Dear Members and Friends,

We recently received a thank you note from Rev. Jami Yandle of Ohio who helped lead a movement to change our Second Source to make it more gender neutral and also include people of all ages.

In the Second Source, words and deeds of prophetic women and men, now simply says prophetic people:

“Words and deeds of prophetic people which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion, and the transforming power of love;”

Rev. Yandle’s note to the Prairie Board of Trustees reads:

I am writing to thank you for being one of the 15 ‘sponsoring congregations’ which helped pass an amendment to our bylaws Article II section C-2.1. I began this initiative over two years ago with a goal of updating our Second Source language, from the portion which read ‘prophetic women and men,’ to be replaced by ‘prophetic people.’ The update is now inclusive of children and youth, as well as persons of all gender identities and expressions.

The initiative had to first be approved by 15 congregations at board level; Richard Lubchenco was successful in completing the paperwork, making your congregation a sponsoring congregation. The initiative was then placed on the business agenda at General Assembly ’17, where it passed preliminary vote thanks to our delegates. It then passed final vote at GA ’18 and has since been updated.

A big thank you to your leadership and Rev. Kierstin Homblette Allen, who helped get the word out in the Colorado area. Thanks so much for helping change our Second Source!

— Jami Yandle