Note: PDF versions of Drops of Water are at:
http://www.umaffirm.org/gc2004/

--------------------------

Drops of Water
April 30, 2004 GC 2004 Issue 3

Published Daily During GC 2004 by Affirmation: United Methodists for
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Concerns

Where's Affirmation?

Jim Palmquist serves as one of two liaisons with Smithfield Church and
coordinated many logistics. Jim hung the Love Makes a Family Exhibit.

Kathryn Mitchem staffs the meet-here.com space from 6:30 A.M. to 12
noon weekdays.

Peggy Gaylord coordinated the presence of the Love Makes a Family
Photo Exhibit, and has participated in much of the partnership work.

Diane DeLap is facilitating the Lunchtime Video discussions and doing
flyer desktop publishing.

Gary Shephard has worked behind the scenes on much of our presence at
GC 2004 and is co-editing the Newsletter.

Judy WestLee is co-editing the Newsletter

Ken Rowe is working on Hot Water Topics.

Both Peggy and Ken as spokespeople have been networking and
articulating the vision of Affirmation to the church.

Affirmation volunteers have also been plugged into the Common Witness
volunteer pool.

As a volunteer organization, Affirmation couldn't exist or be a
presence at GC without help from people like you. Thanks to all who
make it possible to witness to an inclusive church. We are here.
It's not debatable.


Open Arts, Open House
Offered to Open Minds

You are invited to celebrate an evening of diverse LGBT performance
that is open and welcoming to all sexual orientations, religious
affiliations and lifestyles this evening. Plus you will have an
opportunity to visit the Andy Warhol Museum!

This special, multi-faceted event will feature the outrageous New
York drag cabaret artists, the Dueling Bankheads, and local lesbian
and gay performance groups, the Renaissance City Choir and the
Renaissance Wimmin's Drumming Circle. The Evening Factory,
featuring hands-on art-making projects in the spirit of Andy Warhol
and centered on the theme of gay marriage, will be open throughout
the evening. All exhibits will be open for viewing as well.

Open Arts Open House will be from 5 - 10 P.M. tonight at the Andy
Warhol Museum, 117 Sandusky St., Pittsburgh. Admission is $5 at the
door and an additional but optional $5 to see the Dueling Bankheads.

The Western Pennsylvania Reconciling Ministries, Affirmation and the
Reconciling Ministries Network sponsor this event.


Affirmation to Host Bisexuality Talks During Common Witness Lunch

God and sex. Religion and freedom of choice. In the video Bi-sex'u-
al, three UCC members explain how they reconcile their bisexual
orientation to their faith, and demonstrate how they are reaching out
to others to encourage self-acceptance. Their courage is inspiring.
Their openness is refreshing. Their stories will capture your
heart. This video will not answer all questions about bisexuality.
It is an introduction to three individuals and their stories.

Diane DeLap, an Affirmation Council member, will host the lunch time
discussion on bisexuality from 12:45 to 1:45 CC

The 30-minute video, bi-sex'u-al, is available through UCC Resources
(800-537-3394). It comes with a study / leader's guide for
discussion.


Service of Hope Gathers
Divergent Worship Views

Let's review: we all believe in God; we all accept Christ Jesus as
Savior; we do not agree on whether or not homosexuality is sinful or
acceptable to the church. Hmmm, it seems it's time to gather for
prayer and worship. Which people of various views will do at 3:30
p.Mmunday, May 2, at First United Methodist Church, 5401 Center Ave.,
Pittsburgh.

Those attending will not be asked to endorse any particular position.
Instead, we will gather for worship, prayer and communion, asking
that God will lead us to treat one another with respect in the midst
of our challenging disagreements.

Organizers explain their goal is to encourage prayer, reflection and
dialogue across the entire United Methodist Church as we address these
difficult issues. As we struggle together with our disagreements,
can we do so in a manner that honors Christ?, ask the organizers.
With a tone of humility and with prayers for wisdom, this service
will focus on Jesus Christ. Each participant will be asked to
search his/her own heart and beliefs for authentic ways to reach out
in love and ministry to all people. In addition, we will be
challenged to work toward unity with integrity for those on all sides
of this discussion.

Bishop George Bashore and Bishop Richard Wilke will speak. Bishop
William Morris and Bishop Mary Ann Swenson will lead liturgy and
communion.

For transportation to First UMC Pittsburgh, the 86A bus will stop at
the Convention Center at approximately 2:08, 2:38 and 3:08 p.m and
stop in front of First UMC Pittsburgh. Call the PAT office at 412-
442-2000 to get specific routes and schedules from other locations.

The First UMC, Pittsburgh web site includes driving directions:
http://www.FirstUMCPittsburgh.org.


SoulForce Info


Anyone interested in contacting SoulForce to volunteer in their
efforts here at GC is invited to call Marylee Fithian at 707-953-
2353. Marylee is one of the United Methodist SoulForce coordinators.

SoulForce Responds to Good News

Steven Webster, one of the UM SoulForce coordinators, has written a
response to a Good News newsletter article. It's available on the
SoulForce web site, http://www.soulforce.org. The link for the
response is on the right side of the page. The response contains a
link to the original Good News article.


All Are Invited!
Affirmation Membership / Annual Corporate Meeting

You don't have to be a member of Affirmation to come to our
membership and annual corporate meeting Saturday. If you don't know
much about Affirmation, this is a good chance to get a peek at the
organization.

We'll be receiving the report of our Strategic Visioning task force.
That plan will shape the actions of the organization for the next
several years. We'll take some time to sing. There'll be a question
and answer time for anyone wanting to know more about Affirmation.

