A Way Forward for a United Methodist Church for Thursday, 5 June 2014

The ongoing debate over homosexuality continues to divide the United Methodist Church. We believe that most of the denomination’s pastors and laity do not want to divide over this issue. The signers of this proposal offer it as one possible way forward, focusing on what United Methodists share in common, and then offering a way to allow us to live with our differences over how we interpret scripture regarding homosexuality, and how we will be a church in ministry with gay and lesbian people. It is a conversation starter, not a perfected conclusion. Join us by endorsing this document. Add your name, title, church, city, and state in the box below.
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A Way Forward for a United Methodist Church
We stand at a crossroads in the United Methodist Church. The ongoing debate over homosexuality continues to divide us. One side believes that the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching. The other side believes that scriptures related to homosexuality are like scriptures related to the subordination of women, violence or the acceptance and regulation of slavery, reflecting the values of the times in which the scriptures were written more than the timeless will of God.
Every four years United Methodists meet for General Conference, devoting much time and energy to the debate over homosexuality. We leave General Conference more divided than ever. Some, believing the current policies of our denomination regarding homosexuals are unjust and do not reflect God’s will, call for a reversal of the language in the Book of Discipline restricting the rights of gay and lesbian people to marry or be ordained. Others suggest that if this were ever to happen, they would have no choice but to leave the denomination.
Some, in frustration with the current impasse, are now violating the Discipline and officiating at weddings for homosexuals. Others, frustrated that the Discipline is being flouted, are now calling for the formal division of the United Methodist Church into two denominations: one that holds that homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching, and which forbids the marriage of homosexual people and the ordination of self-avowed, practicing homosexuals. The other, presumably, would embrace homosexual marriage and ordination.
We, the undersigned, believe the division of the United Methodist Church over this issue would be shortsighted, costly, detrimental to all of our churches, and not in keeping with God’s will.
While some on either side of this issue see only two sides in the debate, a vast majority of our churches are divided on this issue. United Methodists have gay and lesbian children, friends, co-workers and neighbors. A large number of our churches have gay and lesbian members. Our members, like the broader society, are not of one mind on the issue of ordination or marriage for gay and lesbian people, and many find themselves confused about bisexuality and those who are transgender. Most of our churches, regardless of the dominant view of the issue in their congregation, stand to lose members if The United Methodist Church divides into two churches over homosexuality.
We believe the decision to divide the church over homosexuality would be shortsighted. Views on this issue in our society are rapidly changing, yet are far from settled. The February 2014 Pew Research Center poll found that 54% of Americans now favor the right of gay and lesbian people to marry, up from 31% just ten years ago. Among young adults, support for gay marriage is now at 66%.[1] The church does not determine Christian ethics by looking at poll numbers. But, the poll numbers tell us that the people we are trying to reach, and the people in our pews, are divided and shifting on this issue. To form a new denomination primarily based upon opposition to homosexuality would negatively impact that Church’s ministry with 54% of the population, and two-thirds of young adults. Further, a significant majority of young clergy in the United Methodist Church hold a more progressive view on homosexuality. A denomination formed largely due to its opposition to homosexuality may find its ministry to younger adults increasingly difficult in the decades ahead.
We believe that the question of homosexuality is virtually irresolvable at General Conference. Maintaining our current position will force progressives to continue to violate the Discipline as a matter of conscience. Reversing the position at General Conference would force hundreds of thousands of our conservative members to leave the denomination as a matter of conscience, with devastating consequences to many of our churches, and in turn, to our shared mission and ministry together. We believe there is a better way forward than the current impasse or the division of the United Methodist Church.
Paragraphs 201-204 of The Book of Discipline note that the local church is the “most significant arena through which disciple making occurs.” It is “primarily at the level of the local charge…that the church encounters the world,” and “the local church is a strategic base from which Christians move out to the structures of society.” Further, it states that, “Each local church shall have a definite evangelistic, nurture and witness responsibility for its members and the surrounding area…it shall be responsible for ministering to all its members.”
In recent years the General Conference, through the Discipline, has given increasing permission for local churches to organize in ways that are most helpful to the congregation. Further, local churches already determine their own strategies and plans for making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. This leads us to the following suggestion for how we move forward as a denomination:
We propose that the United Methodist Church entrust to each local church the authority to determine how they will be in ministry with gay and lesbian people including whether they will, or will not, allow for homosexual marriages or unions.
Under this plan the current position of the Discipline would become the position of each local church, but a local congregation, at the request of the senior pastor and with a supermajority vote of the members of the congregation and only after a process of prayer, study and discernment, could determine their own position. Churches could vote to adopt a more inclusive policy allowing for homosexuals to be married in their churches and welcoming gay and lesbian clergy. Conversely, they might take the position that their members are “not of one mind” on this issue and therefore postpone any decision until they gained greater clarity on the issue. Doing nothing would mean that they affirm the current disciplinary language. Traditionalist churches around the world would retain the current language in their local congregations. Strongly progressive churches could adopt more inclusive language and practices.
Regarding ordination, in keeping with the current provisions in the Book of Discipline empowering Boards of Ordained Ministry to review candidates for ordination, we suggest that annual conferences be permitted to determine whether they will or will not ordain self-avowed, practicing homosexuals while allowing local churches to determine if they would or would not be willing to receive gay and lesbian clergy. In conferences where the ordination of gay and lesbian people was allowed, they would be held to the same standard heterosexual clergy are held to: fidelity in marriage and celibacy in singleness.
