From: WAND_M@gold.colorado.edu
Subject: Denver could lose 2 church conventions if law not reversed
Followup-To: amend2-discuss@cs.colorado.edu
Originator: doherty@ucsu.Colorado.EDU
Organization: University of Colorado, Boulder
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1992 06:06:16 GMT

By Virginia Culver
Denver Post Religion Writer
December 123, 1992

Denver could lose two huge church conventions in the next few years because of 
the controversy over Amendment 2.

The United Methodist Church has chosen Denver for its 1996 General Conference, 
and the city is also in the running for the 1997 General Convention of the 
Episcopal Church.  Each conference is expected to bring more than 10,000 people 
to the city for 10 days.

But both denominations will decide over the next few weeks whether they should 
meet here in the wake of Amendment 2, which repeals anti-discrimination laws 
that protected gays in Colorado and prohibits passage of similar laws.

"Obviously we are disappointed about Amendment 2 passing, and we want to join 
others who want to undo 2," said United Methodist Bishop Mary Ann Swenson of 
Denver.

"We want to make some kind of witness against the amendment and we have begun 
to question whether the church should meet here.  We are committed to human 
rights.  We just don't know which way is best to make a witness."

She said the issue will come before the church's Council of Bishops in January 
and again in May.  "We hope that aby 1996 the amendment will be overturned."

Held 1960 meeting here
The Methodists last met in general conference here in 1960.  De-Wayne Woodring, 
business manager of the Methodist General Conference, said the conference 
committee will meet in Denver next spring and also could decide to choose 
another city.

Woodring said Denver Mayor Wellington Webb has written the church, arguing 
against a boycott and noting that Denver residents voted overwhelmingly against 
Amendment 2.

Just last month, the Colorado Episcopal Diocese formally invited the national 
church to meet here in 1997.

Denver, Philadelphia and Orlando are the three cities now being considered for 
the convention, last held here in 1979.

"There is some concern for all the bad publicity we have inherited" because of 
Amendment 2, said Gary Thompson, a member of the Denver diocesan committee 
making preliminary convention plans.

A national site-selection committee will meet next month and the question of 
Amendment 2 will undoubtedly come up, said the Rev. Don Nickerson of New York 
City, executive officer of the general convention.

The church's national planning and arrangements committee will recommend 
one of the three sites to the 1994 general convention, which will vote yes or 
no, Nickerson said.

Conventions moved
The Episcopalians have moved previous conventions because of social issues.

One year, the general convention vetoed Houston because the city "couldn't 
offer appropriate housing for black delegates," Nickerson said.  Delegates also 
chose not to meet in New Orleans several years ago because Louisiana had not 
passed the Equal Rights Amendment.

The church almost moved its 1991 meeting from Phoenix becauase Arizona didn't 
observe Martin Luther King's birthday.  The church later decided to go to 
Phoenix "to make a witness" aboaut race relations, he said.

Despite their support for gay civil rights, the Episcopal and Methodist 
churches--along with most mainline denominations--won't ordain gays to the 
ministry.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Corrections, new info, and requests for info: amend2-info@cs.colorado.edu
Administrative comments                     : amend2-mod@cs.colorado.edu
General Discussion                          : amend2-discuss@cs.colorado.edu
Boulder/Denver area local meetings/events   : amend2-local@cs.colorado.edu
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
To subscribe to a list, send mail to Majordomo@cs.colorado.edu, with
        subscribe <list-name>
in the BODY of the message.  For multiple lists, use multiple lines.

Newsgroups: co.politics.amend2.info