The Commission on a Way Forward is lacking adequate LGBTQ representation from Reconciling Ministries Network of Chicago, Illinois, United States "An update on the commission for a way forward" for Tuesday, 25 October 2016

 The Commission on a Way Forward is lacking adequate LGBTQ representation from Reconciling Ministries Network of Chicago, Illinois, United States "An update on the commission for a way forward" for Tuesday, 25 October 2016
Yesterday, the Council of Bishops announced the list of members who will make up the commission on A Way Forward - a group tasked with finding a new denominational design for inclusivity in our church. While RMN's executive director, Matt Berryman, was pleased to be invited to the table, the apparent representation of LGBTQ people on the commission remains greatly lacking. Read a full statement from Matt and other United Methodist commentary below.On naming the Way Forward: A response to the membership of the Commissionby Matt Berryman, UMC Conferences, Uncategorized, Way Forward

In May, the General Conference of The United Methodist Church agreed to explore ways to end discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer (LGBTQ) persons. Under the leadership of our bishops, a commission was formed with the objectives of finding a new denominational design for inclusivity in our church. As a renewal movement, Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN) is committed to the work of this commission whose existence is the result of Biblical Obedience and ministry without fear. Today, the list of members who will participate in this work of shaping our future together was released.
First, RMN wishes to address an issue of language that continues to appear when the church discusses LGBTQ people. The term “human sexuality” fundamentally misrepresents the nature of the impasse for which the commission has been formed. The commission has not been formed to deal with “human sexuality.” It has been formed to deal with the future of a denomination that discriminates against LGBTQ persons. Using the vague and disembodied language of “human sexuality” distances us from the ways that LGBTQ persons are violently impacted by denominational policy.
Second, as to the make-up of the members of the commission, we recognize the importance of withholding assumptions about people’s sexual orientation and gender identities. At this time, there remains a strong desire to know if the commission has listened to the just call for fair representation of LGBTQ identities in the potential shaping of the future of our denomination. As a white, cis, gay man and Executive Director of Reconciling Ministries Network, I am pleased to be invited to the table. I also maintain that I cannot adequately represent the breadth of the LGBTQ community. As the commission convenes, I am eager to explore whether the request for a diverse representation of LGBTQ persons has been heard. A commission constituted of a majority of straight and cisgender people and only 2 self-identified LGBTQ persons is not legitimate.
As we keep watch on the commission and continue our ministries of Biblical Obedience in our individual lives, churches, and communities, we remain committed to ensuring that the future of The United Methodist Church includes an end to the ongoing harm perpetuated against LGBTQ members. It is our duty and calling to hold the commission accountable to a vision God has given us for the church – a vision based on the Kingdom that is not yet here, but beckons our prayers and actions to make it so. The bishops ask us to place our hope in the work of this commission. We are expected to give ourselves once again to a process that has historically betrayed us. With trepidation, we remain open, recognizing that the failure to accurately represent us on this commission would not preclude good results, but would trouble our confidence in the integrity of the process.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer people throughout The United Methodist Church need to know we are recognized as full members of this denomination in the minds and hearts of our leaders and those on the commission. While we cannot yet know how we are represented at the table, the bishops and the members of the commission can choose to use language that authentically and accurately represents the focus of this work. The existence of the commission, the outcomes of the General Conference, and the movement of the denomination as a whole, point toward inclusion. In the words of retired Bishop Mel Talbert, “God has already settled this matter,” and so we place our hope in Jesus whose commitment to the oppressed, the afflicted, and those in need always outpaced the institutions of his day.

Matt Berryman
Matt Berryman serves Reconciling Ministries Network as executive director.Prior to joining the staff of RMN, Matt spent three years in law school at the Florida Coastal School during which time he worked for churches, law firms, and LexisNexis as a legal editor.From 2002-2009, Matt served United Methodist congregations in the Jacksonville area of the Florida Conference.In addition to serving churches in the United Kingdom, he has led training events and workshops for The United Methodist Church, The Fund for Theological Education, Emory University, and the Fellowship of United Methodists for Music and Worship Arts.He received a B.A. from the University of South Carolina and a M.Div. from Emory University.Although he loves the heat and sunshine of Florida, he anticipates growing to love the charm of cold weather living in Illinois and the perfection of the snowflake!Matt loves an outdoor concert, a good idea, and his 11 year old son, Aidan.
Read a statement from Matt Berryman
-------

The Room where it happens for The UMC
"I’m hopeful that the Commission takes the opportunity to make the church better for the 21st century and our global context." Read more from Hacking Christianity here.