This proposal is, at this point, merely conceptual. There are many questions that must be answered and many details to be worked out. A study team will be working on legislation required to implement this policy. But we believe this concept gives us the best opportunity to address one of the most challenging issues the church faces today, and to do so in a way that honors each local church and reduces the harm that will inevitably come from either dividing the United Methodist Church, or continuing to force all churches to conform to one interpretation of scripture regarding the issue of homosexuality.
What Unites Us as United Methodists
United Methodist congregations already hold different views on how to interpret the scriptures related to homosexuality. They also have different ways of being in ministry with gay and lesbian people. What makes us United Methodists is not our position on homosexuality, but a core set of theological, missional and ministry convictions.
To be United Methodist is to believe, follow and serve Jesus Christ. It is to hold together a passionate and personal evangelical gospel and a serious and sacrificial social gospel. It is to hold together a deep and wide understanding of grace and a call to holiness of heart and life. It is to hold together a faith that speaks to the intellect and a faith that warms the heart. To be United Methodist is to be a people who study and seek to live scripture and who read it with the help of tradition, experience and reason. To be United Methodist is to invite the Spirit’s sanctifying work in our lives to the end that we might love God with all that is within us and love our neighbors as we love ourselves.
United Methodists believe that God’s grace is available to all, not only a predestined “elect.” We believe that God brings good from evil, but we don’t believe that God causes evil. We believe that it’s okay to ask questions and that we’re not meant to check our brains at the door of the church. We find helpful those guidelines we call the General Rules: Refrain from evil, do all the good you can, and do those things which help you grow in love for God. The Covenant Prayer is for us a powerful reminder of what it means to call Jesus Christ Lord: “I am no longer my own, but thine. Put me to what you will…”
United Methodists have at times been called people of the “radical center” or the “extreme center,” holding together the best of each side of the theological divide. It is this ability to hold together the important insights and perspectives of both the left and the right that is exemplified in a church that allows local congregations to hold varied scriptural interpretations on the issue of homosexuality.
We believe the world needs a vital United Methodist Church now more than ever. In an increasingly secular age, the world needs churches that can make an intellectually sound case for the gospel, proclaim a faith that touches the heart, and call Christians to action seeking to help our world look more like the kingdom of God. A vital United Methodism will remember its heritage and mission. It will be deeply devoted to Jesus Christ, and serious about its role as his body – in the world. If it will have a future, it must help gifted young adults to answer God’s call to full time Christian service. And it must focus on both starting new congregations and working to revitalize existing congregations.
By moving the decision-making regarding homosexuality to the local church, we hope to end the rancor, animosity and endless debate that divide our denomination every four years at General Conference. What we propose would allow conservative, centrist and progressive churches to come to their own conclusions regarding this important issue and to focus on how best to minister in their own communities. We will be bound together by what we share in common, rather than posturing to impose our will upon one another in areas where we are so deeply divided.
United Methodists have an approach to the gospel that 21st century people can and will respond to. Our hope is that United Methodists might be united around our common heritage and our theological and missional convictions, so that we might be used by God to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
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A WAY FORWARD SUPPORTERS
These are some of the United Methodist leaders who are supporting this proposal. You can read all the names and search the complete list by name and state below. We will update the page throughout the day with new names. 

• Adam Hamilton, Senior Pastor, The Church of the Resurrection, Leawood, Kansas
• Mike Slaughter, Lead Pastor, Ginghamsburg UMC, Tipp City, Ohio
• David McCallister-Wilson, President, Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington, D.C.
• Dan Johnson, Senior Pastor, Trinity UMC, Gainesville, Florida
• Rudy Rasmus, Senior Pastor, St. John’s UMC, Houston, Texas
• Don Underwood, Senior Pastor, Christ UMC, Plano, Texas
• Deborah McLeod, Senior Pastor, Mandarin UMC, Jacksonville, Florida
• Tom Berlin, Lead Pastor, Floris UMC, Herndon, Virginia
• Ben Disney, Senior Minister, Arborlawn UMC, Fort Worth, Texas
• James Harnish, Senior Pastor, Hyde Park UMC, Tampa, Florida
• Dean Snyder, Senior Pastor, Foundry UMC, Washington, DC
• Ginger Gaines-Cirelli, Senior Pastor, Foundry UMC, Washington, DC
• Catherine Fluck Price, Co-Pastor, Harvest UMC, Bradenton, Florida
• Steven Price, Co-Pastor, Harvest UMC, Bradenton, Florida
• John McKellar, Co-Pastor, White’s Chapel UMC, Southlake, Texas
• Todd Renner, Co-Pastor, White’s Chapel UMC, Southlake, Texas
• Mark Miller, Lead Pastor, Ebenezer UMC, Stafford, Virginia
• Clayton Oliphant, Senior Pastor, First UMC, Richardson, Texas
• Stan Copeland, Senior Pastor, Lover’s Lane UMC, Dallas, Texas
• Andy Stoker, Senior Minister, First UMC, Dallas, Texas
• Steve Harper, Retired Professor and UMC Elder, Winter Springs, Florida
• Luther Henry, Senior Pastor, St. Barnabas UMC, Arlington, Texas
• Jan Davis, Senior Pastor, First UMC Rowlett, Texas
• Mike McCurry, Professor of Public Theology, Wesley Theological Seminary
• Holly Gotelli, Senior Pastor, Flower Mound UMC, Flower Mound, Texas
• Annette Stiles Pendergrass, District Superintendent, Florida Conference
• Kory Knott, Senior Pastor, Custer Road UMC, Plano, Texas
• William Barnes, Co-Lead Pastor, St. Luke’s UMC, Orlando, Florida
• Jennifer Stiles Williams, Co-Lead Pastor, St. Luke’s UMC, Orlando, Florida
• David Adkins, Senior Pastor, First UMC, Round Rock, Texas
• Jack Soper, Senior Pastor, Arapaho UMC, Richardson, Texas
• Donald Wiley, Attorney and Counselor, Dallas, Texas
• Donna Claycomb Sokol, Senior Pastor, Mount Vernon Place UMC, Wash. D.C.
