Reconciling Ministries Network

Ain’t No One Monkey Run This Movement

Years ago, I had a supervisor who periodically had to remind me that I wasn’t indispensable.  As she put it, Ain’t no one monkey run this show, ain’t no one monkey make it go….

Her expression stuck with me, and I’m often reminded of it in movement work when people appear to have appointed themselves as the sole hub around which our wheel should turn. For whatever reason, they expect to be consulted in advance of any utterance or action, so they can give their blessing—or veto. Perhaps you’ve seen this in operation in your congregation, annual conference, or coalitions.

But vibrant movements don’t work that way. The success of our movement depends on a variety of people taking a variety of actions. Our success depends on

• some people working inside the system and some knocking loudly on the door from outside,
• some working behind the scenes and some stepping boldly out front,
• some making quiet witness and some making noisy proclamations.

In the end, our success depends on engaging clergy and laity, LGBT and non-LGBT, young and old, those with wealth and those with limited means, accountants and dancers and parents and healers—all of us, in our own ways, to do what we can in our own settings, based on our own gifts, our own roles, and our own unique opportunities. 

What would our movement be like—how might it grow—if we took on the practice of cheering each other on, encouraging each other to discern where we’re called, and supporting each other to fulfill those calls? 

That kind of practice would surely empower the movement. And it just might reflect to the world the peace we are all working for.

As for me, I’m grateful that there ain’t no one monkey…

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Ann Thompson Cook directs Many Voices, which later this year will launch an online, ecumenical clearinghouse of worship and educational resources for the welcoming movement. Her books on sexual orientation and gender diversity—And God Loves Each One, Dios nos ama por iqual, and Made in God’s Image—are distributed by eight national organizations including RMN.

Reconciling Voices

For those of you who might not have seen this video take a second to watch it. It is a very powerful testimony for why we are committed to the cause of inclusion

Crossing Imaginary Lines

We posted this in the most recent Flashnet and thought it would be good to share it with you guys too.

Liberated to take action here and now

by Ann Thompson Cook

As you know from my last post, several clergy who affiliate with Dumbarton UMC are proceeding to conduct legal, same-sex weddings in Washington, DC. The following is excerpted from a deeply reflective letter that Rev. Harry Kiely wrote to his Dumbarton clergy brothers and sisters and agreed to share with you:

In his famous Letter from a Birmingham Jail, Dr. King noted the silence of the white churches in the face of the injustices of racial segregation. He challenged the religious leaders who were warning him against moving “too fast” that such thinking is condescending, and that its advocates “paternalistically feel that [they] can set the timetable for another [person]’s freedom.”

In today’s struggle over full LGBT rights, including marriage equality, justice-seekers are once again admonished to postpone their movement until a more convenient time.

We are being criticized for “stirring up” hostile feelings. We need to remember that the hostility is buried deep in the false illusions of homophobia. Uprooting these injustices and exposing them to the light of Christ’s radiant presence does not create conflict but exposes the lies that are used to suppress gay freedom.

Resurrection faith involves the crucifixion of the false idol of homophobia and proclaiming the good news that the tomb is empty. The message we are called to echo is that our sisters and brothers are simply demanding the right to be treated as human beings.

For us who are the surviving disciples, the news is unbelievably good and our mission is absolutely clear. Just as the resurrected Jesus did not condemn the disciples for their cowardice and betrayal, he does not condemn those of us who have been slow to stand up for gay justice.

Yes, we were wrong. Yes, we were slow to respond. Yes, we put off making a faithful decision. But Christ has set us free from the burden of guilt. Furthermore, we are not only set free from such guilt, we are absolved and liberated to take action here and now in this time and in these circumstances. Our sin of avoidance has been transformed into a new and empowered call for justice.

Finally, it behooves us to be awake to the grace that befalls those we encounter as our adversaries. The temptation to divide the “good” people from the “bad” people is ever present. Our adversaries are the recipients of grace, just as we are. As we hold firm to our gospel convictions, we remember how Peter, when arrested, simply stood by his faith. He proclaimed the gospel of grace to his adversaries, yet without condemning them. This, also, is our call.

