Inclusiveness IV Conference: Zoom Webinar
November 14, “Building a World That Works For All”
**Video content posted under agenda items below**
Become A Sponsor
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Thanks for becoming a sponsor to cover conference costs & UMARC's efforts at promoting inclusiveness.
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Help us honor three former area bishops with legacy funds -- Bishop Melvin Wheatley, Roy Sano, and Mary Ann Swenson -- along with our courageous brothers, Rev. Gilbert Caldwell who was a civil rights icon with Martin Luther King, Jr., and later for LGBTQ rights, and Rev. Julian Rush who broke the LGBTQ barriers in our conference in the 1980's.
Agenda
8:30-8:40 a.m.
Welcome, explanations, introductions: Don Messer/Harvey Martz, Inclusiveness Co-Chairs
8:40-8:50 a.m.
A Call to Inclusiveness: Bishops Karen Oliveto and LaTrelle Easterling
8:50-10:30 a.m. What Is Happening in the United Methodist Church?
8:50-9:20 An Overview: Dr. Mark Holland
9:20-9:45 Three International Perspectives - Africa: Augustine Bahati, Europe: Rev. Knut Refsdahl, Philippines: Bishop Rodolfo A. “Rudy” Juan
9:45-10:15 Understanding Global Trends: Dr. David Scott
10:15-10:25 A Mountain Sky Conference Perspective: Rev. Jasper Peters
10:25-10:30 a.m.
Musical Interlude (Arvada UM Church)
10:30-11:00 a.m. Challenges Facing Contemporary Church
10:30-10:45 The Bible and Sexuality: Dr. Rob Fuquae
10:45-11:00 Preaching and Polarization: Dr. Mark Feldmeir
11:00-12:15 p.m. Dismantling Racism
11:00-11:30: Bishop LaTrelle Easterling
11:30-12:15 p.m. Panel Response: Rev. Dr. Valerie Jackson & Dr. Andriette Fields. Moderators; speakers include Rev. Calvin Hill, Rev. Bich Thy (Betty) Nguyen, Rev. Nathan Adams, and Senator Lucia Guzman.
12:15-12:45 p.m.
A Challenge to Inclusiveness: Bishop Karen Oliveto
Closing Benediction
Retired Clergy Urged to Perform Same - Sex Weddings
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"Let's Talk: LGBTQ+ Weddings" webinar from July 15th, 2020
Laity and clergy participated in an online forum to explore how pastors and local church members might prepare for same-gender weddings in their sanctuary. Questions of liturgy, pre-marital counseling, use of language, communication, etc., were discussed. This webinar was sponsored by the United Methodist Association of Retired Clergy & Friends and the Mountain Sky Queer Clergy Caucus.
Speakers for this Webinar included two leading Mountain Sky Area United Methodist clergy, Rev. Sharon Langfeldt and Rev. Angie Kotzmoyer. Our speakers were also joined by Rev. Dr. Donald E Messer, Moderator, and a panel of key leaders.
UMARC members are joining retired clergy across the denomination in offering their services to perform same-sex weddings. Click HERE to add your name to the growing movement to reduce harm and move the church to inclusiveness.
UMARC Chair, Dr. Donald E. Messer, is a member of the national Resist Harm committee encouraging prophetic witness and pastoral service, in contrast to the traditionalist polity. Retired pastors risk complaints and trials, but severe penalties can be administered to active faithful pastors living in areas where bishops are intent on enforcing the Discipline no matter how punitive and exclusive.
Five Free Copies of New DVD Study on The Bible, Inclusiveness & Human Sexuality
Education must accompany legislation, if The United Methodist Church truly is to become an inclusive community of faith. General church policies may soon change at General Conference 2021, but the key remains the transformation of hearts and minds of church members. Bishop Karen Oliveto contends that the local church is the new frontier and recommends a new DVD series called "Faithful and Inclusive: The Bible, Sexuality, and the United Methodist Church." This new Bible study enables local churches to explore over six weeks what the Bible says about homosexuality.
UMARC (United Methodist Association of Retired Clergy) will provide free copies to the first five churches anywhere this study can be mailed. Just contact us HERE. UMARC is also providing eight free copies to be shared throughout the Mountain Sky Area. These will be available through your CRM (Congregation Resource Minister), Click HERE for listing and address. For more information about the series, CLICK HERE
Submitted GC2021 legislation now available online
The Advance Daily Christian Advocate, which contains the agenda, delegate listings and already submitted legislation for the 2021 General Conference, is now out. Delegates should be receiving print copies in the mail. People also can download the material in English, French, Portuguese and Kiswahili at the link.
See Advance Daily Christian Advocate
UMARC Partners with Resist Harm
**Click on the image below to learn more.
Until legislation is passed removing the harmful restrictions currently embodied in the UM Discipline, active efforts must continue to resist, reduce, and mitigate the harm imposed by the Traditionalist agenda.
2020 Revised Social Principles Available
"After an eight year journey and a deeply United Methodist experience of revision, the General Conference is called to approve a document with a strong theological grounding and a more focused, succinct, and globally meaningful form" read the rest of the introduction to the 2020 Social Principles, and the Principles themselves, published in Church & Society HERE
Comprehensive Listing of Key UM News Articles
*Click NEWS Image*
