Thriving in a Complex WorldKinship Kampmeeting 2026
- Carolyn & John Wilt
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
As Carolyn and I connect around the world with Kinship families, friends, and rainbow members we realize how complex this world really is and how complicated each persons local space can be. Their landscapes range from ocean and beautiful beaches to tall steep mountains with colorful meadows, streams and waterfalls. Others share about their farms, ranches and busy towns and cities and woven into those sharing their local customs, languages, and religious complications.
When we read or discuss the various challenges our members encounter with their local environment of opinions, local laws, and religious beliefs we quickly discover just how complex everyone’s “world” really is. Fortunately, or unfortunately Carolyn and I grew up and live in the western portion of our United States where variations in feelings, opinions, and beliefs are all accepted. We’ve had fun and broad discussions with personal friends, pastors and even Conference members where we share and explore different ideas, thoughts, and opinions.
Although we publicly may have different opinions we feel that many of our faith leaders desire to protect and support our rainbow families. It’s unfortunate that they can’t publicly share their personal love and support but welcome to our complex faith “political” complex world. Personally Carolyn and I sense the challenges and compilations of creating safe communication paths for our needing families. We sense the needs of understanding and adjusting personal beliefs.
We lovingly share our personal journey with our gay son. We were naive and didn’t recognize his personal gay orientations. I, dad, had never considered the fact that Aric was gay. I was truly very naive. Together, after we had spent some personal time with Aric and his east coast “gay appearing” roommates Carolyn and I were flying back to California and we started exploring our thoughts and feelings. We spent several months reading and exploring information, details, and faith opinions.
Carolyn was a life long Seventh-day Adventist, but we loved our son - he was biologically part of both of us and certainly a vibrant and real part of our family. So when we helped him out of his closet we warmly hugged him and immediately stated that he was loved, welcomed and part of our family no matter what other friends and family may feel.
Sometimes “we” SDA members and even Kinship supporters spend too much time trying to understand and focus on changing other folks thoughts and opinions. Carolyn and I feel that we need to explore and focus on how we can support and help each other - families and their rainbow members thrive and grow in understanding, acceptance and support of each other.
SDA Kinship has strong desires to flourish and grow with understanding and acceptance of every rainbow member and their family. Let’s double the size and purpose of SDA Kinship. Everyone of you, member or family needs to feel welcome and safe. Each of you can help us flourish and move forward after you personally have explored and discovered the value of friendship and acceptance.
An interesting definition of “thriving” is “spreading like wildfire” - No we don’t want to damage our beautiful forests, but Carolyn and I often drive through many miles of destroyed forest and it’s encouraging to see the new wild flowers - the new shrubbery - the new young trees sprouting in the bare desolate land. No we aren’t recommending that we destroy our Seventh-day Adventist faith - it has many good wild flowers and trees - but we are suggesting it’s OK to remove the poisonous trees and shrubbery that bruise families and their rainbow members.
Let’s thrive and flourish with personal growth, knowledge, and acceptance of all of our family and neighbors. Jesus often shared about loving and accepting “your neighbor” no matter their beliefs.
Come and join us in Maryland for our 2026 Kinship Kampmeeting as we personally explore “Thriving in a Complex World” together. Carolyn and I look forward to personally connecting with many of you.
Come and thrive with us in our complex real world !!!
Carolyn & John Wilt, Kinship Families & Friends