Council of Bishops Names 32 Members to Commission
Additional information on the members of the Commission on A Way Forward was compiled by United Methodist Insight from Internet searches. Read more here.
Council of Bishops Names 32 Members to Commission
From news and staff reports
UPDATED 11:45 A.M. Oct. 25 to correct links and details.
October 24, 2016 | WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United Methodist Council of Bishops has announced the membership of the Commission on a Way Forward.
"After three months of diligent and prayerful discernment, we have selected 8 bishops, 11 laity, 12 elders and 1 deacon to serve on the Commission," said Bishop Bruce R. Ough, president of the Council of Bishops. "This group is representative of our theological diversity."
Ough said the makeup of the 32-member commission is roughly comparable to U.S. and Central Conference membership.
All of the members of the Commission have already indicated their willingness and availability to serve. The team of moderators -- Bishop Ken Carter, Bishop Sandra Steiner-Ball and Bishop David Yemba -- will soon convene the Commission to begin to organize their work and finalize their meeting schedule.
The Commission's mission is to "bring together persons deeply committed to the future(s) of The United Methodist Church, with an openness to developing new relationships with each other and exploring the potential future(s) of our denomination in light of General Conference and subsequent annual, jurisdictional and central conference actions."
The 2016 General Conference gave a specific mandate to the Council of Bishops to lead The United Methodist Church in discerning and proposing a way forward through the present impasse related to human sexuality and the consequent questions about unity and covenant.
The Commission is a group appointed by the Council of Bishops to assist the Council in fulfilling this mandate. As such, the Council has appointed bishops from across the global connection to serve on the Commission alongside laity and clergy. While clergy and laity will vote at a General Conference on these matters, the bishops have the responsibility to lead the church. Thus, the Commission is designed to inform the Council’s leadership of the General Conference. After hearing concerns that the proposed composition did not include enough laity, three additional laypersons were added from the original pool of more than 300 nominees.
At their fall meeting (October 30 – November 2), the Council will make a decision about a called General Conference and will review a plan to conduct additional and complementary work in annual conferences designed to broaden the conversation with hundreds of lay and clergy members.
Additional information on the members of the Commission on A Way Forward was compiled by United Methodist Insight from Internet searches. While every effort was made to connect individuals with current affiliations, some references may be outdated, for which we apologize in advance.
Jorge Acevedo, USA, Florida, elder, male. Lead pastor at multi-campus Grace Church with sites in Cape Coral, Fort Myers and Sarasota, Fla., author and seminar leader.
Brian Adkins, USA, California, elder, male. Pastor of Open Door UMC in Richmond, Calif., a member of the Reconciling Congregations Network.
Jacques Umembudi Akasa, Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo, laity, male. A United Methodist missionary who is program director and pilot-mechanic for the Wings of Caring Aviation Ministry.
Tom Berlin, USA, Virginia, elder, male. Lead pastor of Floris UMC in Herndon, Va. Author of the blog post, "Getting to Church Vitality," describing various categories of United Methodist theological divisions first outlined by Rev. Thomas Lambrecht of Good News.
Matt Berryman, USA, Illinois, laity, male. Executive Director of Reconciling Ministries Network.
Helen Cunanan, Philippines, elder, female. Opening worship speaker for the Clergywomen's Gathering at the World Methodist Conference, pastor of the Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Angeles City, Philippines.
David Field, Europe, Switzerland, laity, male; Academic Coordinator of the Methodist e-Academy in Europe.
Ciriaco Francisco, resident bishop of the Davao Episcopal Area, Philippines, male.
Grant Hagiya, USA, resident bishop of the California-Pacific Area, male.
