I was feeling discouraged by what I sensed was a feeling of public apathy about social concerns and community issues in the Triangle. Even though more than a million disabled or elderly people are in some type of long-term care facility in North Carolina, the public apparently doesn’t want to hear about it, discuss the issue, or plan for their future needs. One of the advocacy groups to which I belong has had difficulty in getting people even to attend workshops dealing with the issues so I was reaffirmed in my goals at our annual awards banquet last week when a nurse aide received recognition for the work that she does in a nursing home. We also recognized three other individuals as well as two facilities for their accomplishments. These people demonstrated that not everyone is primarily concerned with cutting corners to maximize corporate profits. It is evident that in spite of many of the problems these facilities face, there are people who really do care for others and are sincere in their calling.

I was disappointed when the drought cancelled our semi-annual tree planting in a park that was scheduled to be held in Nash Square Saturday morning. When we had to shift to another park at the last minute and to schedule a morning of mulching rather than planting, I was concerned that nobody would show up. The Boys & Girls Clubs showed up as usual as well as folks from the Rotary Clubs and NCSU as well as the Mayor of Raleigh to show his support. We had an opportunity to talk about how to care for trees during a drought, demonstrate proper pruning and mulching techniques and show some new watering devices that conserve water and do it more effectively than hand watering. The day was a success in spite of my pessimism.

The low attendance at RUM-NC last year seemed to fit the pattern of other GLBT groups that were experiencing burnout or low participation. The largest GLBT group in the Triangle even folded last year and ceased meeting. So I was very pleased to attend the conference at the Duke Law School sponsored by the Equality NC Foundation along with 250 other people. A full day of workshops and plenary sessions on a variety of subjects was very well planned and received enthusiastic participation. I arrived late due to my earlier engagement in Raleigh and missed the opening keynote speaker, but I attended three workshops and the closing session.

The session on “Keeping the Faith: Working in and with Religious Groups” was moderated by Jimmy Creech, who is now with Faith in America. The panelists who told their stories were Rev. Joe Hoffman, First Congregational UUC, Asheville; Rev. Reggie Longcrier, Exodus Missionary Outreach Church, Hickory; and Rev. Nancy Petty, Pullen Memorial Baptist, Raleigh. I was particularly moved by Rev. Longcrier’s discussion of his efforts to build a multi-cultural congregation in a conservative southern community where segregation is still openly practiced in the churches. This conference strengthens my opinion that if RUM-NC is to sponsor another educational conference, it should be an ecumenical program that includes the Welcoming & Affirming Baptists, Affirmation, Integrity, and others so that we can reach as wide an audience as possible and sponsor a really professional program. The Equality Conference took a year of planning.

The week was brought to a very emotional close at the RUM-NC Sunday afternoon worship service at Aldersgate UMC in Chapel Hill where Rev. Belton Joyner preached, and several gave witness of their experiences of reconciliation within their churches. Aldersgate hosted a reception and social hour before and after the worship that gave folks and opportunity to meet and greet each other. The Holy Spirit was present and was very uplifting even as people acknowledged their pain and suffering at some of the exclusionary practices of the Methodist Church. It already has taken a generation of struggle and may yet take another generation to achieve full inclusion of all minorities in the life of our church, but it is evident that the status quo is crumbling one heart at a time.