Tuesday, May 9, 2000

A Call to Action in Alliance with the Soulforce Demonstration

AMAR Coalition Letter

Dear Conference Delegate,

We want to begin by thanking you for the support you have already provided for gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, and transgender United Methodists during this General Conference. We hope you believe -- as we do -- that this has been work in the most profound tradition of Christianity.

We want to alert you to opportunities for action and support over the next two days.

Wednesday:

Tomorrow morning, there will be simultaneous protests regarding the continuing anti-gay policies of the United Methodist Church. Between 7 AM and 8:30 AM, SoulForce will be leading a march around the convention center, culminating with a planned civil disobedience action. The AMAR Coalition will be staging actions of support both inside and outside the Convention Center during the same period.

Outside, beginning at 7:15 AM, the AMAR Coalition will lead a prayer vigil for the demonstrators and will stage a ritual welcoming the demonstrators to the Convention Center. The vigil and welcoming ritual will be close to the entrance to the Convention Center.

Inside, at about 8:30 AM, Coalition members will stage a short 3-4 minute demonstration from the balcony of the Convention center interrupting the opening worship service. This interruption will include chanting and the singing of one short hymn, "We are marching in the light of God." We have attached the words to the hymn and the chant to this letter to facilitate your participation.

To participate, rise at your seat when you hear the chanting begin. Join us in the chorus of the chant and then in the singing of the hymn. When we have completed the hymn, we will all quietly sit down, and the session will proceed.

Thursday:

We are expecting the most critical vote of the General Conference on gay and lesbian issues on Thursday morning -- the reaffirmation of the Church's policy on the incompatibility of homosexuality and Christianity, being brought forward by the Faith and Order Legislative Committee. Both before and after the votes on this issue, AMAR Coalition actions are being planned. We'll brief you on these tomorrow as the final plans are confirmed. Obviously, we hope that you will vote with us on this key issue and help us persuade others of the heinous nature of the current policy.

Thanks again for your support and prayers during this challenging period.

Sincerely,
Participants in the AMAR Coalition

A Call to Action in Alliance with the Soulforce Demonstration
Wednesday, May 10, 2000 8:30 AM

Balcony: Wide is God's welcome. Extend the Table!

**** Delegates are requested to stand at their seats ****

Balcony & Floor: Wide is God's welcome. Extend the table!

Balcony: Our brothers and sisters are being arrested --

Balcony & Floor: Wide is God's welcome. Extend the table!

Balcony: Our bishops and pastors are being arrested --

Balcony & Floor: Wide is God's welcome. Extend the table!

Balcony: Gay and lesbian people, our friends and families suffer the exclusion of the Church.

Balcony & Floor: Wide is God's welcome. Extend the table! Christ calls us to create change.

We are marching in the light of God

We are marching in the light of God;
We are marching in the light of God. (repeat)

We are marching, marching (repeat)
We are marching in the light of God.

We are staying in the light of God;
We are staying in the light of God. (repeat)

We are staying, staying (repeat)
We are staying in the light of God.

As an independent voice of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer people, Affirmation radically reclaims the compassionate and transforming gospel of Jesus Christ by relentlessly pursuing full inclusion in the Church as we journey with the Spirit in creating God's beloved community. We affirm a Gospel of respect, love, justice and mercy for all. Affirmation is an activist, all-volunteer, not-for-profit organization with no official ties to The United Methodist Church.