Mind NY Methodists in New Directions

Disobeying unjust laws

An MLK Day reflection

In his 1957 Christmas sermon at the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Martin Luther King Jr. preached on “Loving your enemies” and talked about meeting the violence and hatred of others with “soul force.” Directing his words at the opponents of civil rights, whom we are called by the Gospel to love but no less to oppose (“we should be happy that [Jesus] did not say ‘like your enemies’”), King said, “We cannot in all good [...]

Merry Christmas from MIND

Expect the unexpected. That is one way to understand the Christmas story, that most incredible story of God coming to earth, born in a humble manger. It’s a story that turns expectations on their head, the Son of God born to a homeless, unwed mother, celebrated by local migrant workers. If Christmas is about celebrating God’s presence in the world and the hope that that presence represents, then surely the message is that God is present in all the places [...]

Inspiration and information for covenant signers

Regional covenant gatherings Jan.31, Feb. 8, Feb. 16 and Feb. 29

MIND is organizing a series of four regional gatherings for Covenant of Conscience signers in January and February (dates, details, directions on the calendar page). We invite all members of the covenant community to come to one of these, but especially encourage clergy members to attend. We wish to provide covenant signers with important resources and information as they live out their commitment to equality, including the specifics of the [...]

An Advent reflection on We do!

Sometimes it can feel as though the season between Thanksgiving and Christmas is called Shopping. Between the relentless bombardment of consumerist messages, holiday parties, baking, decorating and other obligations, not to mention the constant fiction of happy family gatherings and the waning daylight as the winter equinox approaches, the whole thing can be rather exhausting and depressing.

But thankfully, the season is actually called Advent – and it’s pretty much the opposite of all that. From the Latin advenire, literally “to [...]

Help bring a message of welcome to LGBT communities

A special appeal from MIND's chair for NYAC's Ministry to the Marginalized

Dear MIND supporter,

Two weeks ago MIND made history when we announced the launch of We do! Methodists Living Marriage Equality. We published the names of the over 900 signers of the Covenant of Conscience and reached out directly to LGBT people through emails and visits to community centers to share the good news: We celebrate the diversity of God’s creation and we joyfully extend our ministry to all couples [...]

Methodist Group to Perform Gay Weddings

In unprecedented move, network of 900 bypasses denomination’s ban to reach out directly to LGBT people PRESS RELEASE -- Contact: Dorothee Benz 718-314-4432

A group of 900 United Methodists in New York and Connecticut today announced their intention to make weddings available to all people, gay and straight, in spite of their denomination’s ban on gay marriage. The announcement marks the kick-off of a project called We do! Methodists Living Marriage Equality. In an unprecedented move in any major religious denomination, We [...]

How many methodists does it take to screw in a lightbulb?

Reflections on homosexuality in my church Jody Cross-Hansen

My grown children, who still find their mom and dad an embarrassment in so many ways, literally groan when I wax about how much I loved divinity school and tell them we actually enjoyed denominational jokes. Only their mother, a nerd and a religious one on top of it, could get her chuckles out of a denominational joke. How many Methodists does it take to screw in a light bulb? Answer: At least ten. [...]

My Brother’s Keeper video, study guide now available

Following the November 2010 My Brother’s Keeper symposium on hate crimes, at which 150 people gathered to educate ourselves about hate crimes and to articulate a Christian response and a Christian imperative to respond, organizers of the symposium have compiled a video from the event and written a study guide to accompany it. The video and study guide, together with resource materials researched and prepared for the symposium, are available for congregations interested in deepening their own awareness and witness [...]

In memoriam Dick Parker

It is with great sorrow, but also gratitude for a life well lived, that we share the news of the passing of Rev. Richard S. Parker last week. Dick was a founding member of MIND and a longtime advocate for LGBT justice issues, among many other things.

He served as a pastor from 1951 to his retirement in 1997, and also as a district superintendent for six years in the 1970s. He was twice called out of retirement, once to serve [...]