ANNUAL REPORT for 2008

REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT 2009 
Pr. Keith G. Banwart, Jr.

Grace, mercy and peace be yours from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

2009 has been an exciting year of change for Lutherans Concerned/Los Angeles! Actually, our report begins late in 2008 with our last Annual Meeting.

LCNA Director Emily Eastwood was present with us as Hollywood Lutheran Church in Hollywood graciously agreed to host our 2008 Annual Meeting. Emily talked about the new “Reconciling Lutherans” program and spoke to us about the shift from a “safe harbor” sort of ministry to an advocacy and outreach sort of ministry that LC is in the midst of as well as prepping us all for the 2009 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).

The Voting Members present at the Annual Meeting elected the following officers: Pr. Keith Banwart (Convener); Pr. James Boline (Program Coordinator); Pr. Daniel Hooper (Publicity Director); Curt Engeland (Treasurer); Rick Eisenlord (Newsletter Editor); along with two advisory members (Pr. Susan Wolfe-Devol and James Tyler). After an initial look at proposed Revised Bylaws, the members voted that the proposed bylaws be given one more revision for the purpose of simplification and that they be brought to the 2009 Annual Meeting for final approval.

During the course of the past year, the Steering Committee set about on many projects, including concluding the revision of the proposed Revised Bylaws. The Steering Committee voted to use classifications from the proposed Revised Bylaws on an Interim Basis as had the ELCA when unofficially adopting the term “Presiding Bishop” prior to amending its governing documents. Thus, since the beginning of 2009, the Steering Committee has functioned as the “Executive Committee” (a classification amended to read “Board of Directors” in keeping with California legal statute in the final draft of the proposed Revised Bylaws) and began to use the officer classifications listed in the Leadership Roster contained within this annual report.

The Executive Committee awarded multiple grants during 2009, including grants to/for: Hollywood Remembers; Goodsoil; Erase Hate; etc. and agreed that Special Congregational Programs should appear as a line item in the 2010 Budget. The Executive Committee also had the joy of receiving a new congregation onto our “Reconciling in Christ” (RIC) roster, bringing the total number of congregations in the Southwest California Synod (an RIC Synod) to 15. The news was announced at a special “Ally Appreciation Dinner” in Manhattan Beach.

The primary focus of the Committee’s work was 2009 Los Angeles GLBT Pride (Christopher Street West) which occurred just after our annual “Hospitality Suite” function at Synod Assembly (courtesy of Bp. & Ms. Paul and Shirley Egertson). For the first time ever, both the current and immediate past Bishops of the Southwest California Synod ELCA participated in our Pride Eucharist and rode in the Gay Pride Parade. The estimated audience on the street was some 400,000 with another 600,000+ watching on local cable access. Both Bishops (as well as Ms. Shirley Egertson) also visited our booth inside the pride festival which featured the theme “Saints of God” and focused on the great heroes of the Civil Rights movement who have advocated Civil Rights for all (as well as Ms. Tammy Faye Baker). This focus was chosen as appropriate given the current status of the denial of marriage to GLBT couples since the passage of Proposition 8 in late 2008.

Two months later, the Churchwide Assembly of the ELCA was held in Minneapolis where, after years of hard work, four proposals (and a Social Statement) were approved which have now paved the way for partnered GLBT rostered leaders to be able to serve openly in the ELCA. As of our Annual Meeting we still await seeing just what the rules and procedures for that service will look like (the Church Council is expected to act in Autumn 2009 or Spring 2010).

As we prepare for our Annual Meeting 2009 let us each uphold and support one another and pray for our ongoing ministry together. As Secretary of the Southwest California Synod of the ELCA it is my privilege to officially bring greetings to the Annual Meeting from Bp. Dean Nelson who will not be able to attend the Annual Meeting but who is very much keeping our gathering in prayer this day. May God continue to bless and keep us and prosper this ministry that all might know God’s all-embracing love. 

Soli Deo Gloria,
The Rev. Pr. K. G. Banwart, Jr.   +   16 Pentecost 2009

ANNUAL REPORT for 2006--2007

In the last 12 months, the Los Angeles Chapter of Lutherans Concerned has:

• Launched this website, www.lutheranslove.org.
• Hosted a major hospitality event May 31, 2007 during the Southwest California Synod Assembly in Thousand Oaks; and hosted LC/NA's Executive Director Emily Eastwood for a Reconciling in Christ workshop.
• Held eleven monthly Eucharist worship services at potluck dinners. (December is omitted an nually because of the crush of other holiday-related events).
• Participated in the events of Christopher Street West Pride Parade and Festival in West Hollywood, including:
  • A joint Lutheran-Episcopal "Street Eucharist" before the Sunday morning parade on June 10, 2007.
  • Join in a parade unit with walkers and riders from numerous local RIC congregations, behind the theme banner "Lutherans Love."
  • With the help of several RIC congregations, co-hosted a triple information and hospitality booth during the CSW Festival under the title "My Big Fat Gay Church Wedding" on June 9-10, 2007 in which we photographed 350 couples, gave away wedding cake and sparkling cider, and spoke with more than 800 people.
• Approved a $5,000 grant to Lutheran Lesbian and Gay Ministries.
• Continued an annual mission support grant to Hollywood Lutheran Church, which hosts all regular Chapter events and Steering Commttee meetings.
• Hosted a reception in March 2007 to welcome LC/NA Executive Director Emily Eastwood.
• Made a second payment of $5,000 to LC/North America, as part of a 3-year pledge of $15,000 in support of the upcoming Assembly in San Francisco in 2008, "Hearts On Fire."
• Commissioned six new musical settings for hymn texts written by the late Bryan D. LeBlanc, who died of AIDS in 1990.
• Set up a development process with Rev. Kenny Callaghan for a potential new prison outreach ministry at the California Men's Colony in San Luis Obispo, California.
• Scheduled a workshop/reception featuring Mr. Wayne Besen, author of Unmasking the Scandals and Lies Behind the Ex-Gay Myth (later cancelled because of Mr. Besen's illness.)
• Continued preliminary exploration of a possible seminary internship and outreach ministry in the Los Angeles area.
• Discussed the possibility of sponsoring the March 2008 concert of Vox Femina-Los Angeles, "Spirit I Am", and becoming a sponsor of Outfest, the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Film Festival.