Church of the Young Prophets
The interactive Church of the Young Prophets will be an online gathering space for the Resist Harm campaign's aims to support LGBTQ+ persons and allies during the General Conference April 23-May 3. This shot shows avatars for its pastor, the Rev. J.J. Warren, and Insight Editor Cynthia B. Astle. (UM Insight Screenshot)
A United Methodist Insight Special
An ad hoc movement that emerged in reaction to stricter anti-LGBTQ policies adopted in 2019 has re-launched with the aim of championing removal of "harmful language" from the Book of Discipline and encouraging LGBTQ+ persons and allies during the coming General Conference.
Resist Harm formed after a narrow vote at the 2019 General Conference enacted what was known as the "Traditional Plan." That proposal upheld The United Methodist Church's bans on ordination of LGBTQ+ persons and the performance of same-gender marriage ceremonies by United Methodist pastors or in United Methodist churches. The latter restriction came despite a 2016 Supreme Court decision that ruled same-gender marriages legal under the U.S. Constitution.
Resist Harm emerged from cooperation among ad hoc groups devoted to finding a way for United Methodists to remain in the church despite different opinions on human sexuality. The original founders included UMC Next, Mainstream UMC, Reconciling Ministries Network, Western Jurisdiction Justice Movement and Queer Clergy Caucus.
A March 12 online gathering kicked off the new Resist Harm movement with the unveiling of an interactive online "church" for spiritual support for LGBTQ+ persons and their allies during General Conference. Participants were also encouraged to speak out now in favor of removing the anti-homosexuality language in the Book of Discipline.
Pat Luna, a lay member of the Alabama-West Florida Annual Conference, and the Rev. Molly Vetter, senior pastor of Westwood UMC in Los Angeles in the California Pacific Annual Conference, moderated the online event as Resist Harm's co-convenors. Both women are delegates to General Conference from their respective annual conferences.
Rev. Vetter introduced Resist Harm's collaboration with the Young Prophets Collective, an independent ministry organized by the Rev. J.J. Warren, a clergy member of the New England Annual Conference. Rev. Warren, who is currently located in Vienna, Austria, while studying for a doctorate, has established an online interactive gathering venue called the Church of the Young Prophets.
By prerecorded video, Rev. Warren introduced Church of the Young Prophets' structure and interactive workings to the Resist Harm participants. The website will offer a virtual "sanctuary" for worship along with other spaces for counseling and private conversations. Rev. Warren said the online church will sponsor events during General Conference and will hold an orientation to using the space on April 20 in advance of the global assembly slated April 23-May 3 in Charlotte, N.C.
Rev. Warren said a webinar for volunteers will be held March 23 at YoungProphetsCollective.org to train people how to welcome online visitors "from all around the world."
Ms. Luna described specific legislation where "harmful" anti-LGBTQ+ language is located in the United Methodist Book of Discipline, the collection of UMC laws and policies. The policies are based on two sections of the Social Principles, Paragraphs161C and 161G, which respectively describe homosexuality as "incompatible with Christian teaching" and holds marriage to be a union between one man and one woman.
Ms. Luna said the Revised Social Principles document makes no mention of homosexuality, which has been a part of United Methodist policy since 1972. The Revised Social Principles have been developed over the past eight years by United Methodists around the world,
"If the Revised Social Principles are adopted as they're written, then all the other parts of the Discipline with harmful language become moot," she said.
Nonetheless, Ms. Luna said, advocates will follow petitions to change the rules piecemeal. The petitions will be considered for forwarding for votes by the full assembly through multiple committees including Church and Society, Financial Administration, Faith and Order, Ordained Ministry, Judicial Administration and Higher Education.
"Our voice is needed to overcome exclusionary language," said Ms. Luna. "Don't wait for General Conference floor speeches. Give talks at your local churches, preach sermons, write columns for your church newsletter, share your testimony on social media."
A press release in advance of the March 12 webinar directed participants to a public document giving talking points for championing removal of the anti-LGBTQ+ language.
More information on Resist Harm's campaign, including volunteer opportunities, can be found on its website.
Cynthia B. Astle serves as Editor of United Methodist Insight, a media channel she founded in 2011 to amplify news and views by and for marginalized United Methodists. She has been reporting on the issue of homosexuality in the United Methodist Church since 1989. Please email Insight for permission to reproduce this content elsewhere.