It's Time to Stand Up

Affirmation
Ken Rowe
May 5, 2004

Thursday morning history will be made. The General Conference as a body had a chance to make history earlier this week to truly be a church of Open Hearts, Open Minds and Open Doors. That chance was lost. But Thursday morning after worship you are invited to join our friends and allies as members of Affirmation, RMN and MFSA are joined by Soulforce to circle the bar of the General Conference. It will be a chance to allow the delegates who don't know our faces and our stories, to look us in the eye, to voice, to witness to the Holy Spirit in our lives.

We invite you to Stand Up with us. If you feel so called, we also invite you Stand Up and join the Everflowing Stream of Witnesses who will be encircling the conference floor. At the end of the 15 minutes, you are also invited to make a statement by coming out of the conference session and joining in a Soulforce Rally. The rally will be 20-30 minutes in a designated area just outside the West Entrance of the Convention Center.

Delegates, Bishops, Staff and Visitors are encouraged to join in the Everflowing Stream of Justice and Love. It is your decision to return to your chairs or bleachers at the end of the 15 or join Soul Force outside for the brief rally. If at any time you need to return to your seat, please feel free to do so, or find a place to Stand Up in solidarity.

This demonstration is not a time for civil arrests or violating church rules. It is a time to Stand Up and deliver the clear message that we will not still for violations of baptismal vows and we will continue to create a Justice Loving church.

*Ken Rowe, Affirmation co-spokesperson