Missing papers (cont'd]

Letter (cont'd from page 8)

cerned parties were contemplating legal action. Rev. Wheeler then stated "even if we did take. em all, there is nothing you can do because it's a free publication with no limit on how many copies any individual can take." Attorneys later contacted by Gold magazine then confirmed that this was indeed the legal aspect.

Mr. Doyle then asked Rev. Wheeler about the Club Akron advertisement which Joel Brown, the previous evening, Had told Hart Harris that the ad was "sexist and vulgar". Mr. Brown had also told Mr. Harris the letter to the editor was "detrimental to the church." In response, Rev. Wheeler told Mr. Doyle that whoever had attributed these statements to Mr. Brown is a "liar". She then stated that no one at the church had

Wheeler (cont'd from

and libelous attacks on the church some people may find @musing, or boring, or typical, or may make you fighting mad. Regardless, it is exactly the type of move that people use when trying to put us at each other's throats. Those who are the biggest fools, however, are the ones who pass it on; believe it; or are silly enough to think that storming into our worship facility and disrupting our Sunday activities with shouting and threats can accomplish any useful purpose.

Akron Metropolitan Christian Church is exactly what the name implies. There is no pretense to try and create a misuderstanding. We are a church -we are a family of Christian people trying to grow, to learn, to understand, and to educate both our gay and non-gay members, friends, or attenders on how hopefully they can be all God wants them to be. We don't desire or in any way want to get involved with petty bickering or accusations, or any-

Methodists

previously discussed either the letter to the editor or the advertisement.

On Friday afternoon, Joei Brown called Hartzell Harris and still denied that the group had taken the copies of Gold in question. He then said "AMCC will

pay for part or all of the reprinting of the copies."

Following a meeting of the staff of the Gold magazine, the owners of the gay businesses advertising in the Gold, and other concerned members of the gay community, it was decided that this letter would be presented to the congregation of the AMCC on Sunday, September 30, to make the whole congregation aware of the actions taken, in the name of the whole church or by its leaders.

named below, demand a formal apology from the AMCC to the gay community, to be published in the Akron-Canton Gold, High Gear, and the Cleveland Gay News.

(Signatures appearing on the original)

HARTZEL HARRIS/Stagecoach Inn

CHRIS PARTIS/Club Akron DOUGLAS GOODELL/W. BUNNER/The Sahara

M. DOYLE/The Stagecoach RANDY HERBRICK/Randy Advertising

BERTHA DENISIO/Boobie's Why Not Club

PHYLLIS SCHAFFER/Boobie's Why Not Club

D.A. BRICE/Akron-Canton GOLD President

We, the concerned parties ROGER MUSSER/

page 8)

thing else that is not of an affirming productive nature. We all realize that the easiest thing in the world to do is tear down things and destroy a sense of community, our people are so sensitive that. All our lives people have tried to steal or perjure our identity away. They have condemned and tried to stamp out what they did not understand. The anonymous individual who wrote that so-called "Viewpoint" letter espoused wanting the church to give up it worship facility and doing social activities, etc.-obviously he or she has a strange idea of what a church is, and what Christian love and a family sense are all about.

Perhaps because our church has been here for a long time and sets a certain stability before people -we are more liable for attack and gossip. There's nothing costly about cheap shots because many people know of the church, and AMCC will continue. If you ever need us we will

(Cont'd from age 2) make the document useful for dominant discussions about study in the churches, according homosexuality," said the report. to Martha King of Rome, Ga., "It is not simply a matter of differchairperson of the task force. ence of opinion among church members or between clergy and laity. Homophobia, the fear of homosexuality in one self or another, is one of the sexual fears which must be faced."

Urging the church to resist "easy moralisms or dogmatic views which set up different views regarding the normalcy of sexual behavior of heterosexual ity and homosexuality," the report said:

The 1980 General Conference will be asked to receive the report and pass it on to all local churches, annual conferences and boards and agencies for study.

