I am writing to you as a member of the Justice Ministry Team of Woodland Park United Methodist Church in Seattle, Washington. Our committee was formed just after our pastor, Reverend Mark Williams came out as a gay man at the Pacific Northwest Annual Conference in June of this year. During the intervening three months, our church has experienced the guiding hand of God’s love in our response to Rev. Williams, our congregation, the press, other churches in our city and beyond and to the upcoming Judicial Council hearings.

One of our responses has been to organize a special service at our church, A Prayerful Celebration, on October 24, 2001. This service, on the eve Rev. Williams’ hearing before the Judicial Council, will be a celebration of the diversity of God’s creation through prayer, singing and supporting Rev. Williams and each other. In this way we will mark this important step in seeking justice for our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters.

We invite you and your congregation to join us in this call for justice. If you are nearby, you may wish to join us for the service. If you are far away, please consider having your own special service of Prayerful Celebration on the same evening. A publicly visible symbol of support could include an outdoor, curb side prayer vigil, luminaries or rainbow banners. Financial gifts in support of this ministry are also much appreciated. We invite you all to visit our web site at http://www.gbgm-umc.org/wpumc/ or to E-mail us at wpumc@earthlink.net. Our snail mail address is 302 North 78th Street, Seattle, WA 98103.

We are called to speak out in the pursuit of justice and the proclamation of God’s love for all of God’s creation. The time for silence in the face of injustice is gone. Please be with us in prayer, love and celebration.

In God’s loving embrace,

Carol Waymack,
On behalf of the Justice Ministry Team
Woodland Park United Methodist Church