andrewlittle
10-14-2008, 06:11 PM
Hey all,
My lovely and courageous wife, Jenna Zirbel (I decided not to change my name when we got married), will be ordained in Baltimore on Sunday. She has waited so long for this, since being run out of Iowa, but she is also a little nervous. Your prayers will be appreciated.
The official word is copied below.
Church Within A Church Movement, Inc.
P.O. Box 578524, Chicago, IL 60657-8524
www.cwac.us
MEDIA ADVISORY:
October 12, 2008
MEDIA CONTACT:
Cathy Knight, Executive Director, The Church Within A Church Movement, Inc.
Cell: (312) 282-1556; Fax: (773) 348-2521; knight.cathy@gmail.com
‘EXTRAORDINARY’ ORDINATIONS OF TWO METHODIST WOMEN TO TAKE PLACE DESPITE GAY-EXCLUSIVE POLICIES
What: Two women – one gay and one straight – will be ordained in an ecumenical service on Sunday, October 19, 2008, despite the fact that their ordinations were blocked by the United Methodist Church. The ordinations are termed “Extraordinary” because they go against “ordinary” policies in the United Methodist Church that deny ordination to otherwise qualified candidates because of sexual orientation, gender identity/expression or inclusive-progressive theological beliefs. Church Within A Church, a progressive Methodist organization that strives for full inclusion, is sponsoring the ordinations.
Who: Annie Britton was excluded from ordination because she is gay and she legally married her partner in Massachusetts. Jenna Zirbel was denied ordination because she voiced support for gay equality during the application process. National leaders from Church Within A Church and retired United Methodist Bishop Susan Morrison will also be available to press before the ordination.
Where: Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church
(10 East Mount Vernon Place, Baltimore, MD 21202). Church Phone: (410) 685-5290
When: Press Availability: 2-2:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19, 2008
Ordination Candidates: Annie Britton and Jenna Zirbel
Church Within A Church Movement national leaders
United Methodist Bishop, Susan Morrison (Retired)
Ordination Service : 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19, 2008
(Cameras OK per press guidelines on-site)
Church Within A Church is a progressive Methodist movement dedicated to being the fully inclusive church and to model what the United Methodist Church can be.
This explains a little about Church Within A Church:
The Church Within A Church Movement, Inc.
Office located in Chicago, IL
Phone: (773) 248 3225
Email: justchurch@cwac.us
Executive director: cathy knight
Website: www.cwac.us
Meeting since 2001 and incorporated in 2004, The Church Within A Church Movement (CWAC) is a grass roots response to specific discriminatory actions of the United Methodist Church’s General Conference. This movement recognizes the systemic racism and heterosexism of the institutional church and therefore finds its energy in supporting and forming avenues for the inclusive church to flourish now.
The core values of The Church Within A Church Movement:
• Provide a pathway for Extraordinary Ordination of qualified people denied ordination in the United Methodist denomination because of sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, or inclusive-progressive theology.
• Promote progressive church plants that encourage prophetic, innovative, creative, and authentic ministries.
• Actively work and witness to break down the walls of racism and white privilege and all exclusions based on perceived differences.
• Provide curriculum and worship resources for the progressive, inclusive church.
• Cultivate ecumenical partnerships.
The Declaration:
Operating within the United Methodist Church, the unofficial Church Within A Church Movement declares its refusal to commit itself either to remain within the denomination or to leave it. Its mission: “To BE church in a fully inclusive way.” The group also established its foundation for action by saying: “We commit ourselves as disciples of Jesus Christ to full inclusion of all persons without regard to status or economic condition and celebrating race, color, national origin, sexual orientation, and gender identities.”
March 1, 2003, Tempe, AZ
This Movement cares so deeply about the United Methodist Church and the wounding that the church can do that we are compelled to witness to another way to BE church—to model the inclusive church we think the United Methodist Church can one day become.
My lovely and courageous wife, Jenna Zirbel (I decided not to change my name when we got married), will be ordained in Baltimore on Sunday. She has waited so long for this, since being run out of Iowa, but she is also a little nervous. Your prayers will be appreciated.
The official word is copied below.
Church Within A Church Movement, Inc.
P.O. Box 578524, Chicago, IL 60657-8524
www.cwac.us
MEDIA ADVISORY:
October 12, 2008
MEDIA CONTACT:
Cathy Knight, Executive Director, The Church Within A Church Movement, Inc.
Cell: (312) 282-1556; Fax: (773) 348-2521; knight.cathy@gmail.com
‘EXTRAORDINARY’ ORDINATIONS OF TWO METHODIST WOMEN TO TAKE PLACE DESPITE GAY-EXCLUSIVE POLICIES
What: Two women – one gay and one straight – will be ordained in an ecumenical service on Sunday, October 19, 2008, despite the fact that their ordinations were blocked by the United Methodist Church. The ordinations are termed “Extraordinary” because they go against “ordinary” policies in the United Methodist Church that deny ordination to otherwise qualified candidates because of sexual orientation, gender identity/expression or inclusive-progressive theological beliefs. Church Within A Church, a progressive Methodist organization that strives for full inclusion, is sponsoring the ordinations.
Who: Annie Britton was excluded from ordination because she is gay and she legally married her partner in Massachusetts. Jenna Zirbel was denied ordination because she voiced support for gay equality during the application process. National leaders from Church Within A Church and retired United Methodist Bishop Susan Morrison will also be available to press before the ordination.
Where: Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church
(10 East Mount Vernon Place, Baltimore, MD 21202). Church Phone: (410) 685-5290
When: Press Availability: 2-2:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19, 2008
Ordination Candidates: Annie Britton and Jenna Zirbel
Church Within A Church Movement national leaders
United Methodist Bishop, Susan Morrison (Retired)
Ordination Service : 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19, 2008
(Cameras OK per press guidelines on-site)
Church Within A Church is a progressive Methodist movement dedicated to being the fully inclusive church and to model what the United Methodist Church can be.
This explains a little about Church Within A Church:
The Church Within A Church Movement, Inc.
Office located in Chicago, IL
Phone: (773) 248 3225
Email: justchurch@cwac.us
Executive director: cathy knight
Website: www.cwac.us
Meeting since 2001 and incorporated in 2004, The Church Within A Church Movement (CWAC) is a grass roots response to specific discriminatory actions of the United Methodist Church’s General Conference. This movement recognizes the systemic racism and heterosexism of the institutional church and therefore finds its energy in supporting and forming avenues for the inclusive church to flourish now.
The core values of The Church Within A Church Movement:
• Provide a pathway for Extraordinary Ordination of qualified people denied ordination in the United Methodist denomination because of sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, or inclusive-progressive theology.
• Promote progressive church plants that encourage prophetic, innovative, creative, and authentic ministries.
• Actively work and witness to break down the walls of racism and white privilege and all exclusions based on perceived differences.
• Provide curriculum and worship resources for the progressive, inclusive church.
• Cultivate ecumenical partnerships.
The Declaration:
Operating within the United Methodist Church, the unofficial Church Within A Church Movement declares its refusal to commit itself either to remain within the denomination or to leave it. Its mission: “To BE church in a fully inclusive way.” The group also established its foundation for action by saying: “We commit ourselves as disciples of Jesus Christ to full inclusion of all persons without regard to status or economic condition and celebrating race, color, national origin, sexual orientation, and gender identities.”
March 1, 2003, Tempe, AZ
This Movement cares so deeply about the United Methodist Church and the wounding that the church can do that we are compelled to witness to another way to BE church—to model the inclusive church we think the United Methodist Church can one day become.