to refer to our God.one more ominous than The promised descendentBabylon's King, to another proved to be none other than Ellen White wrote, “The timelarger enemy of Israel - Satan God Himself. He would take of test is just upon us, for thehimself. upon Himself humanity's loud cry of the third angel has predicament by taking on already begun in the revelation The serpent enticed Eve into human form. He would share to of the righteousness of Christ,believing that if she ate the the fullest degree in our fate. the sin-pardoning Redeemer.forbidden fruit, they too would God does not hold back. God This is the beginning of thebe like God. The evil one does everything to reconcile us light of the angel whose gloryinsinuated that God was selfishly to full trust in Him. God is so shall fill the whole earth. For it isholding humanity back. What motivated by love that nothing the work of every one to whomhappened in Eden was a is withheld. God's “remedy” is the message of warning hasviolation of trust. God was not not to “punish” His Son until come, to lift up Jesus, to presentconsulted before they acted. humanity has paid its debt. Him to the world as revealed inGod was not given a chance to Rather, Jesus is God's Gift to types, as shadowed in symbols,protect His reputation. The mankind. God empties all the as manifested in the revelationsoriginal pair behaved in every resources of Heaven and invests of the prophets, as unveiled inway as though the lie about them in our salvation. the lessons given to HisGod's motives was true. The disciples and in the wonderfulword of their Friend was We had been tempted to miracles wrought for the sons ofexchanged for the slander of an aspire to divinity. We felt it was men. Search the Scriptures; forunproven stranger. Their eyes our right. God's surprising they are they that testify of Him.”were opened all right. The first answer was not to raise us to (Selected Messages, vol. 1, p.thing they saw was shame. The divinity, but to take upon 362).pair blamed each other, the Himself humanity. God, in the !serpent and, ultimately, God. Person of His Son, took uponHuman relationships went down Himself the effects of a broken relationship He had never 5

Public Policy Issues Involving Homosexuality: An Adventist Response Mitchell A. Tyner - Maryland, USA Homosexuality - more appropriate level. Arguably, the He's lame, he's ill-kept, and he'sparticularly, the status of most revealing scripture passage dirty. But the father immediatelyhomosexuals and their involving freedom is Luke 15, recognizes him as his son. Herelationships before the law - has the passage that I call the story hurries off the porch, down thebecome one of the most of the Waiting Father. A young path, through the gate andconfrontational, divisive topics man, raised on an affluent but down the road to meet his son.of our time, both politically and remote farm went to his father As they meet, the son begins histheologically. Recently, and said \"Dad, I'm bored. I'm prepared speech of contrition:numerous jurisdictions have tired of living way out here. I \"Dad, I've blown it, I'm notmoved significantly toward want to experience the world for worthy to be called your son ....\"legal equality for homosexuals, myself, I want to go to the big and he never gets to finish theincluding listing sexual city, I want to do my own thing. speech. It's as though the fatherorientation as a protected And Dad, I want you to give me said, \"Son, I know, I understand.category in local or state human an advance on my inheritance to We'll talk about that anotherrights statutes and recognizing finance the trip.\" Nothing in time. For now, all that matters ishomosexual marriage or either Jewish or Roman law gave that you're home. Come inside,domestic partnership. The most the father any obligation to we'll celebrate your return!\" Withsignificant judicial move was grant that request, but he did. that, he covered this filthy figurethe 2004 decision of the United The son left, wealth in hand, with his best cloak, put a ringStates Supreme Court in headed for the bright lights. on his finger, and led him to theLawrence v Texas, ruling that house, where the celebrationanti-sodomy laws could not be As long as the money lasted, began.applied to homosexuals but not so did his social status. Butheterosexuals. soon he found himself in a The older son heard the descending socio-economic sound of the celebration and How do we, corporately and spiral. His money gone, he was asked one of the hired handsindividually, relate to the forced to earn his livelihood by what was happening. He wasreligio-political questions doing something most hateful told, \"Your brother's back andinvolving homosexuality that to a young Jew: feeding hogs. your father's throwing a party.\"are currently producing so much He awoke one morning in the But the older brother refused toheat and so little light? What pigpen, looked around him and join the celebration. Eventuallyare the considerations that said, \"What a miserable state of the father came to him and said,should be involved in the affairs! What a genuine wreck I \"We're celebrating your brothersformation of an Adventist have made of my life.