• Ouida Lee, Senior Pastor, United Methodist Church of the Disciple, DeSoto, TX
• Tim Bruster, Senior Pastor, First UMC, Fort Worth, Texas
• Beth Fogle-Miller, Senior Pastor, Memorial UMC, Fernandina Beach, Florida
• Bob Bushong, Senior Pastor, First UMC, Winter Park, Florida
• Peter Moon, Lead Pastor, Woodlake UMC, Midlothian, Virginia
• Steve Ramsdell, Senior Pastor, First UMC, Waco, Texas
• Barbara Miner, Associate Pastor, Floris UMC, Herndon, Virginia
• Charles Parker, Senior Pastor, Metropolitan UMC, Washington, DC
• David Alexander, Directing Pastor, First UMC, Mansfield, Texas
• Philip Rhodes, Senior Pastor, First UMC, Hurst, Texas
• Mike Ramsdell, Senior Pastor, First UMC, Mansfield, Texas
• Tom Robbins, Senior Pastor, First UMC, Temple, Texas
• Chris Mesa, Senior Pastor, Acton UMC, Granbury, Texas
• John Mollet, Senior Pastor, First UMC, Grapevine Texas
• Kendall Soulen, Professor of Systematic Theology, Wesley Theological Seminary
• Will Cotton, Senior Pastor, St. Barnabas UMC, Arlington, Texas
• Brad Brittain, Senior Pastor, Central UMC, Waco, Texas
• Lee Trigg, Senior Pastor, Aledo UMC, Aledo, Texas
• Jim Conner, Senior Pastor, Genesis UMC, Fort Worth, Texas
• Laura Echols-Richter, Executive Minister, Grace Avenue UMC, Frisco, Texas
• Chris Hayes, Lead Pastor, Keller, UMC, Keller, Texas
• Mary Spradlin, Senior Pastor, Arlington Heights UMC, Fort Worth, Texas
• Magrey deVega, Senior Pastor, St. Paul’s UMC, Cherokee, Iowa
• Fred Steinberg, Senior Pastor, Gold Canyon UMC, Gold Canyon, Arizona
• James Howell, Senior Pastor, Myers Park UMC, Charlotte, North Carolina
• Ric Shewell, Lead Pastor, St. Paul’s UMC, Idaho Falls, Idaho
• Jim Cantrell, Senior Pastor, Snellville UMC, Snellville, Georgia
• Brady Whitton, Senior Pastor, First UMC, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
• Kandace Brooks, Senior Pastor, Tomoka UMC, Ormond Beach, Florida
• Duane Anders, Lead Pastor, Cathedral of the Rockies, Boise, Idaho
• Junius Dotson, Senior Pastor, Saint Mark UMC, Wichita, Kansas
• Jack Stephenson, Senior Pastor, Anona UMC, Largo, Florida
• Young Bong Kim, Lead Pastor, Korean UMC, McLean, Virginia
• Kah-Jin Jeffrey Kuan, President, Claremont School of Theology, California
• Chuck Simmons, Senior Pastor, Memorial Drive UMC, Houston, Texas
• Brian Brown, District Superintendent, West Ohio Conference
• Elizabeth Van Hees, Connections Chair, Simpsonwood UMC, Atlanta, Georgia
• Kim Fields, Assistant to the Bishop, Oregon Idaho Conference
• William Taylor, District Superintendent, Texas Annual Conference
• Greg Weeks, Senior Pastor, Manchester UMC, St. Louis, Missouri
• Craig Brown, Lead Pastor, First UMC, San Diego, California
• David McEntire, Senior Pastor 1st UMC, Lakeland, Florida
• Kip Larson, Senior Pastor, Asbury UMC, Birmingham, Alabama
• John Robbins, Senior Pastor, Central UMC, Fayetteville, Arkansas
• Mark Flynn, Senior Pastor, Christ UMC, Chattanooga, Tennessee
• Stephan Ross, Vital Church Coordinator, Oregon-Idaho Conference
• Edward “Ned” Hill II, Senior Pastor, Edenton St. UMC, Raleigh, North Carolina
• Gwen Drake, District Superintendent, Crater Lake District, Eugene, Oregon
• Jody Topping, Senior Pastor, Faith UMC, Phoenix, Arizona
• Peg Lofsvold, District Superintendent, Cascadia District, Salem, Oregon
• Patrick Scriven, Director of Communications, Pacific Northwest Conference
• Robert Hasley, Senior Pastor, St. Andrews UMC, Plano, Texas
• R. Duane Thopmson, Senior Pastor, Christ UMC, Bethel Park, Pennsylvania
• Beth Anderson, Pastor, Bermuda Hundred UMC, Chester, Virginia
• Andy Oliver, Director of Communications, Reconciling Ministries, Florida
