WOULD YOU LIKE TO HELP SPONSOR OUR FREE WEBINARS? 

​

Thank you for supporting the mission of the United Methodist Association of Retired Clergy and Friends

​

​

Write check designated to "Mountain Sky Conference" and send to Dr. Don Messer, UMARC Co- Chair: 7185 S Niagara Cir, Centennial, CO 80112. 

Notify Don in advance at dmesser@iliff.edu

UMARC endorses a dynamic programmatic and fund-raising program that  focuses on ensuring future inclusivity in our beloved United Methodism Mountain Sky Conference.  Check out A Table For All and urge a November 13 observance (or another date of your choosing) in your church.  Click on image for details and registration. 

 CELEBRATING PRIDE, WEBINAR RECORDINGS AVAILABLE,
LISTEN TO PODCASTS

UMARC Joins Three Bishops in Denver Pride Parade

Episcopal Bishop Kym Lucas, Lutheran (ELCA) Bishop Jim Gonia, and United Methodist Bishop Karen Oliveto led an ecumenical delegation, including UMARC, in the Denver Pride Parade on Sunday, June 26. 

This was the first time all three denominations joined together in the Pride Parade.  

Did you miss our most recent webianr?  

Listen to our esteemed panel of speakers sharing their affirmations of United Methodism and why joining the break-away denomination is contrary to basic Wesleyan beliefs. 

Join the conversation.

A weekly podcast featuring conversations between Rev. Molly Vetter and denominational leaders about the challenges ahead as we live toward a United Methodist Church that is fully inclusive of our LGBTQ+ siblings. Subscribe, listen, and share!

RESOURCES RELATED TO UNDERSTANDING DIFFERENCES BETWEEN UNITED METHODISM AND BREAK-AWAY DENOMINATION 

Webinar on "Clobber" Passages
in the Bible

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

"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.

In Case You Missed It! 

Free Webinar: Baseball, Racism and Religion 

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.  

RESPONDING TO AN ATTACK ON A VISION OF AN INCLUSIVE

UNITED METHODISM

​

​

​

​

​

​

Threatened by the vision of an inclusive United Methodism as presented by various speakers, including Bishops Karen Oliveto, Harald Rückert, and Cynthia Moore-Koikoi, the conservative Institute for Religion and Democracy published an attack on Bishop Oliveto and the Inclusiveness V Webinar sponsored by the United Methodist Association of Retired Clergy & Friends in late November 2021. 

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

And while we are tempted to ignore such mean-spiritedness and misinterpretation, we yet know it is important to respond lest others be misled.

The Vice Chair of UMARC, Rev. Dr. Harvey Martz, distinguished former senior pastor of St. Andrew UMC in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, speaks for all of us on the Steering Committee, when he writes in “Gone MIA from the IRD - Jesus:"

“So, it seems, when we want to demonize persons who are not 'like us,' I believe that Lord Jesus the Prophet will draw us up short and cause us to look inside.

Luckily, in Mr. Bastian’s essay, he does manage to quote our 'Lesbian Bishop' and give a new direction for all of us: 'We are called to a response as followers of Jesus.’

​

In most of his vitriolic essay, Mr. Bastian gets it wrong. And Bishop Karen Oliveto gets it right.”

YES, Bishop Oliveto does get it right - a loving Jesus that includes everyone, not just the heterosexual community.

Warm Regards,

Donald E. Messer

Chair, UMARC & Friends

LIVING LEGEND: REV. JULIAN RUSH HONORED

A living legend since the 1980’s, Rev. Julian Rush has been elevated to Honorary Member of UMARC’s Steering Committee. As a pioneering openly gay pastor (now retired) in the Mountain Sky Conference, he gave distinguished leadership in the church and as founder of the Colorado AIDS Project.

See his biography “Julian Rush—Facing the Music; A Gay Methodist Minister’s Story” .
 

FORMER AIR FORCE CHAPLAIN REV. JOHN L. THOMPSON APPOINTED

Rev. John L. Thompson, former Chaplain in the U.S. Air Force, as well as a United Methodist District Superintendent and retired senior pastor of Park Hill UMC, Denver, has been newly appointed to the UMARC Steering Committee. He held the rank of full Colonel and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal.

