Congratulations to Kalamazoo Community of Christ: Our Newest Welcoming & Affirming Congregation!1/20/2025  We are thrilled to share that there is another affirming congregation in the world.
The Kalamazoo Community of Christ Congregation, located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA, (Michigan Mission Center), is the newest Welcoming and Affirming member congregation in Community of Christ! The congregation successfully completed Harmony's Welcoming & Affirming Program on Sunday, January 19, with the official adoption of their welcoming statement: We celebrate the diversity God has created and seek to reflect that in our faith community. We strive to be a safe space and invite LGBTQIA2S+ persons to fully participate. We affirm the worth of all persons. All are created in God’s image and loved unconditionally. Each person enriches our fellowship. Welcome! On behalf of the Harmony Board of Directors, we wish to extend our sincerest gratitude to the dedicated members of the Kalamazoo Congregation for prioritizing this holy work. May your ministry be blessed! Please join us in congratulating the Kalamazoo Congregation for their commitment to inclusion in our beloved denomination. Consider connecting with them via email ([email protected]) to share any words of encouragement and gratitude. You may also consider making a donation directly to their congregation for their dedication to this holy work. Special thanks to Harmony Facilitator Linda Stanbridge for her support to the congregation throughout their participation in the program. We are encouraged by the growing number of congregations participating in our Welcoming & Affirming Program, and we look forward to sharing more good news like this! Kalamazoo joins a growing list of Welcoming & Affirming Congregations - click here to view the Affirming Ministries Map on our website.
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 We are thrilled to share that there is another affirming congregation in the world.
The Capital Area Congregation, located in Lansing, Michigan, USA, (Michigan Mission Center), is the newest Welcoming and Affirming member congregation in Community of Christ! The congregation successfully completed Harmony's Welcoming & Affirming Program on Sunday, January 12, with the official adoption of their welcoming statement. On behalf of the Harmony Board of Directors, we wish to extend our sincerest gratitude to the dedicated members of the Capital Area Congregation for prioritizing this holy work. May your ministry be blessed! Please join us in congratulating the Capital Area Congregation for their commitment to inclusion in our beloved denomination. Consider connecting with them via their Facebook Page to share any words of encouragement and gratitude. You may also consider making a donation directly to their congregation for their dedication to this holy work. Special thanks to Harmony Facilitator Linda Stanbridge for her support to the congregation throughout their participation in the program. We are encouraged by the growing number of congregations participating in our Welcoming & Affirming Program, and we look forward to sharing more good news like this! Capital Area joins a growing list of Welcoming & Affirming Congregations - click here to view the Affirming Ministries Map on our website.  To our members and supporters - The Nominating Committee and the Harmony Board of Directors are thrilled to share the following candidate profiles for the January 24-26, 2025 board election. We know you will be impressed by the caliber of individuals who have put their names forward - we certainly are! As a reminder, the next election will take place via email ballot between January 24 - 26, 2025. The following board positions are up for election:
You can review candidate profiles below: Only active members are eligible to participate in the governance of the organization. If you are not a member but would like to participate in this election, please click the button below to renew or to become a new member of Harmony. In accordance with Harmony’s bylaws, we are providing advanced notice to membership. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at [email protected]. In service,
Your Harmony Board of Directors  This Giving Tuesday, help Harmony open doors to full Queer/2SLGBTQIA+ (Queer) inclusion in Community of Christ! Your gift supports life-changing resources for congregations, empowering them to embrace Queer inclusion with love, authenticity, and integrity. Together, we can create affirming, welcoming communities around the world. Let’s reach $5,000! OUR MISSION Harmony provides advocacy, education, and resources for Queer voices in Community of Christ with a shared vision of full participation. Current Welcoming & Affirming Program Participant StatusClick to enlarge.   We are on a mission to ensure all members of the Queer/2SLGBTQIA+ Community can fully and safely participate at all levels of Community of Christ.
