Reconciling Ministries Network of Chicago, Illinois, United States - "Are you the one we're looking for?" for Tuesday, 9 February 2016 - Don't forget to download your Lenten devotional!
A Historic Gathering in the Philippines
Yesterday in Manila, a historic gathering on LGBTQ inclusion and ministry was hosted by Union Theological Seminary, National Council of Churches in the Philippines, National Association of Filipino-American United Methodists, and the Love Your Neighbor Coalition.
Over 200 church leaders gathered together to better understand human sexuality and discern how faith communities can minister with, and provide safe spaces for, the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) community.
Bishop Rodolfo Juan of the Manila Episcopal Area of The United Methodist Church was one of the hosts for the gathering and welcomed participants by saying:
"Our church in the Philippines needs to have open and respectful conversations on how we can fully be in ministry with all God’s children, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity. We should not reject people because of who they are. As a church, we uphold the civil and human rights of all persons. I encourage our pastors and churches to start ministries with, and for, the LGBTQ community."
We give thanks for this incredible day and all the voices of LGBTQ people and allies in the Philippines joining the chorus of voices in The UMC saying #ItsTime for change!
Tell The UMC #ItsTime by writing your delegates
Job Opening
Are you creative, detail-oriented, proficient in social media, and passionate about LGBTQ justice in The United Methodist Church? Consider applying to join the team at Reconciling Ministries Network as our new part-time Communications Associate. Applications are due Feb 29th. Download the job description here.
Download Your Daily Lenten Devotional
Reconciling Ministries Network is thrilled to offer this daily Lenten devotional written by 47 diverse voices from across the Network. Written with justice and inclusion at heart, this resource invites you into this season of self-reflection, preparation, and spiritual growth as we engage in the holy work of becoming.
Download A Season of Becoming here.
Share
Tweet
Forward
Blog
Facebook
Twitter
Website
Email
YouTube
Give
Instagram
---------------------
Our mailing address is:
Reconciling Ministries Network
123 West Madison Street, Suite 2150
ShareTweetForwardBlogFacebookTwitterWebsiteEmailYouTubeGiveInstagram---------------------
Our mailing address is:
Reconciling Ministries Network
123 West Madison Street, Suite 2150
Chicago, Illinois 60602, United States
---------------------Reconciling Ministries Network of Chicago, Illinois, United States - Western Jurisdiction February 2016 Update - #ItsTime - I came out gay to my family! #ItsTime
Sharing your story, stopping the harm
You probably knew I am gay since I started serving with RMN - but I have not been fully honest with my parents, until last month. On the second Sunday of Epiphany, in celebration of the Baptism of Jesus, I finally told my mother and father what I had known since 5th grade - that I am wonderfully made a gay man by the Divine. It took a lot of courage, but was truly liberating!
I claimed my baptism and told them that The United Methodist Church has yet to fulfill its promises made at my baptism and those of LGBTQ members of our denomination. Then I heard from them what I had thought I would never ever hear: "You are our son, and we love you!" Yes, they have questions and will have to come out of their own closet as parents of a gay son, but they made their first grace-filled baby steps of love for me. The following Sunday, my father came up to the pastor of their Reconciling Church and said: "I see you are wearing a rainbow stole - a sign of welcome for LGBTQ persons. My son, a pastor, is gay."
I had a story to tell. Now my family has a story to tell. All of us have stories to tell. Let us not underestimate the power of our stories. They ripple out and create spaces of grace and affirmation that wouldn't be there if we didn't share our encounters with the Divine. Our stories are sacraments of grace - a wide window into what our Great Lover has in store for our faith communities.
Below are ways to share your story as an individual Reconciling United Methodist and as Reconciling Churches and Communities. Please take part in RMN's #ItsTime campaign to tell The United Methodist Church that it is time to end the discrimination and harm against LGBTQ persons and our loved ones.
