 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 info@harmony.lgbt. Onward! Your Harmony Board of Directors
0 Comments
 Hello Harmony members and friends -
It's time to begin thinking about fall elections! The following elected seats are being vacated on December 31 following a two-year term:
Please view bylaws for full board descriptions. Are you interested in serving as a member of the Board of Directors? APPLY TO JOIN THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS You must be a current dues-paying member of Harmony in order to run for office. If you are not a member and would like to submit your name, please ensure you have officially joined by clicking the button below before sharing your interest. Please view our bylaws to learn more about these roles and their responsibilities. As this is a working board, candidates can expect to work ~10 hours/week on official Harmony business. Submissions will be accepted until October 31 at 5 p.m. Central.  Hello Harmony members and supporters - We are thrilled to share that the recent proposed bylaw revisions were unanimously approved by the participating membership. You can view our newly revised bylaws by clicking the button below. In the spirit of transparency, we are sharing the following section of the organization's bylaws that governs bylaw amendments. BYLAW AMENDMENT PROCEDURE 
 We are thrilled to share that there is another affirming congregation in the world.
The Juan Tabo Congregation, located in the Rio Grande 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, August 20, with the official adoption of the following welcome statement. Juan Tabo Community of Christ is an Open and Affirming congregation. We warmly welcome diversity. We invite all people to worship and grow with us in our journey with Christ. This includes all sexual orientations and gender identities in the full life of this community. On behalf of the Harmony Board of Directors, we wish to extend our sincerest gratitude to the dedicated members of the Juan Tabo Congregation for prioritizing this holy work. May your ministry be blessed! Please join us in congratulating the Juan Tabo Congregation for their commitment to inclusion in our beloved denomination. Consider contacting Humberto Tinsman to share any words of encouragement and gratitude. You may also consider making a donation directly to Juan Tabo (contact Humberto for details) for their dedication to this holy work. In the coming months, the Juan Tabo Congregation will host a celebration service to commemorate this major milestone. Stay tuned! 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! Juan Tabo joins a growing list of Welcoming & Affirming Congregations - click here to view the Affirming Ministries Map on our website.  Harmony is excited to announce the launch of its newest website feature: our 'Find an Affirming Ministry' Tool is now live on the website and ready to help you locate an affirming group near you!
With 26 groups in three countries meeting in-person and online, there has never been a better time to explore our church's growing affirming presence. Click the button below to take this new tool for a spin! Congratulations to the Vancouver, BC Congregation - Our Newest Welcoming & Affirming Congregation8/9/2023  Hello Harmony members and supporters -
We are thrilled to share that there is another affirming congregation in the world. The Vancouver, BC Congregation, located in Canada West Mission Centre, is the newest Welcoming and Affirming member congregation in Community of Christ! Vancouver successfully completed Harmony's Welcoming & Affirming Program with the official adoption of the following welcome statement. Here is their statement: "Community of Christ welcomes all people as they are. We embrace each person as their fully human, perfectly imperfect, authentic self. We believe each of us, in our diversity, embodies the spirit of God, and that all of us are equally deserving of unconditional love and acceptance. We acknowledge the hurt we have caused to those who were not included, and actively seek to reconcile and learn more ways to uphold the worth of all persons. With grace and open hearts, we welcome people who are LGBTQIA+, Indigenous, those with diverse abilities or beliefs, all races, cultural backgrounds, ages, and sizes. Wherever you are on your journey, when you enter this sacred space know that you are welcome here. You are loved!" On behalf of the Harmony Board of Directors, we wish to extend our sincerest gratitude to the dedicated members of the Vancouver Congregation for prioritizing this holy work. May your ministry be blessed! Please join us in congratulating the Vancouver Congregation for their commitment to inclusion in our beloved denomination. Consider contacting Sky Lee to share any words of encouragement and gratitude. You may also consider making a donation directly to Vancouver (contact Sky for details) for their dedication to this holy work. In the coming months, the Vancouver Congregation will host a celebration service to commemorate this major milestone. Stay tuned! 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! With excitement and hope, Your Harmony Board of Directors  Hello Harmony members and supporters -
Right on the heels of Sunday's announcement about a new Welcoming & Affirming member congregation in Michigan, we have another reason to celebrate! Reaching Out, located in Canada East Mission Centre, is the newest Welcoming and Affirming member congregation in Community of Christ! Reaching Out successfully completed Harmony's Welcoming & Affirming Program with the official adoption of the following welcome statement. Here is their statement: "Reaching Out welcomes all persons (including the 2SLGBTQIA+ Community) in the life and ministries of Community of Christ. We affirm that each individual is a beloved child of God. By following the example of Jesus Christ, we commit ourselves to breaking down walls that divide and building a safe place where everyone is loved and welcomed to the table." On behalf of the Harmony Board of Directors, we wish to extend our sincerest gratitude to the dedicated members of Reaching Out for prioritizing this holy work. May your ministry be blessed! Please join us in congratulating Reaching Out for their commitment to inclusion in our beloved denomination. Consider contacting Bonnie Avery to share any words of encouragement and gratitude. You may also consider making a donation directly to Reaching Out (contact Bonnie for details) for their dedication to this holy work. In the coming months, Reaching Out will host a celebration service to commemorate this major milestone. Stay tuned! We are encouraged by the number of congregations currently participating in our Welcoming & Affirming Program, and we look forward to sharing more good news like this! With excitement and hope, Your Harmony Board of Directors  Hello Harmony members and supporters - We are delighted to welcome Community of Christ Riverview, a congregation located in the Michigan Mission Center, as our newest Harmony Welcoming & Affirming member congregation. 