CELEBRATIONS GALORE IN WEST OHIO!!!
21 volunteer table facilitators gathered Friday night to get to know one another, share stories, and prepare for Saturday's training in Columbus Ohio. Audrey, RMN staff and support trainer for the weekend, shared her story of self as an introduction.
Saturday's training was planned for teams from non-reconciling churches, and 17 churches came with teams (with a total of 103 BOLD's). Laughter, singing, scripture, stories and hopes filled the day- and at the end of the day, 22 gatherings sharing 131stories were planned. John Wesley said that to change a heart is to transform the world- and we are on the wave of transformation based on the love and grace of Jesus Christ. God is good and God was glorified in W Ohio on the first Saturday in March.
Katy Krumbach, National Trainer
Below is an email from the communication-coordinator of the
South Carolina Believe Out Loud Annual Conference Team (named: SCRUM).
______________________________________
From: Emily
Sent: Thursday, January
28, 2010 7:41 PM
To: South Carolina BOL
ACT
Subject: ACT Review and Work
Hello Fellow SCRUMs!
I know you have been waiting for more follow-up information from our Jan. 9,
2010 Believe Out Loud Disciple Training. Please notice that several of
the items require response or action. This is a very meaty email so
please read carefully. I am looking forward to our continued efforts
together!
Em
ACT Purpose and GOALS:
At the training event we developed 5 goals for our (SC
Annual Conference) current emphasis which coincide with the national
goals.
- Host 6 BOLD gatherings
by September 1st, 2010
- Enlist 85 new RUMs
(Reconciling United Methodists) by the year's end
- Distribute information
about RMN at a display table at Annual Conference
- Conduct an educational
event in conjunction with the 2010 Annual Conference with at least 50
persons in attendance. with the idea of preparation for...
- A resolution for full
inclusion of GBLTQ persons to be presented in 2011 with at least 40%
support
ACT Roles:
We also added some ACT members and organized around certain
team roles. If you did not get to let it be known that you wish to serve
on this team and you do, please let me know immediately - there is room!
·
Coaches: (The person you contact is first in the
group list)
- Toni (coaching Liz
and Franklin’s Group)
- Steve (coaching two groups: Jim, Emily;
Barbara, Toni,
and Sheila)
- Hospitality Coordinator:
Jim
- Communications
Coordinator: Lynn
- Team Coordinator: Emily
- Members: Liz, Franklin,
Toni
ACT Norms:
The following are the norms (guiding regulations) we
developed for our times of planning/meeting.
- Use meeting time
effectively
- Begin the business of
the meeting within 10 minutes of the stated start time
- Avoid using labels
- Do not assume you know
where someone is coming from (because you know someones position on one
issue does not mean you know that person's entire stance on all issues)
- We can say
"no" without justification
- Ask for help if needed
- If you are on here, be
active
Continue reading "What happens after the Believe Out Loud training? A Snapshot of the South Carolina Annual Conference Team" »
Jim Waugh, WOC BOLD Coordinator, 11/12/09
Our BOLD Team has been meeting every two or three weeks since the middle of September. Our BOLD Training Event is set for Saturday, March 6 @ King Avenue UMC, Columbus. Table facilitators will be trained on Friday evening, March 5.
The goal of our team is to recruit teams of 4-6 persons (including the pastor) from twenty congregations from across the annual conference. We are focusing on those congregations that we have identified that include allies for inclusion of all persons in the life of the church, but they are not reconciling congregations.
We have identified these congregations through several means:
• In most congregations we know the pastor is supportive. In some cases we are aware of a group in the congregation that supports inclusion.
• We have “anecdotal” evidence of persons in congregations that were receptive to the “All Means All” campaign in which persons called lay and clergy members of annual conference to wear an “All Means All” button at annual conference in 2008.
• We have reviewed lists of those who attended the 2008 RMN training.
The six members of our team have divided up the first round of prospective congregations to invite to the training. We have adapted the script in the RMN Toolkit for Believe Out Loud. Our approach to the prospective pastors includes inviting the pastor and a team from the church to what we are calling an “experimental training event” to increase the capacity of folks in their congregation to work toward the full inclusion of all people in the life of the church. We are telling the pastors that we are inviting a select number of congregations to this training.
At our first report back session, eight pastors have agreed to attend and bring a team. In two other congregations, we need to check back with the pastors. We will follow up with written information about the event to each of the pastors who indicated that he/she will bring a team. Follow-up phone calls to assure that the team will participate will also be made by the Conference Team member who made the original call.
We are currently in the process of identifying small group facilitators. We want to use laity and clergy who are part of reconciling congregations and/or persons who attended the 2008 training. Along with the expectation that these persons will attend the facilitator training and lead the small group process at the BOLD Training, we are asking these persons to do the follow up work with the BOLD Teams whom they facilitated at the BOLD Training. We think that the relationship built at the training will be useful in the follow-up as the teams go back home. Members of the West Ohio BOLD Team will keep in touch with these facilitators as they do their follow up with the team(s) they facilitated.
Indianapolis, Indiana, Nov 6-7, 2009
Eight ACT Organizers met Friday night for dinner and training. Everyone came excited they could finally share BOLD training with others in Indiana. Some in the group had been trained in Nashville, some had experienced the campaign at Convo, and there was a variety of experience with story-telling ranging from none to quite experienced. Over dinner we built relationships which led to the sharing of stories which we used to illustrate how to facilitate the discussions during Saturday’s training. We were ready to go!
Saturday there were 25 from north and south Indiana who attended the BOL training. Stories were told which touched us all and cleared illustrated the truth that sharing stories inspire imagination, touch hearts, deepen relationships and create action. One story was shared that began “today I understand what my (lesbian) sister has to live with. . .” This response to the safe space, love, and caring of other’s in the room became a model for the hosting of house parties to come.
By 2:30 in the afternoon the group chanted in unison : “Believe Out Loud! The time is now! Things are changing!” As a group, they claimed as a goal that they would lead the Indiana Conference to lead the UMC to becoming fully reconciling in spirit and in truth.
At the end of the day, plans were made to host (six to begin) gatherings, share among themselves their successes and experiences which were learning opportunities and everyone exchanged team lists and contact information. A 132 people were already participating in the Indiana Reconciling Group and it was decided to send them invitations to the celebration of the BOLD campaign.
Hope, excitement, energy and enthusiasm were clearly shared at the training as everyone experienced Believing Out Loud!
Rev. Katy Krumbach, Indiana National Trainer
Reconciling Ministries Network mobilizes United Methodists of all sexual orientations and gender identities to transform our Church and world into the full expression of Christ’s inclusive love.