Hortense Aka Dago-Akribi, Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, laity, female, professor of psychology, University of Cocody, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. Author of multiple academic papers on the psychosexual effects of patients living with HIV/AIDS.
Scott Johnson, USA, New York, laity, male. Conference lay leader of the Upper New York Annual Conference, one of four people who delivered the Laity Address at the 2016 General Conference in Portland, Ore.
Jessica Lagrone, USA, Kentucky, elder, female, Dean of the Chapel at multidenominational Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Ky., and former associate pastor of the The Woodlands UMC, home of the conservative Good News caucus near Houston, Texas.
Thomas Lambrecht, USA, Texas, elder, male, vice president and general manager of Good News caucus.
Myungae Kim Lee, USA, New York, laity, female. Executive director, National Network of Korean United Methodist Women and expert in Korean peacemaking ministries.
Julie Hager Love, USA, Kentucky, deacon, female, director of connectional ministries for the theologically conservative Kentucky Annual Conference.
Mazvita Machinga, Africa, Zimbabwe, laity, female, interim dean of student affairs at UMC-related Africa University in Harare, Zimbabwe.
Patricia L. Miller, USA, Indiana, laity, female. Indiana state senator retiring in 2016 after 34 years' service, and former executive director of the conservative Confessing Movement.
Mande Guy Muyombo, Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo, elder, male. Assistant General Secretary for Africa for the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries.
Eben Nhiwatiwa, Africa, resident bishop of the Zimbabwe Episcopal Area, male. One of the principal authors of a 2015 statement to the American UMC condemning the acceptance of same-sex marriage and asking the church to consider the effects of global terrorism on those parts of the UMC outside the United States.
Dave Nuckols, USA, Minnesota, laity, male. 2016 General Conference delegate from Minnesota Annual Conference and co-lay leader at Minnetonka, Minn., UMC, a member of the Reconciling Ministries Network.
Casey Langley Orr, USA, Texas, deacon, female. Associate Pastor of Discipleship at First United Methodist Church in Fort Worth, Texas.
Gregory Palmer, USA, resident bishop of the West Ohio Annual Conference, male.
Donna Pritchard, USA, Oregon, elder, female. Pastor at First United Methodist Church in Portland, Ore.,former district superintendent and General Conference delegate in 2016, 2012 and 2008.
Tom Salsgiver, USA, Pennsylvania, elder, male. Director of Connectional Ministries and Administrative Services, Susquehanna Annual Conference.
Robert Schnase, USA, resident bishop of San Antonio-based Rio Texas Annual Conference, male.
Jasmine Rose Smothers, USA, Georgia, elder, female. Senior pastor, First United Methodist Church in Atlanta. Previously she served as associate director of connectional ministries for the Atlanta-based North Georgia Annual Conference.
Leah Taylor, USA, Texas, laity, female. Attorney who serves as Texas Area Representative with the Texas Methodist Foundation. South Central Jurisdictional Lay Leader.
Deborah Wallace-Padgett, USA, resident bishop of the Birmingham-based North Alabama Annual Conference, female.
Rosemarie Wenner, Europe, bishop of Germany female. Past president of the Council of Bishops who presided at the 2012 General Conference in Tampa, Fla.
Alice Williams, USA, Florida, laity, female. Human resources consultant, 2016 General Conference delegate from Florida Conference.
John Wesley Yohanna, Africa, resident bishop of the Nigeria Episcopal Area in the West Africa Central Conference, bishop, male.
Alfiado S. Zunguza, Africa, Mozambique, elder, male. Executive Secretary - Africa Office at General Board of Global Ministries. Former Executive Director at JustaPaz - Center for Conflict Transformation in Mozambique.
MODERATORS
Sandra Steiner Ball, USA, resident bishop of West Virginia Annual Conference, female.
Kenneth Carter, USA, resident bishop of Florida Annual Conference, male
David Yemba, Africa, resident bishop of the Central Congo Episcopal Area, Democratic Republic of Congo, male
Diane Degnan of United Methodist Communications' Public Information Office and United Methodist Insight Editor Cynthia B. Astle contributed to this report.
-------ShareTweetForward
BlogFacebookTwitter
WebsiteEmailYouTube
GiveInstagram
Our mailing address is:
Reconciling Ministries Network
123 West Madison Street, Suite 2150

Chicago, Illinois 60602, United States
-------