\" He sat return - come in and join us!\"response to such public issues? there in the mud and composed The elder brother said, \"Look,Consider four, the first two the speech he would offer to his Dad, I've been with you all thesescriptural and timeless, the last father. He would say, \"Father, I years. I have obeyed your everytwo more contemporary. The have sinned before you and command. I have donelist is not exhaustive; it should before God. I am no longer everything you have asked butinclude but is not limited to the worthy to be called your son - you never threw a party for me.following. just hire me and let me live out Now this son of yours comes in the bunk house with the hired home after wasting your money Does the proposed position hands.\" With that, he started and his life and you expect memaximize human freedom? home. to celebrate? Why should I?\" Notice that the elder brother was To be faithful to scripture, our The father had never given up factually correct, which merelypositions on public policy issues on his son's return. One day, far shows that one may be quiteshould work to maximize off down the road, he sees a correct but very wrong as to thehuman freedom to the highest pathetic figure limping along. 6

correct interpretation and God went to that length to not Isn't it interesting what Jesusapplication of those facts. coerce us, then how dare we, his did not say to the lawyer? HeNotice also that the elder brother children, coerce each other? did not say to him, “Go andreferred to \"your son\", not, \"my study the scrolls. When you canbrother.\" The father replied, Does the suggested position properly and coherently exegete\"Your brother was lost, and has maximize equality? the prophecies and explainbeen found; he was dead and he Ezekiel's vision of the wheelsis alive to us again. It is proper Again, to be faithful to within wheels, then come backthat we celebrate!\" scripture, our positions on and we will discuss you future public policy issues should work course of action.” Jesus spoke Who was right in that story, to maximize human equality to nothing of what the questionerthe father or the son? The father, the highest appropriate level. should know or believe, only ofof course. The father represents Consider the Gospel of Luke, what he should do. He spokeGod, our Father. The son chapter 10. Jesus was not of orthodoxy, but ofrepresents us, for each of us has confronted with a questioner - a orthopraxy. He simply said, “Goat one time or another wandered lawyer, a young scholar of and do likewise.”away from our spiritual home. religious law who had heard ofThe father allowed his son to Jesus and wanted to put Jesus' Four characteristics of theleave because, ultimately, he teaching on the record. The Samaritan's response bearwas interested in his relationship dialogue went something like emulation. First, it was a caringwith his son. He wanted a this: response. The Samaritanrelationship with his son that obviously cared enough aboutwas possible only when the son Lawyer: Rabbi, what shall I do to the injured man's predicamentwas ready to enter into it inherit eternal life? to endanger himself in order tovoluntarily. The Father would help. Second, it was an involvednot be satisfied with coerced Jesus: What do you read in the response. Third, it was aobedience. law? committed response. The Samaritan not only bound the Here is a parable that Lawyer: You shall love the Lord wounds of the victim, heillustrates an important facet of your God with all your heart, volunteered to financiallythe great controversy between with all your strength, and underwrite his care for angood and evil, a key historic with all your mind, and your indeterminate period. Now that'sAdventist teaching. God could neighbor as yourself. commitment! Fourth, it was ahave created us in such a relevant response. Themanner that we could not have Jesus: You read well. Now go Samaritan got immediatelysinned. He didn't, because He and do that and you will live. involved, and did what neededwanted a relationship with us to be done at that moment.based on our choice to establish When confronted with anit. He refused to coerce us. But unwanted answer, one may Perhaps most importantly fordoing that cost Him dearly. It acquire at least a little wiggle this discussion, all of this was forcost Him the life of His son at room by seeking to further someone with whom theCalvary, paid so that we could define one or more terms used in Samaritan would have been inrelate to Him freely. Every the answer. So the lawyer profound disagreementperson is free to relate to God replied, “And just who is my theologically, politically, andfreely, according to their neighbor?” otherwise. There was noconscience, not someone else's. pondering of theological Knowing that his questioner convergences, of historic ties, of What are we to learn from this was not amenable to a straight cultural affinities. There was nostory? First, that God put a answer, Jesus chose to answer consideration of public opiniontremendous value on freedom. indirectly, through a story, the or of the opinion of otherHe could have prevented Parable of the Good Samaritan. Samaritans, no mapping ofCalvary, but didn't, because He potential geopoliticalwould not coerce our “A certain man”, said Jesus consequences. The Samaritanobedience. Second, that we “went down from Jerusalem to did not see a Jew (or an Edomitehave no business, like the older Jericho…” At the end of the tale, or a Roman or Greek or whoeverbrother, being more judgmental dialogue between Jesus and his the victim was), he just saw awith each other than our Father interrogator resumed.is with us. Third, we have been Continued on page 10…given an example that speaks to Jesus: Now, which of these threeour own attitudes and actions: If do you think acted as a neighbor to the injured man? Lawyer: Obviously, the one who stopped to help. Jesus: Exactly. Go and do likewise. 7

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Our theme for Kampmeeting 2006 is Uniqueness and I would like to share with you how weare planning to use this concept so that we can work as a team to achieve our goals forKampmeeting. We, Kinship members spend a great portion of our lives dealing with church andsociety pushing ourselves to fit in, to look the same. And now the celebration of uniqueness inour lives presents many challenges. Celebrating Uniqueness is a celebration of each one, of the self, of who I am, the valorizationof my talents and gifts. It is the celebration of the right of being happy and thankful because mypersonal characteristics are combined in a way that have never occurred, and never are going tooccur again in history. It is the beginning of the process of being accepted by others because itstarts with accepting and embracing myself as a whole person. To include our gayness in theprocess of self acceptance is especially difficult because it comes with so much prejudice,; but theact of celebrating reminds us that the problem is not with me, but with the ignorance of others.Our gayness is a great thing to be celebrated since it determines the way we will experienceintimacy in the deepest levels. We hear about celebrating diversity a lot and I spent some time thinking about the meaning ofthat. The celebration of uniqueness is not the same as celebrating diversity, although they aresometimes replaced by each other. Celebrating uniqueness is the step before celebrating diversity,and the celebration of diversity makes no sense without the celebration of uniqueness. Forexample, how can I try to accept others when I am not accepting my different and unique self? Ineed to understand who I am, what role I have in this life, what my singular characteristics are,and, accept and celebrate them. Then I will be able to start to respect, accept and enjoy otherpeople’s uniqueness and celebrate diversity. I need to feel that I am loved unconditionally, to loveunconditionally. I need to see myself as someone who is what God intended me to be, to acceptthat other people are what God intended them to be. Celebrating uniqueness is the remembrance that I am created by God with value, that to lovemyself is part of the great commandment as a prerequisite to loving others. Loving myself beforeloving others is like celebrating uniqueness before celebrating diversity. I am sure that your uniqueness is going to be extremely helpful for every Kampmeetingattendee taking part in our great celebration that this Kampmeeting intends to be. Kinship isgoing to be honored having you there. Thank you so much for being a part of our Kampmeeting this year again. —Marcos Apolonio 9

Public Policy (from page 7) protected rights. Difference of enough to have their cases opinion on that question is so dismissed. But twenty-eightperson in need and recognized deeply held that it has prevented served jail terms, aggregatingthat he had the ability to meet the religious community from 1,144 days. Those prosecutedthe need presented. achieving broad based were targeted not just for their protection for free exercise of conduct but for the reason How does this story inform religion since that time. behind it, the choice to worshipour response to such questions on the Seventh Day Sabbath.as equal rights for homosexuals - How do we answer thator anyone else? It says that our question? Should our religious The 1890s may have been theresponse must be caring, beliefs allow us to discriminate? high-water mark in theinvolved, committed and When we put the question in the prosecution of Sabbatarians, butrelevant. It must not be deterred context of race, the answer is the flood did not recedeby the approbation of many for clear for most people: Just immediately. In 1923, threethe object of our care, or by the because a person sincerely Seventh-day Adventists werepotential threat to our own believes that he should not hire arrested in Massachusetts andstanding. We must be prepared or rent to a person of color fined for painting the interior ofto evenhandedly aid those for should not relieve him of the a house on Sunday in order towhom we can be of service, duty of non-discrimination. In get it ready for occupancy theregardless of their agreement - or this instance, the equality rights next day. In 1932, a deputylack thereof- with our beliefs and of one trump the religiously sheriff of Washington County,interpretations. How could such motivated practice of the other. Virginia, arrested twoconsiderations ever lead us to Few will argue against that Seventh-day Adventists fordeny equal rights to position - until they recognize Sunday work: one, a crippledhomosexuals, or anyone else? that it cannot be distinguished mother who walked on crutches, on any principled basis from the for washing clothes on her own In the current context, a question of equality rights of premises, and the other a manconsideration of the homosexuals. It simply comes who donated and hauled a loadinterrelationship of freedom and down to the fact that one is of wood to a church to heat itequality is necessary, for equality generally accepted in our for religious services. As late asrights not infrequently act as a society, the other is not - yet. 1938 a Massachusettsrestraint on freedom. We do not storekeeper was arrested forexercise our freedom in a Is the proposed position selling fresh eggs on Sunday, atvacuum, but in the context of informed by our history? a time when it was legal to buysocial relationships. As Paul cooked eggs, beer, and liquorsaid, “None of us lives to For Seventh Day Adventists to and to attend sports events andhimself.” Paul also observed, be responsible, our positions on movies.“All things are lawful to me, but public policy issues should takeall things are not expedient.” A cognizance of the applicable Beginning in 1940, a line ofresponsible exercise of our lessons found in our own Supreme Court cases establishedfreedom always considers the history. We have experience that the First Amendment,effect of our actions on the with the negative results of including the religion clauses,rights and needs of others. efforts by well-meaning people had indeed been made to enact their views and applicable to state and local Since the late 1990s, there has religious convictions into law. governments via the Fourteenthbeen, within the church-state Consider the effects of the Amendment, thus opening thecommunity, a running national Sunday law drive of the door to Sunday-law challengesdiscussion concerning whether late nineteenth century. The based on those clauses. In 1961or not sincere religious belief national bill was stopped, but those challenges found theirshould constitute a valid defense the effort to enforce Sunday way to the Supreme Court. Theto a charge of violating the observance was not. Rather, the questions raised by the R. M.equality rights of others. What scene of activity shifted to the King case in 1891 would finallywas this discussion really about? states. be answered by the High CourtHomosexuality. The question seventy years later. It's just aswas whether a sincerely held During 1895 and 1896, at well that King didn't live to hearreligious belief that one should least seventy-five Seventh-day the answer: Sunday laws werenot employ or rent to Adventists were prosecuted in upheld as no longer religious inhomosexuals should be a valid the United States and Canada nature. That claim would havedefense to a charge of violating under state or provincial Sunday been impossible to make with a laws. Some were fined; a few were acquitted or were lucky 10

straight face in 1891. principled view of the matter? Kinship News The point? Adventist activism Our society is no longer monolithic on these issues; we Australia - Noel Thorpeof an earlier day averted two bills do not face a situation We continue to work on ourin Congress, and came very analogous to the times in whichclose to producing a Ellen White wrote. meeting planned for the end offundamental change in the law. September. Our speakers are nowOur own history should teach us More fundamentally, how can listed on the web. We will havewhat we can accomplish in the it ever be in the church's interest a media release in early Augustarea of human rights when we to act other than in accordance to advertise the Kampmeeting input sufficient resources into the with scriptural counsel and Sydney. Kinship Australia, ineffort. Our own history teaches instruction? The Bible clearly Brisbane is involved in having aus that when even sincere, tells us that God puts a Network group for GLBTIQQwell-meaning people seek to use tremendous value on human Religious leaders. This groupsthe law to enforce their views of freedom. Our divinely given aims are to support one anothermorality on others who do not example is one who rendered in our roles by networkingshare those views, bad things aid where it was needed, not as together. To those of you inhappen to good people. That a 'respecter of persons.' Our Kinship Australia: we want tolesson, coupled with an own