Caucus at Conference: Highlights

The reflections will keep coming in, as I continue to process and recover from Annual Conference. It was a packed, intense few days, and it’s taking me some time to unwind as I return three time zones west.

One thing I want all Caucus fans to be sure to read is Beacon Heights pastor Melissa Bennett’s EXCELLENT sermon, delivered Wednesday morning (unfortunately, after many delegates had already left). You can download the text from the index of the 2008 Annual Conference activity at the brethren webpage, by clicking here. As a good ally, she goes straight to the heart of the issue of inclusion and reaching out substantively across differences, and she names bigotry against gay and lesbian Christians outright. Way to go, Pastor Melissa!

UPDATE: The AC staff have posted the official text of the sermon now on the link cited here, which includes the version as delivered Wednesday. If you haven’t had a chance to experience it, be sure to – it’s a great sermon!

Another highlight was the BMC witness Tuesday afternoon outside the convention center, right on the path from exhibit hall and hotels to worship. Folks walking past filtered through the vigil participants holding signs of persons excluded by the church’s homophobia. Be sure to check out the pictures at our Flickr page (linked from the right side of this blog) to get a taste of this year’s incarnation of BMC’s important tradition.