Bishop Mel Talbert
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Your presence at this gathering is essential to our work and life together,
Bishop Melvin G. Talbert
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Reconciling Ministries Network
123 West Madison Street, Suite 2150
Chicago, Illinois 60602 United States
RMN Western Jurisdiction - April Update
Izzy Alvaran
Witnesses of the Resurrection!
Roll the Stone Away!
Blessed Easter greetings!
After our journey through Lent, the joyous celebration of Easter points us to the victory of life over death in the resurrection of Jesus Christ!
Jesus ordered the stone covering Lazarus' tomb to be rolled away, and asked Lazarus to "Come out!" I can't stop myself from comparing that scene with the national debate about religious freedom and liberty laws that, basically, legalize discrimination against a certain group of people - in the name of religion. The Indiana law recently signed - and amended - was enacted with an animus against LGBTQ persons.
I believe that discrimination is not something we "fix" or offer amendments to. We should throw it out! It has no place in human community, especially in the Church. Jesus asked the stone to be rolled away and called Lazarus out of death into new life. There are too many "tombstones" blocking oppressed persons from experiencing the fullness of life. Immigrants, people of color, working class families, and LGBTQ persons and their loved ones face these stumbling blocks to the promise of abundant life in Jesus.
Faith in the resurrected Christ demands justice. Roll away the stones of discrimination! Come out and be a witness! May Easter give us confidence to be advocates of life over death.
In solidarity,
Rev. Dr. Israel I. Alvaran
Western Jurisdiction Organizer
Phone: 312-488-5313
izzy@rmnetwork.org
Early bird registration deadline extended
Join Progressive United Methodists on August 6-9, 2015 in San Antonio, TX
The Gather at the River early bird registration price has been extended through April 15th! Jointly sponsored by RMN and Methodist Federation for Social Action, together with other affinity groups and caucuses in our church, Gather at the River promises to be an oasis of education and fellowship for progressive and Reconciling United Methodists. We encourage you and your local church to share resources for scholarships to enable many to attend, especially transgender persons, LGBTQ young adults and people of color. Consider donating money for scholarships here. See you in San Antonio TX!
Reconciling Witness in Response to Indiana's Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA)
RECONCILING MINISTRIES WITNESS IN INDIANA!
Reconciling United Methodists stand up for full inclusion and non-discrimination on Holy Saturday. Thank you people of North Church, Rev. Danyelle Trexler Ditmer, Rev. Troy Barker and others, for loving out loud.
DEAR INDIANA BISHOP COYNER....FROM A GAY UMC MINISTER
As I read your statement responding to the Religious Restoration Freedom Act (RFRA) recently signed into law by Indiana Governor Pence, I thought I was reading a statement from the governor’s office defending this discriminatory law – peppered with religious language to assuage the “fear” that caused the backlash to this law. I write to you as a gay United Methodist minister, hurt by your response to this law. Your defense of our Social Principles that talk about upholding the civil rights of ALL people was disappointing. In this time of Lent, I pray the people behind this law would repent for masquerading discrimination dressed in the garments of faith. (Read more)
Email Izzy with conference or local church updates and news
Learning Opportunities Coming Up!
Register Now! "Building an Inclusive Church" Workshops
Do you want to help increase the number of Reconciling churches, communities and campus ministries? Please join us at one of our upcoming trainings to make a difference locally. In the past year we trained over 250 United Methodists on how to be Reconciling Process Coaches.
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: complex identities, framing, steps of the Reconciling Process, graceful engagement, and conflict management.
These events are free, and donations are welcome. Please register online, and email or call me if you have questions or would like to host a training:izzy@rmnetwork.org, 312-488-5313.
April 18, 2015 (Saturday, 10AM - 3PM)
Redding First UMC - Redding, CA
Register here
April 25, 2015 (Saturday, 10AM - 4PM)
Desert Southwest Conference Center - Phoenix, AZ
Register here
May 16, 2015 (Saturday, 9AM - 3PM)
Westchester UMC - Los Angeles, CA
Register here
June 4, 2015 (Thursday, 9AM - 5PM)
St. John UMC - Anchorage, AK
Register here
We are also looking forward to confirming training dates in Honolulu, HI, and Salt Lake City, UT. We will have more information in the coming months. Check here for training events across the country. Below are pictures of our most recent workshops in San Jose CA (left) and Denver CO (right).
Host a training in your area
Our Witness @ Intersections of Ministry
Join our Reconciling Ministries Teams in Hawaii and Alaska!We are organizeing new Reconciling Ministries teams in Hawaii and Alaska! We will have "Building an Inclusive Church" workshops in both states this summer. We need to sustain this work with local leadership. If you're a Reconciling United Methodist in these states and interested in being an advocate of full inclusion for all people in the life and ministry of our denomination, please join these local teams.
Join Alaska or Hawaii Reconciling Teams
National Weekend of Prayer: April 24-26
On April 28, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court will consider the freedom to marry – which could lead to a decision that brings the country to a national resolution on this issue.
Nearly 2,000 faith leaders added their names to the faith amicus brief showing religious support for the freedom to marry. Now, on the weekend before oral arguments, faith leaders from across the country are joining together in prayer for the freedom to marry.
If you want your congregation to participate, please sign up and to get more information about this National Weekend of Prayer.
Sign up for the National Weekend of Prayer
Got Rainbow Stoles?
You've seen these colorful stoles at many RMN events and during Annual and General Conference witness actions. The national Parents' Reconciling Network (PRN), an RMN extension ministry, has a Stole Project gearing up to make and distribute 2000 stoles at the 2016 UMC General Conference in Portland.
