Wednesday, April 18, 2018

The Reconciliation Ministry Network in Chicago, Illinois, United States for Wednesday, 18 April 1018 "RMN Western Jurisdiction - April Update" Rev. Dr. Israel Alvaran

The Reconciliation Ministry Network in Chicago, Illinois, United States for Wednesday, 18 April 1018 "RMN Western Jurisdiction - April Update" Rev. Dr. Israel Alvaran
LGBTQ justice is the way forward
The United Methodist Church is in a time of great upheaval that spans decades of struggle around LGBTQ inclusion and affirmation. The Council of Bishops will meet in Chicago on April 29th to vote on which model/s they will propose to the called 2019 General Conference that will review and possibly change policies around the inclusion of LGBTQ persons.
I believe that LGBTQ justice is the way forward. Stop the harm against LGBQT persons. It means taking out all the harmful language against LGBTQ persons from the UMC Book of Discipline. Any proposal that adds any codified provisions that allows discrimination at other levels of church governance is not a step forward. Justice also means affirmation and celebration of LGBTQ persons.
Your voice is important! Here are things you can do:
If your are an LGBTQ United Methodist, consider doing a video (see instructions below).
Come to our national convocation in July and participate in strategic planning as we prepare for the 2019 General Conference (see information below).
Participate in conversations being facilitated by your bishop and/or district superintendent. Examples include the Table Talks in the Greater Northwest Area and Holy Huddles in the Desert Southwest Conference.
Ask your pastor to host conversations at your local church and invite other congregations.
If your church is not yet a Reconciling congregation, organize a team to start the Reconciling process. Contact me for support.Whatever happens at the 2019 General Conference - and there are uncertainties - some things remain true:
  • LGBTQ persons in your community and church will still need a safe place that will affirm them and their loved ones.
  • LGBTQ persons will still be born. Some will receive the call to full-time ordained ministry and will need conferences to nurture and affirm that call. Some will become district superintendents and elected bishops.
  • Your local church will still be there - invited to engage in radical hospitality rooted in the unconditional love of God in Jesus Christ.
  • The mission entrusted to the church will remain - to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with God.I write this after a lengthy phone conversation with a mother who wanted to know how she could be more loving and affirming of her queer daughter. I met the Divine through her. The other day I received an email from a church informing me of their decision to become a Reconciling congregation. I met the Divine through them. Seemingly small steps toward the inclusion and affirmation of LGBTQ persons, yet nonetheless an expression of Divine presence and wisdom. I don't know what The UMC will do at the 2019 General Conference, but I know that our grassroots movement has a lot of work to do. The Spirit will do her transformative work in spite of us.
#BeTheWayForward

Rev. Dr. Israel I. Alvaran
Western Jurisdiction Organizer
Phone: 510-717-4894
izzy@rmnetwork.org
"This Is My Story" Video Series
At a time when our faith community is having a church-wide conversation about how we can be truly inclusive and affirming of LGBTQ persons, the voices of LGBTQ persons need to be heard. If you're an LGBTQ United Methodist and want to share your story and hopes for The UMC via video, please contact Izzy Alvaran by clicking on the button below. Check out all the video stories that have been shared.
I want to share my story!
Instructions to share a video
"For Everyone Born" - July 26-29, 2018
Take advantage of early bird discounts until April 20th!
For Everyone Born will draw hundreds of United Methodists for community, worship, organizing, and living out what it means to be a church where all are welcome and celebrated. The conference will take place in St. Louis, MO. Join us for a weekend that promises to be full of inspiration, connection, and a vision of what the church could be. In addition to great worship and fellowship, we will have two days of engaging workshops, hear from Commission on A Way Forward (CoWF) members about their experience, offer opportunities for jurisdictional teams to meet, and begin planning our presence and witness at General Conference in February 2019.
Love Your Neighbor Coalition (LYNC) partner organizations for For Everyone Born are: Affirmation, Methodist Federation for Social Action (MFSA), Methodists in New Directions (MIND), Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN), United Methodist Queer Clergy Caucus (UMQCC), and Western Methodist Justice Movement(WMJM).
Register Now! Early bird discounts until April 20th!
Apply for scholarships
Download the flyer
Get organized - join us for a training
Do you want to help increase the number of Reconciling Churches, Communities and Campus Ministries?
WHAT: This training will empower Reconciling United Methodists to shepherd churches/communities through the Reconciling process.
WHEN: 9AM – 5PM (lunch/snacks will be provided)
WHERE: We currently have the following locations -
April 28, 2018 - Trinity UMC, Las Vegas NV
May 12, 2018 - Park Hill UMC, Denver CO
September 8, 2018 - Tehachapi Valley UMC, Tehachapi CA
REGISTRATION IS FREE! Click on the buttons below to register and/or host a workshop.
Register for the April 28th BIC Las Vegas, NV
Register for the May 12th BIC in Denver, CO
Register for the September 8th BIC in Tehachapi, CA
Host a BIC Workshop
Buy something fun and support RMN!
Who loves LuLaRoe clothes? I confess that I had not heard of them before my coworker Laura received an email from Rev. Molly Moore last month. Molly is clergy in the Missouri Conference and also sells LuLaRoe clothing. She offered to host an online sale as a fundraiser for RMN. How awesome is that?! The fundraiser is this weekend, April 20-22. My friends who wear LuLaRoe clothes say that their fabrics are the softest and most comfortable things I'll ever put on. I can't wait to see for myself. To participate, click here and request to join a closed Facebook group that Molly has created. You can browse LuLaRoe clothes in advance through photo albums in this closed group, and Molly will be adding new items during our weekend fundraiser. Mark your calendar, buy something fun, and support RMN!
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.
Desert Southwest: Rev. Kimberly Scott
California-Nevada: Beth Snyder
California-Pacific: Jason Takagi
Pacific Northwest: Rev. Sharon Moe / Rev. Terri Stewart
Rocky Mountain: Pastor Jaime Nieves
Yellowstone: Mary Maheras
 Connect with your conference Reconciling teams on Facebook - "like" their page!
Western Jurisdiction
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Our mailing address is:
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