• Kevin Young, Senior Pastor, St. John’s UMC, Lubbock, Texas
• Michael Pestel, Senior Pastor, Sanlando UMC, Longwood, Florida
• R.G. Lyons, Pastor, Community Church without Walls UMC, Birmingham, Alabama
• Matt Lacey, Senior Pastor, Church of the Reconciler UMC, Birmingham, Alabama
• R. Brandon Harris, Pastor, Avondale UMC, Birmingham, Alabama
• Johan Dodge, Lead Pastor, San Pedro UMC, San Pedro, California
• Rosario Picardo, Lead Pastor, Embrace Church UMC, Lexington, Kentucky
• Lisa Schubert Nowling, Senior Pastor, College Avenue UMC, Muncie, Indiana
• Chris Bryant, Lead Pastor, City On A Hill UMC, Woodstock, Georgia
• Scott Chrostek, Campus Pastor, Resurrection Downtown, Kansas City, Missouri
• Johnson Dodla, Senior Pastor, Exton UMC, Exton, Pennsylvania
• Wade Griffith, Senior Pastor, Liberty Crossings UMC, Birmingham, Alabama
• Michelle Bodle, Pastor, Roseville/Mainesburg UM Parish, Mansfield, Pennsylvania
• Sarah Slack, Pastor, Chilhowie and Seven Mile Ford UMC’s, Chilhowie, Virginia
• Will Cantrell, Pastor, Lebanon Memorial UMC, Lebanon, Virginia
• Lane Davis, Associate Pastor, Dunwoody UMC, Atlanta, Georgia
• Andrew Amodei, Senior Pastor, Cherokee UMC, Johnson City, Tennessee
• Amanda Richards, Senior Pastor, The United Church of Heyworth, Heyworth, Illinois
• Meredith McNabb, Associate Pastor, Grace UMC, Manassas, Virginia
• Courtney McHill, Pastor, McMinnville, Oregon
• Derek Rogers, Lead Pastor, Faith UMC, Polo, Illinois
• A.J. Thomas, Lead Pastor, Morehead UMC, Greensboro, North Carolina
• Wendy Lyons Chrostek, Pastor, Church of the Resurrection, Leawood, Kansas
• Britt Skarda, Senior Pastor, Pulaski Heights UMC, Little Rock, Arkansas
• Bob Farr, Director of Congregational Excellence, Missouri Annual Conference
• Jay Clark, Pastor with Youth/Families, Pulaski Heights UMC, Little Rock, Arkansas
• Jacob Lynn, Pastor of Preaching/Mission, Pulaski Heights UMC, Little Rock, Arkansas
• Matt Smith, Co-Pastor, The Table at Central UMC, Sacramento, California
• Juan Huertas, Senior Pastor, St. John's UMC, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
• Laura Fine Ledford, Associate Director of Ministerial Relations, North Carolina Conference
• William (B.T.) Gilligan, Pastor, Harrisville UMC, Harrisville, Pennsylvania
• Eric Lee, Founding Pastor, The Bridge UMC, Cartersville, Georgia
• Brad Dulaney, Senior Pastor, Redwood UMC, Rocky Mount, Virginia
• Allen Zugelter, Lead Pastor, Liberty UMC, Liberty, Missouri
• Blair Thompson, Frontenac UMC, Frontenac, Kansas
• Don Hanshew, Pastor, Holston View UMC, Weber City, Virginia
• Will Lauderback, Associate Pastor, First Broad Street UMC, Kingsport, Tennessee
• Jack Hinnen, Chaplain, Birmingham-Southern College, Birmingham, Alabama
• David D. Hood, Lead Pastor, Shiloh UMC, Cincinnati, Ohio
• Jenny Smith, Saint John UMC, Anchorage, Alaska
• Greg Moore, Lead Pastor, All Saints' UMC, Raleigh, North Carolina
• Bill Liming, Pastor, Tallmadge UMC, Tallmadge, Ohio
• Matt Horan, Seminole Heights UMC, Tampa, Florida
• Brady Johnston, Senior Pastor, Bethesda UMC, Weatherford, Texas
• DJ del Rosario, Lead Pastor, Bothell UMC, Bothell, Washington
• Kimberly Brown Montenegro, Senior Pastor, First UMC, Tracy, California
• Keith A. Jenkins, Retired Elder, Texas Annual Conference
• Vic Nixon, Pastor Emeritus, Pulaski Heights UMC, Little Rock, Arkansas
• Lynn Lindsey, Associate Pastor, Pulaski Heights UMC, Little Rock, Arkansas
• Belinda Price, Associate Pastor, Pulaski Heights UMC, Little Rock, Arkansas
• William Humes, Pastor, First UMC, Pottstown, PA
• Ted Chalk, pastor, Richmond First, Richmond, In.
