December 2020 eNews
MESSAGE FROM THE TREASURER
As we move into the holiday season at the end of this very difficult and stressful year, I am thankful. I am thankful for all of you who have been part of SDA Kinship's 40-year journey. So many members, friends and allies have been part of the Kinship community during these four decades. You have made it possible for Kinship to provide its message of acceptance and love to many, many people all over the world.
As someone who was part of the organizing meeting in September, 1980, I am in awe that Kinship has continued to provide knowledge and support to our Adventist LGBTQ community and its allies. It was only possible because of the many, many people, both alive and gone, who have been part of this effort.
As treasurer, it is of course part of my duties to remind you to consider supporting Kinship financially. Kinship, like every person and organization, has been affected by the pandemic. While donations have been down during 2020, our inability to hold in-person meetings has also reduced our expenses. Our hope is that life in 2021 will start to return to normal for all of us and that Kinship will be able to do more face to face outreach in addition to its online and other virtual programs as the year goes forward. And, for that, we need your support.
If you are able, please consider donating (click here). Thank you for being part of this organization and for helping us help others all over the world.
For Kinship members in the United States only: As part of the pandemic-related legislation (specifically, the CARES Act) that was enacted this year, there is a one-time provision that that allows each person paying federal income tax to make up to a $300 donation to a qualified charity, such as Kinship, even if you use the standard deduction. As background, charitable deductions are usually only deductible if you itemize on your tax return. For this year, only, even someone using the standard deduction can take a tax deduction when he/she/they file a return early next year. So, please consider supporting Kinship before December 31.
Thank you for considering Kinship in your financial plans. Have a wonderful holiday season. Stay healthy and safe.
Robert Bouchard
Treasurer, CFO
SDA Kinship Int., Inc.
THE UNCLOBBER PROJECT
The board recently voted to fund a large outreach program targeting pastors, teachers, and church leaders. The aim of this program is to engage and change hearts and minds within the church by providing many of these pastors, teachers, and church leaders with a copy of the book "UnClobber".
UnClobber tells of the personal journey of an evangelical pastor to become affirming and has his research on each of the 6 “clobber” texts in the Bible. Learn more about the project at www.sdakinship.org/unclobber
- Send us the names of people in your community who you think would receive value from us sending them this book. You can also ask to receive a book for yourself.
- Donate to help Kinship cover some of the costs. It costs $10 to print and send each book.
- Volunteer to lead a discussion group or join the support team.
- Pray that people will allow the Holy Spirit to open their hearts and minds and that it will result in more loving actions within the local churches, schools, and communities, toward the LGBT community.
FAMILY & FRIENDS ZOOM MEETING
Good connections are valuable for all organizations – and Kinship Family & Friends wants to connect with all willing families and friends.
Join us for a Zoom meeting on Sunday, December 20, 2020, at 9:30 AM PDT / 12:30 PM EDT.
John & Carolyn Wilt
KINSHIP WORSHIP
Join us on January 8 for Kinship Worship - an inspirational program for us, by us. We have an amazing program for you and your friends. Please share this with your friends!
Kinship Worship will stream live on our Facebook page and Youtube Channel on Friday, January 8 at 8 pm ET and will be available on-demand afterward. Watch the December Kinship Worship program here.
EUROPEAN KINSHIP MEETING
EKM2021 will be in a small conference center called Eigentijdserf in the midsouth of the Netherlands, near the city of Eindhoven. Eindhoven has an airport for low budget flights.
European Kinship Meeting
Theme: Queering the Bible
Date: 2-6 September 2021
Place: ‘Eigentijdserf’ near Eindhoven
Reg.fee: €350 double room – €400 single room
Registration will start in January
Ruud Kieboom
European Coordinator
NEW! CHAPTER 22 OF JOURNEY
Most of what characterizes my life today—work, family, and faith—looks little like what I thought it would when I graduated from college in 1980.