Rev. Dr. Israel I. Alvaran
Western Jurisdiction Organizer
Phone: 312-488-5313
izzy@rmnetwork.org
---------------------
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 to make The United Methodist Church the just and inclusive church it is meant to be. Please take a moment and visit the campaign's home page here.
I personally ask you to share your story and write your General Conference delegate. We know that some delegates need no persuasion - they are already advocates for LGBTQ justice. Those delegates will face challenges of their own at General Conference and an encouraging letting from you can be immensely helpful. Whether a prayer, sharing your story as a reminder of the importance of their witness, or just a kind word, sending a letter to your delegate matters.
Share your story
Write your General Conference Delegates
Screen "An Act of Love" before GC 2016!
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. 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.
We have the following BIC workshops scheduled in our jurisdiction:
March 19, 2016 / 9AM-4PM / Central UMC - Stockton CA
April 9, 2016 / 11AM-6PM / Elk Grove UMC - Elk Grove CA
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
Share
Tweet
Forward
+1
Blog
Facebook
Twitter
RMN
Email
YouTube
TumblrGIve
Instagram
---------------------
Our mailing address is:
Reconciling Ministries Network
123 West Madison Street, Suite 2150
---------------------Reconciling Ministries Network of Chicago, Illinois, United States - Western Jurisdiction February 2016 Update - #ItsTime - I came out gay to my family! #ItsTime
Sharing your story, stopping the harm
You probably knew I am gay since I started serving with RMN - but I have not been fully honest with my parents, until last month. On the second Sunday of Epiphany, in celebration of the Baptism of Jesus, I finally told my mother and father what I had known since 5th grade - that I am wonderfully made a gay man by the Divine. It took a lot of courage, but was truly liberating!
I claimed my baptism and told them that The United Methodist Church has yet to fulfill its promises made at my baptism and those of LGBTQ members of our denomination. Then I heard from them what I had thought I would never ever hear: "You are our son, and we love you!" Yes, they have questions and will have to come out of their own closet as parents of a gay son, but they made their first grace-filled baby steps of love for me. The following Sunday, my father came up to the pastor of their Reconciling Church and said: "I see you are wearing a rainbow stole - a sign of welcome for LGBTQ persons. My son, a pastor, is gay."
I had a story to tell. Now my family has a story to tell. All of us have stories to tell. Let us not underestimate the power of our stories. They ripple out and create spaces of grace and affirmation that wouldn't be there if we didn't share our encounters with the Divine. Our stories are sacraments of grace - a wide window into what our Great Lover has in store for our faith communities.
Below are ways to share your story as an individual Reconciling United Methodist and as Reconciling Churches and Communities. Please take part in RMN's #ItsTime campaign to tell The United Methodist Church that it is time to end the discrimination and harm against LGBTQ persons and our loved ones.
Rev. Dr. Israel I. Alvaran
Western Jurisdiction Organizer
Phone: 312-488-5313
izzy@rmnetwork.org
---------------------
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 to make The United Methodist Church the just and inclusive church it is meant to be. Please take a moment and visit the campaign's home page here.
I personally ask you to share your story and write your General Conference delegate. We know that some delegates need no persuasion - they are already advocates for LGBTQ justice. Those delegates will face challenges of their own at General Conference and an encouraging letting from you can be immensely helpful. Whether a prayer, sharing your story as a reminder of the importance of their witness, or just a kind word, sending a letter to your delegate matters.
Share your story
Write your General Conference Delegates
Screen "An Act of Love" before GC 2016!
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. 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.
We have the following BIC workshops scheduled in our jurisdiction:
March 19, 2016 / 9AM-4PM / Central UMC - Stockton CA
April 9, 2016 / 11AM-6PM / Elk Grove UMC - Elk Grove CA
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
ShareTweetForward+1BlogFacebookTwitterRMNEmailYouTubeTumblrGIveInstagram---------------------
Our mailing address is:
Reconciling Ministries Network
123 West Madison Street, Suite 2150
Chicago, Illinois 60602, United States
---------------------
---------------------
No comments:
Post a Comment