• John Gilmore, Pastor, Gordon UMC, Gordon, Ohio
• Matthew M. Williams, Lead Pastor, Everglades Community UMC, Pembroke Pines, Florida
• Cara Scriven, Senior Pastor, Redmond UMC, Redmond, WA
• Brittany Burrows, Director, The Wesley Foundation at the University of Texas at Dallas
• Maxine Clarke Beach, emerita Dean Drew Theological
• Trey Hall, Co-Lead Pastor, Urban Village Church, Chicago, Illinois
• Teri Tobey, Program Associate for Young People's Ministries, Pacific Northwest Conference
• Joshua Clough, Koehmana UMC, Kailua, Oahu, Hawaii
• John Martin, Adirondack Community Church, Lake Placid, NY
• Gordon Pruitt, Pastor, St. Matthew's UMC, Richmond, Virginia
• Lauren Godwin, Sand Hill UMC, Williamstown, West Virginia
• Jad Denmark, Associate Pastor, St. Luke's UMC, Orlando, Florida
• Gregory Gross, Deacon, Berry UMC, Chicago, IL
• Dalton Rushing, Senior Pastor, North Decatur United Methodist Church, Decatur, Georgia
• Carolyn Peterson, Discipleship Pastor, First UMC, Olympia, WA
• Sara Jones, Faith in Action Chair, Urban Village Church Andersonville, Chicago, IL
• Annette Bolds , Pastor, Dravosburg and West Side United Methodist churches, Pittsburgh, Pa
• Jesus Molina Local Pastor Out of the Box ministry UMC, Melrose Pk IL
• Linda Dew-Hiersoux, Co-Pastor, The Table at Central UMC, Sacramento, California
• David Nichols, Lay Member, Oklahoma Annual Conference
• David Fuquay, Conf. Director of Collegiate Ministry, Florida Conference
• Leslie Ann Knight, Pastor, Fircrest UMC, Fircrest, WA
• Jack Seymour, Professor of Religious Education, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, Evanston,IL
• Gerald Casson, Wesley Memorial UMC, Johnson City, TN
• Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield, Deacon, Baltimore-Washington Conference, Washington, DC
• Melissa Hood, Lead Pastor, Roselle UMC, Roselle, Illinois
• Shirley Macemon, Pastor, Sunnyhills UMC, Milpitas, CA
• Steve Tollefson, Amity Campus Pastor First United Methodist Church Boise Idaho
• Jerri Walker,Executive Director,Cathedral of the Rockies, Boise,Idaho
• Bryan Bucher, Lead Pastor, Community UMC, Lima OH.
• Caleb Murphree/Associate Director of Congregational Development/Northern Illinois Conference/Chicago/Illinois
• Joseph Boggs, Bringhurst UMC, Bringhurst, IN
• Jim Bankston, Retired Clergy, Texas Annual Conference
• Rev. Sara Tate, Pastor, Ridgely First United Methodist Church and Cunningham Ext. Ministry, Ridgely, Tennessee
• Clay Andrew, Senior Pastor, Hillsboro UMC, Hillsboro, Oregon
• Stephan Ross, Vital Church Project Director, Oregon Idaho Conference, Portland, Oregon
• Stephanie Henry, Laity, Fayetteville UMC, Fayetteville, NY and United Parish-Brookline, Brookline, MA
• Rob Spencer, Senior Pastor, First UMC, Paris Texas
• Sue Whitt, Retired, Memphis, TN
• Twila Gibbens Lead Pastor St. Paul's Tulsa Oklahoma
• Scott Spencer, Pastor, Albright UMC, Ponca City, OK
• Emily Hagan, Pastor, First United Methodist Church, Berthoud, Colorado
• Kevin Veitinger, Pastor, The Foundery and SCAD Wesley Foundation, Savannah, GA
• Kyle Cuperwich, Senior Pastor, Bernardsville and Gladstone UMCs, Bernardsville and Gladstone, New Jersey
• Vicki Walker, Missions Minister, Hyde Park UMC, Tampa, Fl.
• John Carl Hastings, Pastor, Hargrove Memorial UMC/St. Paul UMC, Tuscaloosa, AL
• Eun-Hye Choi, lead pastor, Plainfield UMC, Plainfield, IL
• Sandy Rector, Senior Pastor, Oak Chapel UMC, Silver Spring, MD
• Christopher A. Henderson-Johns, Lead Pastor, Mt. Moriah UMC, Cincinnati, Ohio
• Nicole Henderson-Johns, Senior Pastor, Batavia Faith UMC, Cincinnati, Ohio
• Adam King, Director of Discipleship, Regester Chapel UMC, Stafford, VA
• Justin Halbersma, Associate Pastor, Wesley United Methodist Church, Winona, MN
• Jane Eesley, Senior Pastor, Christ UMC, Rockford, Illinois
• Tori Hastings, Pastor, Druid Hills/Holt UMC, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
• Stacey Rushing, Senior Pastor, University Heights UMC, Decatur, GA
• Sarah Campbell, Senior Pastor, First UMC, Inverness, FL
• Ben Gosden, Senior Pastor, Aldersgate UMC, Savannah GA
• Sylvia Nierling/Cathedral of the Rockies/Boise, ID
• Joel Zimmerman, Lay Servant, Shell Lake UMC, Shell Lake, WI
• Nola Jean Ernest, active member, Parl Memorial UMC, Troy, Alabama
