Missionary Renegade: Reconciling Ministries Network - How will you honor trans lives on Trans Day of Remembrance? in Chicago, Illinois, United States for Tuesday, 10 November 2015

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Reconciling Ministries Network - How will you honor trans lives on Trans Day of Remembrance? in Chicago, Illinois, United States for Tuesday, 10 November 2015

Reconciling Ministries Network - How will you honor trans lives on Trans Day of Remembrance? in Chicago, Illinois, United States for Tuesday, 10 November 2015
How will you honor trans lives on Nov 20th?

Trans Day of Remembrance

You may remember this past August that trans activist and actress, Laverne Cox, declared a "state of emergency" in reference to the tragic number of trans women of color being targeted with violence. This year has been an especially painful one for the trans community and allies as there have been at least 23 trans women and gender nonconforming people murdered, the majority of whom were black and/or Latina.
On Nov 20th of each year, Trans Day of Remembrance, trans people and their allies memorialize all whose lives have been taken by anti-trans violence in the last year. This act of remembrance is meant not only to honor the lives of the victims, but also to propel us all forward in urgency to put an end to violence against trans people. As Reconciling United Methodists, it is vital that our voices of faith are boldly declaring without apology that trans lives are beloved and beautiful - and the violence must stop. Below are just a few ways you can join in on Trans Day of Remembrance.
Hold space during this Sunday's service to honor the lives that have been taken this year and to recommit to the work of ending racism, sexism, and transphobia
Host or attend a Trans Day of Remembrance Service on Nov. 20th - F ind one near you at this site
Spend time alone with God reading the names listed at tdor.info in prayerful memorial
Break the silence around violence against trans people by sharing on social media on Nov 20th about your own commitment to doing your part in ending violence against trans people
Write for RMN - we need trans voices and allies of trans people who are willing to share your stories, your commitments for a better church and world, and what your faith has to do with it. Send an email to blog@rmnetwork.org for more information.
Trans Day of Remembrance Website
UM Bishops of the Central Conferences of Africa Issue Statement
Last week, the Bishops of the Central Conferences of Africa released a joint statement on the state of the global UMC and the common world. Their statement included an important and urgent call to work for peace, reconciliation, and an end to global terrorism. RMN is grateful for their leadership on this concern. The same statement, however, included some painful words on the matter of LGBTQ inclusion in The UMC. Read RMN's response via the button below.
Read RMN's Response Statement

Reconciling Ministries Network joins United Methodist bishops in Africa in their strong denunciation of the “manipulation of weaker nations by world powers” as expressed in their pastoral letter to the whole church. The legacy of colonialism and church’s historic participation in such structures of oppression creates the need for both ongoing confession and continued repentance on the part of the western church. Nevertheless, we are gravely concerned to discover a similar manipulation of the weak embedded in their letter regarding the inclusion, safety, and well-being of LGBTQ persons.

It is imperative that we speak unequivocally to the homophobia and violence found within the body of the pastoral letter. Unfortunately, the vociferous and well-placed condemnation of global inequality and the historic abuses of power is significantly weakened of its prophetic authority because the bishops turn immediately from condemning abuse of power to upholding it. The letter fails to acknowledge the causal relationship existing between the plight of refugees, LGBTQ persons around the world, and systemic oppression; homophobia and transphobia, not unlike economic imperialism and colonialism, exist for the manipulation of the weak by the powerful. And it is no surprise that scripture continues to be used to justify the oppression of LGBTQ people; it is part of a long tradition of using the Bible to control and oppress vulnerable populations—a tradition in desperate need of retirement.

Reconciling Ministries Network rejects ecclesial teaching, policy, or leadership that refuses to fully embrace Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer persons as living members of the body of Christ. We will not be silent about the presence of LGBTQ persons, in African communities and United Methodist Churches everywhere, who are forced under pain of death to hide who they are and who they love. We will not hide our anger and grief as The UMC continues to collude with anti-Christian forces that seek to eliminate the diversity of God’s good creation—gloriously revealed in the faces of LGBTQ persons. RMN will continue to “draw the attention of our denomination to the stark realities of needless suffering and pain in our world as a result of global terrorism, unjust political systems,” and the abiding religious oppression experienced by LGBTQ refugees everywhere who are told that they are “incompatible with Christian teaching” and cut-away from the body.

As we move toward General Conference, we pray God’s mercy on the whole church. We pray that Holy Wisdom would flow from above that United Methodists around the world might work together for “God’s reign of peace, justice, and freedom for all“—that terrorism might cease, that the queer might be welcome, that the refugee might find home.

General Commission on Race and Religion
The next segment of Vital Conversations: An Interactive Video Series on Today's Realities of Race and Racism will take place on Wednesday, Nov 11 at 9 p.m. ET with Dr. De La Torre. Learn more here.