UMARC’S PROGRAMS ENVISIONED FOR 2021

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Planning for 2021 remains uncertain, but UMARC & Friends envisions the following possible programs in the year ahead, as we press forward for an inclusive church and society.  Volunteer leadership will be the key in determining what happens!

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Join us in February and March for three Zoom Webinars focused on “Courageous Connections:  Transgender Life Stories.”  (See details below)  Designed as educational forums for increasing understanding about the challenges faced by transgender persons, UMARC will     co-sponsor these seminars.  In April we are planning a webinar on  “Interpreting Biblical Texts Used To Condemn Homosexuality.”  

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Depending on the status of vaccinations and the COVID-19 pandemic, we hope to host a May “Bring Your Own Basket Picnic:  UMARC Members Reunite.”  Nothing scheduled yet, but we would love to have our beloved Bishop Karen Oliveto as speaker!

In June we hope all of us can participate virtually and/or actually in “PRIDE PARADES” across the Mountain Sky Area.  Not just Denver, but Salt Lake, Billings, Cheyenne & elsewhere!  

Depending on what happens regarding General Conference, we expect in September to have a virtual & actual session highlighting “Implications of General Conference 2021.” 

On Saturday, November 20th, we envision a virtual and actual “Inclusiveness V:  Moving Toward A New Future.”   We would like

to see a January, 2022, webinar on “The Rural Church and the

Challenge of Inclusiveness.”  Inclusiveness and racial justice do not inevitably happen.  We need to join in God's loving liberation of

all humanity.  Help us bend the moral arc of the universe by creating a church that neither discriminates nor excludes.  

Steering Committee Members (Photos Left to Right):

Don Messer - Chair, Harvey Martz - Vice Chair

John Blinn - Treasurer

Dave Ferguson, Chris Ferguson, Linda Gertenbach,

Youngsook Kang, Marla Kauerz, Kay Palmer-Marsh,

Liwliwa Robledo, Ben Roe,  Julian Rush, 

Annie Arnoldy - Advisor

This Three-Part Webinar Series Is Scheduled From 6:30- 8:00 pm (Mountain)

Feb. 11th, Feb. 25th, and March 11th, 2021

**You can register for the remaining webinar, even if you missed the first two!**

To register, please email Savannah at: saviejoekane19@gmail.com

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If you need help registering for or accessing the webinars, please email our Administrative Coordinator, Amy Hawthorne: amyhawthorne3@gmail.com 

Thank you to this year's Inclusiveness Conference Sponsors.  

Click to Access Various Videos from the Conference Listed Below. 

Retired Clergy Urged to Perform Same - Sex Weddings

"Let's Talk:  LGBTQ+ Weddings" webinar from July 15th, 2020

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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. 

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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.  

Invite Your Church To Study "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 has provided eight free copies to be shared throughout the Mountain Sky Area.  These are 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*