Naturally, people want to know when and how I first became aware of my orientation. Others are interested in my spiritual experience and how my faith and my orientation intersect and perhaps collide. Many questions revolve around my reparative therapy journey and how that impacted my belief in God and my relationship to the church.
I am often asked about the pivotal moment I decided to stop trying to change my orientation and the events that led up to that moment. Related to that decision is the question of short- and long-term consequences. I’ve been asked about where I see God in the whole journey—before counseling, during counseling, and since accepting my orientation.
And, finally, others want to know about my relationship, how it has evolved over the years, and the impact it has had on my life.
This is my story.
New chapter:
Chapter 22 - Adrift in Ottawa
Previous chapters:
Chapters 1-21
CONNECTING VIA WHATSAPP
SDA Kinship continues to work to connect our members in communities where they feel most comfortable.
In this time of quarantine and staying home, WhatsApp groups are a good way to stay connected.
If you have any questions, please send a WhatsApp message to Floyd at +1 214 718 8177, telling me who you are and what groups you are interested in connecting with.
Here are just a few of the WhatsApp groups that I can recommend:
Kinship Main International Group
Kinship Spiritual
Kinship en Espanol
Kinship Brasil (these are in Português, one for men and one for women)
Kinship France (this is a new group for members who communicate in Français)
Kinship Russia (this is also a new group connecting members who communicate in Russian) Если вы говорите по-русски и хотели бы стать частью нашей русскоязычной группы SDA Kinship, напишите мне в WhatsApp.
Jeśli mówisz po polsku i chciałbyś być częścią naszej polskojęzycznej grupy związanej z SDA Kinship, wyślij mi wiadomość na WhatsApp.
There are also numerous demographic groups for chapters, regions, and countries.
Send Me a message on WhatsApp to get connected.
Floyd Poenitz
Vice President, SDA Kinship
DON’T FORGET TO USE AMAZON SMILE
AmazonSmile is now available as an app. A great way to support SDA Kinship at no cost to you and you can do all your shopping online from the app. You can find it in the App Store for IOS or Google Play for Android.
When making purchases on Amazon.com, remember, if you use smile.amazon.com, Amazon will donate 0.5% of the eligible purchase price to the non-profit that you select! As we provide support and representation within the LGBTIQ community, every penny counts!
When first visiting AmazonSmile, customers are prompted to select a charitable organization from almost one million eligible organizations. To browse or shop at AmazonSmile, customers must first select a charitable organization. Please select Seventh-Day Adventist Kinship International Inc.
REGION AND CHAPTER EVENTS
Join any of the online video chats or events as we find new ways to stay connected. Check our main Facebook group for Kinship members and/or region/chapter groups for announcements and links to the Zoom events.
KINSHIP AUSTRALIA / NEW ZEALAND
Lead by Kinship member Ross Cole
2:00 pm Australian EST
A supportive group for the study of the weekly Seventh-day Adventist Bible Study Guide with an open and searching mind.
Join the private Facebook group for more information.
KINSHIP BRASIL
Sábado às 10h00
Hor. Brasília
Ocorrerá
KINSHIP COLOMBIA
Devocionales del Sábado
10:00 Hora Colômbia / Peru
KINSHIP GERMANY
Monthly Zoom Meetings
Will continue until the end of the year
Every 2nd Monday at 7 pm CET
Sind jetzt bis Ende des Jahres geplant: Jeden 2. Montag im Monat um 19 Uhr
( 14. Dez. )
For Zoom Link please contact Tanja- February 6, 2021: Host wanted - Gastgeber gesucht
- May 1, 2021: at David Diez - bei David Diez
Tanja Koppers
Koordinator für Kinship Deutschland
REGION 2 - MARYLAND/DC AREA CHAPTER
Stay tuned for more exciting updates in our next eNews edition!
REGION 9 - INLAND EMPIRE CHAPTER
Although the church is closed, join us online from 10-11 am PDT! For details, check the Facebook page or email