RMN Western Jurisdiction - July Update with Rev. Dr. Israel Alvaran What's next?! for Monday, 6 July 2015
Our summer of love, moving us forward!
The month of June just zipped by, but what a month it has been! The Spirit of Love was in full effect in many of our Annual Conference sessions, at various Pride events, and in recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions lifting up marriage equality, health care, and housing rights. In contrast, we continue to be confronted with acts rooted in hate and discrimination such as the massacre of parishioners in South Carolina. But with grace, love triumphs in the end!
I had the privilege to visit with Reconciling United Methodists in five Annual Conference sessions. Across the jurisdiction, we had Reconciling fellowship meals, marched at Pride parades, passed resolutions for full inclusion, and engaged in various acts of Biblical Obedience. Some of our southern conferences had dramatic advances toward full inclusion: Kansas-Nebraska, Florida, and Virginia. We have bishops speaking hopeful words in support of marriage equality: Bishop Warner Brown, Bishop Sally Dyck, and Bishop Bob Hoshibata. I believe we have momentum for more effective witness, pushing us forward as we "Gather at the River" in San Antonio next month, and advocate at General Conference 2016 in Portland.
What's next? While marriage equality is now the law of the land in the United States, this is not true in The United Methodist Church. We still need to advocate for non-discrimination laws related to employment, housing, and health care. We still need to struggle against racism, homophobia/transphobia, and economic inequality in our communities. Injustice is a multi-headed hydra, and we need to work toward systemic change. Let's start with signing up more Reconciling United Methodists! This summer of love moves us forward!
Nothing can separate us from the love of God!
Rev. Dr. Israel I. Alvaran
Western Jurisdiction Organizer
Phone: 312-488-5313
izzy@rmnetwork.org
See you in San Antonio TX!
Join Progressive United Methodists on August 6-9, 2015 in San Antonio, TX
As of my last count, we have nearly 150 participants coming from the Western Jurisdiction! I believe that with the excitement of marriage equality and positive responses from some of our southern conferences, we can rally more people to attend. If you have financial needs, please challenge your congregation to send you as a representative. Invite others as well!
The Gather at the River event is jointly sponsored by RMN and Methodist Federation for Social Action, together with other affinity groups and caucuses in our church. Gather at the River promises to be an oasis of education and fellowship for progressive and Reconciling United Methodists. We encourage you and your local church to share resources for scholarships to enable many to attend, especially transgender persons, LGBTQ young adults and people of color. Consider donating money for scholarships here. See you in San Antonio, TX!
Check out the incredible line-up of Gather workshops!
Organize a Summer RUM Sign-Up Drive!
Goal for 2015: 1,000 new Reconciling United Methodists in the WJ
Signed up from January - June 2015: 370
(not counting those signed up at annual conference sessions)
Numbers by Conference
19 - Alaska
111 - California-Nevada
69 - California-Pacific
29 - Desert Southwest
15 - Oregon-Idaho
81 - Pacific Northwest
45 - Rocky Mountain
1 - Yellowstone
Maybe, your Church is Reconciling. Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are welcome, and you make your stand public through signs, messages in your bulletins, and public advertising. You wonder, do we really need to talk about this again?
Maybe your church has been Reconciling for many years, you have focused on many social justice issues, and have not celebrated or publicized your commitment to full inclusion in a while. You wonder, are we still a Reconciling church? How can I get my fellow leaders involved? What can we do in our local community to be part of the movement for full inclusion?
Maybe your church is tired. The economy is still pretty shaky, things are always changing and it feels like one more leak in the roof will bring the entire church to ruin. Maybe membership has declined, or the neighborhood is changing. You know this is a vital part of the congregation’s identity, but you are not sure how to get people excited again?
Maybe you are a pastor at a reconciling church, and you’re not sure what this is all about, or you are a lay leader and you are not sure if your new pastor supports your church’s traditional fully inclusive hospitality. You want to have a dialogue about inclusion, or at least find out if the church is still hospitable, and you want to know, how do we talk about full inclusion again after all this time?
Maybe your church is active in community work for marriage and full protections for persons of sexual and gender minorities. Lay and clergy leaders are active in United Methodist annual conference, district and general events to help change United Methodist Policy, and you want to know, what's next?
Maybe it’s time to hold a RUM Drive. Download materials here.
Learning Opportunities Coming Up!
Register Now! "Building an Inclusive Church" Workshops
Do you want to help increase the number of Reconciling churches, communities and campus ministries? Please join us at one of our upcoming trainings to make a difference locally. In the past year we trained over 250 United Methodists on how to be Reconciling Process Coaches.
RMN has identified over 500 prospective Reconciling congregations. We need your help to engage them in widening their welcome to our LGBTQ siblings. Each process coach training will include skill building around topics common in the Reconciling process including: complex identities, framing, steps of the Reconciling Process, graceful engagement, and conflict management.
These events are free and donations are welcome. Please register online, and email or call me if you have questions or would like to host a training:izzy@rmnetwork.org, 510-717-4894
July 25, 2015 (Saturday, 9AM - 4PM)
Harris UMC - Honolulu HI
Register here
October 3, 2015 (Saturday, 9:30AM - 3:30PM)
Hillview UMC - Boise ID
Register here
October 17, 2015 (Saturday, 9AM - 4PM)
Pacific Beach UMC - San Diego CA
Register here
We are still working to get a workshop up for Salt Lake City, UT and San Luis Obispo, CA. Check here for training events across the country.
Host a training in your area
Connect with Your Local Team
Contact your conference's Reconciling team leaders below to know how you can participate in local activities and witness.
Alaska: Art Carpenter
Desert Southwest: Rev. Stephen Govett
California-Nevada: Beth Synder
California-Pacific: Jason Takagi
Pacific Northwest: Rev. Vince Hart
Oregon-Idaho: Deborah Maria
Rocky Mountain: Pastor Jaime Nieves
Yellowstone: Mary Maheras
Connect with your conference Reconciling teams on Facebook - "like" their page!
California-Nevada Conference Committee on Reconciliation
Pacific Northwest - Reconciling Ministries Network
California-Pacific Conference Reconciling Ministries Network
Rocky Mountain Reconciling Ministries Network
Alaska Reconciling Ministries Network
Yellowstone Conference Voices of Reconciling Ministries
Desert Southwest Reconciling Ministries
Email Izzy with questions on how to get connected to your local team
Forward
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