• Holly McNeill, member, First United Methodist Church of West Dundee, IL
• Joe Openshaw, Active Member, Discovery UMC, Bessemer, Alabama
• David Barnhart, Pastor, Saint Junia UMC, Birmingham, Alabama
• Jonathan Altman/Mississippi Conference/Gulfport/Mississippi
• Allison Byerley, Pastor, Hawkins UMC, Hawkins, TX
• Jim Walker, Layperson, Church of the Reconciler, Birmingham Alabama
• Barbara Nixon, Senior Pastor, Hillview United Methodist Church, Boise, Idaho
• Br. Anthony Ormsbee, OSL, Wesley Memorial UMC Huntsville, TX
• Norman Suggs, Retired Elder, Central Texas Conference
• Mary C. Foote, OR-ID Annual Conference Lay Leader
• Kirkland Reynolds, Senior Pastor, Chevy Chase UMC, Chevy Chase, Maryland
• Frank Trotter, Retired, Towson, Maryland
• Timothy J. Bagwell, Director of New and Revitalized Congregational Development, South Georgia Annual Conference, Macon, Georgia
• Jason Morris, Associate Pastor, Christ UMC, Lafayette, IN
• Adam Barlow-Thompson, Associate Pastor, Woodlawn United Methodist Church, Derby, Kansas
• Ashley Barlow-Thompson, Deacon, Andover United Methodist Church, Andover Kansas
• Bryant Oskvig, Extension Minister, Baltimore-Washington Conference, Silver Spring, Maryland
• Austin Hoyle, associate pastor of Parkway Hills UMC, Madison, MS
• Renato Magno, member, Kingswood United Methodist Church, Buffalo Grove, IL
• Beth Rambikur, Senior Pastor, First United Methodsit Church, Tucson, Arizona
• Jeri Dotson Silfies, Aloha UMC, Oregon
• Brian Sutton, Director of Youth Ministries and Community Life, College Hill UMC, Wichita, Ks.
• Kent H. Little, Senior Pastor, College Hill UMC, Wichita, Kansas
• Mike Weaver, Senior Pastor, Christ UMC, Leesburg, Florida
• David Averill, Associate Pastor, First UMC, Gainesville, Florida
• Matt Weiler Pastor Sunnyside UMC Kalamazoo Michigan
• Julie Macpherson, Senior Pastor, First UMC, Sachse, Texas
• Cara Weiler, Deacon, Sunnyside UMC, Kalamazoo, Michigan
• Dylan Ward, Senior Pastor, Adair United Methodist Church, Adair, Oklahoma
• Andy Tyler, Pastor, First UMC, Hico, Texas
• Jeremy Squires, :Lead Pastor, Good Shepherd UMC Hendersonville, TN
• Heath Bradley, Campus Minister, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
• Keri LaBrant/Certified Deacon Candidate/Largo, FL
• Jay Voorhees, Senior Pastor, City Road United Methodist Church
• Rose Martin, member, Hazel Crest United Methodist, Hazel Crest, IL
• Harry Vein, Lead Pastor, Faith UMC, Spring, Texas
• Wendy Joy Woodworth, Senior Pastor, Morningside UMC, Salem, Oregon
• Bill Gary, Central UMC, Phoenix, Arizona
• Jarell Wilson, Seminarian, Servant Church - Austin, Texas
• Jo Dene Romeijn-Stout, Pastor, Sunrise UMC, Federal Way, Washington, Pacific Northwest Conf.
• Roberta Egli, Pastor, Trinity UMC, Eugene, Oregon
• Kaiya Kershaw, Associate Pastor, First UMC, Colleyville, TX
• Sarah Ott. St. Paul's UMC Idaho Falls,ID
• David McMinn, Campus Pastor, Tarleton Wesley, Stephenville, TX
• Brenda Sene, Senior Pastor, Trinity UMC, Idaho Falls, Idaho
• Manuel Islas, Theo Student at Drew University and UMC Member, Madison, New Jersey
• Elyssa Gooding, member of Guam UMC, regular attendee of Boise First UMC
• John Bell, Senior Pastor, Wesley UMC, Aurora, Illinois
• Debra McKnight, Associate Pastor, First United Methodist Church, Omaha, Nebraska
• Devin Lyles, Pastor, The Pillar, Rochester, NY
• Jonathan Coward, Sr High Youth Director, Centennial UMC, Roseville, Minnesota
• Suzanne Cate, retired Minister of Music/worship, CTCUMC, Granbury, Tx
• Matthew D. Crane, Member, Cathedral of the Rockies, Boise, Idaho
• Margaret Lirones, member, Corcoran First UMC, Corcoran, California
• John Oda, Lead Pastor, Lake Park UMC, Oakland, California
• Steve Sprecher, retired clergy, Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference
• Jason Bryant, Senior Pastor, Callaway Cooperative Parish, Callaway VA
• Tanya Velasquez, Stillwater UMC, Dayton, Ohio
• Karen Shimer, Senior Pastor, Canby UMC, Canby, Oregon
• Sarah Kalkwarf/director of children's and youth ministry/st. Paul's UMC/Idaho falls,ID
• Cindy Karges, Senior Pastor, Grace UMC, Hastings, Nebraska
• Randa D'Aoust, Retired Clergy, El Cajon, CA
• Karen McGillivray, laity, First UMC Newberg, OR
• Nancy Goyings, Retired Clergy, El Cajon, CA
• Kelly Love, Pastor, Davis UMC, Davis, CA