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈✝️ Here is their statement: "We are a welcoming community centered on the worth of all persons. Responding to God’s call, we affirm and include LGBTQIA2S+ persons at every level of our congregation. We recognize each person as whole, sacred, and unconditionally loved by God. You are welcome here, and we are blessed by your presence." - Adopted on Sunday, July 23, 2023 On behalf of the Harmony Board of Directors, we wish to extend our sincerest gratitude to the dedicated members of the Riverview Congregation for prioritizing this holy work. May your ministry be blessed and truly provide for the needs of God's people wherever they may be on their journey. Please join us in congratulating Beyond the Horizon for their commitment to inclusion in our beloved denomination. Consider contacting Linda Stanbridge (Harmony Facilitator) to share any words of encouragement and gratitude. You may also consider making a donation to the Riverview Congregation (contact Linda for details) for their dedication to this holy work. In the coming months, Riverview Congregation will host a celebration service to commemorate this major milestone. Stay tuned! NOTE: Congregations in the Michigan Mission Center interested in the Harmony Welcoming and Affirming program should contact Linda (she/her) at linda@cofchristmi.org to learn more. We are encouraged by the number of congregations currently participating in our Welcoming & Affirming Program, and we look forward to sharing more good news like this! With excitement and hope, Your Harmony Board of Directors  Embracing Liberation and Equality in Christ
Harmony stands proudly as a nonprofit advocating for Queer diversity in the Community of Christ denomination. Today, we join with those across the United States in celebrating Juneteenth, a historic milestone in the journey toward freedom and equality for all. Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation of African Americans from the bonds of slavery in the United States. It represents the triumph of resilience, the power of unity, and the significance of breaking chains that bind. As an organization rooted in Christ's teachings of love, justice, and inclusion, we recognize the profound significance of this day and honor the strength and perseverance of those who have fought for liberation throughout history. We also take this opportunity to reflect on the intersectionality of liberation struggles experienced by those on the margins. Our faith compels us to dismantle systems of oppression, challenge discriminatory ideologies, and create a world where every person can thrive in their authentic identity. As followers of Christ, we believe that love knows no bounds and that every individual is made in the image of God, deserving of dignity, respect, and full inclusion. Juneteenth serves as a reminder that the journey toward freedom and equality is ongoing, and that we must actively work toward dismantling systems of discrimination, both within society and the church. May this Juneteenth be a time of deep reflection, celebration, and action. Let us recommit ourselves to the pursuit of justice and equality, and may the Spirit guide us in building a world where all are free to be their authentic selves and experience the fullness of God's love without fear of hate, judgment, or persecution. Together, we celebrate the freedom found in Christ, the liberation of Juneteenth, and the beautiful diversity within the Queer/2SLGBTQIA+ Community. We will continue to work tirelessly, hand in hand, to advocate for a more inclusive society where all are welcomed, celebrated, and affirmed. Happy Juneteenth! In solidarity, Your Harmony Board of Directors  Several members and friends of Harmony have graciously donated their time to make a beautiful quilt for Pride this year. The pattern designer, Rebecca Mae (www.rebeccamaedesigns.com), has generously agreed to allow us to use some of the photos of the design from her website as part of this silent auction. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who made this possible! This one-of-a-kind creation celebrates diversity, inclusivity, and the power of unity, all beautifully stitched together with passion, love, and care. This quilt showcases a kaleidoscope of brilliant colors, each representing a unique aspect of the Queer/2SLGBTQIA+ (Queer) Community. From bold, vibrant reds that symbolize love and passion to calming blues that evoke a sense of serenity and harmony, every shade blends together, creating an awe-inspiring display of unity. Measurements: 72" x 84" (Lap/Twin Quilt) All proceeds from this silent auction will directly support Harmony, allowing us to continue the vital work of creating a more inclusive and affirming future for Community of Christ around the world. Don't miss your chance to own this symbol of love and inclusivity! Let your bid be a voice for equality, acceptance, and pride, and let the quilt become a cherished symbol of hope and celebration in your life. Place your bid and let the colors of the rainbow dance in your heart! 🌈✨ Bidding InstructionsThe bidding process includes 2 steps. Start by clicking the "Start Bidding" button below. You'll submit your contact information to us (so we can send you the quilt if you win!), after doing so you'll see a message directing you to the bidding form. Good luck!
|
Archives
August 2023
Categories |
RSS Feed
YOU ARE LOVED!
addressP.O. Box 16973
Kansas City, MO 64133 |
Telephone+1 816-368-5773
|
|
We rely on your generous contributions to fulfill our mission. Please consider donating at the link below.
|