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NIC Voice GC2004 Update - Part VII
NIC VOICE is a network of laity in the Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church.
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NIC VOICE General Conference Update # 7
 
Please do not respond to this email unless you would like to send a distribution email to the entire group.  All lists are moderated.
 
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEND A MESSAGE TO NIC VOICE, PLEASE SEND AN EMAIL TO:  nicvoice@nicvoice.org.
 
NIC VOICE is a network of laity in the Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church.
 
New items are indicated as follows:  NEW!!!! 

 
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NEW!!!! 2004 General Conference Archive:   http://gatewayumc.org/gc04.htm (updated)
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NEW!!!!  Called Out Information Service sponsored by Affirmation - includes updates on GC2004:
 
"Called Out" is an information service about LGBT religious concerns sponsored by Affirmation: United Methodists for Lesbian, Gay, and Transgendered Concerns. Affirmation is not an official body of the UMC. This is a public, read-only mailing list. Anyone may join, no matter what their opinions. The sponsors of this list support full inclusion and justice for LGBT people in society and The United Methodist Church. Content and viewpoints of materials and links will vary with the source.
 
Click here for UMNS news summaries and other reports posted by Called Out:  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/UMCalledOut/messages/
 
NEW!!!! May 1   Commentary: Finding Sacred Space between Unanimity, Schism - umcornet
    Friday, April 30, 2004 Finding Sacred Space between Unanimity, Schism A UMNS Co
   
NEW!!!! May 1   Commentary: For the sake of unity - umcornet
    Friday, April 30, 2004 For the sake of unity A UMNS Commentary By the Rev. A. W
   
NEW!!!! Apr 30   GC Daily Wrap-up: Delegates Honor Black Members, Mark UMW Milestone - umcornet
    Friday, April 30, 2004 Daily Wrap-up: Delegates Honor Black Members, Mark UMW M
 
 
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NEW!!!!  Good News Updates:  Focus Home Page

Focus Newsletter
 Focus 1 4/27 - Welcome to Pittsburgh - Focus Update 1:  04-27-2004
Focus 2 4/28 - Our Differences Matter - Focus Update 2:  04-28-2004
Focus 3 4/29 - Rumors of Protest - Focus Update 3: 04-29-2004

SoulForce's response to Focus Update 3 - 04-29-2004

Soulforce Responds to Misinformation in Good News Newsletter


Focus 4 4/30 - Faith Under Fire - Focus Update 4:  04-30-2004

NEW!!!!! Focus 5 5/1 - An Initiative for Unborn Children

The official documents of our denomination need to reflect the careful and judicious discernment of the entire United Methodist Church, not professional abortion apologists. We need to encourage boards and churches to welcome abortion-vulnerable women, to offer life-saving resources, and to strengthen partnerships with maternity homes, and abortion-alternative centers.

For too long, we have put off this basic Christian calling of hospitality and justice for the vulnerable and weak. We have failed the gospel and those described in Scripture as the “least of these.” The United Methodist Church needs to become a sanctuary for those escaping abortion.

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NEW!!!!  Institute for Religion & Democracy, UM Action Reports

UM Action : 2004 General Conference

 

The 2004 General Conference of the United Methodist Church is taking place on April 27 through May 7 in Pittsburgh, PA.  UMAction director Mark Tooley is in Pittsburgh, and will be issuing regular reports on the issues and controversies.  Check this page for the most current articles and press releases on the conference.

New!!!!! Two Retired Bishops Address Liberal Caucus about Dammann Trial (30-Apr)
New!!!!! Methodist Bishops Charge U.S. State Department with Racism (30-Apr)
 
Church Council Chief Speaks to Church and Society Breakfast (29-Apr) 
United Methodists Debate Homosexuality Among Other Issues (28-Apr)
Church and Society Chief Lashes Out (28-Apr)
Former Clinton Spokesman Speaks at General Conference Luncheon (28-Apr)
 
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Confessing Movement General Conference 2004 Reports:  http://www.confessingumc.org/
 
"The motion for a Declaratory Decision from the Judicial Council yesterday reflects the effort by United Methodists to try to understand just how the Karen Dammann trial court's contradictory verdict could have happened. It simply made no sense. And it left many questioning whether commonly-understood passages in the Book of Discipline actually mean what we thought they did."

Wednesday, April 28

Our Differences Matter (click here)

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Methodists Federation for Social Action (MFSA) Reports
The Daily SQBs Of General Conference 2004 (in downloadable .pdf format)
 
 
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Reconciling Ministries Network GC2004 Articles and Reports
 
 
 
 
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Affirmation Daily Newsletter, Drops of Water:
 
Affirmation General Conference 2004:  http://www.umaffirm.org/gc2004/
 
  • Affirmation to Host  Bisexuality Talks Common Witness Lunch

  • Service of Hope Gathers Divergent Worship Views

  • Open Arts Open House for Open Minds ...event will feature the outrageous New York drag cabaret artists, the Dueling Bankheads, and local lesbian and gay performance groups, the Renaissance City Choir and the Renaissance Wimmin’s Drumming Circle.

  •  Membership/Annual Meeting

  • Love Makes a Family Photo Exhibit

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Pacific Northwest Reconciling Ministries Network:
 
  • Day 2 at General Conference
    Winifred Keefer
  • Day 3 at General Conference
    Winifred Keefer
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    GC2004 Updates by Faithful Christian Laity: 
    This unofficial BB is being used by Faithful Christian Laity (evangelical group in PNWAC) to provide updates. 
    Cathy Biehler is volunteering with Good News and is attending the entire conference.
     
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    Following is not new, included here for your reference:
     
     
    Bishops call for global conferencing on doctrine, diversity:  http://www.reporterinteractive.org/news/042804/GC04_d.htm
    Conference opens with call for praise, prayer, work:  http://www.reporterinteractive.org/news/042804/GC04_c.htm
    Effort fails to have bishops preside in committees:  http://www.reporterinteractive.org/news/042804/GC04_a.htm
    Bishops express hope for 'holy conferencing: http://www.reporterinteractive.org/news/042804/pastoral.htm
    Most in polls would toughen ban on gays, lesbians in church:  http://www.reporterinteractive.org/news/042804/polls.htm
     
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    As the present General Conference meets in Pittsburgh, however, I have found a certain peace about its final outcome, whatever it may be. I am by no means confident that the vote will go “our” way again. Even if it does, it only means that The United Methodist Church will continue to limp along with all the vibrancy of a whitewashed tomb for yet another four years, outwardly rejecting revisionist morality but inwardly corrupted by the very worldview which embraces it with open arms.
     
     
     
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    How to listen/watch GC2004 session:
     
    Bandwidth has been added to the UMC; if you continue to have difficulties accessing video/audio feeds at the UMC site, try these alternative links, which are now becoming busy as well:
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