Annual Conference

At Annual Conference 2007, Womaen’s Caucus helped host a Hospitality Center in Cleveland. We shared the space with our friends, Voices for an Open Spirit (VOS) and the Brethren Mennonite Council (BMC) for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Interests. We sent in a joint application this year, hoping to get all three of our organizations a booth each or one booth together, but Program and Arrangements Committee continued their ban on BMC in the exhibit hall, while offering VOS and Caucus booths each. We accepted their rejection of our joint proposal, and would not leave our partner BMC outside, so we put extra energy into creating a fabulous space of our own to welcome all Brethren and their supporters at Annual Conference! More information about the Hospitality Center is below.

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While you’re at Annual Conference, be sure to study up on the candidates for offices on this year’s ballot. See the page “Church Elections” at right for the list of Caucus members and supporters who are candidates in 2007.

Thanks for your support in getting the voices of Caucus heard across the denomination!

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YOU are invited to the HOSPITALITY CENTER
sponsored by Womaen’s Caucus, Voices for an Open Spirit (VOS), and Brethren Mennonite Council for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Concerns (BMC)

Hours
Saturday, June 30 – 9:00 -11:00 pm (Love Feast)
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, July 1,2, 3 – 7:30 am – 11:00 pm

Location
Ballroom (1st Floor) at the Holiday Inn Select, 1111 Lakeside Ave.

Scheduled Activities at the Hospitality Center

Saturday
9:00 pm – Hospitality Center opens with a Love Feast service
Sunday
7:30-8:30 am – Meditation led by Roger Eberly: Beatitudes of God’s
Peace and Justice, Matthew 5
9:00 pm – Panel of Bethany students led by Rebekah Flores: Where
Two or Three are Gathered: Peace Amidst our Diversity
10:00 pm – Celebration of VOS Fifth anniversary, with special
recognition of VOS Founder, Jim Lehman. Paul Schrock
will emcee. Music! Cake and other treats!
Monday
7:30-8:30 am – Meditation led by Debbie Eisenbise
9:00-11:00 pm – Workshop led by On Earth Peace & BMC:
Safety for Queer Youth in the Church
Tuesday
7:30-8:30 am – Meditation led by Deb Peterson: Proclaiming the
Power of God — Just for Today, Psalms 68:34-35
9:00 pm – Carol Wise on How Homophobia Hurts the Church
10:00 pm – Music by Hannah Button Harrison, joined by her father,
Tim Button Harrison

Ongoing Activities at the Hospitality Center
Relaxation and refreshments available all day. Comfortable furniture, coffee, tea, and water. Fresh bread made in the room, with various spreads (apple butter, preserves, and honey)! Great place to take a break!
Meet your friends here for conversation and fun!
Worship area with evolving art piece for you to contribute to! Share your thoughts about peace and justice. Walk a labyrinth for your prayerful meditation.
Booth space for BMC, VOS, and Womaen’s Caucus will be at the Hospitality Center. Each group will have displays and literature. Come visit with members of the three groups.

Our Theme
Proclaim the Power of God’s Peace and Justice is our theme, shared with the Annual Confernece. Our Hospitality Center is itself a proclamation of God’s power for peace and justice-making, within and to the church. We are enthusiastic about the possibilities for community building, worship, education, conversation, and relaxation that the Hospitality Center offers.

*Why the Hospitality Center? Why not booths in the exhibit hall?*
Despite annual requests, BMC has been denied a booth in the exhibit hall for more than twenty years. This year was no exception. The Program and Arrangements Committee ignored a joint application from the three groups of Womaen’s Caucus, VOS and BMS, granting space to Womaen’s Caucus and VOS while denying BMC. In reponse, our three groups have decided to forego booths in the exhibit hall and instead focus our energies on developing a strong, inspiring, and inviting program conducted out of our jointly-sponsored hospitality center. We invite you to join us in providing this welcoming space for all who wish to continue the work of Jesus.

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Please feel free to contact us by email at womaen@gmail.com

and visit our website at www.womaenscaucus.org.

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