E-newsletter

eNewsletter

24 April 2000

Chi Rho Press eNewsletter
Vol. 17 (24/4/00)

Welcome once again to the Chi Rho Press eNewsletter.

To join our list and get your own copy of our eNewsletter, send an e-mail message
to ChiRhoPress-subscribe@egroups.com.

All other e-mail should be directed to Adam@ChiRhoPress.com. See the end of this eNewsletter for a complete list of e-mail addresses at http://www.chirhopress.com/.

Contents:

1. New Board Member

Raye Ann Dorn has joined the Chi Rho Press Board of Directors. Raye Ann is our first heterosexual and transgendered board member. She has been married to her husband Larry Dorn for 32 years and is a member of Holy Redeemer MCC in College Park, Maryland. Raye Ann works for the Veterans' Health Administration in Washington, DC, as National Coordinator of Cancer Programs. We welcome Raye Ann and her many gifts to our Board of Directors!

2. New Web Mistress Hired

Suzanne Hediger has been retained as the new web mistress for Chi Rho Press. Suzanne will be working to fine tune the excellent work begun by web master Mark David Streetman over the past year and will add new elements to the web page over the next few months, including an interactive order form. Welcome to the Chi Rho Press team, Suzanne!

3. New Office Assistant

Our part time office assistant for the past four months, Stephen DeVilbiss, has had to leave Chi Rho Press to concentrate on other ventures. We wish Stephen well in his new work and bless him for his hard work with us.
Unfortunately, Stephen's departure came just as we were taking delivery on "Steps to Recovery from Bible Abuse," and resulted in us getting behind on filling orders, filing, keeping up with correspondence, and even getting this eNewsletter out! The good news is that we have hired Jason Gergler part time to help out. Jason has just finished four years in the U.S. Marine Corps and also works full time at the company where Adam DeBaugh has his secular job. Jason brings excellent computer skills, attention to detail, and many other office skills to his new position. He will be helping to fill orders, keeping track of accounts receivable, doing data entry, maintaining inventory, and generally assisting in the office. We welcome Jason to the Chi Rho Press team.

4. Up-coming District Conferences

We hope to be able to participate in two MCC District Conferences this spring, the Gulf Lower Atlantic District Conference in Knoxville, TN, May 19 through 21, and the Great Lakes District Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana, June 2 through 4. It has been a couple of years since we have been able to attend either of these District's conferences, and we are looking forward to spending time with old friends. The Rev. Jay Neely is District Coordinator for the GLAD District and Ms. Judy Dale is the Great Lakes District Coordinator. Both are wonderful, spirit-filled people who have incredible ministries in their districts and the UFMCC. Adam DeBaugh will be setting up a Chi Rho Press bookstore at each of these District Conferences. If you are near Knoxville or Indianapolis, please stop by and visit! E-mail Adam at Adam@ChiRhoPress.com for more information about these conferences, which promise to be excellent events!
And if you are in southern Virginia, you won't want to miss the Mid-Atlantic District Conference in Roanoke, Virginia, Memorial Day weekend, May 26 and 27. The Rev. Arlene Ackerman, Mid-Atlantic District Coordinator, and her team have planned a dynamite conference featuring UFMCC founder, the Rev. Elder Troy Perry. Unfortunately, prior plans prevent Adam from attending this conference, but we hope to have a Chi Rho Press presence there as well!

5. The Passing of One of our Authors

We are sad to report the passing of Dubose McLane in February of this year. Bo (or Mac to some of his dear friends) died at the age of 76 near his home in State College, Pennsylvania. He was one of the contributing authors to the anthology, "From Wounded Hearts: Faith Stories of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered People and Those who Love Them." Bo wrote chapter 13, "My Spiritual Journey." A founding member of two Metropolitan Community Churches in New York City, and active in University Mennonite Church in State College after his retirement there, Bo was also active in PFLAG, the Brethren/Mennonite Council for Lesbian/Gay Concerns, and other organizations. He was a generous, self-effacing, talented, and wonderful man and we shall miss him greatly.
Adam was able to attend the memorial service in State College, at Foxdale Village Retirement Community, where Bo lived. The Rev. Pat Bumgardner, pastor of MCC New York, and the Rev. David Miller, pastor of University Mennonite Church officiated. Bo is survived by his twin brother and seven nieces and nephews and their families.

6. Opportunities to Tithe on Your Time to Chi Rho Press

We are looking for two dedicated people to fill two new volunteer positions at Chi Rho Press.
First, we are looking for a volunteer bookkeeper or accountant to assist us with reports and taxes. The person should have experience or at least knowledge of Federal and Maryland State taxes and reporting, or at least the ability to get the required Maryland State information.
Second, we are looking for a volunteer Bookstore Liaison, someone who will assist us in being in touch with LGBT bookstores, religious bookstores, bookstore chains, and other outlets for our books, alerting them to our titles and discounts, and selling books to them. This person would also explore distribution houses as well.
Both these positions are volunteer staff (at least for now) and neither of them have to be near our offices. Your expenses will be paid, of course.
Please contact Adam DeBaugh at Adam@ChiRhoPress.com if you are interested in either of these positions. Thank you!

