Fabulous, Fierce & Sacred: a gathering of Anabaptist lgbtqa* community

Fabulous, Fierce and Sacred: a gathering of Anabaptist lgbtqa* community

Join us November 21st at 3pm to November 23rd at 12:30pm, 2014 at the Cenacle Retreat and Conference Center in the heart of Chicago, Illinois.

Join BMC, Pink Menno and Inclusive Pastors groups, queer folks and allies, pastors and activists for a vibrant weekend of fun, fellowship, and reflection on the combined forces that make up “the movement.” This gathering will offer opportunities for retreat and renewal, planning and politics, and/or simply being held in the encompassing space of welcoming and inclusive community. Come worship, workshop, sing, share stories, dance and dream with us in Chicago!

We're excited to share the many activities that will be happening at this gathering! At specific times during the gathering weekend, we will offer workshops on a number of topics. Our current list of developing workshops includes: social change theory and Mennonite Church USA; the intersections of our identities; becoming better allies; queering our theology; Mennonite Church USA polity and strategies for analyzing and resisting; and the lived experience of Transgender people.

We are seeking funding for scholarships so no one is turned away. If you are able, please register as a Connector or Sustainer (registrations with a built-in donation) or give a donation to someone else's registration. Please email fabulousfiercesacred@gmail.com if you would like to make a request for registration assistance from our Accessibility Fund. There may also be the possibility of local family hosts in Chicago for those requesting assistance. If you are requesting assistance by emailing fabulousfiercesacred@gmail.com, please do not continue with online registration at this time—we'll be in contact with you shortly.

If you are staying overnight on-site at the Cenacle Retreat and Conference Center, please be aware that bathrooms are shared, not private. The Conference Center has shared bathrooms available for female-identifying folks and male-identifying folks. If you are staying on-site, identify as Transgender and would like to request a private bathroom, please check the relevant box on the second page of registration. Thank you for your understanding as we do our best to accommodate everyone.

For directions and ground transportation information for the Cenacle Retreat and Conference Center, please visit the Center's Directions Page or our suggestions here. There are 30 or so free on-site parking spaces for attendees and other paid parking is available nearby.

Questions? Suggestions? Email fabulousfiercesacred@gmail.com or visit our Facebook page.

*We recognize within this label people who are asexual, intersex, two spirit, genderqueer or gender non-conforming—as well as lesbian, gay, bi/pansexual, transgender, queer/questioning. In naming this we also recognize the limitations of language to capture the complexity of our lived experience and intersections of identities.

Preliminary Gathering Schedule*

Friday, November 21

3:00 - 8:30 pm Registration

6:00 pm Dinner

7:30 pm Opening Worship

9: 30 pm Hymn Sing

Saturday, November 22

8:00 am Breakfast

9:00 am - noon Workshops

Ruptures and Raptures: Social Change and Mennonite Church USA (Carol Wise)

We in a critical period within MCUSA as conferences struggle, more and more people come out, and congregations and pastors engage in ecclesiastical disobedience. How did we get to this moment? What are the opportunities and the challenges before us? What resources and strengths do we collectively possess? What are the possibilities for the future? As we work to create change within MCUSA, social change theories offer helpful tools in understanding what is happening in our movement, where we want to go, and how we might most efficiently and faithfully get there. This workshop will provide an opportunity to explore some social change theories and consider their implications for this moment in history.

So You Want to Be a Straight Ally? (Kiva Nice-Webb)

According to Webster's dictionary, the word "ally" is a verb, not a noun. This workshop explores what it means to ally oneself with LGBTQA persons – a lifelong journey and lots of hard (but rewarding!) work. Anyone seeking to become better informed and more supportive allies with LGBTQA identified persons is welcome. Through lecture, discussion, and story-telling, we will: learn basic terminology and where to find more information; examine systems of oppression and privilege; reflect on the stages of the journey of becoming allied with; explore forming communities of support and accountability. Bring questions, a willingness to learn and reflect, and your sense of humor!

Queering Our Theology: An Interactive Workshop on What Sexuality Can Offer Faith (Mark Rupp, Jason Frey, Carol Rose)

Queer theology transgresses the boundaries traditionally placed around the sacred. When we queer theology, we challenge norms and binaries and re-read texts and traditions to recover a God of liberation, inclusion and radical love. How does queer sexuality and identity impact and intersect with theology? What unique gifts and perspectives might we offer by living with integrity in these intersections? What does reconciliation mean when faith and sexuality seem to be at odds? Which faith stories take on new life when seen through queer eyes? In this workshop, a panel will do queer theology by exploring specific texts, and then participants will be invited to respond in small group conversations as we queer our theology together.

Mennonite Church USA Polity: Naming and Resisting the Powers That Be (Stephanie Krehbiel)

Denominational "polity" has been a contentious and confusing topic in the movement for inclusion. This workshop will explain our Mennonite polity and the roles of the Executive Board, denominational agencies, conferences and congregations. Using the Purposeful Plan and other documents as case studies, assumptions will be unveiled and locations of harm and incongruity will be identified. The workshop will conclude with a conversation about how to name and resist oppressive actions from the official powers of the denomination.

Intersectionality: Learning to share the struggle (Regina Shands Stoltzfus)

Oppression is an intricate web that draws upon many aspects of our social identities, and whether based in sexual orientation, gender, race or class, no system of oppression can be undone alone. This workshop will explore the power we have when we come together across various movements to work for change. We will examine several moments in history that reveal clues to sustainable transformation today, and we will consider how to do this individual and collective work in our own social locations.

And more!

12:30 pm Lunch

2:00 pm - 6:00 pm Storytelling and Caucus Groups

6:00 pm Dinner

7:30 pm Worship

10:00 pmLate Night Fun, Off-Site

Sunday, November 23

7:15 am Early Morning Contemplative Prayer

8:30 am Strategy Sessions

9:30 am Brunch

11:15 am -12:45 pm Closing Worship

In addition to the many scheduled activities, informal gathering space will be available throughout the weekend.

* This schedule is subject to changes.

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