Redmond United Methodist Church celebrates and supports the LGBTQ community | Letter
Published 1:30 am Friday, May 20, 2016
Since 1972, the United Methodist Church’s official policy making body (the General Conference) has met every four years to discuss issues, address concerns and adjust the rules that guide United Methodist congregations around the globe. While the current stance of the denomination as reflected in their guiding statement of “Social Principles” affirms the sacred worth of all people regardless of sexual orientation, it also excludes people who are homosexual from full participation in the life of the church.
The General Conference is currently being held in Portland, Ore., and though there has been much opposition to the current state of affairs, it seems unlikely that any major legislative changes will pass. Despite the official United Methodist Church rulings, the Redmond United Methodist Church (RUMC), along with many other local United Methodist Churches in this area and across the nation, have joined a movement known as Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN), which stands for the full inclusion of all people in the life of the church.
The RMN is an organization of individuals and churches that affirm a common commitment to reconciliation which, as the RMN states, “leads to the healing and transformation of animosity into honest relationships that respect all God’s children. Reconciliation is a profound ongoing individual and collective commitment from all those affected to establishing new relationships embedded in mutual recognition.”
RUMC’s drive toward reconciliation began in 2013, when several members of RUMC came together to discuss what it means to be “accepting and inclusive.” As a result of those conversations, they brought a request to the church. Their desire was to see RUMC’s relationship with the LGBTQ community transformed: to move from passive acceptance to radical welcome. In 2015, the church voted to affirm this attitude of radical welcome and became a proud member of the RMN.
We are excited to formally announce this affiliation, and also invite the community to some exciting upcoming events. Everyone is welcome to come experience the ways we are living into reconciliation!
Throughout the month of June, we will be hosting an ecumenical bible study that addresses homosexuality in the Bible at 7 p.m. Wednesdays, after Open Kitchen. We are also planning to participate in the Seattle Pride Parade on June 26. We welcome anyone in the community to walk with us as we celebrate and support the LGBTQ community and express our excitement to be one more place where anyone who is seeking experiences and relationship with a faith organization can find welcome and acceptance.
For more information, visit http://redmondumc.org/welcome/a-reconciling-ministry.
Redmond United Methodist Church
