RECONCILING CONGREGATION PROGRAM:
HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION
The beginning of Reconciling Congregation Program (RCP) happened during
1982-1983. Some members of Affirmation, an organization of United Methodists
for lesbian, gay, and bisexual concerns, began to talk about forming a
grass-roots movement for change on lesbian and gay issues in The United
Methodist Church. The Presbyterian Church had started a movement called the
More Light Program, which was seen as a model to follow. At the meeting of
Affirmation in Spring, 1983, a working group was assigned to develop a plan.
In Fall, 1983, Affirmation developed a new plan called the Reconciling
Congregation Program. Mark Bowman and Beth Richardson agreed to serve as
volunteer co- coordinators of the program. During the next months, the first
brochure and a paper, "How to Become a Reconciling Congregation," were
developed.
RCP was publicly launched during the General Conference of The United
Methodist Church that was held in May, 1984. The morning after the
conference voted to deny ordination/appointment to so-called "self-avowed
practicing homosexuals," several friends of Affirmation gathered outside the
conference meeting hall to pass out Reconciling Congregation Program
brochures to delegates and visitors. Shortly after General Conference was
over, two congregations voted to become Reconciling
Congregations--Washington Square United Methodist Church in New York City
and Wesley United Methodist Church in Fresno, CA.
Churches in
Stockton that are open and accepting to the GLBT community:
First Unitarian Universalist Church
2737 Pacific Avenue Stockton 95204 466-7743 Rev. Laura Horton-Ludwig
www.stocktonuu.org
office@stocktonuu.org Sunday 10:30 a.m.
Valley Ministries Metropolitan Community Church
4118 Corodado Avenue Stockton 464-5244 Rev. Terri Miller
www.valleyministries.com
valleyministries@valleyministries.com
Sunday 10:30 a.m.
Central United Methodist Church
3700 Pacific Avenue Stockton 95204 466-5046 Rev. Dave Bennett
www.StocktonCentralUMC.org Sunday 8:30
& 11:00 a.m.
First Christian Church
1235 William Moss Blvd. Stockton 982-1212 Rev. Steve Kindle
www.fccstockton.org Sunday 10:30 a.m.
St. Mark's United Methodist Church
306 E. Clay Stockton 463-7071 Rev. Jola Bortner
Sunday 11:00 a.m. English 5:00 p.m. Spanish
Temple Israel
5105 N. El Dorado Stockton 95207 477-9306 Rabbi Jason Gwasdoff
www.stockton.urj
templeisraelstkn@yahoo.com Friday 8:00
p.m.
Way of Christ Community
meets at Elkhorn School, 10505 N. Davis Rd. 95209
Worship 9:30 a.m. Sunday
(209) 337-5443
e-mail
WayofChristCC@aol.com
website:
www.the-way.info
Pastor: Amy Jo Mattheis
It's always wise to double-check worship times, as they are subject to
change.
For changes, additions to this list, feel free to contact Becky at
948-6148 or
revreb@juno.com.
Central United Methodist
Church