[sudo-discuss] Liberation Ministries Proposal to Omni Commons -- Matt recuses himself, seeks another delegate

Sun Sep 13 14:09:46 PDT 2015

Sorry, I'll be out of town the 17-20th. There is a list of requests for LM
sudoers discussed at a meeting the other week (under
Discussion->Takeaways):
https://sudoroom.org/wiki/Meeting_Notes_2015-09-02#Discussion_2

I would like to add that I am really opposed to the notion of filling the
basement with giant televisions for videogames and the hack-o-mats with
junk food. We have plenty of free food, projector screens and public
computers.

Any sudoers willing to take this on for Thursday? We can simply write a
statement of position at Wednesday's meeting that you can read during the
delegates meeting.

/jnny

On Sep 11, 2015 12:16 AM, "Matthew Senate" <mattsenate at gmail.com> wrote:

> tl;dr,
>
> *I need to recuse myself as sudo room delegate from the Liberation
> Ministries proposal (details below):*
>
> Hey all,
>
> I've cc'd Sudo Room's Omni-Delegates list (our email list for people who
> have been consented upon to act on behalf of Sudo Room as a delegate in the
> Omni Commons delegates council).
>
> I do not think I am capable of getting through the emotionally-charged
> issues necessary to act on behalf of the sudo room when it comes to the
> discussion of Liberation Ministries collaborating with the Omni Commons.
>
> While I am still willing and able to act as sudo room's delegate for other
> proposals and at other times, I need to recuse myself from this proposal in
> particular.
>
> I will attend the next sudo room meeting on Weds 9/16 as well as the next
> Omni Commons delegates meeting on Thurs 9/17, but will not be representing
> the sudo room when it comes to the Liberation Ministries proposal.
>
> *If sudo room members find it important to participate in this part of the
> process, then another member of sudo room who is approved to act as an Omni
> Commons delegates needs to represent the sudo room instead.*
>
> You can read the most recent version of this proposal submitted to the
> omni-consensus email list today (Thurs) around 5pm. It should be reviewed
> this week and formally discussed during the next (coming) Thurs 9/17 @ 7pm.
>
> // Matt
>
> p.s. "Active non-Member" is a bit confusing language, but essentially this
> not a proposal to become a Member-Collective, but instead a different kind
> of formal commitment, backed by some form of legal document(s) [such as
> rental contract(s), tenant (non-member-collective) sublease, etc]. The text
> of the current proposal follows:
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Stephen Novotny <novotny.stephen at gmail.com>
> Date: Thu, Sep 10, 2015 at 5:07 PM
> Subject: [omni-consensus] Liberation Ministries Proposal to Join Omni as
> an Active non-Member
> To: consensus at lists.omnicommons.org
>
> This proposal is being sent out so that it can be discussed for consensus
> at next week's delegates meeting. Please take it back to your collectives
> and discuss so we can move forward.
>
> ---
>
> After conversations following the August 27th Delegates Meeting, we’ve
> collaborated with Liberation Ministries (LM) to develop a proposal for them
> to join the Omni as an active non-member. We’ve integrated feedback from
> the 8/27 Delegates Meeting, where people expressed concern about LM
> becoming a member collective immediately. Please read the notes from that
> discussion here:
> https://omnicommons.org/wiki/Event:2015/08/27_Delegates_Meeting
>
> Many people suggested that LM begin doing work at the Omni in order for us
> to get to know each other and to see how their work flourishes here, before
> applying to become a member collective.
>
> The most essential needs of LM are to have reliable access to the space
> for consultations and office work, as well as ongoing reservation of space
> two times a week: one on Friday nights to work with youth, including
> collaborations with BAPS and MPM, and two, use of the Ballroom on Sunday
> mornings from 9-11am.
>
> These are the basic needs of LM, essential to the continuity and growth of
> their organization. At the 8/27 delegates meeting there was some concern
> over the reservation of the Ballroom on Sunday mornings for LM, with some
> people concerned that it might prevent other, important groups from using
> the Ballroom during this time.
>
> We followed up regarding this concern with the Commons WG and learned that
> Sunday morning during the time from 9-11ish (am) when Liberation Ministries
> would have service has seen only six events since last November 2014 when
> the Omni Global calendar started being used.
>
> Two of these were all day events--Capoeira and a "Fundraiser for Legal
> Fees".
>
> Of the other four, three were short two-hour rehearsals and one was
> something called "Love Chapel"
>
> Three of the six events started at 11am.
>
> There were a few more events that were in the Ballroom starting at noon on
> Sundays.
