KATALYST

NEWSLETTER OF RECONCILING MINISTRIES NETWORK

VOL. 28 NO. 4 WWW.RMNETWORK.ORG AUTUMN, 2011

by Rev. Bonnie Beckonchrist, RMN Board Member The Rethink Church Advent series Outside the Box: The Gift that Can't Be Contained, from the United Methodist Communications1, challenges us to go outside the box, to find those forgotten, ignored or turned away from lifes inns, so we may welcome all. The writer of the gospel of Matthew's birth narrative, poignantly reminds us that Emmanuel, God-with-us, experienced exclusion and marginalization from the start. Soon, a conspiracy to kill the new life and hope Jesus represented meant Mary and Joseph and their infant would become political refugees, undocumented immigrants. Such inhospitality and threats of violence in those early years formed a deep and insistent commitment to a radical hospitality within the One whose birth we prepare to celebrate, Jesus of Nazareth. Those in the Reconciling movement have always recognized that the Gospels are intimately connected to

Outside the Box

stories of exclusion and Jesus demonstration to another way. Time and time again, when religious leaders and authorities shunned and rejected people, Jesus embraced them, broke bread with them, blessed them and commissioned them to go and do likewise. Ama a tu prjimo como a ti mismo.(Love your neighbor as yourself). Mark 12:31 So we've been committed to welcoming all since our beginnings in 1984. Begun as a group of 9 original congregations, the Reconciling Ministries Network now includes 484 (or nearly 500) congregations and communities and others are joining us weekly. Our commitment to a fully inclusive United Methodist Church that extends a wide welcome that includes persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities, is a gift to the Church and to the world. Hatred, fear, malice, and exclusion do not glorify God. Neither do they edify the Church. They harm people and they harm our evangelical witness to a loving God. This season, sing the good news of Emmanuel, who came to show us how to live and how to love. Prepare for our General Conference work and witness confident that God's grace cannot be contained. Gloria in excelsis Deo!
1. Outside the Box: The Gift that Can't be Contained, UMCom.org http://bit.ly/v3NzJA

by Rev. Troy Plummer Change is coming; are you prepared? This is the question Ive put to leaders at all levels of our church. Change is coming sooner than you think, and in many ways it is already here. What are you doing to prepare the church for the coming 51% simple majority who will remove anti-gay policies? Bishops, clergy, and laity, God is doing a new thing. Are you preparing your people? This change is global. At General Conference 2008, participants in traditional African dress attended the closing lesbian wedding. International delegates stood during our witness2, Supportive delegates from the Philippines came by our table after speaking at the Central Conferences breakfast. The truth is: change is coming. You see, already in the last two General Conferences a majority of the US delegates voted to remove exclusive policy in 2004 by the slimmest 51%, in 2008 by more

Preparing for Change

Im going to General Conference to work as hard as I can for the day when The United Methodist Church fully affirms the ministry of LGBT people. Each time that I go the struggle against homophobia at the heart of the Church is deeply wounding, but brick-by-brick we are paving the road to a new future in which LGBT people and our families are loved, celebrated, and embraced. Dr. Randy Miller than 60%, and in 2012 it will be close to 70% percent. The 7 million United Methodists in the United States are similar to the 10 million mainstream protestant Christians Continued on page 3
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Back to the Basics: Love Your Neighbor (GC 2012)

by Rev. Troy Plummer From April 25 May 4, 2012 in Tampa, Florida, we will join together with United Methodists from around the world. Our back-to-the-basics message is the great commandment to Love God and Love Neighbor. The great commandments simplicity is also its challenge for our 12 million scattered, diverse United Methodists. We are challenged on what loving neighbor means even when the good Samaritan example clarifies the great commandment. This legislative gathering of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church meets every four years to adapt to Gods will for us. We are proportionally represented by delegates. When we gather in Tampa with 988 voting delegates, 606 will be from the United States, 282 will be from the continent of Africa, 48 will be from the Philippines, 42 will be from Europe, and 10 will be from what we call Concordat Conferences. These are delegates, not representatives, which means they are given the authority to discern their votes prayerfully on behalf of the whole church. The Love Your Neighbor coalition (RMN, MFSA, Affirmation) is already resourcing, contacting, visiting, and keeping these delegates in their prayers before and during the real endurance test of General Conference. We invite you to do the same! In faithful strategic action, Love Your Neighbor will impact the processes and outcomes of General Conference. Every four years, delegates process petitions and proposals from across our church from agencies, congregations, and individuals. The first week of General Conference is divided into thirteen legislative sections to address the variety of needs addressing our own church processes and our witness to the world. The second week, the conference meets