Part of the meeting will be the required annual corporate meeting
where we'll be electing new directors to the board of the
corporation. Voting will be limited to current members, so if you
want to vote in the election, be sure to come early so your
membership can be verified. You'll be able to renew your membership
or join during the 1:30 to 2 p.m. all-meeting credentialing time.

Nominations for the board will be accepted from the floor of the
meeting. Candidates for election need to be current members of
Affirmation, able to attend three meetings a year of four days each.
Candidates need to be self starters able to carry though with
assignments between council meetings and who can keep up with the
council e-mail conversations. Experience with consensus model
decision making is helpful, but not required.


When: Saturday, May 1 at 2 p.m. credentialing, sign-in and reception)

Where: Smithfield United Church, 620 Smithfield St., Pittsburgh, PA
15222, in the Common Witness space in the basement.


Daily Events at GC

Hospitality Room at Smithfield United is open 6 a.m. - 11 p.m.
weekdays through Thursday, May 6.

Weekday Breakfast and Legislative Briefing For Delegates (Volunteers
and Visitors welcome) 7 - 8 a.m. Smithfield United.

Weekday Common Witness Delicious and Affordable Lunches for delegates,
volunteers and visitors at Smithfield Church, 620 Smithfield St.,
between 12 noon and 1:30 p.m.

Upcoming Events

Friday Apr 30 - Western Pennsylvania RUMs Delegate Reception - 5 -
10 p.m. at the Andy Warhol Museum, 117 Sandusky St.

Sat May 1 - Reconciling Parents Network (PRN) Breakfast - 8:30 a.m. at
Smithfield United. Featuring Bishop Fritz & Etta Mutti.

Sat May 1 - Affirmation Annual Corporate Meeting 1:30 p.m. -
Credentialing for voting. Meeting begins at 2 p.m. Smithfield
United, 620 Smithfield St.

Sat May 1 - "Yes, They're Family" Reunion 1 to 3 p.m. at Calvary UMC,
971 Beech Ave. Food, Fellowship, stories, speakers, music. Find old
friends, make new family.

Sat May 1 - MFSA Presents the Ball Award 8 p.m. at First UMC
Pittsburgh, information and tickets available in the hospitality room
at Smithfield United. Tickets are also available at the meet-
here.com space at 945 Liberty Ave.

Sun May 2 - Come to the Water Worship - 2 p.m. - RMN worship service
at East Liberty Presbyterian Church.

Sun May 2 - Service of Hope - 3:30 PM - First UMC Pittsburgh, 5401
Centre Ave., Pittsburgh. A chance for us to come together to grieve
over the deep brokenness within the body of Christ over the topic of
sexual orientation.


Love Makes a Family Photo Exhibit

Love Makes a Family is an exhibit of photographs and interviews with
families that have lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender members.
Through first-person accounts and positive images, this exhibit seeks
to challenge and change damaging myths and stereotypes about LGBT
people and their families. Love Makes a Family helps in the process
of dismantling the destructive power of prejudice and intolerance,
thereby making the world a safer place for all families.

Love Makes a Family is being shown in the meet-here.com space at 945
Liberty Ave., just two short blocks from the convention center and a
block from Smithfield United Church, during regular open hours,
generally 6:30 a.m. to midnight. Telephone number for meet-here.com
is 412-456-0829.

Love Makes a Family was arranged to be at General Conference by the
Western Pennsylvania Annual Conference Reconciling Ministries and
Affirmation.

Affirmation Corporate Meeting

The corporate annual meeting of Affirmation: United Methodists for
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered Concerns, Inc., will be at
2 p.m. (1:30 sign-in and reception) Saturday, May 1, 2004, at
Smithfield United Church, 620 Smithfield St., Pittsburgh, PA 15222.
All Affirmation members are invited to participate.

Members wishing to vote in the election for the Board of Directors
must be credentialed during the signing in time. If your membership
is not current you will need to bring it current to be able to vote.

The items of business will include:

- Elections of five members for three-year terms to the Board of
Directors

- Election of members to fill vacancies on the Board of Directors

- Change all corporate papers to reflect the name "Affirmation: United
Methodists for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Concerns"

- Report of the Strategic Visioning Plan

- Any other business that the Directors deem appropriate.


The Directors constitute the Affirmation Council.


Drops of Water

Drops of Water is published each day the conference is in session
during General Conference 2004 by Affirmation: United Methodists for
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Concerns, PO Box 1021,
Evanston IL 60204-1021. Email: UMAffirmation@.... Web:
http://www.umaffirm.org

(c) 2004 Affirmation: United Methodists for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual,
and Transgender Concerns

Only Affirmation's spokespersons, Peggy Gaylord and Ken Ian Rowe, may
represent the official positions of the organizations. All articles
in Drops of Water reflect the opinions of the individual authors and
are not necessarily the official position of Affirmation: United
Methodist.

Coeditors:

Judy WestLee
Gary Shephard



Drops of Water is sponsored by the Red Lion Hotel in Bakersfield, CA

Affirmation's Mission Statement

Affirmation: United Methodist is an activist caucus of lesbian, gay,
bisexual, and transgender people, our families, and friends,
organized to speak for ourselves. Together we:

-Proclaim a gospel of respect, love, and justice;

-Relentlessly pursue policies and processes that support full
participation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in
all areas and levels of The United Methodist Church;

-Overcome the barriers that diminish our common humanity by excluding
or judging people because of their race, gender, class, or physical
abilities;

-Empower people to undertake works of inclusion and justice where
they are.