Decolonizing UMC
Raising the issue of decolonizing the polity of The United Methodist Church, the Western Methodist Justice Movement will host a webinar on the Christmas Covenant, a historic piece of legislation. This is the first time that a major restructure proposal is being brought before the General Conference by a group primarily composed of leaders from central conferences.
Conceived in the context of post-GC 2019 proposals for dissolution and separation – all of which emanated from the United States – the Christmas Covenant Preamble was published in December 2019, at Christmas time. Its name is also inspired by the 1784 Christmas Conference that gave birth to the Methodist church in the United States, highlighting a need for a new decolonized polity for the future of The UMC. The legislation was passed and sent to the General Conference by the Cavite Philippines Annual Conference in February, 2020.
WHAT: The webinar will be held Saturday, June 5, 2020 at 3:00 PM Pacific Time via Zoom (register at tiny.cc/oct8presscon)
WHO: This event will feature United Methodist speakers from all over the globe:
Liberato Bautista: UMC Deacon from the Philippines, Assistant General Secretary for United Nations and International Affairs, General Board of Church and Society
Cristine Carnate-Atrero: District Superintendent, Zambales District of the West Middle Philippines Conference
Betty Kazadi: Director of Communications, North Katanga Episcopal Area (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
Neal Christie: UMC Elder in the Greater New Jersey Conference, former Assistant General Secretary for Education and Leadership Formation, General Board of Church and Society
Lloyd Nyarota: UMC Elder from Zimbabwe appointed to St. John United-Anglican Church in Alberta, Canada
Hilde Marie Movafagh: Director, United Methodist Seminary in Norway
WHERE: Zoom Web Meeting. Register:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMpc-yupjstHdTlMlV1_rkkO42SIusXLu-8
The Western Methodist Justice Movement (WMJM) is a movement of United Methodists in the annual conferences of the Western Jurisdiction who are committed to carry out the prophetic statements and actions of the Western Jurisdictional Conference of The United Methodist Church. Its work focuses on diverse action areas, including: increasing the inclusiveness and justice focus of churches, planning ministries to fully include GLBT persons, immigration justice, reproductive justice, justice in the Philippines, education and advocacy for justice in Israel-Palestine, planning extravagant hospitality in our churches, and addressing the worldwide nature and future of the UMC.