First United Methodist Church in Birmingham will be the site of a workshop promoting full inclusion of LGBT persons in the United Methodist Church later this month.
On January 28 Reconciling Ministries Network and the Methodist Federation for Social Action will sponsor Love Your Neighbor Workshop.
The group members are concerned with language in the Social Principles of the church that is hurtful to LGBT people and leads to exclusion.
The United Methodist Church does not condone the practice of homosexuality and consider this practice incompatible with Christian teaching.
This sentence conflicts with this passage, which is part of the same section of the Social Principles.
We affirm that God’s grace is available to all, and we will seek to live together in Christian community. We implore families and churches not to reject or condemn lesbian and gay members and friends. We commit ourselves to be in ministry for and with all persons.
They would like to see the sentence about homosexuality removed from the Social Principles at this year’s General Conference.
The workshop is open to members of other faith communities, and the skills learned could be beneficial to any who want to promote inclusiveness.
“While the workshop is sponsored by a United Methodist group, our time together on the 28th is perfect for anyone who's working to build inclusive faith community or is seeking a space where all of who they are is welcome and will be heard,” according to Kelley Frances Fenelon, jurisdictional organizer for Reconciling Ministries Network.
One of the goals of the workshop is to build confidence among participants as they engage in conversations back at their own churches or with delegates to the General Conference.
“Sometimes, generous conversations about the full affirmation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender membership in our faith communities can become difficult to hold. I hope that the workshop will take away some of our anxiety by revealing that we can locate common values with those who disagree as a means of having conversation rather than devolving into argument,” said Ms. Fenelon.
This workshop organizers hope to provide an opportunity to learn more about Reconciling communities, to expand the reach of inclusion in Northern Alabama, and to think through the many ways to be involved in God's message of welcoming affirmation for all.
Lunch will be provided at the workshop, so the organizers are asking that participants RSVP by contacting Joe Openshaw or Kelley Frances Fenelon. The workshop lasts from 9:30 to 2:30 on Saturday, January 28, 2012.
Comments