I wish folks would lighten up on Urban Ventures, Central Community Church and Park Avenue Methodist as anti-gay or insensitive institutions. Many of the allegations posted on this list regarding anti-gay church activities concern incidents from the early 1990s. You will always have zealots who are connected to any institution go overboard. Yes, you will on some occasions have a person make inappropriate comments or print up personal and unauthorized flyers. Those persons should be challenged on those statements at the time, resolve them, and move on. As a member of Park Avenue Methodist who also knows many people connected with Urban Ventures and Central Community Church, IMHO, the vast majority of these church members are not gay bashers and are trying very hard to improve the economic and social fabric of the Central Community. Insofar as allegations regarding insensitive remarks or relations with Muslims and Jews, I believe complainants should bring these complaints to the leaders of Urban Ventures and the various churches and I am sure they will work very hard to resolve them. Bill Dooley Ward 13 Kenny
================================ As far as Park Ave Methodist Church goes -- I live right down the block from the church. I also have a good friend who was a long time member of the church -- and left after one of the pastors (don't know which one) preached a very anti-gay sermon. This friend of mine is fundementalist -- and gay -- and struggled for years with trying the ex-gay route before finally coming to the conclusion that it was ok to be gay and christian. I'm sure there is a variety of opinion on this issue at Park Av Methodist Church. I regularly get irritated by that church -- most recently when they went door to door in the neighborhood and dropped a bag of cerial at everyone's house. The assumption was that everyone in the neighborhood was totally on the edge, and not financially independent. I guess I found that insulting -- and suggested that money given to their food shelf wasn't being used wisely. As far as Urban Ventures goes, the folks who are the zealots are the president of the organization, Art Erickson, and the Executive Director, Ralph Bruins. Ralph and Art from Urban Ventures worked with Basim Sabri to try to push the Motel Central project. That was the project, Basim was charged with attempting to bribe CM Herron on. That certainly wasn't 10 years ago -- that was just in the past year. Art Erickson is currently the vice-president -- and acting president of CNIA. I keep wonder if CNIA is now just the political/lobbying arm of Urban Ventures. Mr. Lundquist, the program director of Urban Ventures told me the Urban Ventures staff opposed the position both Ralph Bruins and Art Erickson took in promoting the Motel project on 2nd and Lake. ================================= Eva Eva Young Central Neighborhood Minneapolis "You do not have the right to never be offended. This country is based on freedom, and that means freedom for everyone - not just you! You may leave the room, turn the channel, express a different opinion, etc., but the world is full of idiots, and probably always will be." --Article II of the Bill of Non-Rights. _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