history shows the dangers stay connected. If you have aawareness of the potency of our that follow the legislation and new address, new phoneadvocacy, rightly motivated and imposition of religious beliefs number, or email address pleasefocused, should place us in the and religiously-based moral let us know so we can keep ourfront lines of those defending convictions on those who do records up-to-date. You can sendequality rights today. not share them. To act on these the new information to us by principles cannot be other than snail mail or email. Money: Is the proposed position in in the best interest of the church. please help to keep our eventsthe best interest of the church? Indeed, to fail to do so would be going by your support in giving an indictment of the church, an to Kinship Australia. We want to Certainly the best interest of irresponsible neglect of the reach as many hurting people asthe church is a valid church's best interest. ! we can. Your donations help usconsideration. None will wish do the work. I am getting readyto jeopardize the church by Mitch recently retired from his to leave for the Kampmeeting inadvocating, in its name, a position as Legal Council to the Orlando and will be staying aparticular position. Some will General Conference of Seventh couple of weeks in Floridaargue that the best interest of the Day Adventists. This article was before hand. I am going aroundchurch is served by keeping a excerpted from his presentation the world while taking in thelow profile on social and at the Workshop on US. I plan on going to the UK,political issues. They will cite Homosexuality and the Seventh Ireland and Hong Kong beforeEllen White's advice that the Day Adventist Church in January Home. Mervyn, my other half,church in the south should 2006. will not be coming with me thisremain segregated, at least for time, as he does not want tothe time, and that we should not Letter to the Editor leave home. !publicly oppose Bible readingin the public schools. Those Dear Connection,statements must be read and William Sloane Coffin has justunderstood in the context of atime in which the church was died. He was a powerfulfragile and vulnerable. Public advocate for GLBTI people. Youopinion was such that advocacy might want to read the articleon those issues would have cut about him that can be found at:off almost all avenues of witness. http://www.soulforce.org/article/ 453. He was our support for Is that true today? Would more than thirty years. We gotavocacy on behalf of equality permission to use one of hisrights for homosexuals negate talks in the Connection aroundthe ability of the church to 1983. You can read even morewitness to society? On the other about his life at Wikipedia…hand, will continued silence onthe issue negate our ability to Continued on page 14…communicate with thinkingpeople who espouse a 11

Kinship News European Kinship Meeting 5 - ReinoThe Philippines- Jonathan Coo The \"hot\"/sunny season is We are almost ready!! Plane flights are booked. Train ticketsalmost over in Manila. By June, are purchased! Café Cecelia iswe will be experiencing rain planning the menu and theshowers, floods, and storms. meeting space. Hotel Olaf isErgo, there will be no Saturday ready for guests. Our speakersnight life in \"Malate\" during the are chosen. We've got somemonths of June and July. Our wonderful ideas for walks andgroup decided to hang out last tours and talking with eachmonth while it's summer time. other. Our cameras are primed.The picture shows Bojo, myself, We will share our stories in theZip, DJ, and Jam on a Saturday Summer issue of the Connection.night out in the most fabulous !district in Manila (Orosa andNakpil Streets!). I made a point IMRU? - Naveen Jonathanto bring my camera so that our The IMRU? group is lookingnew members (DJ and Jam) andmy partner (Zip) can have photo forward to Kampmeeting 2006.opportunity to show our We are excited about seeingmembers worldwide (of course, friends from past Kampmeetings,with permission from each Regional meetings and events.member). Zip is not an SDA but We are planning on makinghe joins our church choir many new friends as well.together with Jam. DJ was my IMRU? members will be comingnurse when I was hospitalized from various parts of the countryand I am glad he was not afraid and the world to Orlando. Weto open up. Our church is very will be extensively, involved infriendly and non-judgmental. If the Kampmeeting program.you happen to be in the Manila Members of our group will bearea, visit us at the Manila leading in a special program onAdventist Medical Center Friday, July 7: a program thatChurch. Just ask where the choir will feature IMRU? membersmembers are and you'll be facilitating a discussion onsinging with us in no time! My bridging the gap between thenew email/friendster: generations of [email protected] ! International. We plan to share our talents in various parts of the program throughout the week. Many thanks to Kampmeeting Director, Marcos Apolonio for allowing us to be involved in the program this year. For further information on IMRU?, please contact us at [email protected]. ! 12

