On April 17, over 60 MIND members and supporters came together for a day of sharing, healing and planning.
We began the day with a worship service, a first for MIND, which has concentrated its gatherings on nuts and bolts organizing. It was a time to ground ourselves in our faith. We debuted the MIND Choir, under the direction of Nehemiah Luckett, Asbury UMC’s assistant music director and a MIND steering committee member. We also celebrated communion, led by LGBT people who were called to ministry but were unable to pursue that call within the United Methodist Church. Led by steering committee member Rev. Sara Thompson Tweedy, the service also included a moving pastoral prayer and reflection shared by Dorothee Benz, MIND’s chair.
Following a break for a delicious coffee hour (we wouldn’t be Methodists if we didn’t eat together, would we?), we reconvened for a meeting to plan this year’s annual conference witness. Ideas were shared and kicked around, and volunteers stepped up for various tasks before and during conference. For more on MIND’s planned witness for this year’s annual conference, visit the MIND Initiatives page. See more photos from Aprl 17.