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On Sunday, June 4th we will celebrate what is traditionally regarded as the birth of the Church - when we commemorate the dramatic advent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples of Jesus in Jerusalem during the Jewish feast of Pentecost. Coming soon after Easter, we are invited to be witnesses to Christ's resurrection with the zeal and power of the Holy Spirit. With her wisdom, encouragement, and comfort, we are never alone.
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| The month of June is also the season for United Methodist annual conferences in the Western Jurisdiction. This email provides you all the needed information to stay active advocates engaging your respective conferences, presenting resolutions/legislation, and participating in local Pride events. As I said last month, we as a jurisdiction have decided to follow Jesus - to live out radical hospitality for all God's children - and there is no turning back. May God's Spirit imbue us with a double portion of the courage and power of the prophets of old. |
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Rev. Dr. Israel I. Alvaran
Western Jurisdiction Organizer
Phone: 510-717-4894
izzy@rmnetwork.org
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| New Reconciling Communities! |
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The Spirit's movement gave birth to 27 new Reconciling communities during the past annual conference year (from May 2016 to June 2017). Congratulations and welcome to our Reconciling family!
Alaska Missionary Conference
Turnagain UMC - Anchorage AK
California-Nevada Conference
Sonoma UMC - Sonoma CA
Asbury UMC - Livermore CA
Lynnewood UMC - Pleasanton CA
California-Pacific Conference
Estero Bay UMC - Morro Bay CA
First UMC - Los Angeles CA
Community UMC - Huntington Beach CA
Laguna Beach UMC - Laguna Beach CA
Reconciling Community of First UMC - Santa Barbara CA
All Love Branch Ministry Reconciling Community of First UMC - Chula Vista CA
Water's Edge Congregation of First UMC - San Diego CA
Ojai UMC - Ojai CA
Desert Southwest Conference
University UMC - Las Vegas NV
Oregon-Idaho Conference
Pioneer UMC - Portland OR
Woodlawn UMC - Portland OR
Bend UMC - Bend OR
Oak Grove UMC - Oak Grove OR
Tigard UMC - Tigard OR
Trinity UMC - Eugene OR
Pacific Northwest Conference
Reconciling Ministry Team of Bothell UMC - Bothell WA
Vashon UMC - Vashon WA
Kent UMC - Kent WA
First UMC - Olympia WA
Rocky Mountain Conference
UMC of Estes Park - Estes Park CO
Mancos UMC - Mancos CO
The Journey at First UMC - Loveland CO
Evanston Center for Spiritual Wholeness and Healing - Denver CO
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| Annual Conference Witness |
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| Below are various ways you can engage locally. Support annual conference resolutions for full inclusion of LGBTQ persons, volunteer to staff RMN table presence, organize and participate in Pride parades. All these ensure we keep growing the number of Reconciling United Methodists! |
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I will be present in the following annual conference sessions (on the dates listed). I will be at the RMN table so please say hi!
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Proposed Resolutions/Petitions for Annual Conferences
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I am sure you have local conference legislation or resolutions, and I would like to some two more for your consideration. This effort is spearheaded by the Western Methodist Justice Movement. Please present these resolutions to your bishop, pastor/s, and lay delegate/s to annual conference. Click to download and adapt for your conference:Affirming WJ College of Bishops' Statement on Judicial Council Decision 1341
Petitioning WJ College of Bishops to Convene a Special Western Jurisdictional Conference
The United Methodist Queer Clergy Caucus also has a petition to the New York Annual Conference that you can adapt for your conference:Affirming LGBTQ Clergy and Candidates
The 2016 General Conference has sent constitutional amendments to annual conferences for approval. Love Your Neighbor Coalition, a progressive coalition in the UMC that includes RMN, has released a voter guide for annual conference delegates. Please view the guide here and share with your pastor/s and lay delegate/s. |
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Annual conference-related Reconciling events:
- Yellowstone: Pre-conference Reconciling Dinner (Taco Bar!) on June 7th, 5PM at Grace UMC in Billings, MT. Contact Mary Maheras for details and to RSVP.
- Yellowstone: Reconciling Ministries Breakfast on June 9th, 6:45AM at the Skybridge of the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Billings MT. Contact Mary Maheras for details and to RSVP.
- Oregon-Idaho/Pacific Northwest: Pre-conference Patio Reception hosted by RMN, MFSA and progressive groups on June 14th at 4-6PM in Portland OR. Contact Deborah Maria for details.
- Desert Southwest: Conference Board of Church and Society Lunch on June 16th, 11:30AM at Phoenix-Glendale Renaissance Hotel, Glendale AZ. Click here for details.
- Rocky Mountain: Reconciling Churches Dinner on June 17th, 7-9PM at the Marriott Hotel (Denver Tech Center), Denver CO. Rev. Dr. Joretta Marshall of Brite Divinity School is our speaker. Music provided by local LGBTQ choir, the Harmony Chorale. Please register to pay for the dinner here (you can pay just for dinner without the conference registration fee). For registration questions, contact Shelley Rabern.
- California-Pacific Conference RMN & MFSA Dinner on June 17th, 5-7PM at University of Redlands, Redlands CA. Contact Jason Takagi for details.
- California-Nevada Conference Committee on Reconciliation Lunch on June 22nd, 12-1:30PM at Burlingame UMC, Burlingame CA. Rev. Brian Adkins, member of the Commission on a Way Forward, and a panel will discuss current developments from the Commission and the state of inclusion in the UMC. Cost is $15 at the door. Stoles and t-shirts will be available with your donations. Contact Beth Snyder for details and to RSVP.
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Participation in 2017 Pride Parades
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Organize your congregation and fellow Reconciling United Methodists to march in your local Pride parades and send us pictures of the way you're fabulously faithful at photos@rmnetwork.org so we can celebrate on our social media pages.
- Salt Lake City Pride: Pride Interfaith Worship Service at First UMC of Salt Lake City on June 1st, 7PM. Contact: Gheeta Smith.
- Big Sky/Montana Pride Parade, June 17th, 10AM, Billings MT (Third Avenue North between North 22nd Street and North 27th Street). Contact: Rev. Sarah Beck.
- Denver PrideFest Parade, June 18th, 11AM, Cheesman Park, Denver CO. Contact: John Kingsbury.
- Portland Pride Parade, June 18th, 10:30AM, North Park (between NW 8th and NW Park), Portland OR. Contact: Rev. Daryl Blanksma.
- Anchorage PrideFest Parade, June 24th, 11AM, Downtown Anchorage, AK. Contacts: Tia Hollowood and Art Carpenter.
- Seattle Pride Parade, June 25th, 10AM Pride Sunday Pre-March Service at First UMC - Seattle (180 Denny Way). Reconciling United Methodists will march together after the service. Please contact Rev. Austin Adkinson for details.
- San Francisco Pride Parade, June 25th, 10:30AM, San Francisco CA (Market and Beale Streets). Contacts: Wayne Kamiya (Wesley UMC, San Jose CA) and Tyree Leslie (coordinator of Glide UMC's contingent)
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Rooted - for Transgender and GNC Christians
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Do you identify as part of the transgender and gender non-conforming community? Please consider joining us for an ecumenical leadership development retreat August 11-13, 2017 in Chicago, IL. If you're an ally to this community, please consider making a contribution to our scholarship fund for participants and help us spread the word about this exciting event!
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Connect with your local Reconciling team
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Contact your state or conference's Reconciling team leaders below to know how you can participate in local activities and witness.
Connect with your conference Reconciling teams on Facebook - "like" their page!
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