>
> Considering the Ballroom does not have any other regularly scheduled
> events, it is a great opportunity to put the ballroom space in use more
> regularly and provide a regular source of income from the usage.  While
> this would prevent a few miscellaneous events a year from using this space
> at said time, the space would never go unused as long as LM operates within
> the Omni. Furthermore, because LM is a community-based church, they need
> space within the community to begin inviting people on a regular basis.
> They plan to go door-to-door to let neighbors all over North Oakland know
> about their new ministry, so they must have a reliable space to invite
> these new people to occupy.
>
> Welcomes our neighbors in the surrounding area of Temescal and North
> Oakland
>
> Very much in line with our founding vision and Statement of Solidarity to
> support low- to middle-income black families
>
> Working with youth
>
> Tangible anti-gentrification work
>
> They have offered to help with specific elements of building maintenance
> and upgrades
>
> LM would like to use their original proposal to become a member collective
> as their proposal to instead become an active non-member group within the
> Omni. The proposal is pasted below:
>
> Liberation Ministries is a new church led by Pastor Cheryl Ward. We are
> seeking a space to have our Sunday services and where we can participate in
> a community working for social justice.
>
> 1. Mission statement
>
> We endeavor to be change agents in our local community and globally, and
> turn whatever space we are in into a change agency. Our commitment is to
> transforming lives. We do ministry but it's not a ministry unless we are
> transforming lives. We are not a traditional church. We welcome EVERYBODY.
> The core of it is love. Our goal is to be loving and non-judgmental. We
> have trans, same sex loving, black, white, asian, Latino, Native American
> members etc.
>
> 2. Origin and group history
>
> Cheryl has 36 years in ministry, community organizing, and activism, and
> has pastored 3 churches. This is a brand new congregation in formation,
> looking for a place to hold Sunday worship services and committing
> ourselves to social justice activism in the city. There is a board of
> directors of five members, who operate under a shared governance policy. As
> a general rule, Cheryl and at least one of the board representatives will
> meet regarding building issues.
>
> 3. Participation in the Omni
>
> We see the richness of the collective and the opportunity to really
> transform this neighborhood, as well as to bring the community into the
> things that are going on here.
>
> How does your group intend to use the space? What are your needs?
>
> 9-12 on Sundays for services (in the ballroom); an office space if
> available (potentially the room next to Phat Beets; some private space for
> counseling sessions (same room); use of a space every Friday nite for a
> hangout for teens (any available space in Omni. We are willing to be
> flexible about sharing the available spaces with others.
>
> Offering big flat screen TV abt 46" and a floor model big screen t.v. for
> shared use and use with teens for movies, videogames etc. Just brought a
> Hammond B3 Organ to the Omni for shared use. Working on obtaining other
> musical instruments. Brought 6 additional pews to the Omni. We will
> actively conduct a door-to-door campaign to meet neighbors and inform them
> of our presence and find out the needs of the community.
>
> 4. Group finances and paying rent
>
> What does your group do to support itself financially?
>
> Write grants, Sunday offerings, and contributions from supporters What is
> your best plan for contributing your potential share of rent to the Omni?
> Rent $250 - $300 a month to start but we can negotiate an increase once
> revenue generation of the above begins.
>
> 5. Dedicated space
>
> Office desk and filing cabinet.
>
> 6. Other contributions to the Omni
>
> Help with cosmetic maintenance like painting.
>
> We can use our relationship with the Conservation Corps to invite them to
> come in to help on building work.
>
> Help make vending machines now in CCL happen with snacks for the teens who
> come to our Friday night event Work with MPM and BAPS.
>
> Cheryl has a collaboration with Peralta Colleges and would seek to have a
> printing press class. Printing of items and books could serve as a source
> of revenue generation. Young people could could learn and get credi.
>
> Talk to paint store (Frazee) about using their parking lot on Sundays or
> other times.
>
> 7. Additional
> We would be here to be a contributor, not to subtract anything from the
> Omni. If we're not contributing we don't need to exist.
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> consensus mailing list
> consensus at lists.omnicommons.org
> https://omnicommons.org/lists/listinfo/consensus
>
>
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