From: Lmrutt@aol.com Date: Tue, 30 May 2000 23:43:52 EDT Subject: WOW2000: GLBT People to Celebrate Welcoming Church Movement 8/3-8/6 "HOMOSEXUALITY IS COMPATABLE WITH CHRISTIAN TEACHING," WELCOMING CHURCHES PROCLAIM WOW2000 To Be the Largest Ecumenical Gathering and Celebration of Christians Working for the Inclusion of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Persons in Church and Society ***************************************** PRESS RELEASE: May 30, 2000 - For Immediate Release Witness Our Welcome - WOW2000 http://www.wow2k.org Media Contact: Laura Montgomery Rutt Phone: 717-627-7180 (media only) Email: wow2000media@eudoramail.com ****************************************** Chicago - Over one thousand people are expected to assemble for the largest ecumenical gathering of welcoming churches and individuals ever held; Witness our Welcome 2000: God's Promise Is for You (WOW2000). This historic event will be taking place August 3 - 6 in DeKalb, IL, at Northern Illinois University just outside Chicago, proclaiming that gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) people are made in God's image, and are part of the goodness of God's diverse Creation. The purpose of the event is to celebrate the progress of welcoming congregations and inspire even greater outreach to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender persons and their families. WOW2000 will be a place where GLBT persons of faith, their families, and allies, can find affirmation and support for their faith journey. Individuals and representatives from all churches considering outreach to GLBT persons are welcome and encouraged to attend. Registration materials are now available, and hundreds of people have already registered. "The Welcoming Church Movement is changing the way Christians think about the inclusion of GLBT people in the church," declared Jacki Belile, WOW2000 chairperson. "WOW2000 will counter the too-often-heard Christian voices condemning GLBT people and instead publicly demonstrate God's all-embracing love and justice." Among the speakers who are participating in at WOW2000 are Rev. Janie Spahr, an openly lesbian Presbyterian minister and founder of "That All May Freely Serve"; Rev. Jimmy Creech, who was defrocked by the United Methodist Church for performing a union ceremony for two men; Rev. John Selders, an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ and coordinator for the Urban Leadership Project of The Night Ministry of Chicago; Rev. Dr. Gwynne Guibord, the chief ecumenical officer for Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches; and many more. Two recent announcements illustrate the breadth of the Welcoming Church Movement and the understanding that homosexuality is NOT incompatible with Christian teaching: 1) The PCJ, the highest court in the Presbyterian Church (USA) decided that a gay man may be an ordination candidate and that ministers may bless same sex unions; and, 2) The Southeast Michigan Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America approved a Resolution calling for the Recognition and Blessing of same sex relationships. "There are more than a thousand churches all across the United States and Canada that embrace and welcome GLBT people, their families, and allies," stated Mark Bowman, Executive Director of the WOW2000 Conference. "There are thousands of Christians in all denominations, who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and straight, of all colors, races, creeds, and abilities, who believe that the gospel of Jesus Christ teaches us love, compassion, and acceptance of the marginalized. The conference is designed to celebrate the power of the Welcoming Church movement at a time when our visibility is increasing." To register, or for more information about sponsoring organizations, see http://www.wow2k.org, or call 800-318-5581. NOTE: For press credentials, please contact Laura Montgomery Rutt, 717-627-7180, (FAX) 717-625-3878, (email) wow2000media@eudoramail.com . Witness Our Welcome 2000: God's Promise is for You! An historic ecumenical gathering of Welcoming Churches and their allies in the U. S. and Canada Witness Our Welcome 2000 (WOW2000) is sponsored by this coalition of "Welcoming Church" programs: SPONSORS Affirming Congregation Programme (United Church of Canada) Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists (American Baptist) Beyond Inclusion, Integrity, & The Oasis (Episcopal) More Light Presbyterians (Presbyterian) Open & Affirming Ministries (Disciples of Christ) Open and Affirming Program (United Church of Christ) Reconciling in Christ Program (Lutheran) Reconciling Congregation Program (United Methodist) Supportive Congregations Network (Brethren/Mennonite) MAJOR FUNDERS Broadway UCC (New York, NY) Chicago Temple Fund (Chicago, IL) E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation First United Church of Oak Park (Oak Park, IL) The Gill Foundation Philip A. Knutson Endowment The Riverside Church (New York, NY) United Church Board for Homeland Ministries Division of American Missionary ssociation PARTNERS Church of the Covenant (Cleveland, OH) Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church Other Sheep Oxbow (Liberal Protestant Coalition) St. Paul's UCC (Chicago, IL) That All May Freely Serve The Other Side The Shower of Stoles Project Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches ALLIES Christians of African Descent Dignity USA Equal Partners in Faith Gay Theological Journal HeartStrong, Inc. Lake Street Church (Evanston, IL) National Institute for GLBT Education Plymouth Congregational Church (Seattle, WA) Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ (Grand Rapids, MI) FRIENDS First Congregational UCC (Madison, WI) Kentucky Fairness Alliance Religious Organizing Project Montclair Presbyterian Church (Oakland, CA) Presbyterian Partnership of Conscience Seattle First Baptist Church United University Church (Los Angeles, CA) Urbandale United Church of Christ (Urbandale, IA) Voices of Sophia Women's Alliance for Theology, Ethics and Ritual Learn how your organization or group can support or be visible at WOW2000, or how you can support us with a financial gift or as a volunteer. http://www.wow2k.org/Support.asp