LYNC Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore. – The Love Your Neighbor Coalition (LYNC) has announced a new funding partnership with the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference and The Collins Foundation. Among other efforts, this major grant will help send ten representatives to four international General Conference briefing sessions in the Philippines, Zimbabwe, Democratic Republic of Congo and Cote d’Ivoire. Their goal is to build relationships with United Methodists worldwide and to advocate for a more just and loving church.
The Collins Foundation is based in Portland, Ore., and has a longstanding partnership with the Oregon Idaho Annual Conference. But, it “has grown increasingly concerned about the exclusion of LGBTQ people from the life of the church and made funds available this year to encourage change,” says Greg Nelson, Oregon-Idaho Director of Communications (The Collins Foundation grant supports leadership and Inclusion).
“Bishop Grant Hagiya, and the Ministry Leadership Team of the conference chose to embrace this opportunity. Because the General Conference of The United Methodist Church is being held in Portland, Ore., this year (May 10-20), it seemed a critical time to marshal these funds and the energy of conference members for this critical justice work.”
LYNC represents 13 United Methodist-related caucus groups. It advocates for full LGBTQI inclusion, racial equity and justice, accessibility, creation care, peacemaking, immigration reform, women’s rights, and an end to colonialist structures within the church.
Throughout February, prayer vigils will be encouraged during the team visits to General Conference briefing sessions in the Philippines and Africa. As our representatives share LYNC’s vision for the future of the United Methodist Church with Central Conference delegates, they will be buoyed up by the support of the Oregon- Idaho Annual Conference, the Collins Foundation, and United Methodists around the world.
The Love Your Neighbor Coalition was formed by three partner organizations in the summer of 2011 with the mission to assure The United Methodist Church is fully open to the presence, love and grace of God offered to all people. LYNC has now grown to include representatives from thirteen United Methodist-related part- ner organizations:
Affirmation: United Methodists for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Concerns
Black Methodists for Church Renewal (BMCR)
MARCHA: Metodistas Asociados Representando la Causa de los Hispano-Americanos
Methodist Federation for Social Action (MFSA)
Methodists In New Directions (MIND)
National Federation of Asian American United Methodists (NFAAUM)
Native American International Caucus of United Methodists (NAIC)
Pacific Islanders Caucus of United Methodists (PINCUM)
Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN)