"Sign Open Letter to General Conference Delegates" Reconciliation Ministry Network Western Jurisdiction of Chicago, Illinois, United States - Sign and forward to others! for Tuesday, 15 March 2016

 "Sign Open Letter to General Conference Delegates" Reconciliation Ministry Network Western Jurisdiction of Chicago, Illinois, United States - Sign and forward to others! for Tuesday, 15 March 2016


Open Letter to General Conference Delegates from Reconciling United Methodists in the Western Jurisdiction
Dear Delegates,
As fellow United Methodists, we want to thank you for volunteering your time and resources to be a delegate at General Conference 2016.
We know you will face many weighty issues in Portland, but one is of particular importance to us – and that is the full inclusion of all our fellow congregants and ministers in The United Methodist Church (UMC), including those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA).
We do share a basic belief as faithful United Methodists: We believe in God's love for the vulnerable and God’s call for the church to welcome and respect all who come through our doors. We are all deeply committed to the flourishing of The UMC. We also share in one Baptism, and have made the same vows to love and care for all God’s children.
As Reconciling people of faith, however, we believe that proclaiming “Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors” demands that we must stop being closed off to so many, and make those who stay second-class members of our fellowship. If we are to preach and practice the same Gospel of love, the harm and discrimination we inflict upon LGBTQIA persons and their loved ones must end. We believe that it is time for us as a denomination to fulfill our sacred vows made at the Baptism of every LGBTQIA Christian.
The doctrine of grace is foundational to our faith. We have a long history of extending that grace to those who are suffering as well as those who disagree with us. We fear that our aspiration – and our reputation – as people of grace is eroding as we continue to fight over who will be included in our church and how.
These last few years have laid bare the suffering: the trials of Rev. Frank Schaefer for officiating his son’s same-sex wedding; LGBTQIA candidates for ministry rejected from their calling; and growing numbers of clergy and congregations wary of telling fellow members that their marriages cannot be celebrated. This spiritual rejection is inherently connected to other acts of bullying, physical harm, and torture of LGBTQIA persons in society. The inequality has taken its toll in the deaths of young LGBTQIA persons by their own hands, saying that the church they love has rejected them.
These actions and others do not speak to our foundation of love and grace. And at the same time, The UMC’s resistance to change increasingly offends young people who overwhelmingly support same-sex marriage and the equal treatment of LGBTQIA people.
If we hope to move forward with the mission of United Methodists for the “transformation of the world,” we must prioritize the love and grace that will allow for all God’s people to find their place in our church – not as second-class members, but full participants and beneficiaries of the life and ministry of The UMC.
We urge you to support any efforts at General Conference 2016 that would extend a welcome embrace to our LGBTQIA congregants and ministers in The United Methodist Church.
Thank you. We will keep you and all delegates in our prayers.
With love and grace,
Reconciling United Methodists in the Western Jurisdiction
Sign the WJ Open Letter to General Conference Delegates
View list of current signatories

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I, Gary Lee Parker, an advocate for the full active inclusion of People who are Disabled as Laity and/or Clergy Pray for the General Conference of the United Methodist Church General Conference 2016 that each member and voting delegate will realize that the exclusion of any person or people group in the church is a sin against God and shows hate rather than the love and compassion of God through the ages especially in life, death, and resurrection of Jesus the Christ. May we realize that we in our love for God will love and include all other people whether LGBTQ or Immigrants or Refugees or Blacks or disabled people groups. Amen! 

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Betty Dorr General Conference Fund

In March of 2015, the Reconciling movement lost one of its most persistent and loving advocates, Betty Dorr. A chosen mother to many, Betty was known for her warm embrace of those who were turned away from their own families and for her tenacious advocacy for full inclusion in The United Methodist Church.
In gratitude for her faithful presence at General Conference, Reconciling Ministries Network has named our General Conference Fund in her honor.
RMN has already received a generous gift of $125,000 from donors in the South.
If just 1,000 Reconciling United Methodists give $125, we can be boldly present as we embody Betty’s witness at General Conference 2016. Will you help us reach our goal?
Help us raise resources for General Conference witness
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 Reconciliation Ministry Network Western Jurisdiction March Update for Tuesday, 1 March 2016 - Filipino UMs host LGBTQ forum


News of hope and solidarity across the Pacific

Early last month, I was part of organizing something historic that happened in my home country. The United Methodist Church in the Philippines held its first ever public forum on human sexuality with the support of its College of Bishops. The event, "In Ministry with All", raised awareness about the struggles of LGBTQIA persons in our church. You can watch videos of the forum here.
Our main host, Bishop Rodolfo Juan of the Manila Episcopal Area, encouraged pastors and churches to start ministries with, and for, the LGBTQIA community. The event was sponsored by the National Association of Filipino-American United Methodists, Union Theological Seminary of the Philippines, and the National Council of Churches in the Philippines. Reconciling United Methodists from Oregon-Idaho, Pacific Northwest, and California-Pacific conferences graciously provided support to cover meals for the 200 participants.
The Reconciling movement is alive and growing - and taking root in conferences outside the United States. The call for full inclusion of all people in the life and ministry of The UMC echoes from across the Pacific, just as we are preparing to gather in Portland for the 2016 General Conference this May. It's time for change. It's time to rid our church of discriminatory policies that continue to harm LGBTQIA persons. In this season of Lent, it is time for The UMC to repent of its homo/trans-phobia, and share the blessings of Easter with ALL God's children. It's time.

Rev. Dr. Israel I. Alvaran
Western Jurisdiction Organizer
Phone: 312-488-5313
izzy@rmnetwork.org
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.
Screenings in the Western Jurisdiction
March 4, 6:30PM (free admission) Includes Q&A with Rev. Frank Schaefer
Christ UMC, 690 Colorado Blvd, Denver CO 80206
March 11, 7PM (free admission)
Bethany UMC, 1270 Sanchez St, San Francisco CA 94114
March 13, 12PM (free admission) Includes Q&A with Director Scott Sheppard
Claremont UMC, 211 W Foothill Blvd, Claremont, CA 91711
March 18, 1:15PM - San Luis Obispo FIlm Festival
Includes Q&A with Rev. Frank Schaefer and filmmaker Scott Sheppard
Mission Cinemas
1025 Monterey St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
March 19, 10AM - San Luis Obispo Film Festival
Includes Q&A with Rev. Frank Schaefer and filmmaker Scott Sheppard
Downtown Center Cinemas
888 Marsh St, San Luis Obispo CA 93401
April 3, 12:30PM (free admission)
Includes Q&A with Rev. Frank Schaefer and filmmaker Scott Sheppard
Hollywood UMC, 6817 Franklin Ave, Los Angeles CA 90028
April 10 (free admission) - Call (916) 446-5025 for details
Sacramento First UMC, 21 J St, Sacramento CA 95816
April 10, 6:30PM (free admission)
Community UMC, 6652 Heil Ave, Huntington Beach CA 92647
April 17 (free admission) - Call (510) 522-6744 for details
Twin Towers UMC, 1411 Oak St, Alameda CA 94501
April 29 (free admission) - Call (619) 656-2525 for details
Chula Vista First UMC, 1200 E St, Chula Vista CA 91910
Includes Q&A with Rev. Frank Schaefer
April 30 (free admission) - Call (707) 545-3863 for details
Santa Rosa First UMC, 1551 Montgomery Drive, Santa Rosa CA 95405
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
Pacific Northwest RMN hosts annual event!

Connect with your local Reconciling team

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 West Madison Street, Suite 2150

Chicago, Illinois 60602, United States
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