Trailblazing the Liberation Methodist Church

“The Spirit of our God is upon us, because the Most High has anointed us to bring Good News to those who are poor…to proclaim release to those held captive…to cast vision for those who want to perceive God’s new thing …to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Liberator’s favor” (Luke 4:18-19).

MIND is a proud cosponsor of this event.
PURPOSE:
As the Holy Spirit pours out the New Wine, The Liberation Methodist Church is on the move, sewing up the New Wineskin. Liberationists are interested in radically reimagining the ways we relate to one another and the world.Liberations are forming a church where:
+ the marginalized are centered,
+ power is equitably distributed, and
+ we are free to act in solidarity with movements for justice.

GOAL:
+ DEFINE: Make the emergent Liberation Methodist Church visible and viable and develop its practical characteristics (including Leadership, Connectionalism, and Resources as identified at theadventgathering.com)
+ BUILD: Continue the work of building a new expression independent from the UMC
+ ORGANIZE: Advance strategies of justice and liberation related to the 2020 General Conference and the UMC, including the N.E.W (New Expressions Worldwide) Plan

Friday, March 6th at 4pm and ends Sunday, March 8th at 4pm.
United Methodist Church of Preston Hollow
6315 Walnut Hill Lane
Dallas, TX 75230
[near Love Field Airport]

Sponsoring organizations:
UM-Forward.org + UMC of Preston Hollow (Dallas) + Love Prevails + MIND + North Church (Indianapolis) + enfleshed + New Milford UMC (Connecticut) + Aboundant + Union UMC (Boston) +

The MIND Welcoming Church Program

Discerning Your Congregation’s Future?

We Can Help!

For the past eight years MIND has been assisting congregations in the complex process of discernment around issues of human sexuality and what it means to take a stand for justice and inclusion in today’s United Methodist Church. These issues have now reached a point of urgency for each local congregation. We have resources and experienced individuals who are committing their time and energy to helping congregations in this process.

Please contact Rev. Jeff Wells 917-604-5227 or email pastorjeff@churchofthevillage.org; or Rev. Scott Summerville 914-980-7176 or email sumvil@aol.com for information and guidance.

Now Is The Time

A Challenge and an Invitation – Individuals and Congregations Taking a Stand for Equality

MIND has organized two “how-to” sessions for individual laity and clergy and for Congregational representatives interested in helping their congregations in the process of becoming a Welcoming Congregation.

Wednesday, June 19, 7-8  PM
Tuesday, June 25, 7-8 PM

At this critical moment in United Methodist history, it is a moral imperative that United Methodist congregations take a stand. The New York Annual Conference has resoundingly reaffirmed its commitment to equality for all persons in the life, sacraments and leadership of the church.  Our Bishop, Thomas J. Bickerton, has challenged our congregations to “work for full inclusion, and make our words turn into actions that demonstrate our support.” We have further declared as an annual conference that we will not be bound by the regressive and punitive policies against LGBTQIA+ persons embodied in The Traditional Plan.

It is not enough that we privately decry these developments and the continuing attempt to suppress full equality in the church. As individuals and congregations we must take a public stand.  At the same time, we recognize that guiding congregations through the process of formulating a public message requires thoughtfulness and careful preparation. If you have not done so already, we challenge you to act now, and we are prepared to help you in this process.  We have experienced trainers who can take you step-by-step through an effective process of congregational discernment.

We will be conducting a number of training events, beginning with the two on-line events listed above. If you or members of your congregation would like to participate in one or both of these sessions, simply follow this link to provide us with your name, the name of your congregation, and your email contact information.  We will then send you a link that you may use to sign in to either of these events.

If you are interested in having this training, but are not available for the dates being offered now, please send us your contact information, and we will inform you of additional events that will be offered.

Now is the time!

The Conversation Couch

This is the conversation couch.

We set it up at General Conference to invite delegates to speak with a queer United Methodist, since many of them may have never done so. So far, the response has been very positive — we pray that ALL voting delegates would speak with us, not about us.