Coming out in 2016 - It's Time!
The coming out story of the Rev Cynthia Meyer on the first Sunday of 2016 reminded me of the unique opportunity I had early last year to come out as a gay United Methodist clergy at a panel on human sexuality organized by the Connectional Table in Mozambique. Rev. Meyer's courageous stance for authenticity invites us to reflect on the challenges we face as a denomination as we prepare for the 2016 General Conference in Portland this May.
It is time for those who remain silent supporters to come out of their own closets as allies of our LGBTQIA family and friends. It is time for our churches to jump off the "playing-it-safe" fence and come out as Reconciling communities offering safe space and affirmation for people of all sexual orientations and gender identity. It is time for LGBTQIA United Methodists - both lay and clergy - who are able and have the privilege to come out to do so. This is our most powerful witness in a denomination that discriminates against us and our loved ones.
May this year be one of those watershed moments in our church when we all stand up and say "Enough! Stop the harm!" - it's time!
Rev. Dr. Israel I. Alvaran
Western Jurisdiction Organizer
Phone: 312-488-5313
izzy@rmnetwork.org
Celebrate our 2015 Accomplishments!
New Reconciling United Methodists:
Western Jurisdiction: 1,174
National total: 3,496
New Prospective Reconciling Churches:
Western Jurisdiction: 48
National total: 111
New Reconciling Churches and Communities:
Western Jurisdiction: 22
National total: 73
Welcome our 22 new Reconciling Churches and Communities in the WJ!
Alaska:
Soldotna Food Pantry of Soldotna UMC - Soldotna, AK
Northern Light United Church - Juneau, AK
California-Nevada:
Forestville UMC - Forestville, CA
St. John's UMC - Rohnert Park, CA
First UMC - Redding, CA
Rainbow Family Project Ministry - Redding, CA
Brentwood UMC - Brentwood, CA
First UMC - Santa Rosa, CA
California-Pacific:
First UMC - El Centro, CA
Mission Hills UMC - San Diego, CA
Desert Southwest:
Dayspring UMC - Tempe, AZ
Faith UMC - Phoenix, AZ
Oregon-Idaho:
St. Paul's UMC - Milwaukie, OR
First UMC - Beaverton, OR
Pacific Northwest:
Brownsville UMC - Bremerton, WA
Edmonds UMC - Edmonds, WA
Marysville UMC - Marysville, WA
Redmond UMC - Redmond, WA
Rocky Mountain:
Green Mountain UMC - Lakewood, CO
First UMC - Alamosa, CO
First UMC - Fort Collins, CO
Deer Park UMC - Pine, CO
General Conference 2016: It's Time for Change!
RMN's #ItsTime campaign is our grassroots witness effort leading up to the 2016 General Conference which meets this May to consider legislation calling for recognition of LGBTQ clergy and same-gender marriage. Please take a moment andvisit the campaign's home page here.
Write your General Conference Delegates
Screening "An Act of Love" is now available!
An Act of Love is a documentary about Rev. Frank Schaefer’s religious trials for officiating his son’s same-sex marriage. RMN is partnering with the filmmakers to lead screenings and discussions across the country. Click here to learn more about the film.
RMN has prepared a toolkit that you can use to prepare, promote, and benefit from a screening of this great film. Learn more about how to host your own screening here.
Click here to see the current schedule of screenings. We hope to have at least 50 before General Conference.
Host a Film Screening
Building an Inclusive Church Workshop
Do you want to help increase the number of Reconciling churches, communities, and campus ministries? Host a training to make a difference locally. In 2015, we had 11 trainings in the Western Jurisdiction. If we seek change, we have to invest in empowering our congregations to stand up and decide to become Reconciling communities.
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: various identities, framing, steps of the Reconciling Process, graceful engagement, and conflict management.
Please email or call me if you have questions or would like to host a training:izzy@rmnetwork.org, 510-717-4894
Host a training in your area
Contact your state or 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
Hawai'i: Darlene Rodrigues
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
Oregon-Idaho Reconciling United Methodists
Hawai'i Reconciling Ministries
Filipino Reconciling United Methodists
Email Izzy with questions on how to get connected to your local team
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Reconciling Ministries Network
123 W Madison Street, Suite 2150
Chicago, Illinois 60602, United States
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