• Elizabeth Quick, Co-Pastor, Liverpool First United Methodist Church, Liverpool, NY
• Melissa Meyers, Lead Pastor, Faith United Methodist Church, Genoa, IL
• Jerry Steele, Senior Pastor, Cottage Grove UMC, Cottage Grove, Oregon
• Nate Melcher, Associate Pastor, Hennepin Avenue UMC, Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Karen Powell, Pastor, Fortville First, Indiana
• Chris Tiedeman, Senior Pastor, Forest UMC, Forest, Indiana
• Ken Ehrman, Field Education Coordinator, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, Evanston, Illinois
• Michael Anthony Howard, Pastor, Trinity UMC, Rahway, New Jersey
• Enoch Hendry, Senior Pastor, Trinity Church, Savannah, Georgia
• Tom Harkrider, Central Texas Assoc. Conf. Lay Leader, Arborlawn UMC, Fort Worth, Texas
• Christi Blake, Praise Team Music Dir, FUMC West Memphis, Ar
• J.J. Whitney, Associate Chaplain, Hendrix College, Conway, Arkansas
• Scott Mann, Senior Pastor, Christ United Methodist, Lafayette, Indiana
• Katherine Owen, worship chairperson, Clemson UMC, Clemson SC
• Lonnie Chafin, Conference Treasurer, Northern Illinois Conference, Chicago, IL
• Andrew Suite, Youth Minister, Lakewood UMC, North Little Rock, Arkansas
• Thomas Risager, Senior Pastor, Odense Metodistkirke/UMC Odense, Odense, Denmark
• Beth Givens, Pastor, Welborne UMC, Richmond, VA
• Phyllis R. Earley, Lead Pastor, Trinity UMC, Alexandria, Virginia
• Lisa Bandel, Senior Pastor, Davidsonville UMC, Davidsonville, MD
• Pamela Clark Egan, Senior Pastor, Sleepy Hollow UMC, Falls Church, Virginia
• Marie Smith pastor of Clough UMC Cincinnati Ohio
• John Baldwin, Senior Pastor, First UMC, Celina, TX
• Kelly Karges, Pastor, Doniphan & Rosedale UMCs, Doniphan, Nebraska
• Elise Erikson Barrett, UMC Elder, Spartanburg, South Carolina
• Leslie Long, Associate Professor of Religious Education, Oklahoma City University, OKlahoma
• Wayne Snead, Senior Pastor,Galilee UMC, Sterling, Va
• Byron E. Brought, Senior Pastor, Friendship UMC, Friendship, Maryland
• John E. Harnish, Retired clergy, Detroit Conference
• Kyle Bryan, Pastor, Cedar Hill UMC, Leesburg, Alabama
• Tony Rosenberger, Lead Pastor, Community of Faith, Davenport, FL
• Sara Manner, Senior Pastor, Beverley Hills Community UMC, Alexandria, Virginia
• Adam Brown, member, Highland Valley UMC, Little Rock, Arkansas
• Mark Ogren, Director of Congregational Excellence, Virginia Annual Conference
• David Thompson Emmett/Sweet UMC, Emmett, IDaho
• Dianne Wilkinson, Laity, Benton UMC, Benton, Louisiana
• Adam Zele, Senior Pastor, First UMC,Bradenton, FL
• Thomas R. Steagald, Senior Pastor, Hawthorne Lane United Methodist Church, Charlotte, NC
• Sandra Huling, Member, Coraopolis UMC, Coraopolis, PA
• Tita Parham, Laity, St. Luke's United Methodist Church, Orlando, Florida
• Tom Buckley, Pastor, Trinity UMC, Ralston, Nebraska
• Harold Hughes, Social Justice Coordinator, Quapaw Quarter UMC, Little Rock, Ar
• Matt Barlow, Local Pastor, Cottbus and Eberswalde, Germany
• Jamie Norwich McLennan, Lead Pastor, New Visions Community UMC, Lincoln Nebraska
• William Lipp, retired, St.Junia, Birmingham,Alabama
• Tim Ward, Associate Pastor, Floris United Methodist Church, Herndon, VA
• Rev Dr Beth LaRocca-Pitts, Sr. Pastor, Saint Mark UMC, Atlanta Ga
• Brad Corban, Pastor, Court Street UMC, Hattiesburg, Mississippi
• Heather Harding, Pastor, City Road UMC, Henderson, North Carolina
• Jason Valendy, Co-Senior Pastor, Saginaw UMC, Saginaw, Texas
• Zachary Wheat, Certified Candidate Northeast District, Memorial UMC, Fernandina Beach, Florida
• Justin Elliott Lowe, Lead Pastor, Community UMC, North Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
• Martha Stokes, Director of Lay Leadership Excellence, VA Conference, Glen Allen VA
• Jim Rogers, Warwick Memorial UMC, Newport News, VA
• Mike Tupper, Pastor, Parchment UMC, Parchment, MI
• Margie Turbyfill, Director, A. Purnell Bailey Pre-ministerial Program, Ashland, Virginia
• Timothy Drum II, Senior Pastor, Brown Summit/Friendship UMC Charge, Mc Leansville, NC
• J. Ernie Turney,Pastor, Bering Memorial UMC, Houston,TX
• Deborah Riggsby, Senior Pastor, Trinity UMC Duncanville, TX
• David Tinney, Senior Pastor of Vancouver First UMC, Vancouver, WA
• Rev. Kevin Wright, Co- Pastor Converge: DC UMC, Washington D.C.
