Depositphotos, via Hacking Christianity
Match Tip
Many dark blue matches on a black background (one match burns).
The passing of parts of the Traditional Plan has awoken a slumbering giant. Regions that no one considered “progressive” have amassed open letters with significant signatories, purchased local media ads, and written legislation in order to denounce the Traditional Plan.
The following is a constantly-updated list, so come back if you find something that isn’t here.
We are all indebted to Julie O’Neal, Executive Assistant to the Bishop in the Desert Southwest Annual Conference, for collecting the majority of the below letters. Thanks Julie!
Advertisements and Open Letters in Local Media
In order to reach those outside the church, some regions opted to purchase local media ads or send in group letters to the editor.
- Massachusetts Reconciling Churches – Ad in Boston Globe – (see Facebook image)
- North Georgia – Ad in Atlanta Journal-Constitution (click to view letter) (final ad with signatories)
- North Texas – Ad in Dallas Morning News (click to view)
- Northern Virginia, DC and Maryland Area Churches – Ad in Washington Post – (see Facebook image)
- Oklahoma – Ad in the Lawton Constitution newspaper (click to view Facebook image)
- Pacific Northwest, two responses:
- Clergy letter to the Editor: (see internet link)
- Regional clergy ad in Columbian (see internet link)
- Utah Clergy letter to the Editor – (see link)
Did your region do this? Send a copy or link to Twitter @umjeremy or the twitter username @ gmail.com
Open Letters and Petitions from Annual Conference Clergy + Laity
- Baltimore-Washington Clergy letter (see google doc)
- Indiana – (see photo)
- Iowa – (see google doc)
- Memphis Area (300 signers) – (see link)
- Michigan – two items!
- 1- clergy letter to Bishop Bard (see document)
- 2- Michigan General statement (see document) This also ran as an ad in 6 newspapers across the state on March 17: Ann Arbor, Detroit, Flint, Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, Oakland County, and Muskegeon.
- Minnesota – (see document)
- New York – (see google doc)
- North Carolina – (see google doc)
- Susquehanna Conference – (see petition)
- Texas – (see document)
- Western North Carolina – (see google doc)
- Wisconsin – (see google doc)
Did your region do this? Send a copy or link to Twitter @umjeremy or the twitter username @ gmail.com
Institutional Responses
The following official regional bodies have issued responses denouncing the Traditional Plan’s effect in their regions or their areas of supervision.
- Executive Committee of the German Central Conference (see English version) (UMNS coverage)
- Michigan Board of Ordained Ministry statement (see document)
- Northern Illinois Cabinet letter to queer Clergy and Candidates – (see link)
- New England – 2 responses
- Conference Cabinet – (see link)
- Board of Ordained Ministry co-chairs – (see letter)
- Pacific Northwest Conference Board of Ordained Ministry Letter to Candidates – (see link)
- Western Jurisdiction Mission Cabinet (bishops, DCMs, and leadership) – (see link + coverage)
- Wisconsin Board of Ordained Ministry – (see letter)
Did your region do this? Send a copy or link to Twitter @umjeremy or the twitter username @ gmail.com
Annual Conference Legislation
Legislation submitted (and models for others) for annual conference consideration in May – July 2019.
- Great Plains – Resolution to their Annual Conference with clergy sign-ons (see document) (original link)
- Upper New York – Resolution to their Annual Conference (see google doc)
Did your region do this? Send a copy or link to Twitter @umjeremy or the twitter username @ gmail.com
Other collective responses
- United Methodist Campus Ministry Association – (google doc)
- United Methodist Young Clergywomen Collective – (open letter)
Your Turn
Thoughts?
Thanks for reading, commenting, and sharing on social media.
Jeremy Smith 2018
The Rev. Jeremy Smith
The Rev. Jeremy Smith serves as lead pastor of First United Methodist Church of Seattle, Wash. He was a reserve delegate from the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference to the 2019 General Conference. This post is republished from his block Hacking Christianity.