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Ann Thompson Cook directs Many Voices, which later this year will launch an online, ecumenical clearinghouse of worship and educational resources for the welcoming movement. Her books on sexual orientation and gender diversity—And God Loves Each One, Dios nos ama por iqual, and Made in God’s Image—are distributed by eight national organizations including RMN.

Called by God - Part 2

by Joey Heath

As part of my seminary education I am required to do two academic years of intern placement in ministry setting. Since I plan to seek ordination and hopefully will enter into local parish ministry I have been looking at several churches as possible options for my placement. One of the questions that is asked by the pastors I am interviewing with is about my call story or why I feel called to ministry and why I want to be a pastor. It is a question that I have spent a lot of time thinking about before coming to seminary and one I still think about as I continue to discover my call.

My call story really begins in 2008 at the UMC General Conference. I was there with the Reconciling Ministries Network to be a witness to the General Conference delegates and the wider UMC about the need for full inclusion of all peoples in the life of the church. Seeing the UMC at there reminded me of why I love this church and why I am proud to call myself a United Methodist. But as the church voted on issues of inclusion, my heart broke. I had personally been hurt by my own denial of membership. When the vote on church membership occurred and went against inclusion it broke my heart to know that there would still be those denied membership to our community of faith. That though we claim to have open doors not all congregations mean it. It was in the broken heart and stream of tears that I heard my call. In that moment God spoke to me and said that I am calling you to be a leader for the next generation aiding my church in becoming the church I desire it to be. God used that moment to show me just how far we have to go as church and that it will not change on its own, but through the work of our pastors and lay people working to create a change that reflects the diversity of God's creation and the inclusive love of Christ.

My understanding of God's call becomes clearer as I learn and one of the things I am certain of is the need for the church to change. The next generation will quite possibly determine whether the UMC dies or continues to be a representative of Christ on earth. I am being called to be at the forefront of this change as a pastor that reminds the youth and young adults that the church is not a place of hate, rejection, and condemnation but is rather a place to find God's open and accepting arms waiting to pour grace on us.

I believe one of the keys to energizing and revitalizing young people will be to reverse our current policy on homosexuality. A recent study by the Barna Group stated that a majority of young Christians and young non-Christian identified individuals believe the church is anti-gay. This is a real problem because this means many young people who have peers who are LGBTQ see the church as not a place for their friends. When this occurs they are less likely to attend church as well. We need to reverse this image and show that the church welcomes all people regardless. Period. This is what I feel called to. I am called to the margins and to the neglected and pushed. I am called to show that God loves all individuals and wants all to come and that all are welcome in God's church. I am called to show that God's church is place not of hate but a place of love. A place to come and find redemption and salvation in God's loving embrace.

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Joey Heath is a 26 year old life long United Methodist. He is currently a graduate student at Wesley Theological Seminary completing his Masters in Divinity. Once an ordained pastor, Joey hopes he will be able to bring real change to the UMC on the issues of sexuality and gender identity at the broader church level, but also with individuals, so that one day the church will truly be a place that is inclusive of all people.

A Reconciling Prayer for Maundy Thursday

by Leland Spencer

O God of Holy Week,

On this day we remember the final meal that Jesus shared with those closest to Jesus.

We remember that Jesus gave thanks to You,

Then took an ordinary loaf of bread and ordinary wine from the fruit of the vine,

But shared the bread of life and cup of hope.

   

On this Holy Thursday, we give thanks to You

For loving each of us while we are yet sinners,

And offering each one peace and forgiveness.

And for loving the church while it is yet sinful,

And offering us collectively grace and mercy.

    

On this Holy Thursday, we present ourselves,

As ordinary as we are, and

Pray that you might make us be for the world the body of Christ,

Redeemed by Christ's love.

    

As we receive the bread of life and the cup of hope,

May we be transformed, and may we in turn

Transform the world as we live out what it means to be disciples,

Moved by the experience of This Holy Mystery, in which You give Yourself to us.

    

In Jesus' name, Amen.