Missionary Renegade: "RMN Western Jurisdiction - June Update" Rev. Dr. Israel Alvaran with The Reconciling Ministries Network in Chicago, Illinois, United States for Thursday, 9 June 2016 "Top 10 Things To Do Post-GC"

Saturday, June 11, 2016

"RMN Western Jurisdiction - June Update" Rev. Dr. Israel Alvaran with The Reconciling Ministries Network in Chicago, Illinois, United States for Thursday, 9 June 2016 "Top 10 Things To Do Post-GC"

"RMN Western Jurisdiction - June Update" Rev. Dr. Israel Alvaran with The Reconciling Ministries Network in Chicago, Illinois, United States for Thursday, 9 June 2016 "Top 10 Things To Do Post-GC"

We are now past the 2016 General Conference (GC), and in the midst of annual conference sessions. We are also preparing for jurisdictional conferences in July when new bishops are elected. Many of you have followed our updates on GC and prayed with us as we sought change. Some of you were volunteers and advocates. Thanks so much for your witness.
Below is a message from our executive director, Matt Berryman, as we move forward together as a Reconciling movement. I continue to be hopeful and pledge to remain committed to make full inclusion of all people in The UMC a reality.
Onwards!

Rev. Dr. Israel I. Alvaran
Western Jurisdiction Organizer
Phone: 312-488-5313
izzy@rmnetwork.org
Message from Matt Berryman
Grace and peace to you from the One who was, who is, and who is to come!
Thank you for your prayers, your gifts and your service as we prepared for ministry at this year’s General Conference (GC). In many ways, the GC made no obvious movements forward with regard to LGBTQ inclusion in our church. On first blush, it appears that justice was deferred once again by a political body whose internal division renders it powerless to accomplish much in the way of meaningful work.
While there is truth to that, I believe a deeper analysis reveals that the 11th hour vote tasking our bishops to pursue the plan they submitted represents a subtle but important shift. Under the imminent storm-clouds of potential schism, delegates from diverse perspectives agreed on one thing: The United Methodist Church cannot continue business as usual. A clear majority of US and Central Conference delegates alike, no matter their opinion on LGBTQ people, became willing for bishops to implement a complete analysis and revision of the derogatory language in the Book of Disciplineand an end to all punishments related to ministry with and for LGBTQ persons. We believe that the dynamics of the GC and the tenuous state of the church produced an urgent mandate for true change - change that builds a more inclusive church. In the meantime, we will advocate and account for the urgent work of the Bishops’ Commission, plan for and be present to a potential called General Conference in the next couple of years, and continue working with you in Biblical Obedience. Let us not forget that Christ is raised – we know how this story ends.
Matt Berryman, Executive Director
Top 10 Things We Can Do After GC 2016
Here are things you and your local Reconciling team can do now!
1. Encourage the Chair of your Delegation or your Conference Lay Leader to bring a report from General Conference to Annual Conference, to include:
○affirmation of Council of Bishops’ Proposal and Special Commission
○commitment to a moratorium on trials, complaints etc. during this time of conversation
○if permitted, raise this petition (as adapted for your context) from the floor
○if a petition cannot be raised, encourage folks to sign this letter instead.
2. Work to support the 135 #calledout clergy who have come out publicly explore what is needed/what can be organized locally to support those in your conference and continue to gain signatures on the clergy ally, and laity ally support letters through Annual Conference season.
3. It is the pressure created by our work that brought us this opportunity; #ItsTime is still relevant. Be public in your witness & communicate with RMN about events. Commit to continued acts of Biblical Obedience by:
○practicing marriage equality (clergy and congregations joining Altar for All)
○writing to Boards of Ordained Ministry (BOOM) to encourage the practice of non discrimination
○supporting openly LGBTQ seminarians, financially and by specifically inviting them to intern at your church
4. Support in prayer the Council of Bishops’ Proposal “A Way Forward” by participating and organizing “times of worship, study, discernment, confession and prayer for God's guidance.” Some suggestions for this include:
○find sample prayer resources to adapt here and here

keep prayers and conversation going in your church bulletins and newsletters
use the hashtag #prayUMC to add your prayers on social media

5. Engage the Council of Bishops’ proposal in its commitment “to help the church live in grace with one another” by finding “ways to avoid further complaints, trials and harm.”
○demand that the Council of Bishops #stoptheharm by Signing the Petition on change.org

schedule a meeting with your bishop to speak directly about how critical it is to avoid continued harm to LGBTQ people
write to your current bishop, bishops who participated in your baptism and/or confirmation, bishops you know through the connection.
If you’re receiving a new bishop, make plans to introduce your Reconciling team and establish a relationship.

6. Organize District or Conference days of conversation:

educate folks on the Council of Bishops’ Commission
strategize about ways in which the Conference can live into the spirit of the Commission
consider using Just Peace as a resource to help facilitate conversations across division.

7. Be a local Christian witness for equality and nondiscrimination as so-called “religious freedom” and anti-trans measures appear in municipal and state legislation:

work with other interfaith and equality groups for a faith leaders’ witness
rganize letters to elected officials
write to your bishop asking for a public statement in support of equality and nondiscrimination
communicate your witness with RMN

8. Intentionally reach out across the Love Your Neighbor Coalition to partners in your Annual Conference–Methodist Federation for Social Action Chapters, local ethnic caucuses, disability activists, environmental activists, Kairos activists, etc. to:

build relationships across these intersections
co-sponsor an event
educate across the intersections of oppressions

9. Continue to grow the Reconciling Ministries Network by helping more communities and congregations to affiliate and to sign-up individual Reconciling United Methodists (RUMs)
10. Keep the conversation going on social media (Facebook and Twitter) to keep the pressure on as this Commission forms and acts. Share photos from your witness activities and share RMN’s #ItsTime messages.
Reconciling Events at Yellowstone Annual Conference (Helena MT)

I am excited to visit the Yellowstone Conference's annual session in Helena MT next week! The Voices of Reconciling Ministries in the Yellowstone Conference will host a screening of "An Act of Love" on June 15th, Wednesday, 6:30PM at St. Paul's UMC, 512 Logan St., Helena MT 59601
Click here to learn more about the film.
Learn more about how to host your own screening here.
There will also be educational opportunities on the same day: Conversations on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (2PM) and Steps to Build an Inclusive Church (3:30PM). I will be leading these workshops.
On Friday, June 17th, 6:30AM, there will be a Reconciling Breakfast Fellowship at Jorgenson's Inn and Suites, 1714 11th Avenue, Helena MT 59601.
Host a "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.

Host a training in your area

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: B eth 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!