Kinship News US Region 2 - Yolanda Elliot US Region 9-Bruce Boyd Harrison Andrew We will be holding aUS Region 1 Travis Roe sent us this report Moyer-Rickman was born on the weekend Mini Kampmeeting evening of May 17, 2006. He centering on the GLBTI Sabbath,of his participation in the Boston weighed in at a hefty 9 pounds August 19 at the Glendale CityAIDS/HIV fundraising walk. and six ounces and was twenty Church. Mitch Tyner will be the“After walking 10K (6.2 miles) inches long. His mothers report guest speaker. We will beon June 4 I'm still able to walk, that he popped out like a little having a fellowship dinner. Allso I guess I wasn't as out of man on a bungee rope. “Our of you are welcome to join us!shape as I thought. It was a lives have not been the same !great day (though it was a bit since his arrival. Katie and I aredrizzly at points) and there was a so blessed to have this amazing Building a Book:good turn out. As some of you life in our lives.” After anmay know, today is the 25th exciting healthy birth, we ended Tim Lale says that Pacificanniversary of the first reported up in the hospital with him over Press is interested in a positivecase of HIV. We've come a the weekend due to jaundice. narrative. We are collectinggood way. People are living But we're all back home and stories of our journey towardhealthier, longer lives with the well now, recuperating from wholeness. Catherine will benew HIV drugs, but the fight's being (seemingly) constantly interviewing people duringnot over. A couple of months poked, prodded and pricked. Kampmeeting in Orlando,ago one of my clients passed Thanks for all your well wishes Kinship Meeting 5 in Sweden,away. We have to keep fighting, and encouragement. and in other venues wherewe had to try and I thank you all people might be willing tofor your support of this cause Congratulations to Katie and share their lives. If you wouldwhich becomes more important TJ. like to write or would like to talkto me every day.” ! feel free to contact her at [email protected] In May Bob Bouchard hosted !a wonderful day in NYC thatbegan with services at the SDA Resources:Forum, lunched Chinese on95th Street, and had a grand Dave Ferguson writes that he hastour of the city in Springtime just received a notice from HRCthat ended up at the park regarding a new program theywaving to the Statue of Liberty. have available to Pastors who! would like to look at Scripture with an accepting viewpoint Women's Weekend Orlando - toward the GLBTI members of Yolanda Elliott their congregation. It is called Out in Scripture. If you know a The T-Shirts and good pastor who would like to weather have been ordered. The subscribe here is the address: hotel reports we are going to http://www.hrc.org/scripture. enjoy new carpeting and bed linens. There are ocean walks, Heartstrong.com is an and boardwalk hikes, great organization focused on meals and friendly helping GLBTI students who conversations. It is still not too attend parochial schools. late to reserve a spot. You can register at [email protected]. Carrol Grady's web supportive ! website for families of GLBTI people is: http://www.someone-to-talk-to.net/ ! 13

US Region 8- Obed Vasquez The Journal of the Seventh-Day Adventist Kinship International, Inc.Bay Area Chapter Activity inBerkeley Editor: Catherine Taylor The mention or appearance of Circulation: Fred Casey any names, organizations, or On May 1, six of us had an European Editor: Ruud Kielboom photographs in this publicationopportunity to view the new Photography: Karen Wetherell is not meant to imply a fact ordocumentary, God and Gays: Production: Ted Compton statement about sexualBridging the Gap. It was the first Printing: Doolittle's PrintServe orientation or activity.film to be shown as part of theweek-long film festival of the The Connection is published Subscription requests orCenter for Gay and Lesbian by Seventh-day Adventist Kinship address changes may be sent to:Studies at the Pacific School of International, Inc. Principal Sublscriptions, P.O. Box 49375,Religion in Berkeley. Producer office: P.O. Box 49373, Sarasota, Sarasota, FL 34230-6375, or callKim Clark and Director Luane FL 34230-6375, 886-732-5677. toll free from inside the U.S. atBeck attended, and we had a Submissions are welcome and 866-732-5677 or toll from outsidenice conversation with them may be directed to the editor at the U.S. at 01-941-371-7606, orafter the film. The film could be [email protected] email [email protected]. Thecompared to a Christian version or mailed to the principle office Kinship mailing list isof Trembling before God, the address above. Include your confidential and used only bydocumentary on Hasidic gays name as you want it published, Kinship officers. The mailing listand lesbians. The producers take address and telephone number. If is not sold, rented, or exchangeda personal look at the topic by an item is to be acknowledged or for any purpose.starting with their own returned