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1 Corinthians 12:24b-26 NRSV
To the LGBTQI people
We acknowledge the harm inflicted during
this Special Session of General Conference, especially towards our LGBTQI
siblings. Once again, General Conference has turned you into an issue instead
of recognizing how essential you are to the body; we have talked about you,
rather than with you. You are precious children of God, and you help us all see
a fuller glimpse of the face of God.
We have not deserted you. We see you. We
stand in solidarity with you.
To United Methodists in our Ministries in the West
Throughout the spring we will hold
informational and listening sessions across our conferences to discuss the
outcomes of General Conference and the future of ministry in the Western
Jurisdiction.
We implore you to take part in these
conversations with open minds and prayerful hearts so that the Spirit might
guide us all towards whatever comes next.
Our Jurisdictional has often led the
United Methodist Church in crossing boundaries of inclusion. It elected
the first Asian-American bishop, the first African American woman bishop, the
first Hispanic American woman bishop, the first out gay bishop. A bishop in the
West was the first to appoint an out gay clergy person. We have helped to
lead the Church into border ministries, refugee and immigrant ministries, and
ministries that move outside church buildings into communities.
We are committed to full inclusion of
all God’s children in the body; we will not cut off a part of the body, nor ask
it to carry the cross of exclusion for the church any longer.
Our commitment to diversity is deeply
rooted in Scripture, and our Wesleyan tradition. We are committed to be a
courageous church in mission and ministry including with our ethnic and
marginalized communities. We prioritize this work because Jesus prioritized
this work in his life and ministry.
To theological traditionalists
The Western Jurisdiction has grown to
understand diversity in its many forms, not as something to be merely
tolerated, but as Christ’s gift that enriches our something that enhances our
common life as disciples of Jesus Christ. We are committed to “making
every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”
(Ephesians 4: 3)
We do not want to be separated from you,
but rather we would choose to remain in one Church as we continue to strive to
be come one body in the one Spirit (Ephesians 4: 4).
To colleagues across the church, who aren’t sure where they belong
We will continue to be a home for all
God’s people, gathered around a table of reconciliation and transformation. We
are not going anywhere. We are eager to be in conversation with others across
the church who are similarly committed to offering a home for all God’s Children.
We have committed ourselves to working in coalition with others to find a way to live our faith with integrity in the wake of the recent devastating General Conference.
We have committed ourselves to working in coalition with others to find a way to live our faith with integrity in the wake of the recent devastating General Conference.
The Leadership of the Western Jurisdiction is set to meet in two weeks. Between now and then, we will continue to pray, listen, and discern where the Spirit is leading.
Visit www.westernjurisdictionumc.org
to join us in the dialogue, the search and the invitation as we continue to
move forward to embrace the life abundant God has intended for each of us.
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