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--- Human Rights Ordinance Amendment
Good Samaritan Church agreed, by a vote of the Session, to support the effort to amend the Pinellas County Human Rights Ordinance to include protection based on "sexual orientation" and "gender identity or expression"
--- UCC FL Conference Education for Open & Affirming Status
The Session voted for Good Sam to be one of the sponsors of a resolution to be presented at the next Florida Conference Annual Meeting “to promote the education of congregations and church members in the Open & Affirming program and process.” Good Sam also renewed our own commitment on “More Light Sunday.”
--- Rev. Sue Sherwood spoke at Largo City Hall on behalf of City Mgr. Stanton and participated in the Transgender Remembrance Day Service in Clearwater.
--- Great Silent Gathering of Grandmothers, Mother’s Day
We stood in silent prayer on Park Blvd. for the world’s children to have safe drinking water, clean air, enough food and healthcare, education, and a safe “home.”
--- Good Samaritan Church’s Committee of Counsel appointed by the Session, defended and stood by our appointment of an openly gay Elder as our Clerk of Session and Elder Representative to the Presbytery of Tampa Bay.
--- Co-sponsored the Faith & Fairness Town Meeting
This all-day session with LGBT faith-themed workshops and interfaith panel was sponsored by the Human Rights Campaign, UCC Suncoast Rainbow Coalition, and Equality Florida. A dozen Good Sam members participated in this program.
--- Interfaith Trialogue Sponsored by Serving the One
Members participated in this regional event: “Is Religion an Obstacle to Peace?”
--- Pinellas Hope
Good Samaritan Church agreed to support Pinellas Hope by committing our portion of the Peacemaking Offering to supply one hot dinner for the 200+ residents.
--- Members marched in the MLK Parade and St. Pete Pride Parade with our “Making the Dream Real” banner.
---Rich Feigel and Phil Lersch continue to “corner for peace” on Wednesdays.
---Rich Feigel and Phil and Jean Lersch work as PEACE ADVOCATES in the Tampa Bay Presbytery. Good Sam tolls the church bell each month for those who have died in Iraq as we remember the high cost of war and pray for peace.
---Approximately a dozen letters to the editor by Good Sam members appeared on the op-ed page in the St. Petersburg Times during 2007.
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