MIND received the following open letter in response to the Call to declare “We Are!” Open letter to the people of The United Methodist Church from the manager of a large private Facebook group for open minded Christian moms of LGBT kids. The members of the group were very encouraged by this, and sent the following response addressed to the clergy and candidates who signed the Open Letter.
May 9, 2016
Dear Clergy and Clergy Candidates in the New York Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church who signed the open letter to the people of The United Methodist Church.
We are a part of a large private Facebook group of more than 1,000 Christian moms of LGBT kids.
Our group was created for Christian moms who have LGBT kids and want to develop and maintain healthy, loving, authentic relationships with their LGBT kids.
More than 250 of us are signing this letter because we want you to know that we support your brave stand for grace and love, and commend you for seeking to follow Christ’s example.
Many of us have left our local faith communities because we no longer found them to be safe places for our family. We understand how difficult it can be to make the kind of public statement you have made. We are very encouraged by your actions and want you to know that we are praying that God will protect, strengthen, guide and bless you.
We believe that your call for the church to fully include, love and accept ALL God’s children truly reflects the idea that Paul put forth in Galatians 5:6 when he wrote “the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” We are forever hopeful that others will follow your wonderful example of faith expressing itself through love.
May God bless you all abundantly!
Abby De Fiesta Cortez
Adele Berardi
Alise D Chaffins
Alison Defrese
Allena Brown
Amanda Curtis Dwyer
Amy Hansley Moorehead
Angie Laws
Angie Silver
Anita Jewell Carter Cockrum
Ann Zweckbronner
Barb Cressy
Becky Cantrall
Beth Breems
Bethany Kirwen
Betsy Bruce Henning
Billie Jo Marrs
Bonnie Miranda
Bridget Murphy
Carie Poynor Downes
Carla Iturregui Picasso-Brown
Carla Short Spivey
Carol Beth Wiggins Baswell
Carol Fuss Reed
Carol Mason
Carole Bass
Caroline Williams Joyce
Carolyn Cage Johnston
Carrie Garske Shank
Cassy Taylor Campos
Cathleen Frantzen Schaber
Chasity Davis
Cheri Nill
Cheri Simpson
Cherie Walker
Cheryl Bakkila-Perkins
Chris Behne
Christie Hoos
Cindy Morgan
Colleen Kane
Crista Mason
Cyndi Silva Raugh
Cynthia Corsetti
Dana Huntington-Smith
Danette Mohring
Dawn Bellotti
Dawn Bennett Jones
Dawn Pulley Ervin
Deb Gallagher
Debbie McCullough Hayhurst
Debbie Wasielewski Tavarez
Debby McCrary
Debi Jackson
Debi Tucker Boland
Deborah Carlyle Enman
Dee-Ann Bodenheimer-Enslin
Deena Corwin Pfahler
Deleise Carper Brewer
Denise Ramirez-Tatum
Denise Trainer Webb
Derry Cronin Gleason
Diana Dermit McCarthy
Diane Blevins Smith
Diane Simms
Donna Holmes
Dorene Rose
Doris Wright
Elaine Falk Parker
Frances Lavender
Gena Rogers
Genell Brown
Georgi Persons
Gerry Phifer
Greta Medrano
Gretchen Doornek Mueller
Heather Clevenger
Heather Gee-Thomas
Heather McCracken Bottoms
Irene Gilliland
Jacqueline Rutledge
Jamie Hovland
Jammie Risley Hahn
Jan Pezant
Jan Roberts
Jan Wightman
Jane Clementi
Jane Moody
Janet Phillips
Janine Sarah Moore
Jaron Terry
Jennie Young-Walczyk
Jennifer Dunnam Stringfellow
Jennifer Hancock
Jennifer Schaffner Burkhardt
Jennifer Seeger
Jennifer Stake White
Jerri Surles Collins
Jessica Fahlgren
Jill Spicer
Joani Lea Jack
JoAnn Forsberg
Joann Thompson
Jody Miller Vanderzell
Joy Denton
Judie Brown Gordon
Judith K Volkar
Judy Witzel Harper
Julia Lunardo
Julie Bean Bisgaard
Julie Elliott O’Neal
