Leap of Faith
When
Saturday, February 15, 2020 10 am - 4pm
Where
Northbrook UMC
1190 Western Ave, Northbrook, IL 60062
R.S.V.P.
David Braden & Sue Laurie, Co-Facilitators debraden@gmail.com
“Whenever I am in conversations about potential divestment or disaffiliation from the UMC, it never fails that someone exclaims, “But UMCOR! But UMW! But [fill in the blank Methodist ministry that does good]!” But what about Anna Blaedel? What does it mean that we have structured, assented to, and perpetuated an institution that has made life and ministry unsustainable for Anna?” --Rev. Tyler Schwaller
Many of us have committed our good faith, hopes and actions to the “small steps” and “next steps” toward inclusion of LGBTQ+ church family. For some of us the “steps” feel like progress. For some of us the pace and cyclic broken promises reveal lack of courage and our disappointment as our people suffer the harm of The United Methodist Church policy and practice.
Our LGBTQ family members have been harmed for nearly fifty years and are being harmed now by The United Methodist Church. We do not need to wait and see what the General Conference will do in May 2020 or our Annual Conference in June 2020. We can faithfully respond now.
The purpose of this gathering is to bring together local churches and communities in the Northern Illinois Annual Conference that are considering leaving The United Methodist Church denomination. We know that many members of our local churches are no longer willing to remain a part of the denomination that refuses to embrace fully LGBTQ+ persons and their families.
We are inviting local churches in Northern Illinois to consider going through an official discernment process--modeled on the process developed in the New England Annual Conference--to determine whether they desire to remain in or leave the denomination.
We do not know what the future holds for the UMC, but times such as these call for a Leap of Faith.
For more information, contact David Braden (debraden@gmail.com | 773-817-0875). Light refreshments and snacks will be provided.
When
Saturday, February 15, 2020 10 am - 4pm
Where
Northbrook UMC
1190 Western Ave, Northbrook, IL 60062
R.S.V.P.
David Braden & Sue Laurie, Co-Facilitators debraden@gmail.com
“Whenever I am in conversations about potential divestment or disaffiliation from the UMC, it never fails that someone exclaims, “But UMCOR! But UMW! But [fill in the blank Methodist ministry that does good]!” But what about Anna Blaedel? What does it mean that we have structured, assented to, and perpetuated an institution that has made life and ministry unsustainable for Anna?” --Rev. Tyler Schwaller
Many of us have committed our good faith, hopes and actions to the “small steps” and “next steps” toward inclusion of LGBTQ+ church family. For some of us the “steps” feel like progress. For some of us the pace and cyclic broken promises reveal lack of courage and our disappointment as our people suffer the harm of The United Methodist Church policy and practice.
Our LGBTQ family members have been harmed for nearly fifty years and are being harmed now by The United Methodist Church. We do not need to wait and see what the General Conference will do in May 2020 or our Annual Conference in June 2020. We can faithfully respond now.
The purpose of this gathering is to bring together local churches and communities in the Northern Illinois Annual Conference that are considering leaving The United Methodist Church denomination. We know that many members of our local churches are no longer willing to remain a part of the denomination that refuses to embrace fully LGBTQ+ persons and their families.
We are inviting local churches in Northern Illinois to consider going through an official discernment process--modeled on the process developed in the New England Annual Conference--to determine whether they desire to remain in or leave the denomination.
We do not know what the future holds for the UMC, but times such as these call for a Leap of Faith.
For more information, contact David Braden (debraden@gmail.com | 773-817-0875). Light refreshments and snacks will be provided.
Here are resources from Leap of Faith. They also have a Google Drive with documents at https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/18wiqrWpT3pSggAJJ1P3czAfpZC93Y8kK
| leap_of_faith_meeting_notes_12-14-19.pdf |
| leap_of_faith_meeting_notes_11-2-19.pdf |
| sample_discernment_motion_-_northern_illinois_rev.docx |
| what_did_general_conference_2019_do_handout.pdf |
| section_2553_disaffiliation.pdf |
| gc2020-proposed-umc-plans-chart-nov-2019.pdf |
| leap_of_faith_meeting_notes_12-14-19.pdf |
| leap_of_faith_meeting_notes_2-15-20.pdf |
| sample_discernment_motion_-_northern_illinois_rev.docx |