In another major action, the division, voting by secret ballot, petitioned the General Conference to delete that portion of the church's Social Principles which reads: "...though we do not condone the practice of homosexu"Promiscuity, the idolatry of ality and consider this practice pleasure, the absence of fidelity, incompatible with Christian attack, seduction and violence, teaching." The vote asking delethe exploitation of people are tion was 40 yes, 25 no and two characteristics found among abstentions. persons of all sexual orientation. In a separate vote, the division "On the other hand, gentleness called for deletion from the Book and warmth, compassion and of Discipline (church law) of Par. strength, commitment and fidel906.13 which makes the General ity are human qualities which are Council on Finance and Adminfound in persons of ail sexual istration (GCFA) responsible for orientation." seeing that no board, agency, committee, commission or council "shall give United Methodist funds to any 'gay' caucus or group, or use such funds to promote the acceptance of homo-

The report then addressed a set of questions to the church concerning its mission and ministry as well as its inclusiveness. The questions are intended to

be here with food, or prayer, or support, or counseling, whatever the need might be. If you want to know about our structure or how we do things come to a rap group or business meeting -we do our work out in the open. If you desire to know how we differ from other organizations come to a worship service on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. 3300 Morewood Road (across from Summit Mall). and see for yourself.

Don't let anyone or any group steal your identity or right to know -the church has nothing to fear or hide, and I can promise you we will be here to do our work in this community for our brothers and sisters long after other groups are long gone. We wish no one ill, we wish ony to help gay and non-gay people become all they can be, and to educate our enemies -so that when we meet them -they won't

be ourselves.

sexuality." The vote: 39 yes, 26 no, two abstentions.

The rationale, which is part of the official motion, said the United Methodist Church "has tradi-

tionally ensured self-determina-

tion of local churches and agencies of the church at all levels in their programs." Thus it is "inappropriate" for any general church agency such as GCFA to control programming, and such control is a "serious abuse of the concept of the connectional church."

The division refused to devote a plenary session at its meeting next March to a discussion of

"the larger issues of human sexuality and homophobia," pleading insufficient time. However, the section on Christian Social Relations served notice that it plans to invite representatives of Affirmation--United Methodists for Gay and Lesbian Concerns and consultants to make a major presentation to the section at the March meeting so that it can hear "the pain and problems faced by Christian lesbians and gay men and their families and face the greater issues of human sexuality and homophobia."

Poetry

HIGH GEAR Page 19

NAME THAT TUNE

i'd like a pack of bisexuals. please.

we don't carry them anymore. what? why not?

whatsamatter can't you make up your mind? allright, a pack of lesbians, please.

realesbian or occasionally-sieeps-with-oppressor? realesbian, please.

women-identified or straight-identified?

woman-identified, please.

politicalesbian or straight-lesbian? what?

revolutionary or sex-oriented? uh, politicalesbian, i suppose. butch or fernme?

look, let's just forget it. a pack of homos, please.

macho or drag queen..?

Where Do the Liquid People Drown?... By PETER DORIAN

Riki Anne Wilchins

In their drunken stupors some fall fast away helpless as late autum leaves in alleys. Left stripped to the barest necessities they look like giant rats preying on illusion in a state where day to day is life or death. When are men so low that they become prophets spouting words that affect societies?

To abuse the vines and poppies rearranging mental chemistry is purchasing tickets finding answers to questions better left for the wisdom of age.

Liquid people exist in the right time and live in a wrong condition.

Quite often, however, it is that condition we find ourselves in when our realities become nothing more than butchered facts and deflated dreams.

For the Too Beautiful Diamonds... By PETER DORIAN

People are as diamonds cut in different shapes, having many facets.

Some thought to be worth more than others, but all are diamonds still.

Some are fair with a price to spare,

others too small to see.

There are ones too outrageous to consider

but even they can satisfy a need. Pity the ones just too beautiful

they seldom meet with an owner of appreciation. Unreachable to modest man,

their sparkle is mostly to be admired.

So when the showcase lights go out

and all the buyers return to their homes, There sit all the too beautiful diamonds; alone, alone, alone.

The Differences between Hopes and Facts... BY PETER DORIAN

Ancient Egyptians believed that death meant your life flew into the sun.

Today, some people would have us believe that death holds a life hereafter in a place called Heaven or Hell. Last evening my four wheels of transportation died; today it was taken to the junkyard.

AN THE

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