We accomplish this through our network of hundreds of committed members around the world and our trained facilitators who work with congregations to promote safe and affirming spaces. We'll be honest, we have a lot of work ahead of us. In order to accomplish our aggressive goal, we need financial stability. One of the best ways you can help is to become a recurring donor. This helps Harmony to anticipate future funding and plan more effectively. Here are some examples of how what may feel like a small monthly donation can add up to a bigger impact: ☕ A $5 monthly gift - about the cost of just one fancy coffee drink - turns into an annual donation of $60 capable of funding two annual membership scholarships! 🎉 A $10 monthly gift turns into an annual donation of $120 - about the cost of two celebration boxes distributed to congregations/ministries that complete the Welcoming & Affirming Program. 🎁 A $25 monthly gift turns into an annual donation of $300 - which can be turned into thousands of inclusive giveaways to youth and camps around the world. You get the point. If an ongoing gift just isn't in the budget for you - that's okay! You can make a donation anytime when the time is right. Thank you for considering - we couldn't do this work without you! Questions? Contact us at [email protected].  Happy (early) Pride!
We're thrilled to share Harmony's 2024 Pride design! As you can see, we were greatly inspired by Harvey Milk's words "Hope will never be silent." About the Campaign and Harmony Proceeds from Harmony's fourth annual Pride shirt campaign will be used to break down walls of division and misunderstanding surrounding issues of sexuality and gender identity in Community of Christ. Harmony works tirelessly to ensure Queer / 2SLGBTQIA+ persons can fully participate in Community of Christ at all levels of the church and in all areas without exception. To date, we've sold more than 1000 shirts, mugs, and other merchandise to individuals just like you all around the world. Place your order today, and consider shipping another directly to a friend or loved one who would really appreciate it. Questions? Contact us at [email protected]. Additional Pride Information and Resources Harmony has produced a lot of great Pride resources to help congregations put together a successful booth at their local Pride events. Visit https://www.harmony.lgbt/pride-resources.html to learn more. Other Important Details: All proceeds from merchandise sales will go toward Harmony's mission to provide advocacy, education, and resources to Queer voices in Community of Christ with a shared vision of full participation. Our vendor for this campaign is Bonfire, a t-shirt printing company based in the United States. Harmony has developed a design that can be printed on a variety of colors and styles such as t-shirts, tank tops, mugs, totes, hats, and a hoodie. Please see full details below: 👕 When you make a purchase, you are able to select the style of shirt. Mix and match - let your personality shine! ⌚ To take advantage of cheaper shipping and guaranteed delivery prior to Pride Month, we recommend placing your order as soon as possible. 📦 Shirts are shipped directly to purchasers after the campaign ends. 🧢 While Bonfire allows us to sell a variety of items (e.g. hats, shirts, tote bags, etc.), we are not able to sell items from differing campaigns in a single order. You are encouraged to place multiple orders, but shipping will apply separately to each new order. We recommend going in on orders with friends to spread the shipping costs out! 🧾 Purchases are not considered donations by the IRS. You will be given an opportunity to make a separate (optional) donation during the checkout process. Such a contribution is considered a donation and will be receipted for IRS purposes. Harmony is a registered non-profit in the United States only; therefore, only US tax receipts can be issued. The Harmony Board of Directors and Finance Committee are excited to announce the unanimous support for the Proposed 2024 Budget. Many of you raised insightful questions and comments. Your careful consideration of this budget document was energizing for the organization’s leaders, a tangible measurement of your commitment and support for Harmony’s mission and vision.
With the 2024 Budget now approved, we are excited to move forward with a financial document that truly visualizes our missional focus. Thank you to all those who participated in this vote. We appreciate your investment in and support of this great cause. 