Rev. John Oda, Rachel Harvey, Deaconess, Rev. Will J. Green, Rev. Tim Tennant-Jayne, Rev. Vicki Woods

Witness Team (From Left To Right)

Rev. Dr. Karen Oliveto, Rev. Taka Ishii, Rev. Dr. Marti Scott, Rev. Walter Lockhart, Rev. Nina Nichols together in plenary to receive the recommendations of the legislative sections, hear opposition and support, and vote. Our Love Your Neighbor teams resource delegates through the entire process. Resourcing includes faithful witness, Bible reflections, devotionals, presence, prayers, meals, as well as providing data on critical social justice issues, parliamentary process, and fostering delegate networking.

Legislative Team (From Left To Right)

New Reconciling Communities

First UMC in Oberlin, OH Florence UMC in Florence, OR Grace UMC of Lynn in Lynn, MA UMC of Palm Springs in Palm Springs, CA Amity UMC in Chapel Hill, NC Grace UMC in Austin, TX First UMC in Elmhurst, IL UM Student Association at Vanderbilt Divinity School in Nashville, TN Reconciling Through the S.E.A. at Church of the Savior UM in Cleveland Heights, OH Journey Class at Saint Johns UMC in Austin, TX
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Congregations

Campus Ministries Communities

2. The 2008 General Conference Proclamation, http://youtu.be/wgm8uKGw7_k 3. A Statement of Counsel to the Church 2011, http://www.rmnetwork.org/act-now/take-action-form/letter-to-the-bishop 4. Creating an Altar for All, http://www.rmnetwork.org/act-now/altar-for-all/

Continued from page 1 (Presbyterians, Lutherans, Episcopalians, and UCC) who mission based on culture, prepare your word to those who are removed exclusionary policies in their denominations. We afraid: Confidently proclaim that Christs powerful invitation can make the choice to be prepared. is not dependent upon exclusion. It is the Christian calling Retired Bishops in their Counsel to stand and defend people who are 3 Always be ready to make your to the Church 2011 advocated targeted for persecution, imprisonment defense to anyone who demands for removal of discrimination in and execution because of who they from you an accounting for the ordination. Over 1000 UM clergy in are. It is not inclusive Christians who hope that is in you. -1 Peter 3:15 13 annual conferences have organized are targeted for violence it is people 4 to marry and bless gay families now. who are perceived to be gay. Will you help prepare for this inevitability? Those of us who When faithful United Methodists share anxiety about have longed for change have been grieving without leaving accelerating the declining regional statistics of members and our church while experiencing closer and closer votes. Will dollars: Remember that our sister denominations are living the church be prepared for those for whom the grieving will into their policy changes with few departures. We have tried be a new experience? We know it is necessary. Change is 40 years of discrimination, lets try 40 years of inclusion. here now. Change is coming. It will come at the 2012 General Will you prepare now to love your neighbor when Conference, and in 2016, and in 2020. We must prepare and anxieties and fears of change emerge? put our real hope into action to be the people God requires in When fears that inclusion will impede our witness and this place and time.

Preparing for Change, contd

PALM SPRINGS, CA

SALT LAKE CITY, UT

NORTH BROOK, IL

LITTLE ROCK, AR

SCOTTSDALE, AZ

FLORENCE, OR

TUCSON, AZ

by Rachel Harvey, Deaconess At Youth 2011, I met a middle school student from Arizona. Her dads called over 30 churches looking for a place that would welcome their family only one church said yes. As she pinned on a Believe Out Loud button, she asked, Does it really have to be this hard? No, I responded, The gospel is clear about Gods love for all people and families. Have you heard of RMN? We work with churches who want to answer yes to your dads question. She excitedly signed up as we brainstormed ways to begin a Reconciling conversation in her youth group. How would your church respond to a call from her dads? Today there are 484 Reconciling communities ready to say yes. The colors in the graph to the right display the quadrennial growth of Reconciling churches, campus ministries, classes and community groups over the past 27 years. If you want to start a conversation or revive a Reconciling team, please call the RMN office (773-736-5526). Were here to help. Through coaching, webinars and online resources were building a movement that says yes to the call to welcome all. Who will be our 500th Reconciling community? Who will say Yes, we welcome all families! Yes, we will work to end discrimination in the UMC! Yes, we love all our neighbors! Will your church say yes?