7. "Steps to Recovery from Bible Abuse"

We are extremely pleased with the sales of "Steps to Recovery from Bible Abuse," by Dr. Rembert Truluck since its publication at the end of January. This long-awaited book retails for $24.95 each, six or more copies for $18.75 each, plus shipping and handling. We have sold over a third of our press run already!
Rembert Truluck says, "'Steps to Recovery from Bible Abuse'" is far more than a book of information, Bible studies, and personal experiences. It is a book that will be extended through my Web site in on-going expanding resources of updates, bibliography, and new information about our dynamic changing world and our place in it. This combination of book and Web site will provide a practical and constantly up-dated resource for individuals and small groups to learn and experience the truth and to share their hope with others."
"Steps to Recovery from Bible Abuse," says Dr. Truluck, "is over 550 pages of information and encouragement to equip gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered people and all others who have been abused and oppressed by religion to learn the truth and to rejoice and grow in their God-given worth as individuals."
"Steps to Recovery from Bible Abuse" is organized in 18 chapters. The first five chapters contain introductory material, including essays on "Why this Book is Here," "My Story" by Dr. Truluck, "Jesus Heals Sick Religion," "Guidelines for Small Groups," and "How to Use this Book."
The next 13 chapters are the Steps to Recovery from Bible Abuse. Each of the 13 Steps contains four Bible Study Lessons, suitable for personal study or small group use. As a result there are 52 Lessons, one for each week of the year.
The 13 Steps are organized into five parts, "Jesus and Spiritual Freedom," "Eliminate the Negative," "Accentuate the Positive," "Reach Out," and "Beyond Recovery."
In addition, there are six special studies in the book's appendix: "How I Lead Workshops and Small Groups," "Homosexuality and the Bible," "Challenging the Ex-Gay Industry," "The Dynamics of Religious Abuse," "A Gay Christian's Response to the Southern Baptists," and "How Do You Name God?"
With all this information and at over 550 pages, "Steps to Recovery from Bible Abuse" is well worth the $24.95 list price ($18.75 each for six or more books). It is also the largest book Chi Rho Press has ever published.
Shipping and handling for "Steps" is $3.50 for one book, $4.50 for two books, $5.50 for three books, $6.50 for four books, and 7% of the total for five or more books ordered. Send your check or money order, made out to Chi Rho Press, to us at P.O. Box 7864, Gaithersburg, MD 20898. You may also order via e-mail and be invoiced, write Orders@ChiRhoPress.com with the number of books you want and your mailing address and phone number.

8. Adam's Last Word.

The following was sent over a gay religious list that I am a part of. It purportedly is an editorial from the Dallas Morning News. I think it hits the nail right on the head!
"Which kind of marriage is the true joke?"
On the TV show Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire?, a man chose his bride from 50 women who paraded on stage in bathing suits and wedding gowns.
She wanted his money; he wanted a trophy; neither of them ever met each other before. The judge who officiated proclaimed the union was based on the love and trust they developed (I guess in the 90 seconds in between their meeting and the wedding).
"Gay and lesbian people who are in committed, long-term relationships are denied the opportunity to marry because their relationships supposedly make a "mockery" out of marriage. Which relationship is the true joke?"
As our assistant editor, Kevin Fries said recently about this ridiculous show, "It's a strange world!" I am dismayed that the religious right are not clamoring about this travesty - but then I don't imagine they could make much money railing against a television show unless it has LGBT people in it! Now if the show had been "Who Wants to Marry Will (of Will and Grace)" or "Who Wants to Marry Ellen (Degeneris)" - hmmmm - now that's an idea! I have to go call my agent! <grin>
I hope you have all had a blessed Easter and that spring is bringing you a great deal of joy. The March on Washington is coming up next weekend and we hope that this event will spur the growth of LGBT organizations locally and perhaps even influence legislators in Washington and in state capitals.

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We are glad you are partners with us here at Chi Rho Press. We are eager
for your comments, your suggestions, your assistance with selling our books, and
your own purchases! And of course, we covet your prayers for this ministry.

Grace and peace,

Adam DeBaugh, Director
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Chi Rho Press, Inc.
P.O. Box 7864
Gaithersburg, MD 20898

Our telephone and fax number is 301/926-1208.

You may order any of our books via snail mail, telephone, fax, or e-mail at
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Centre St., Odessa, ONT., Canada, K0H 2H0; e-mail: mapenterprises@home.com;
phone or fax: 1-613-386-5711; or toll free (leave a message) 1-877-245-9569.

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