Hello friends and supporters - Are you a Harmony member who is familiar with financial statements or is willing to learn? This is an opportunity to gain experience with financial statements in a fully affirming environment! We are seeking three volunteers to serve on the Financial Statement Review Committee for Harmony. This is only a one-year commitment, and the committee is expected to meet quarterly (four times a year) via Zoom. The purpose of the committee is to give the membership visibility and insight into the financial statements and financial reporting process, with opportunity to ask questions and make suggestions. If you are interested, please contact Harmony Treasurer Michele McGrath at [email protected].  Dear Harmony Members and Friends,
On behalf of the Harmony Board of Directors, I am thrilled to share the outcome of the 2023 board election with you. First, I would like to thank all who used their voice and cast their vote. Your continued support and dedication to Harmony’s mission give me a great deal of hope as I prepare to end my second term as president of the organization. Now, to the election results! For president, you’ve overwhelmingly shown your support for Molly Wilkins (she/her). Molly will join the board with a wealth of knowledge and a heart filled with passion for social justice issues. Molly works for the church in Southern California as a peace and justice minister for the Pacific Southwest International Mission Center. For secretary, you’ve chosen Julia Brookshaw (she/her). Julia lives and works in Ontario, Canada, as a registered social worker and is a lifelong member of Community of Christ. Julia’s love of people and commitment to their wellbeing makes her a perfect fit for Harmony’s Board of Directors. Both newly elected board members bring much needed skills and experiences to the leadership team, and we are so grateful to each of them for their willingness to serve. Molly and Julia will begin onboarding immediately and their first official board meeting in their new roles will take place in January 2024. Plans for a supportive transition have been established, and I am confident these two amazing individuals will work well with the remaining board members to continue this holy work. Should you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected]. With a grateful heart, Parker Johnson (he/him) Harmony President  To our members and supporters - As previously communicated, Harmony’s next Board of Directors election will take place via email ballot December 17 - 20, 2023. The following board positions are up for election:
Additionally, Harmony’s Chaplain Linda Stanbridge will be stepping down at the end of 2023. As a reminder, this is an appointed (voice-no-vote) position on the board and will be appointed by the newly elected president of the organization. Harmony’s Nominations Committee has identified and vetted several highly qualified individuals that will be presented for your consideration. We are thrilled at the high caliber candidates willing to serve as Harmony leaders. Only active members are eligible to participate in the governance of the organization. If you are not a member but would like to participate in this election, please click the button below to renew or to become a new member of Harmony. GET TO KNOW THE CANDIDATES Molly (Bagley) Wilkins (she/her/hers) Molly is seeking election to Harmony’s Board of Directors as President. Molly (Bagley) Wilkins is a dedicated advocate for inclusion and the creation of safe spaces for the queer community within her church as well as the world at large. Molly is an ordained Elder in Community of Christ. She proudly holds the position of Community Engagement Minister for Peace and Justice with the Pacific South West International Mission Center. Molly also serves as the Pastor at the Community of Christ congregation in Orange, California, where she works to create an environment in which any and every person who wishes to participate feels not only able to do so, but encouraged and free to be themselves without judgement. Molly has been a formal member of Harmony for almost 5 years, but has been an eager ally of the Queer Community for much longer. She has served as a Congregational Facilitator for Harmony’s Welcoming and Affirming Program since 2021. Previously in her life, there were scenarios in which she now knows she could have been a more supportive ally. These moments of reflection and growth have motivated her to always be striving to do better, as an individual as well as in her work as a pastor. She is honored to be up for the position of president and only hopes to further her advocacy for a community she deeply admires and respects.  Julia Brookshaw (she/her/hers) Julia is seeking election to Harmony’s Board of Directors as Secretary. Hi my name is Julia. I was born and raised in Stratford, Ontario, Canada, where I grew up attending church and church camps through Community of Christ. Church has always been a significant part of my life and has helped shape who I am today. I am a registered social worker. I currently work as an Adult Protective Service Worker providing case management to adults with developmental disabilities. I am a passionate advocate for my clients whose social locations and identities vary greatly. In my work and everyday life, I utilize an anti oppressive and intersectional lens. It would be a privilege to be a part of Harmony’s Board of Directors!  Emily Hill (she/they) Emily is seeking election to Harmony’s Board of Directors as Secretary. I am 23 years old, and a recent Graceland University graduate. I am from Longview, Washington and am ordained in the Office of Priest in Community of Christ. I have not been a member of Harmony for long; however, that hasn't kept me from participating as much as I can. Please hold these individuals and the rest of the board in your prayers as we consider the organization’s future leadership. Ballots will be distributed via email to current members of the organization on December 17, and the election will officially close on December 20.
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at [email protected]. Onward! Your Harmony Board of Directors |
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