What You Can Do How to Form an Other Sheep Local Chapter on this page... Mission Statement Why Become a Chapter Suggestions for Organizing Step-by-Step Guide to becoming a Chapter Once you become a Chapter Funding and Support of Chapters |
MULTIPLYING GROUPS AND FORMING NEW CHAPTERS
sexual minorities and their allies, has established more than 60 Resource Centers in 25 nations. These centers empower sexual minorities on every continent, making available quality print and video materials that are affirming biblically, theologically and scientifically. Such materials, previously not available in many nations and regions, offer life-saving information, including safer sex education, and bring hope to many who live in isolation.
our concern for the full inclusion of sexual minorities, seek to multiply new groups to meet diverse needs, build bridges for mutual exchange among groups that were never connected before, and work toward the solidarity that will be needed to overcome prejudice against sexual minorities across the world. In addition to encouraging the multiplication of new groups, local chapters of Other Sheep in the U.S.A. and their autonomous affiliates in other nations invite the unchurched and the never-churched to community in the Body of Christ and encourage and equip Christian sexual minorities and their allies to work for change within traditional structures. Typical activities include educational progams, worship activities and retreats that create and strengthen friendships and empower sexual minorities and their allies.
Directors, based in St. Louis, Mo, meets regularly to establish Other Sheep policies, budget and other matters. Advisory Boards in Latin Amereica, North America and Europe provide counsel and support to the Board of Directors. MISSION STATEMENT
gather and prepare biblical, theological, and scientific materials that affirm and support the full inclusion of sexual minorities among God's people. We work ecumenically and internationally to connect and empower all who share our conviction that lesbian, gay. bisexual and transgendered persons are called by God into inclusive community in the Body of Christ. WHY BECOME AN OTHER SHEEP CHAPTER
allies within a particular geographical area where denominational open and affirming groups are not able to meet all needs. Chapters provide settings where GLBT and their family and friends of all denominations gather and to gain spirit and strength to work for liberating jusice within their diverse ecclesiastical traditions. Because of their ecumenical nature, chapters can bring isolated individuals and congregations together for exchange of information that is healthy and supportive for this justice movement.
Projects commonly include spiritual enrichment workshops, noted speakers, discussion, worship and fellowship activities that offer care, affirmation, and support to GLBT and their allies, a speakers' bureau and resources for congregations wishing to confront and study issues relating to traditional homophobia, regular meetings with strong worship component affirming God's love for all people, panel presentations for the public on current topics, such as same-sex marriage, confronting the ex-gay movement. SUGGESTIONS FOR ORGANIZING
steering group and plan the organizing effort. Plan the first meeting with the expressed purpose of gauging how many people would be interested in being a member of a Chapter. Give plenty of advance notice. Contact key people personally and invited them to attend. Identify ministers and lay leaders in all denominations who are supportive and inform them of the plans and ask for publicity for the meetings and to inform those in their congregations who could be interested. Find a "friendly" church for a meeting place, but if that's not possible, meetings can be held in homes, or public places that have little or no charge. Leaders should be selected to conduct the first meeting.
and information about local resources in support of "lavender people," speakers and panels, watching videos that are available through Other Sheep, UFMCC and the affirming denominational groups. Refreshments or beginning the meeting with a potluck supper may help boost attendance. For an inspirational dimension, share prayers, Scripture texts, liturgies, hymns, and other resources that stress the love and justice for God for all the human family.
selecting a leader, co-moderators or a steering team for ongoing leadership of the group. When the group is ready or an explanation of Other Sheep and its mission and work, the St. Louis office will send you OS brochures, information sheets and newsletters. Keep a record of persons attending each meeting, and vary the content, format and perhaps the location of the meetings. Money for mailings will be needed. Some groups thrive on contributions made at each meeting, while others depend on a "friendly" church for financial services until the chapter can get its own bank account. STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO BECOMING A CHAPTER OF OTHER SHEEP
person, address, telephone/fax and Email (if available).. As an international organization, our best way of communicating is Email so try to arrange to receive Email, perhaps with a friend, if at all possible. In your application letter describe the local situation and indicate what needs the new Other Sheep Chapter seeks to fill. What would an Other Sheep Chapter bring to your community that is lacking now? Describe how your proposed program would fit within the Other Sheep mission. In what ways are the members of your founding leadership group equipped to organize and found a Chapter of Other Sheep? 2 Indicate the chapter's acceptance of the following shared values, adding any others you consider significant for the ministry envisioned:
orientation; b Human sexuality used in a loving and caring manner as a good gift from God irrespective of sexual orientation; c Ordination of gays and lesbians coextensive with the rights of individual straights; d Church blessing of same-sex unions e Civil rights for individual gays and lesbians in a same-sex union coextensive with those rights of straights in a heterosexual marriage including income and estate tax benefits, rights of adoption and inheritance, rights in sickness and death. your chapter will receive notice of its status. Then.... 6 Send in an annual report of your chapter's activities and programs, which will be circulated in the Other Sheep newsletter to all chapters, prospective chapters, and supporters of Other Sheep in order to show the variety of ways in which chapters function. 7 Send in dues of $10.00 per year for each chapter. Dues may be waived upon request at the discretion of the National Board. 8 Every chapter has permission to use the corporate name "Other Sheep" within the chapter name, (e.g. Omaha Chapter of Other Sheep) and to use the Other Sheep logo, either one of which or both of which may be terminated at any time at the discretion of the national board of Other Sheep in which event the terminated local chapter would change its name to omit the corporate name "Other Sheep" and cease using the Other Sheep logo. The National Board of Other Sheep has its own Internal Revenue Service Section 50l (c) (3) tax exemption status, but has insufficient financial and personnel resources to have and supervise a blanket Internal Revenue Service exemption covering local chapters as well. Individual chapters maysubstantially achieve the effect of tax-exemption in one of several ways. The local chapter may (1) be part of another organization such as a church and thereby have 501 (c) (3) tax-exemption status or (2) the chapter may formally obtain such status for that chapter from the Internal Revenue Service or (3) the chapter may request approval by the national board of Other Sheep of any individual large project (eg education and/or religious seminar, lecture, or conference) and receive a grant from the National Board of Other Sheep, then financing the grant by tax deductible gifts to the National Board of Other Sheep. FUNDING AND SUPPORT OF CHAPTERS
devote attention and prayers for the world-wide struggle for justice. The chapters are expected to contribute names and addresses to the international ministry data base. In addition to their $10 a year dues, local chapters are encouraged to support Other Sheep financially as they are able. For instance, in consultation with the National Board of Other Sheep, local chapters may arrange to twin themselves with a resource center or group in a needier area or nation. |
Forming New Chapters |
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| "I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them in also." John 10:16 |
