Workshops, Strategy, and Worship Highlight TAMFS Conference

By Karen Miltner, TAMFS National Board

(April 12, 2002) -- More than 150 staff members, volunteers, supporters and allies of That All May Freely Serve gathered at Stony Point Conference Center in Stony Point, New York, April 4-7 for the organization's fourth annual leadership conference.

Conference activities focused on empowerment workshops, movement strategy meetings, and creative worship services that incorporated diverse traditions and innovative expressions of faith. There was also inspiring entertainment by regional partner members as well professional talent from New York City, including a musical, "Love According to Luc," about a lesbian seeking to become a Presbyterian minister.

Titled "Leadership at the Crossroads: Remembering Who We Are, Navigating the Transition, Leading with a Prophetic Voice," it was the organization's first large-scale meeting since a majority of presbyteries voted against Amendment 01-A in February.

"This year's Amendment A was another crucifixion," said author Chris Glaser in a Saturday morning sermon. "But here we gather, That All May Freely Serve, as a resurrection."

	Photo: Greg Price
	Janie Spahr (standing) introduces (counterclockwise) Virginia Davidson (seated left front), Sandy Brawders, Chris Glaser and Byron Shafer (not shown) in a workshop titled, "Remembering Who We Are as We Look to the Future." All four shared their memories from the 1978 General Assembly in which the policy of definitive guidance was established

Glaser and three other pioneer activists for the GLBT inclusivity movement ­- Virginia Davidson (chairperson of the 1976 Task Force to Study Homosexuality), Sandy Brawders (then a Princeton seminarian who came out during GA) and the Rev. Byron Shafer (author of the background paper for the 1976 report) ­- recounted their experience in the 1978 General Assembly that brought Definitive Guidance into existence.

Evangelists or representatives from TAMFS Northern California, Chicago, Baltimore, New York and the South also shared their dreams and passions in ministering.

Workshops dealt with practical issues such as fund-raising, community organizing and improving communication, identity issues such as bisexuality, transgender issues, and justice issues such as the link between racism and heterosexism and the lingering legacy of slavery and colonialism.

Rev. Joan Martin of the Episcopal Divinity School and Letty Russell of Yale Divinity School led participants in an examination of various types of oppression in a workshop on racism and heterosexism in the local church.

"We have multiple identities," said Martin, pointing to the "target" and "non-target" groups defined by racism (people of color vs. whites), classism (poor, working class vs. middle class), ageism (elders and children vs. young and middle-aged), and other "ism" categories. Understanding these multiple identities is the first step to addressing more pro-active, responsible behavior in dealing with them.

Seminarians were a powerful presence at the conference as well, as students and veterans in the movement discussed ideas for using seminarians in TAMFS outreach. "Every movement needs to cultivate new leadership," said David Lewicke of Presbyterian Promise.

Nanette Sawyer discussed how students are making a difference at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago. Thanks to a recent student petition, the school is offering additional classes on how to deal with sexuality issues in various ministry environments, from pastoral care to Christian education.

The conference gave participants a chance to get to know Lisa Larges, who came on board as TAMFS regional partnership coordinator in January. Larges, who has been traveling with TAMFS minister director Janie Spahr, answered questions about the Three Sisters (TAMFS, More Light Presbyterians and the Shower of Stoles Project) relationship, the diverse needs of the regional partners, and the need for GLBT Presbyterians to deal with other forms of oppression in the church at large.

"Anti-racism work is important. Let's be the church we need to be. … Secondary to that, if we are to survive as a movement we need to build a coalition. We need the authority to speak with a broader community."

Photo: Greg Price
Chicago Theological Seminary Ph.D candidate Marilyn Nash created the altar space used for worship services at the 2002 Leadership Conference

With the artistic and musical guidance of Marilyn Nash (a Chicago Theological Seminary Ph.D candidate) and Patrick Evans (artist-in-residence at Union Theological Seminary), the six worship services at the conference included music, rituals and litanies from many different cultures. Participants also heard many different preaching styles with sermons from Joe Gilmore (senior minister at South Church in Dobbs Ferry, NY), Joan Martin, Sandy Brawders, LaDonna Sanders, Chris Glaser, Lisa Larges, Richard Lindsay (Yale Divinity School) and Rob Ater (Princeton Theological Seminary) and Chris Shelton.

Brainstorming meetings around new, post-Amendment 01-A TAMFS strategies focused on judicial and legal matters (facilitated by Peter Oddleifson of Downtown United Presbyterian Church of Rochester), education (facilitated by Lisa Larges), and advocacy (facilitated by Cliff Frasier, Coordinator for Presbyterian Welcome).

Other conference-related material:

• Greetings Jack Rogers, Moderator 213th General Assembly, sent to That All May Freely Serve at this conference.
• Rev. Dr. Janie Spahr summarizes the conference
• Shaun Whitehead, McCormick Theological Seminary, reflects on the conference
• "Lightmaker" Gift Supported TAMFS Annual Conference 2002. Jane Baker Supported Seminarians

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