Who Will RMNs 500th Community Be ?

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AUSTIN, TX

Learning to Love Our Neighbor

New England RCs: 47 Yellowstone RCs: 2 Dakotas RCs: 2 Wisconsin RCs: 15 Minnesota RCs: 19 Detroit RCs: 4 Upper New York RCs: 13

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st n Wehiga c :7 Mi RCs

Pacific Northwest RCs: 25

Oregon - Idaho RCs: 20

California - Nevada RCs: 57 Rocky Mountain RCs: 15

CaliforniaPacific RCs: 20 New Mexico

Desert Southwest RCs: 5

New York na RCs: 17 uehan Susq :1 Cs East Western R N. Illinois Iowa Ohio PA Eastern PA | RCs: 8 RCs: 26 RCs: 12 RCs: 2 RCs: 11 Nebraska Greater New Jersey West RCs: 5 RCs: 2 Ohio West Illinois Indiana Peninsula-Delaware Virginia RCs: 15 Great RCs: 9 RCs: 3 RCs: 1 Virginia Rivers RCs: 2 BaltimoreRCs: 2 Kentucky Washington Kansas Kansas RCs: 2 RCs: 18 Missouri West East North RCs: 5 RCs: 7 RCs: 3 Carolina RCs: 4 Western Memphis Tennessee North Carolina RCs: 1 RCs: 8 RCs: 4 South Oklahoma Red Bird Arkansas North Carolina RCs: 3 Missionary North Georgia RCs: 1 RCs: 2 Alabama RCs: 6 Holston RCs: 1 Northwest RCs: 1 Mississippi North Texas RCs: 1 Texas South RCs: 7 AlabamaGeorgia RCs: 1 West Florida RCs: 1 Central Texas Florida Texas Louisiana RCs: 3 RCs: 4 RCs: 1 Southwest Texas RCs: 31 Rio Grande

Alaska Missionary RCs: 2

California-Pacific Hawaii District

Oklahoma Indian Missionary

Marriage Initiative

LYN Training / Organizing

Opportunities for LYN Training/Organizing

Buddy Annual Conferences

(Matching Textures Signify Linkage)

Jurisdiction Boundaries

Annual Conf. Boundaries

by Rev. Trina Bose North A few months ago when I was asked if Im going to Florida to observe General Conference, I said I dont want to go because I feel a heartbreak coming on. But then in Oklahoma, we started gathering names in support of the Equality in Marriage Statement (joining many others) and we just trained about 35 people to talk with all our General Conference delegates. My fears have been replaced by hope. I am learning hope is always an option, if we but choose it and work for it.
Photo Courtesy of Dave Sanders

Oklahoma Minnesota

We do! Methodists Living Marriage Equality

Western PA

by Rev. Vicki Flippin When asked why I am a pastor, I always say, So that I can change the world! I want to follow in the footsteps of Dr. King, Malcolm X, Gandhi and Dorothy Day. But I have committed acts of discrimination in the name of my church, and I signed the Covenant of Conscience so that I never have to do it again. A few years ago, a young couple, previously rejected because of their sexuality, found welcome in our justiceloving UMC. Full of joy about their future together, they asked me to perform their wedding. I told that couplewho thought they had found a sanctuary from discrimination and hatethat they were not welcome to be married in their sanctuary by their pastor. Today, I am choosing a different path, one that allows me to be faithful to God, my call as a pastor, and my church. I am choosing to be faithful to my ordination vows to seek peace, justice, and freedom for all people. Read how over 900 Covenant of Conscience signers are changing the world in the NY AC at www.mindny.org.

by Joseph Kyser Western Pennsylvania has traditionally been known as a conservative conference; however, as RMNs presence strengthens, we can see a powerful movement within this conference. The team has hosted annual trainings, and has met every month to focus on how to actively promote RMNs goals within their conference including recruitment for the LYN training, encouraging more reconciling congregations, and planning for the future beyond General Conference. This teams conviction for an inclusive church is humbling, inspiring, and a model for all. I am thrilled to be working with this team!

by Kristian Clauser Exciting things are happening in Minnesota! 45 people gathered for an inspiring day of learning and sharing stories at a Love Your Neighbor workshop on Nov. 5th. Volunteers stepped forward to contact delegates in Minnesota and in other annual conferences. Many are organizing for marriage equality on two fronts: Christian marriage through the Altar for All movement, and civil marriage in a Minnesota constitutional amendment battle. Monthly meetings and a listserv keep RUMs connected. A support team is developing to help churches become Reconciling Congregations!