• Karen Gossett, Worship Arts Administrator, Arborlawn United Methodist Church, Fort Worth, Texas
• Ethan Gregory, Certified Candidate for Ministry, Arborlawn UMC, Fort Worth, TX
• Russell Butler, Co-Pastor, Arvada UMC, Arvada, Co
• Lee Anne Venable, Deaconess, Ingleside UMC, Baton Rouge, LA
• Ric Olson, Senior Pastor, St. Luke UMC, Sheboygan, WI
• Ashley Allen, Associate Pastor, Floris UMC, Herndon, VA
• Matt Nelson, Minister, Inman Park UMC, Atlanta, Georgia
• C. G. Walden, Minister of Music, Dunwoody UMC, Dunwoody, GA
• Laura Jaissle, Pastor, Lakewood UMC, Lakewood, Ohio
• Ray Altman, Associate Pastor, First UMC, Kenville, Texas
• Rachel Billups, Executive Pastor of Discipleship, Ginghamsburg Church, Trip City, Ohio
• David Hamlyn, Pastor, Friendship UMC, Western North Carolina Conference
• David Hutchison, Lead Pastor, Faith UMC, Kansas City, Missouri
• Dale G. Tremper, Retired Elder, Travis Park UMC, San Antonio, TX
• Jennifer Lucas, Senior Pastor, Water's Edge UMC, Mason, Ohio
• Barbara Chancey, Arborlawn United Methodist Church, Fort Worth, TX
• David Dodge, Assistant to the Bishop, Florida Conference
• Janet Lutz, Retired Elder, North Georgia AnnualConference, living in Evanston , IL
• Stephanie Ahlschwede, Pastor, South Gate UMC, Lincoln Nebraska
• Mike Bennett, Senior Pastor, Rehoboth UMC, Williamsport, MD
• Katie McKay Simpson, Executive Associate, First UMC, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
• Brigitte T. French, Senior Pastor, CrossRoads UMC, Collierville, Tennessee
• Patricia Kelley, Retired Elder, Alliance, NE
• Katie Donaldson, member, Epworth UMC, Arlington, TX
• Christa Teasley, member, Watkinsville First UMC. Watkinsville, Georgia
• Katie Goetz, family leave, California-Nevada Annual Conference
• Ted A. Campbell, Associate professor, Perkins School of Theology SMU, Dallas, Texas
• Reagin Brown, Retired Clergy, North Alabama Conference, Cullman, Al
• Diana Holbert, Senior Pastor Emerita, Grace UMC, Dallas, Texas
• T. Bryson Smith, Pastor, Fieldstone UMC, Christiansburg, Virginia
• Craig Kocher, University Chaplain, University of Richmond, UM elder, Western North Carolina
• Shirley Watkins, co director Kids Hope USA, Arborlawn UMC, Fort Worth TX
• Cody J. Schuler, Pastor, the Gathering UMC, Fargo, ND
• Steven K. Pulliam, Sr. Associate Pastor, Central United Methodist Church, Fayetteville, Arkansas
• Hal Cowart. Retired Elder, St. Paul's UMC, Tucson, Arizona
• Harry Kennon, Retired Pastor, Charlottesville, VA
• Timothy J. Forbess, VP for Development, United Theological Seminary
• Tim Powers, Pastor, First United Methodist Church, Griffith, Indiana
• Dwight Judy, Professor Emeritus of Spiritual Formation, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, Evanston, IL
• Cody J. Schuler, the Gathering UMC, Fargo, ND
• Kay Hereford Voorhees, Pastor, Ruth Ensor Memorial UMC, Old Hickory, TN
• Mary Beth Hardesty-Crouch, Senior Pastor, Vista Ridge United Methodist Church, Lewisville, Texas
• Rhoda Pittman Markus, Deacon in Full Connection, Retired, Forest Grove UMC, Forest Grove, Oregon
• Jeannie Harper, member, FUMC of Oviedo, FL
• Susan Essary, Charter Membet, Arborlawn UMC, Fort Worth, Texas
• Jack R. Shelton, Retired Clergy, Houston, Texas
• Rev. Dr. Lynn Pries, retired elder, Northern Illinois Conference
• Dory Johnson, member, LLUMC, Dallas, TX
• Zach Anderson, Pastor, Hanscom Park UMC, Omaha, Nebraska
• Janessa Chastain, Associate Pastor, St. Paul's UMC, Tucson AZ
• Patricia Watson, Lead Pastor, Epworth UMC, Cockeysville, MD
• Amy McCullough, Lead Pastor, Grace United Methodist Church
• Deb Aggen, CUMC, North Fond du Lac, WI
• Dyton L. Owen, First UMC, Lexington, NE.
• Thomas E. Sagendorf, Retired Elder, Hamilton, IN
• Adolf Hansen, Theologian in Residence, St. Luke's United Methodist Church, Indianapolis, IN
• Meredith Lindgren, Lay Servant, Wesley UMC, Aurora, IL
• Margery Marzahn Ambrosius, laity, Saint Paul UMC, Lincoln, Nebraska
• Kirk Nave, Pastor, Braddock Street United Methodist Church, Winchester, VA
• Martha Ambrose, Pastor, Silverbrook UMC, Lorton, Virginia
• Stephen Griffith, Associate Pastor, Saint Paul UMC, Lincoln, NE
• Dianne Schayot, First UMC, Dallas, TX

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