Media Release
July 6, 2012
Contact: Rev. Troy Plummer, Executive Director, troy@rmnetwork.org, 773-736-5526
Reconciling Ministries Network, Chicago, Illinois http://www.rmnetwork.org
The largest group of United Methodists in support of full inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Christians, Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN), celebrated the service of two prominent staff leaders as each one announced their departure.
After nine years of service and three campaigns to impact policies at the denomination’s global General Conferences, RMN executive director, the Rev. Troy Plummer, announced that he will be departing on January 1, 2013. Rev. Plummer came from a highly successful local church ministry at Bering Memorial United Methodist Church, in Houston, Texas, to serve Reconciling Ministries Network. At RMN, Troy led the group through a series of actions to stabilize, restore and mobilize RMN. Through campaigns and collaborations, the network has doubled the number of reconciling congregations, found financial stability, and launched international work.
Board President, Rev. Bonnie Beckonchrist said, “Rev. Troy Plummer is a consummate minister of the Gospel and an organizer in the venerable tradition of John Wesley, founder of Methodism. Troy helps people live into their own ministry of love and justice. Through good planning, he made sure that everyone had a role in making RMN a success. Even when we did not change policies, Troy helped us know that our love and labor changed the church. He will be missed, but his work will have a lasting impact.”
Also RMN's full time national organizer since 2008, Audrey Krumbach, announced her departure as previously planned to coincide with the completion of the Called to Witness Campaign. The Call to Witness Campaign trained thousands of grassroots supporters from coast to coast to tell their stories before and during General Conference about the life-changing impact of welcoming congregations. Audrey inspired participants with her enthusiasm and organizing skills.
UM Deaconess Rachel Harvey, associate executive director of RMN said, “We wish all the best for Troy, and Audrey as they each move into the next stages of their careers. They laid the groundwork for RMN’s next steps to advance inclusion.”
Rev. Beckonchrist said, “Troy and Audrey have timed their departures with great care. The board of director’s quadrennial strategic planning process begins next week, on Monday, July 9, when we will invite input from across the movement for inclusion. Once this process and strategic plan is complete, we will know the skills we need to move us into the next phase of RMN. At that point, we will conduct a four-month search for RMN’s next executive director from November 2012 to February 2013.”
Change leads to opportunities. Today, RMN launches the search for several regional organizers to equip grassroots reconciling process coaches and a new communications coordinator. View job descriptions at www.rmnetwork.org/jobs.
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