Calling Holston Kentucky

Learn how you can get involved by visiting these websites:

Love Your Neighbor Campaign www.loveyourneighbor2012.org Volunteer at General Conference volunteer.gc12.org General Conference 2012 www.gc12.org An Alter for All altarforall.rmnetwork.org

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by Audrey Krumbach On Saturday, November 5, phones began ringing in the Holston Annual Conference as excited Reconciling United Methodists from the OregonIdaho Annual Conference finished their Love Your Neighbor training with a phone bank to recruit for the training on January 7th in Tennessee. The OregonIdaho RUMS were not content to just make phone calls, they wrote cards of thanks to each General Conference delegate from both Oregon-Idaho and Holston Annual Conferences.

by Matt Mustard Hope can be hard to hold on to. At a recent Love Your Neighbor training in Kentucky, we were blessed to see the genuine desire and belief in change for our church replicated in every selfless soul present. Despite the struggles they shared in their conference, each of these eleven leaders will continue to bring both to each person they encounter. Kentuckys training was a gift to me, and will be a gift to each delegate they meet and offer hope for an inclusive church.

Learning to Love Our Neighbor (Continued)

by Rachel Harvey, Deaconess Nine months ago 80 people gathered in Mississippi for the first Called to Witness training in the state. That training birthed a new statewide Reconciling community which is providing support to a new team in Alabama West Florida (AWF). At the Love Your Neighbor training in November, the Mississippi team put Love Your Neighbor into practice by inviting members of the AWF annual conference team to attend our training to organize one in their conference. This takes southern hospitality to a whole new level, said Kelley Frances Fenelon, the Jurisdictional Organizer organizing with AWF. As both teams begin meeting with delegates for the first time they know they dont go alone but with support that extends beyond state lines.

Mississippi & Alabama West Florida

by Rev. Dr. Bruce Robbins, RMN Board Member In the recent Bishops statement, the bishops declare themselves to be faithful to the covenant and that the clergy committing to bless gay marriages are not. It grieves me that there is no sense of compassion that we too are faithful United Methodists who are caught in a powerful dilemma between different covenants. The Book of Discipline calls us to inclusiveness and recognizing the sacred worth of all persons, and then institutes prohibitions that we deeply believe are prejudicial and unjust. I celebrate the 77 clergy in the Minnesota Annual Conference who have publicly pledged to create an altar for all to be married and for those gay couples who have been waiting so long.

Minnesota Marriage

by Rachel Birkhahn-Rommelfanger, RMN Board Member In June I was elected as a first-time delegate to General Conference from the Northern Illinois Conference where more than half the clergy have declared their willingness to marry gay and lesbian couples. Almost every one of our delegates has signed a statement calling for elimination of discriminatory language from the Book of Discipline, marriage equality in our UM Churches, ordination, and inclusion of all people. We are continuing to learn by planning a training on transgender inclusion. One delegate reminded us that the Book of Discipline says homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching, but it does not say homosexuality is incompatible with the word of God or the gospel.

Testimony of a Delegate

by Laura Rossbert As I travel throughout the south for RMN, I am often overwhelmed with the work people are doing and how the Spirit is moving. I celebrate the 62 people who gathered for trainings across Virginia. I rejoice over the delegate letterwriting parties planned in Missouri. I am overwhelmed by the support we have found in Tennessee. We hosted 125 people at our first Annual Conference dinner last year we couldnt even get a table! I wish every RUM had the joy of traveling with me to see these sources of hope across our connectional church. Gods children are being empowered, and together we are creating Gods fullyinclusive church. Thanks be to God!

