Pray In Begins Today
Posted in Presbyterian Church by Rev. Dr. Cindi Love on July 7th, 2010
We are currently in Minneapolis at the Soulforce action involving the 219th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA). We have a great team here including very tenured and wonderful Soulforce volunteers and staff, Bill, Cris, Doug, Helene, Jeaneane, Kara and LuAnn and people brand new to our work, including our new Board Member elect, Peter Drake. Jason Conner and David Coleman, Equality Riders, are also here on the ground doing a fantastic job rallying volunteers from throughout the city. As of 5 p.m. yesterday, we have contacted more than 30 organizations representing more than 5000 people with an invitation to send representatives to the action. Joe Rattan did a fantastic job designing the materials for the Pray In and Brian Murphy has done a stellar job with our web site in providing current information. I want to express my deep appreciation to everyone who worked so hard on this action.
We want you to be able to visualize what we are doing and ask you to pray for us and for those who have been invited to join us.
On Thursday and Friday of this week, July 8 and 9, we will gather from 7:00 A.M. to 5 P.M. at the Wesley United Methodist Church and an area directly across from the church called the Plaza. Beginning at 7:30 each morning, as noted, we have invited people from all over the city to send representatives to sing, pray, play, mime and give faithful witness to the reality that discrimination does not belong in a Church with the theme, “Reformed, Always Reforming.” We have chosen Isaiah 43:19 as our inspiration, “God is doing something new!”
In the event that the PC(USA) does not erase its discriminatory policies against ordination of LGBTQ people and its practice of heresy trials for pastors who perform legal same-sex marriages, we will engage in civil action on Saturday.
I recently read a book by Paul Hawkins entitled Blessed Unrest in which he asks the question, “How do we sow our seeds when large, well-intentioned institutions and intolerant ideologies that purport to be our salvation cause so much damage?” I love his answer. He says, “One sure way is through smallness (small groups), grace and locality. Individuals start where they stand and, in Antionio Machado’s poetic dictum, make the road by walking.”
We are here making a road here and we know that you are with us in spirit. Thoreau said, “there are no inconsequential acts, only consequential inaction, for it matters not how small the beginning may seem to be, what is once well done is done forever.”
I believe that you can feel very proud of your Soulforce friends this week for they will have done this work with the PC(USA) very well.
Please do your very best to support this work by sending any amount that you can by the end of this month to help offset the costs we are incurring.
Thank you!
Blessings and Peace,
Rev. Dr. Cindi Love
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Our Catholic community in Santa Fe sends prayers and appreciation for your initiative.