It's Our Thirtieth Anniversary

For Immediate Release, February 15, 2005

Affirmation has observed previous anniversaries in Chicago, Los Angeles, Dallas and Tacoma. This, our 30th year, will be celebrated in several ways and in several places.

AN AFFIRMATION FAMILY REUNION
Saturday, April 2, 2005, 7-9 p.m.
First United Methodist Church, Hollywood, California
6817 Franklin Ave. (corner of Highland)
Los Angeles, CA 90028

Please join us for an evening of fellowship, worship, and celebration that is being planned by Affirmation member Frank Wulf and his local design team. We look forward to seeing you there! This event will be held in conjunction with the Voices of Faith: From Swords to Plowshares Event, March 31-April 2, 2005, sponsored by the Methodist Federation for Social Action. Registration forms for "Voices of Faith" are available on the MFSA website.

We urge you to bring photographs, visual records (photocopies), and other memorabilia as part of this anniversary celebration and the one on Labor Day weekend.

"HEARTS ON FIRE!" LABOR DAY WEEKEND 2005
September 2-5, 2005: Friday-Monday
Lake Junaluska, North Carolina

To honor our anniversary Affirmation's 'gifts' to participants of the Eighth National Reconciling Convocation will include:

The Reconciling Ministries Network says of the event, "Expect Exciting Worship, Engaging Bible Study, Challenging Workshops, and Creative Community with many talented leaders including Bishop Minerva Carcaņo, Bishop Richard Wilke, Beth Stroud, Mark Miller, Heather Elkins, Dr. Jeffrey Kuan, Dr. Karen Oliveto, James Preston, Youtha Hardman-Cromwell Rev. Erin Swenson, Jorge Lockward and more...

"Nestled in the serenity of the Smoky Mountains in Western North Carolina, Lake Junaluska is located in Haywood County, known for the 18 peaks over 6,000 feet, more than any county east of the Mississippi River. The 200-acre lake is surrounded by 1,200 acres of beautiful rolling hills and valleys. Those who have visited have described their "Junaluska Experience" as a renewal of the heart, mind, body, and spirit."

OTHER ANNIVERSARY YEAR EFFORTS INCLUDE

We invite you to participate in any or all of these events and opportunities.

History Note: In July 1975, the United Methodist Gay Caucus organized in Evanston, Illinios. Later renamed Gay United Methodists (GUM) formed to insist that our lives and loving are gifts of God, not rebellion against the divine will. About a year after making a powerful presence at the 1976 General Conference, GUM became Affirmation. Today Affirmation: United Methodists for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Concerns continues to proclaim a Gospel of respect, love, justice and mercy for all.