Julie Greene
Julie Kennedy Eaton
Karen Adams
Karen Decker Kusserow
Kathi Nicholson
Kathryn Zentner
Kathy Green
Kathy Reim
Kathy Renne Post
Katie Jenifer
Katie Willhite Brooks
Katrina Black
Kay Kelley
Kay Otting
Kay Whistler
Kelli Henry Alamond
Kelli Lewis Decker
Kelly Beane
Kelly Rae Holiday
Kim Freeman Weill
Kim Kendall
Kim Lue
Kim McMahon
Kim Sonntag
Kimberly Jones
Kimberlyn Graham
Kori Pavkov
Kristi Kodos
Kristina Gromm
Kyle Jump
Lannette Sargent
Laura Beth Taylor
Laura Sparks Turner
LeAnn Fenner
Lenora Lea Gill
Lesa Edwards-Schepers
Lesley Davis
Leslie Jones Webster
Linda Baker
Linda Ling
Linda Rooney
Linda Slater Tow
Linda Wiebe Dickinson
Linda York O’Connell
Lisa Bray
Lisa Giordano Bontemps
Lisa Golden Dugger
Lisa MacGregor
Lisa Maniscalco Hildebrand
Lisa McCrystal Holley
Lisa Osborne
Lisa Reinhart Hard
Lisa Schramm
Lisa Scott Wofford
Liz Dyer
Loretta Davila
Lori Black Manning
Lori Bradley-Lewis
Lori Love-Wise
Lori Rogers
Lynette Joy
Lynn Kato
Madai Girard
Maleea Shaver Castillo
Mally Shell Hatch
Marcie Castiglione
Margi Wilmans
Margie Candler
Maria Breeden
Marianne Minier Walker
Marjorie Rudolph
Marlene Hoefer Brummond
Marlene Lund
Marsha Ladd
Martha Maust
Marti Parsons Grahl
Mary Estelle Montgomery
Mary Jo Whitley
Mary Kay Weil
Melea Broekers
Meredith Webster Indermaur
Merryl Dietz
Michele Freemyer Grabbe
Michele Manuel Fuselier
Michelle Bradshaw McComb
Millie Donnell
Miriam Pendley
Monica Maday
Monica-Niki Elenbaas
Morven Roberts Baker
Nancy Barron Booher
Nancy MacDonald
Nancy Thompson Flikkema
Nancy Villegas
Nancy Wance
Nichole Byers
Nicole Havlen Hair
Paige Gant
Pam Ensinger Antos
Pam Swendig
Patricia Sjöberg
Patti Atwood Grossman
Patti Mercer Churner
Patti Stratton
Paula Unrau
Pauline Carlson
Pauline Daly
Phyllis Barber
Rachel Drouillard
Rachel Sargent
Rebecca Hedges Lyon
Regina Pitts Woods
Renee Utley Bennink
Rev. Mally Baum
Rhonda Hartzell
Rita Daruvala
Rob Ullinger
Robin Gowan
Robinette Nacca-Cooke
Ʀosaııie Ĺane
Rose Stucchio
Roseanne M. Shannon
Rosemarie Varrichio Campbell
Roxanna Villars Gambrell
S. Anderson
Sandra Cathers
Sandra Van Dyne
Sandy Collins
Sandy McClure
Sara Cunningham
Sara Hoel May
Sarah Mills Holbrook
Sarah Thacker-Estell
Shannon Eaton
Shay Bisbee Haude
Shelley McBride
Sheri Martin
Sondy Eklund
Stacey Frazier
Stacey Jackson Baeumler
Stacy Gouge Drake
Sue Tresatti
Susan Berland
Susan Cloys Seaman
Susan Foss Naranjo-Stultz
Susan Hammontree Fortney
Susan Ledbetter
Susan Metcalf
Susan Wardzinski
Susy Rowe Barnhill
Suzanne Lambert Mann
Tamara Totoro Dick
Tammi Perkins
Tammy Flowers Mejdrich
Tammy Watson
Tammy Wenzinger
Tammy Wylie Barnes
Tamra Jennings
Tana Lightbown Hendricks
Teresa Medlin Poston
Teresa Parker
Teri Stueland Kay
Terri Cook
Terri Nolt
Terri Schempf
Theresa Moore Martinez
Tonda Campbell Hoyt
Tracie Sells
Tricia Johns Baumann
Tricia Kaufman- Waddell
Tricia Willard
Vicki Kemp Whorton
Vicki Westphal
Vicky Barnes
Zaneta Salde Encarnacion
Zenia Robertson
Serendipitydodah for Moms is a private Facebook group created as an extension of the Serendipitydodah blog. The group is secret so that only members can find it or see what is posted in the group. The group was started in June 2014 and presently has more than 1,000 members. The space was specifically created for open minded Christian moms who have LGBT kids and want to develop and maintain healthy, loving, authentic relationships with their LGBT kids. In addition to providing a space for members to share info and support one another, a special guest is added each month for a few days. The guests include authors, pastors, LGBT people, bloggers and public speakers.
For more info email lizdyer55@gmail.com