A
Time of Refreshing: the Salem Mini-ConnECtion
by
Terri Allen, attendee
Several
years ago a friend of mine, Bonnie,
attended a regional EC conference.
She was really jazzed about it and
has been trying to get me to attend
since then. She has a co-conspirator
of sorts. Gayle has been attending
EC conferences for seven years and
she coordinated the mini-connECtion
I attended in Salem on April 16, 2005.
I
have been a member of Sweet
Spirit Metropolitan Community
Church for around five years.
I currently attend the small
EC group that Gayle facilitates
in Salem.
My
spirituality is very important
to me. My God attended this
mini-connECtion everywhere I
turned.
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God
was in the keynote speakers and the
worship leader. God was everywhere
– in each and every person I
talked to! Since this was my first
EC conference of any kind, I met many
new people. Everyone was friendly.
Some were old hats and some were very
new to EC.
Nick Warner was the first keynote
speaker. Nick had a wonderful message
about the "clobber passages"
(the scriptures typically used against
GLBT people).
Anita Cadonau-Huseby, our other keynote
speaker, is happily married! I want
to meet her wife sometime. Anita has
a sense of humor that really helps
to get the point home.
God greatly used his servants at this
conference. All gave credit to God
for its success. All opened their
hearts to those of us who attended.
We came from various places, various
backgrounds, but the commonality was
God and how God loves ALL of us!
I decided to ask some other newcomers
what their experience was like for
them. Here are some of their answers:
- Andrea said, “It reaffirmed
the strength of community.”
- Sam observed, “The speakers
were encouraging because of their
personal testimonies.”
- Ray felt that “it was a
refreshing time to meet with other
GLBT Christians to share our experiences
and fellowship together.”
- Kevin said, “What I’m
struck by most of all was the humility
of the speakers. They didn't claim
to have all the answers but were
authentic and compassionate in sharing
their stories and in their teachings.”
- “We felt that above our
sexuality the main focus of this
group was to find, learn, and share
in true Christian fellowship,”
said a lesbian couple. “This
group reached all of us at whatever
level of spirituality we are currently
experiencing in our day-to-day lives.”
Everyone
I talked to walked away with at least
one gem to take home. Some of us went
to dinner after the conference. One
end of the table was quite loud and
boisterous. People at the other end
of the table were spectators who occasionally
threw in a friendly barb or two. I
will not mention any names. They know
who they are!
I love God with all my heart and soul.
I love God's people with all the love
I allow God to pour through me. God
loves each of us. If you have never
attended an EC conference, I highly
recommend you do. You will walk away
changed in some small way. God will
start a work in you. How do I know
this? I know God.
Additional Information
This event was sponsored by
Evangelicals Concerned Western Region.
EC gratefully acknowledges the use
of Huntington Hall at the First Congregational
Church, UCC, 700 Marion St. N.E.,
Salem , OR 97301.
Keynoters
Rev. Anita Cadonau-Huseby
spoke in personal terms of how she
has lived her life as a Christian
lesbian and about the affirmations
and blessings she's experienced within
the broader Christian church. She
talked about the welcoming of our
gifts and ministry to the wider church
and how it is that we have the opportunity
to draw ever closer to God in a personal
relationship even though obstacles
hold us back.
Dr. Nick Warner spoke
on the “Clobber Passages”
in the Bible and how they are falsely
used against gay men and lesbian women
to tell them that they are not okay.
Dr. Warner stated that these passages
are the corner stone of reconciliation
for those brothers and sisters coming
out of conservative churches.
Workshops addressed
issues relating to local Bible Study
group dynamics to the broader spectrum
of the reconciling ministry of ECWR.
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