Reconciling Ministries Network

RMN ENVISIONS A RENEWED AND VIBRANT WESLEYAN MOVEMENT THAT IS BIBLICALLY AND THEOLOGICALLY CENTERED. AS COMMITTED DISCIPLES OF JESUS CHRIST, RMN STRIVES TO TRANSFORM THE WORLD BY LIVING OUT THE GOSPEL'S TEACHINGS OF GRACE, LOVE, JUSTICE, AND INCLUSION FOR ALL OF GOD'S CHILDREN. RMN IS AT THE FOREFRONT OF ECUMENICAL FAITH ORGANIZING FOR INTERSECTIONAL LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER, AND QUEER (LGBTQ+) JUSTICE. RMN PURSUES ITS GOALS IN COLLABORATION WITH FAITH-BASED AND SECULAR ORGANIZERS WHO ARE AT THE INTERSECTIONS OF BOTH OPPRESSION AND PRIVILEGE.

1) JURISDICTIONAL CONFERENCES - RMN DEVELOPED 3 RESOLUTIONS FOR PRESENTATION AT US JURISDICTIONAL CONFERENCES, ORGANIZED A NATIONAL CAMPAIGN WITHIN THE 5 US JURISDICTIONAL CONFERENCE DELEGATIONS TO PERFECT THEM AND GAIN SUPPORT, AND PASS THEM AT EACH OF THE 5 US JURISDICTIONAL CONFERENCES IN NOVEMBER 2022.2) WORKED WITH THOSE IMPACTED BY DISAFFILIATION TO PROVIDE SUPPORT. THIS SUPPORT RANGED FROM CONNECTING THOSE IMPACTED TO OTHER RECONCILING CHURCHES, HELPING DESIGN ONLINE CHURCHES AND CONNECT PEOPLE TO THEM, WORKING WITH INDIVIDUALS FEELING ISOLATED WITH NOWHERE TO TURN, AND MORE. DEVELOPED A TOOLKIT TO PROVIDE CONTINUOUSLY UPDATED INFORMATION TO RECONCILING FOLK TO HELP THROUGH THIS PERIOD. THE DATA COMPILED WAS AN ATTEMPT TO REFUTE THE MIS-INFORMATION CAMPAIGN BEING WAGED TO CONVINCE CHURCHES TO DISAFFILIATE.3) WORKED TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF RECONCILING MINISTRIES AND INDIVIDUALS CONNECTED TO THE MOVEMENT.

RMN CONTINUED TO WORK TO INCREASE OUR VIRTUAL OFFERINGS.1) WE COMPLETED AND MADE AVAILABLE SEVERAL TOOLKITS INCLUDING: YOUTH LEADERS TOOLKITS, PASTORS TOOLKITS, AND MORE,2) WE DEVELOP (OR WORK WITH PARTNERS TO DEVELOP) AND HOST A MINIMUM OF TWO VIRTUAL PORCHES A MONTH WITH A SPECIFIC TOPIC OF INTEREST TO OUR CONSTITUENTS3) WE COMPLETED THE FIRST DRAFTS OF THE THREE TRAINING MODULES FOR OUR FIRST IN-HOUSE DEVELOPED ONLINE TRAINING ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY, AND GENDER EXPRESSION4) WE STARTED THE DESIGN WORK FOR OUR FIRST VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL CURRICULUM

STRENGTHENING OUR PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE FUTURE OF THE CHURCHWITH CONTINUED DELAYS IN THE UNITED METHODIST GENERAL CONFERENCE, WE HAVE CONTINUED OUR WORK WITH PARTNERS ACROSS THE DENOMINATION ON BUILDING A COALITION THAT WILL WORK TOGETHER WHEN THE NEXT GENERAL CONFERENCE OCCURS. THIS COALITION HAS SEVERAL SUBGROUPS WORKING IN AREAS OF COMMUNICATIONS, STRATEGY, LEGISLATION, STAYING UMC, AND A VISION FOR THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH AFTER THE NEXT GENERAL CONFERENCE. DURING 2023 WE INCREASED THE NUMBER OF PARTNERS ENGAGED IN THIS WORK AND STARTED PUTTING TOGETHER A FRAMEWORK FOR THE TEAM WE WILL NEED IN CHARLOTTE IN 2024 AT THE UNITED METHODIST GENERAL CONFERENCE.