please include aexperiences and expanding the self-addressed stamped envelope. © 2006 Connection. All rightsstory to include others. While Some Connection contributors reserved. Reproduction in wholethe usual stories of rejection and have chosen to remain or in part without permission isexpulsion are there, they take the anonymous or use pseudonyms. prohibited. OPINIONSdocumentary on a more positive EXPRESSED HEREIN ARE NOTand affirming path. They The Connection reserves the NECESSARILY THOSE OF SDAcontrast the story of a suicide right to edit manuscripts for KINSHIP INTERNATIONAL.with the conversion journey of length, syntax, grammar, andthe parent. Instead of focusing clarity. Member of the Gay andon the rejection of members Lesbian Press Association.from their congregations, theytold stories of deliverance and Letter from page 11… school and wrote the by-laws forcelebration. They show how our lesbian/gay group calledparents and their gay children …http://wikipedia.org. This man ARC. Well, that is probablycan stand together and work was a mover of just causes. I enough history for you all now;towards a more inclusive admire him tremendously! His possibly too much.understanding of the gospel. passion causes me to rememberObed writes, \"I found it the beginnings of freedom We've got a gangbuster'sinteresting that it did not matter movements. group coming to thiswhich particular church each Kampmeeting. Thank youbelonged; all were traveling a I take great pride in being Marcos. I grinned all the wayspiritual path towards a greater involved in Gay issues long through the May Connection!understanding of God in their before Stonewall. I'm certain that Well, I often do that. You are alives and in the lives of others. It I have records of the movement fantastic editor and I appreciatecertainly is a message we want in some area of my home that all that you do for OUR PAPERto convey to those who are hasn't been cleaned out yet. and all that Ted does to make itstruggling with their Each time I find a box of old appealing. I was reading thehomosexuality and their place materials I relive GLBTI history. back page and fell into tearswithin Christianity!\" We have There is a lot of memory in those while I read Ken's piece. It wasmade arrangements with the tucked away places. Recently I very much like receiving a noteproducers to show it during found some advertisements from from the principal of theKampmeeting in Florida in July. the 1980s in Sojourner that elementary school in Ukiah, CAMore about the movie... Kinship's PR director and I where Judy Fell did a week of placed. I started this activity n work with K-6th grades thishttp://www.godandgaysthemovie. the 1950s when I was chosen spring. Council member from mycom/ ! Best of care and love to you! 14 Ren !

UNITY IN DIVERSITY Zak Plantak What picture comes to your gender affected how people orientation. Paul says, in 1mind when someone mentions were viewed in the society of his Corinthians 12:13, that theseChristian Church? Do you see a day. For Paul, all of these were differences pale intoVictorian Gothic building nothing compared to the great insignificance of the commonsurrounded by a waste-land; unifying factor that there is a experience of being embracedstrangely out of place in a common experience of the Spirit: by the Spirit when we give ourmodern shopping street? Does \"For by one Spirit we were all lives to Christ. Kinship membersyour mind conjure up a funny baptised into one body, Jews or need to remember this and theman in tweeds with a genuine, Greeks, slaves or free, and all Seventh Day Adventist Church,permanent, rather toothy smile? were made to drink of one as a whole, needs to learn this.Do you sense a somewhat Spirit\". We all, each one of us, Paul's difficult metaphor of thebedraggled army with a few have been brought into the body is that the church is madezealous troops in front, a large body of Christ, into the church, up of one motley group ofdemoralised centre, a load of by being, if you like, blessed by people but that we are ONEcamp followers bringing up the God's Spirit at our baptism. He DESPITE THE DIFFERENCES.rear? Have you experienced the believed that each of us isInquisition? connected to the other through In verses 14-20 Paul reminds Christ and through the Holy the church that we are made up Paul had many pictures in his Spirit. \"For just as the body is of various members. He uses themind when he thought about one and has many members, body metaphor to point out thatthe newly commissioned and all the members of the each of us, however humble orChristian church. For him, the body, though many, are one ostracized is absolutely necessarymost important was the view body, so it is with Christ. This to the creation of a healthythat we are a BODY; a healthy, includes all of you who are organism. \"If the whole bodygrowing body. I Corinthians 12 lesbian/gay/bisexual/Transgende were an eye, where would be theprovides the clearest picture of red or Intersex. Each of you has hearing, if the whole body wouldhis living metaphor. In that been brought to the church by be an ear, where would be thechapter Paul makes several Christ. Each of you, and the gifts sense of smell.