Virginia

by Audrey Krumbach, M. Div Its amazing how lives can change in ten minutes. Participants at Sing a New Song dialed more than 600 calls and wrote over 150 letters to General Conference delegates to speak out for full inclusion, but the more exciting transformation happened in those of us who dialed phones. Skeptics discovered the surprising joy of talking with delegates. One participant reported, I hate phone calling, but this was great to get me out of my comfort zone. Another said, Amazing! Phone banking was great. Wish we had a little bit more time but I loved that all it took was ten minutes. I am so totally pumped for General Conference.
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Sing a New Song Phone Bank

Creating a Lasting Legacy of Inclusion & Justice

Inclusion was a cause close to Juliannes heart. She became a Reconciling United Methodist in 2000 and made modest gifts to RMN during her lifetime. However, she wanted to do more and she wanted to guarantee a legacy of support to the causes that gave her life meaning. So when Julianne drafted her estate plan, she named RMN as a bequest in her will. When Julianne died in 2010, she left over $30,000 to RMN a sum that she was unable to give in her lifetime. RMNs Board of Directors had wanted to build relationships with United Methodists in Central Conferences for many years but lacked the resources required to accomplish the task. Juliannes gift provided RMN with a unique opportunity, one which the members of the RMN Board seized by matching Juliannes gift and underwriting the first year of relationship building in Central Conferences. In November 2011, the Love Your Neighbor coalition hired two Cross-Culture Common Witness Coordinators, Rev. Richard Bentley and Haniel Garibay. Building on decades by David Braden of relationships between U.S.-based progressive coalition partners and United Methodists in Central Conferences, Richard and Haniel will work to build a progressive network of international relationships before and after the 2012 General Conference, focusing on relationships with United Methodists in the Philippines and the continent of Africa. The work that Richard and Haniel will undertake was made possible because of Juliannes planned gift. When you remember RMN in your estate planning, you plant the seeds which will grow into a lasting legacy of inclusion and justice. Just like Juliannes gift, planned giving may allow you to make larger gifts than you otherwise could from your current assets. There are many ways to support the ministry of RMN through your own planned giving. If you would like to leave a legacy of justice through your planned gift to RMN, please contact David Braden at (773) 736-5526 or e-mail david@rmnetwork.org to receive free literature that describes some ways to include RMN in your estate planning. Also, if you have already remembered RMN in your will, please let us know. We would love to know that you value our work and ministry so much.

Gifts in Memory and Honor of...

In Honor Of... Amy DeLong, Sam Byrd and Jared Littleton were honored by Joy Watts Rev. Karen Crooch was honored by Deborah Maria Denise MacFarland, Tommy MacFarland, Daniel Nash, and Clifton UMC were honored by Thomas MacFarland Rev. Scott Anderson was honored by Jason Stein Holston AC Reconcilers were honored by the OI RUMs Deborah Maria was honored by Carolyn Pennington Tom McCauley & Glen Hoffs were honored by Darlene Allen In Memory of... Garnett Bond is remembered by Maureen Vetter

RECONCILING MINISTRIES NETWORK mobilizes United Methodists of all sexual orientations and gender identities to transform our Church and world into the full expression of Christs inclusive love.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Brian Adkins Helen Andrew Rev. Bonnie Beckonchrist Rachel Birkhahn-Rommelfanger Vincent Cervantes Rev. Dr. Daniel Diss Jayson Kerr Dobney Giselle Lawn Rev. Dr. Pamela R. Lightsey Madelyn Marsh Rev. David Meredith
Rev. Joshua M. Noblitt Rev. John Oda Rev. Dr. Karen Oliveto Rev. Dr. Burce Robbins Rev. Dr. Derrick Spiva Monica L. Swink Bishop Melvin G. Talbert Joy T. Watts

RMN STAFF David Braden Director of Development

Meg Carey Business Manager James Dalton Communication/IT Coordinator Rachel Harvey, Deaconess Associate Executive Director Ted Jackson Administrative Assistant Audrey Krumbach, M.Div. Field Organizer Rev. Troy Plummer Executive Director
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Reconciling Ministries Network

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Volunteers needed! Legislative, Hospitality and Witness teams are forming now!
Join MFSA, RMN, and Affirmation volunteers in Tampa, Florida during General Conference to help Offer hospitality including meals to support delegates Pass out stoles, buttons and other gifts Monitor and track petitions as they are considered by committees and on the General Conference floor Support coalition staff and volunteers Write newsletter and blog posts, take pictures and post on Facebook or Twitter! Participate in daily witness actions, planning coalition events
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Mission Trip Tampa: April 24th - May 4th, 2012

Many other opportunities! Learn more at http://www.gc12.org Sign up to attend or join a working team at: http://volunteer.gc12.org