lgbtq

November 19, 2019
Inclusion Jesus justice lgbtq ministry Open and Affirming social justice social transformation Theology Voice

“Being faithful sometimes requires us to break the rules:” A Response to the Issue of LGBTQ Inclusion in the UMC.

“I’d rather be excluded for who I include than included for who I exclude.” This sentence, often appearing on a church sign, shows up fairly regularly on my social media feed, a moving reminder of what the communities of faith are called to be. The Rev. Eston Williams, a United Methodist pastor, said these words in 2016 to a reporter for a story on his rural Texas church’s decision to begin offering same sex weddings. The congregation voted overwhelming to offer the services, even though they are banned by the United Methodist Book of Discipline. (more…)

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March 8, 2019
lgbtq Methodist Studies ministry social justice social transformation Theology Voice

How I Want to Shape My Ministry: Student Riva Tabelisma on the UMC General Conference

It has been more than a week since the Special Session of the General Conference of the UMC adjourned. The result of that gathering came as a shock to many people, especially to me as I witnessed it in person. I went to the Special Session of the General Conference because the Filipino American Caucus (National Association of Filipino American United Methodists) was launching the Global Filipino United Methodist Movement -- a missional ministry for Filipinos in diaspora worldwide. I also went to provide support for the delegates of the Philippines Central Conference. (more…)

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March 4, 2019
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“Many Waters Cannot Quench Love:” United’s Response to the UMC General Conference.

This week a special General Conference of the United Methodist Church voted to reaffirm and even to strengthen its opposition to same-sex marriage and to gay clergy. When the majority of delegates decided to pass the Traditional Plan, the denomination voted in favor of exclusion. Rev. Judy Zabel, a clergy delegate who serves Hennepin Avenue UMC in Minneapolis, said: (more…)

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September 27, 2018
lgbtq ministry social justice social transformation students theological education Theology

Queer, Christian, and Ready to Serve: Putting the Pieces Together

Nikole Mitchell is a first year student at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, where she is pursuing an M.Div. with a concentration in Social Transformation: "My whole life I’ve had to choose between social justice and my faith," she explains. "I never had a place where those two came together. So, when a friend of a friend suggested I check out United, I went on the school's website and saw they had a  Social Transformation program. Plus, was interfaith and affirming. It was everything I’d been looking for!" (more…)

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June 29, 2018
Activism lgbtq social justice social transformation videos Voice

Video Ministry: Countering LGBTQ “Clobber Texts” on Youtube.  

How do we share our messages and enact our ministry across different audiences?  Social Transformation student, Nikole Mitchell uses Twitter, blogging, and vlogging (video blogging) to reach people where they are.  As a self-described biracial, queer woman, Nikole engages questions of social justice, racial equity, and LGBTQ inclusion through social media.  In Fall, 2017, Nikole published a series of videos about Biblical passages often used against LGBTQ people.  Nikole speaks with a number of religious leaders in the Twin Cities area to think through and counter these so called "clobber texts."  Watch the full series below: (more…)

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