\" In fact therepoints about the Christian you bring, is indispensable to would be no real body at all.church, and therefore, by the church and to the Verse 19: \"If all were a singleimplication, every community of community of Heaven. organ, where would the bodySeventh-day Adventists. be?\" Because, verse 19 says, as The Corinthian Church it is, God arranged the organs in His first lesson is that we are needed and the Seventh Day the body, each one of them asONE despite any differences. Adventist church needs to know he chose. We as individuals andPaul did not try to disguise the that we are One, despite our the church as an organizationdifferences found among differences. For the Corinthians need to realize that without theChristians. He said we are gifted the “gift of tongues (or presence and activity of each ofin different ways. This variety of languages)” was a point of its members, the body is notgifts is designed to be used for jealousy, particularly for those whole. Paul understood what itdifferent jobs within the church. who didn't have that gift. Paul meant to be devalued as aAll these gifts are inspired by wrote: 'NOT AT ALL'. There are member of the body. He spokeone Spirit who has given them differences but there is one of it to the Corinthian churchto us as He wills. Paul did not body. We too need to be and to us today.deny that there are differences in reminded of this truth.cultural background. He knew If you have the gift ofthat Christianity was moving The Kinship community is hospitality you are invaluable. Ifinto both a Jewish and Hellenic probably quite aware of the you have the gift of music youworld. He understood social and differences in our church. There are invaluable. If you have theclass differences. There were are national, cultural and gift of faith you are invaluable. IfChristians who were free and language differences. There are you are a competent treasurer,those who were slaves. He was social differences: class, family you are invaluable. If you see thewell aware of the way sex and background, education, gender, grand vision you are invaluable. 15

Unity from page 15… again head to the feet 'I have no Look at verses 23 -26. \"If one need of you'. On the contrary, member suffers, all sufferIf you are particularly good with the parts of the body that seem together. If stomach is upset, thedetails, you are invaluable. If to be weaker are indispensable.\" whole body is thrown out in jointyou can speak in a way the with it. If one member ismoves the hearts of people, you When the administration of the honoured, all rejoice together.\" Ifare invaluable. If you have the church ignores or dismisses its arms or legs have lifted weightsgift of healing you are GLBTI members because they or run a distance, the wholeinvaluable. If you can teach you consider them a weaker member body feels good as a result. Inare invaluable. If people feel of God's people, those church the human body all the limbscared for when you are around leaders are ignoring Paul's voice know very well that they are notthem, you are invaluable. Paul of God's command. But in independent entities. Theysays that all of our gifts, however Kinship as well as in the church, belong together in one body.humble they may seem, are there are those of you who are WE ARE NOT INDEPENDANTinspired by one and the same obviously gifted. We may have ENTITIES, WE BELONGSpirit. The Spirit has given us looked around us at times and TOGETHER.our gifts in a way that God knew think there are people in ourwas best for us and for our midst who are “dead wood”. We \"There are many parts, yetspiritual community. may have moments when we one body\". It's a rich picture, become jaded. Paul reminds us this portrait of a church as the Paul's third point in verses 21 to be careful of our judgments. human body. The Seventh-dayand 22 is that the CHURCH He reminds us to look for the Adventist Church is anMUST RESPECT the small or quiet ways that people extraordinary collection ofCONTRIBUTION OF EACH contribute to our body. He different people. We must allowPART. Here, Paul turns from reminds us to always honour the each individual their uniquethose who feel inferior to those power and importance of the qualities. We need to care forwho know very well they are the seemingly less important limbs others in their weaknesses andmore prominent members of the of our body. their strengths. We need tobody. He reminds this group know that the church is richer forthat they cannot exist without God created human body in the gifts of its GLBTIthe other members of the body. such a way that it has the natural community. We must never lose\"The eye cannot say to the hand instinct to lavish a great deal of the vision or the portrait.'I have no need of you'. Nor care on what might seem like ! the least worthy part.Zak Plantak is Chair of the School of Theology at Columbia Union College 16