United Methodist Association of Retired Clergy & Friends

Inclusiveness V Webinar, November 20, 2021

“Experiencing An Inclusive United Methodist Church:

Celebrating First Five Years of Bishop Karen Oliveto’s Episcopacy”

​

​

​​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

 ​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​​

Bishop Harald Rückert         Germany                                                

UMARC joined Bishop Karen Oliveto Jan. 13, 2022, in celebrating the retirement of Nancy Cox, long time Executive Assistant to the Mountain Sky bishop. 

An expression of gratitude for excellent service and a cash gift from members was provided by Dr. Don Messer, UMARC chair.

To contribute to a retirement gift for Nancy, write a check to the Mountain Sky Conference earmarked "UMARC/Nancy" & send to treasurer John Blinn, 11 Monroe #102, Denver, CO  80206. Thank you!

 BIshop Oliveto with Nancy Cox

At a COVID post-vaccination picnic, members of the United Methodist Association of Retired Clergy and Friends celebrated five years of dynamic spiritual leadership by Bishop Karen Oliveto.   Tributes from retirees saluted her and her wife Robin Ridenour for their courage, compassion, care, leadership, vision, and living out a theology of love.   UMARC Chair, Rev. Dr. Donald E. Messer, thanked “the Holy Spirit for her unanimous election and the impact she has made for inclusion in both the church and world.”

UMARC Partners with Resist Harm
**Click on the image 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. 

Steering Committee Members (Photos Left to Right):

Don Messer - Chair, Harvey Martz - Vice Chair,  John Blinn - Treasurer,

Dave Ferguson, Chris Ferguson,

Marla Kauerz, Kay Palmer-Marsh, Liwliwa Robledo, Ben Roe, John L. Thompson

Julian Rush - Honorary, Annie Arnoldy - Advisor

Timetable: Inclusiveness VI Webinar

November 19, 2022

“A New Beginning: An Inclusive United Methodism

United Methodist Association of Retired Clergy & Friends (UMARC)

8:30 am to 12 noon (Mountain Standard Time)

8:15 am (Mountain) Start Connecting By Zoom

8:30 Welcome & Prayer

• Rev. Dr. Donald E. Messer, Chair, (UMARC), President Emeritus, Iliff School of Theology

• Rev. Dr. Harvey Martz, Vice Chair (UMARC), Retired Sr. Pastor, St. Andrew UMC

• Video—Apology from South Central Jurisdiction

8:45 “Pivoting United Methodism Toward a Hope-Filled Future”

• Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton, UM Council of Bishops President

9:05 “Confronting Misinformation & Racism: Buyer Beware”

• Bishop Julius C. Trimble, Indiana Area (Video)

9:25 Conversation: New Bishops Carlo A. Rapanut, Cedrick Bridgeforth & Dottie Escobedo Frank

Coordinated by Rev. Dr. Kay Palmer-Marsh, UMARC Steering Committee;

10:00 “Neon Bible”— Soloist Kelly Triplett, Denver, CO & Jacksonville, Florida

10:05 “Envisioning A New United Methodist Movement”

• Reverend Matt Miofsky, The Gathering, St. Louis, Missouri

10:40 Panel: Reaching New Faith Communities

• Rev. Ryan Canaday, Free, Denver, CO

• Rev. Kennedy Mwita, First UMC Moheto, Kenya

• Rev. Jasper Peters, Belong, Denver, CO

Coordinated by Rev. Dr. Harvey Martz, Vice Chair, UMARC

11:05 “A Place at the Table”—soloist Kelly Triplett, Denver, CO & Jacksonville, Florida

11:10 A Table For All—A Model for Creating Inclusive Congregations

• Erin Althaus, Executive director

11:30 “Celebrating the New United Methodist Movement”

• Bishop Karen J. Oliveto, Mountain Sky Area

11:55 Closing Words & Bishop Karen Oliveto Benediction

• Dr. Don Messer & Bishop Oliveto

​

​