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What Has the O&A Program Been up to This Summer?

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What Has the O&A Program Been up to This Summer?

Mark Johnston, Executive Director of GLAD's Open & Affirming Ministry Program, just about finished setting up the O&A table at the Upper Midwest Regional Gathering.
Mark Johnston, Executive Director of GLAD’s Open & Affirming Ministry Program, just about finished setting up the O&A table at the Upper Midwest Regional Gathering.
Mark Johnston presenting a workshop on Welcoming Openly at the Upper Midwest Regional Gathering.
Mark Johnston presenting a workshop on Welcoming Openly at the Upper Midwest Regional Gathering.

It’s important to spend some time in the summer recharging batteries and reconnecting with our lives while the weather is good and many of us have some time off from our work. That doesn’t mean that welcome takes a holiday. In fact, summer has been a great time to be moving forward our journey towards a church where all are welcome!

Just to recap the past couple of months:

  • In May Brite Divinity School in Fort Worth, TX, hosted a Building an Inclusive Church Training. These trainings are for church leaders who want to know the tools and process recommended for designing a grace-filled and community building Open & Affirming process for any church. Churches from across the street and as far away as Oklahoma and Louisiana participated. Mark Johnston, Executive Director of GLAD’s Open & Affirming Ministry Program, along with Debra Peevey, Disciples pastor and Lead Ecumenical Trainer for the Institute for Welcoming Resources were on hand to provide the training.
  • In June, Mark attended the Virginia Regional Assembly and offered a workshop on the importance of an Open & Affirming welcome.
  • GLAD was also present at Disciples Men’s Sessions in Ft. Worth in July with a table. This event brought men together from across the country and Mark reports that many good conversations were had.
  • July also brought the South Central Kansas District meeting. Mark was on hand to deliver the keynote speech to the assembly and provided a workshop on the importance of an Open & Affirming welcome. A large majority of those attending the meeting came to the workshop.
  • In August, Open & Affirming Ministry made an appearance at the Upper Midwest regional gathering in Iowa where Mark again provided a workshop on the importance of an Open & Affirming welcome.

In the upcoming months much is planned. The Disciples Seminary Foundation has asked for a shortened version of the Building an Inclusive Church Training to be offered to students and local clergy. These will happen in September in Southern California and in November in Northern California.

Just announced is a Building an Inclusive Church Training to be hosted at Carthage Christian Church in Cincinnati, OH, for December 9-10. Mark Johnston well be there to assist with the training. There will also be a Building an Inclusive Church Training offered by our ecumenical partners in Phoenix, AZ, Oct 21-22.

At the Disciples Seminary Foundation in Claremont, CA, Mark Johnston will also be offering a mini-Building an Inclusive Church Training on September 22. Find more information here.