A Message
From the Moderator's Office
of Metropolitan Community Churches
__________________________________

June 1, 2007

Dear Friend:

I'm writing today to invite you to reach out with a word of love and encouragement.

Let me explain...

Just two weeks ago, 20-year old Sean Kennedy of Greenville, South Carolina was enjoying an evening out with friends. His friends and family describe him as happy, loving, energetic, personable, friendly, and caring.

As Sean left a "teen night" event at a local gay bar, a car pulled up, a young man hopped out, and Sean was beaten by an 18-year old in yet another senseless anti-gay hate crime.

Sean died the next day from injuries he received in that attack.

I was deeply saddened by Sean's tragic death, and I was also deeply touched by the words of Sean's mother, Elke Kennedy.

Listen to what she told a local TV station:

"When Sean told me he was gay, he said, 'Mom, I understand if you don't want to love me any more.' And I told him there is nothing, ever, that you can do to make me stop loving him." Then she added, "If your son or daughter is different, you need to support them for who they really need to be."

So today, I'm simply writing to invite you to share your love and condolences with this mother, who loved her gay son so beautifully and unconditionally. Will you send her a word of encouragement and let her know she is in our prayers during her time of sadness and loss?

Notes and cards may be sent to her by postal mail at: Elke Kennedy, 7 Brandywine Court, Greenville, SC 29615. You may send e-mails to Elke at elke445@yahoo.com.

One more note:

On Sunday evening, June 3, a public vigil will take place in Greenville to honor Sean's life. This vigil is being organized by Rev. Donna Stroud, pastor of MCC of the Upstate, along with other religious leaders and political groups, and Sean's family will be present.

Below, I am including a copy of a public statement by Rev. Elder Arlene Ackerman and myself which will be read at the vigil.

Won't you join me in prayers that this vigil, along with the public attention it will receive, will help to motivate the state legislature to adopt a hate crimes bill? South Carolina is one of only four U.S. states that has never adopted any type of hate crimes law.

Thank you for taking a moment to respond to this request, and thank you for the many ways you share God's unconditional love every day. "By your love for one another, everyone will know you are my disciples." (The words of Jesus, from the Gospel of John 13:35)

Grace and peace,

~Nancy

Rev. Nancy L. Wilson
Moderator
Metropolitan Community Churches

Below Is The MCC Statement That Will Be Read
At Sunday Evening's Vigil in Greenville, South Carolina

Remarks: 
 
On a typical May evening a few weeks ago, Sean Kennedy was a healthy, happy 20-year-old gay man living in Greenville, South Carolina. While enjoying the company of his friends at a bar named Brew's on May 16, 2007, he became one of a growing number of victims who every year lose their lives to hatred and senseless violence.

His attacker, Stephen Andrew Moller, just 18 years old himself, though not counted in those statistics, will nonetheless also lose his life or some portion of it because somewhere, at his still young age, he learned it was acceptable to randomly select, bash, batter and even kill gay people.
 
It's time for this violence to stop!

It's time for this violence to stop... and for religious groups to stop fanning the flames of anti-gay prejudice. The sad reality we live with every day is this: Far too much of the violence directed against God's gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender children is rooted in religion-based fear and misunderstanding.

-- Ending hate crimes and protecting all Americans equally
   does not "persecute" those who hold differing views on
   race, gender identity, ability or sexual orientation, as
   claimed by Carrie Gordon Earl of Focus on the Family.

--  Enacting legislation at the local and federal level to end
    hate crimes protects all of us, regardless of our differing
    beliefs and convictions.
 
It's time for this violence to stop... and for parents, guardians, teachers, pastors and community leaders everywhere to teach our children, in the words of Sean's mother, Elke Kennedy, that "people should not be judged or attacked or killed because others don't like who they are."
 
We are joined in spirit tonight as people of faith and people of goodwill, from many creeds and customs, many races and personal identities, to say:

Save our children...
     from ignorance and hate,
          that rob them of their innocence.

Save our young people...
     from the tragedy of anti-gay violence,
          that robs them of life's hope and joy.

Save our society...
     from all prejudice and judgment,
          that rob us of our common humanity
               and fail to reflect the acceptance
                     of the God who is Unconditional Love.

In the Scriptures -- which  we, as spiritual leaders in Metropolitan Community Churches, hold most dear -- Jesus counsels prayer, not persecution, and certainly not violence, in response to disagreement, even when it rises to the level of considering ourselves enemies.

               "Treat others
                        as you would like them
                             to treat you," he says.

                      "Love your enemies
                                 and do good."
                                      -- Luke, Chapter 6
 
Sean Kennedy treated everyone well, according to family and acquaintances alike. He was a generous and kind soul. Even in death, he acted to save, not take, life by donating his vital organs. Because of his choice, the lives of four people he never knew have been saved.
 
Whether we who are gathered here tonight knew Sean or not, we can make a choice to follow his good example and act now to save the lives of the one in six of the twenty-five daily victims of hate crimes who will be attacked, and in some cases killed, for no other reason than their sexual orientation or gender identity.
 
     -- We urge all South Carolinians tonight to contact
        Senator Robert Ford and let him know he is not
        alone in his effort to introduce new hate crimes
        legislation in the State Senate.

     -- Contact Representative Seth Whipper in the
        South Carolina House of Representatives and let
        him know that you support his efforts to introduce
        similar legislation in his chamber.

     -- Contact South Carolina's U.S. Senators Lindsey
        Graham and Jim DeMint. Tell them of Sean's
        unnecessary death -- and tell them you expect
        them to pass the Matthew Shepherd Act now!
 
And pray with us, not only for Elke and the family and friends of Sean Kennedy, but also for Stephen Andrew Moller and his family, and for all the people who, like Stephen, think it is acceptable to harm those who are different from us.

No one is safe from hatred's reach until everyone is equally valued as a human being and equally protected under the law. No one wants to save and protect all of our lives more than the God in whose name we speak tonight.
 
~Nancy                                          ~Arlene

Rev. Elder Nancy L. Wilson                 Rev. Elder Arlene Ackerman
Moderator                                       Member, Board of Elders
Metropolitan Community Churches       Metropolitan Community Churches

_________________________________________

This statement prepared in conjunction with MCC's Global Justice Team, Rev. Pat Bumgardner, Chair

This statement will be read during the Public Vigil honoring Sean Kennedy's life on Sunday, June 3, 2007, in Greenville, South Carolina.

_________________________________________
 
 
 For Additional Information, Contact:
 
Jim Birkitt, MCC Communications Director, E-mail: info@MCCchurch.net
 
 

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