PRN is looking for volunteer sewers for this project. Instructions and fabric can be sent to you (in multiples of 10 stoles), to be returned to Anne Lewis for delivery to General Conference next year.
To volunteer, please contact Anne Lewis of Woodland Park UMC, WA at woodlandparkumc@gmail.com.
If you would like make stoles for your own congregation or Annual Conference, Anne can send a pattern and instructions, and information about the fabric chosen for GC 2016.
Connect with Your Local Team
Contact your conference's Reconciling team leaders below to know how you can participate in local activities and witness.
Alaska: Rev. Cindy Roberts
Desert Southwest: Rev. Stephen Govett
California-Nevada: Beth Synder
California-Pacific: Jason Takagi
Pacific Northwest: Rev. Vince Hart
Oregon-Idaho:
___________________________
RMN Western Jurisdiction - April Update
Izzy AlvaranWitnesses of the Resurrection!
Blessed Easter greetings!
After our journey through Lent, the joyous celebration of Easter points us to the victory of life over death in the resurrection of Jesus Christ!
Jesus ordered the stone covering Lazarus' tomb to be rolled away, and asked Lazarus to "Come out!" I can't stop myself from comparing that scene with the national debate about religious freedom and liberty laws that, basically, legalize discrimination against a certain group of people - in the name of religion. The Indiana law recently signed - and amended - was enacted with an animus against LGBTQ persons.
I believe that discrimination is not something we "fix" or offer amendments to. We should throw it out! It has no place in human community, especially in the Church. Jesus asked the stone to be rolled away and called Lazarus out of death into new life. There are too many "tombstones" blocking oppressed persons from experiencing the fullness of life. Immigrants, people of color, working class families, and LGBTQ persons and their loved ones face these stumbling blocks to the promise of abundant life in Jesus.
Faith in the resurrected Christ demands justice. Roll away the stones of discrimination! Come out and be a witness! May Easter give us confidence to be advocates of life over death.
In solidarity,
Rev. Dr. Israel I. Alvaran
Western Jurisdiction Organizer
Phone: 312-488-5313
izzy@rmnetwork.org
Early bird registration deadline extended
Join Progressive United Methodists on August 6-9, 2015 in San Antonio, TX
Reconciling Witness in Response to Indiana's Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA)
Reconciling United Methodists stand up for full inclusion and non-discrimination on Holy Saturday. Thank you people of North Church, Rev. Danyelle Trexler Ditmer, Rev. Troy Barker and others, for loving out loud.
As I read your statement responding to the Religious Restoration Freedom Act (RFRA) recently signed into law by Indiana Governor Pence, I thought I was reading a statement from the governor’s office defending this discriminatory law – peppered with religious language to assuage the “fear” that caused the backlash to this law. I write to you as a gay United Methodist minister, hurt by your response to this law. Your defense of our Social Principles that talk about upholding the civil rights of ALL people was disappointing. In this time of Lent, I pray the people behind this law would repent for masquerading discrimination dressed in the garments of faith. (Read more)
Email Izzy with conference or local church updates and news
Learning Opportunities Coming Up!
Register Now! "Building an Inclusive Church" Workshops
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: complex identities, framing, steps of the Reconciling Process, graceful engagement, and conflict management.
These events are free, and donations are welcome. Please register online, and email or call me if you have questions or would like to host a training:izzy@rmnetwork.org, 312-488-5313.
April 18, 2015 (Saturday, 10AM - 3PM)
Redding First UMC - Redding, CA
Register here
April 25, 2015 (Saturday, 10AM - 4PM)
Desert Southwest Conference Center - Phoenix, AZ
Register here
May 16, 2015 (Saturday, 9AM - 3PM)
Westchester UMC - Los Angeles, CA
Register here
June 4, 2015 (Thursday, 9AM - 5PM)
St. John UMC - Anchorage, AK
Register here
We are also looking forward to confirming training dates in Honolulu, HI, and Salt Lake City, UT. We will have more information in the coming months. Check here for training events across the country. Below are pictures of our most recent workshops in San Jose CA (left) and Denver CO (right).
Join our Reconciling Ministries Teams in Hawaii and Alaska!We are organizeing new Reconciling Ministries teams in Hawaii and Alaska! We will have "Building an Inclusive Church" workshops in both states this summer. We need to sustain this work with local leadership. If you're a Reconciling United Methodist in these states and interested in being an advocate of full inclusion for all people in the life and ministry of our denomination, please join these local teams.
Join Alaska or Hawaii Reconciling Teams
National Weekend of Prayer: April 24-26
On April 28, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court will consider the freedom to marry – which could lead to a decision that brings the country to a national resolution on this issue.
Nearly 2,000 faith leaders added their names to the faith amicus brief showing religious support for the freedom to marry. Now, on the weekend before oral arguments, faith leaders from across the country are joining together in prayer for the freedom to marry.
If you want your congregation to participate, please sign up and to get more information about this National Weekend of Prayer.
Sign up for the National Weekend of Prayer
Got Rainbow Stoles?
PRN is looking for volunteer sewers for this project. Instructions and fabric can be sent to you (in multiples of 10 stoles), to be returned to Anne Lewis for delivery to General Conference next year.
To volunteer, please contact Anne Lewis of Woodland Park UMC, WA at woodlandparkumc@gmail.com.
If you would like make stoles for your own congregation or Annual Conference, Anne can send a pattern and instructions, and information about the fabric chosen for GC 2016.
Connect with Your Local Team
Alaska: Rev. Cindy Roberts
Desert Southwest: Rev. Stephen Govett
California-Nevada: Beth Synder
California-Pacific: Jason Takagi
Pacific Northwest: Rev. Vince Hart
Oregon-Idaho:
___________________________
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