Advent 2001

Dear Faithful Oasis/California Supporter,

We have had a magnificent year at Oasis/California. Here are some highlights:

• Since the time of our last annual report in October, 2000, we have welcomed four new Oasis covenant congregations: St. James', San Francisco; St. Bede's, Menlo Park; St. Mark's, Berkeley; and All Souls', Berkeley. That's nearly twice as many as this time last year!
• Four congregations are in conversation, including three that have contacted us in the last few months.
• Our anniversary celebration last January focused on the concerns of gay youth.
• In June, we celebrated the Eucharist at our pride parade gathering site, hosting our Lutheran friends who were marching just two contingents away. We plan to grow in this new friendship.
• After listening to feedback from diocesan congregations and our constituents, we clarified and revised our congregations process to meet congregations where they are in their journey of hospitality to glbt people. The new process utilizes the tools of affirmative inquiry utilized so successfully by the United Religions Initiative.
• O/C successfully sponsored two resolutions at Diocesan Convention; both will be sent to General Convention in 2003. One resolution calls for the drafting of a rite for blessing people in committed relationships, and the other speaks against the damage caused by reparative therapies.
• We host a popular e-mail list for continuing conversation on our issues, where we are joined by kindred spirits all across the nation.
• We began work on a new program plan to be unveiled after the first of the year.

Our priorities for 2002 include:

• Strategizing for the 2003 General Convention with Integrity, Beyond Inclusion, and the Oasis (Newark), including my participation in a conference in January in Washington, DC.
• Rescheduling our annual liturgical celebration from January to June to coincide with other pride celebrations.
• Continuing to focus on our revised congregations program, particularly by renewing Oasis conversations in congregations that have been on hold.
• Turning the new program plan from dream to reality will be a large part of our work in 2002 and beyond. Hint: You'll see us involved in more than the congregations process and the usual national church concerns! Any suggestions? We'd welcome hearing from you.

We're tightening our belt at O/C in order to be better stewards of our limited funding. Diocesan subsidies have been generous for the past five years but that funding is scheduled to decrease incrementally in the coming years now that O/C is past the start-up phase. Meanwhile, Rusty Clyma, our new assistant to the president, has offered to donate his hours to O/C. When our landlords at St. John the Evangelist decided to restore the original architecture of their building by incorporating our office space into the nave, we moved to a smaller office, halving our use fee. The savings that result from all of these things will allow us to upgrade our computer and internet capabilities and to focus our expenditures more directly on mission. We're certain that's where you'd like to see your donations go, too.

Now more than ever, we hope for your continued support as we seek to fulfill our mission of increasing hospitality to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in Christ's church. Please be as generous as you are able.

God's grace and peace be with you and yours in this holy season,

The Rev. Joseph A. Lane
President (For the Board)