After a disturbing election campaign and ongoing political and social division, United Methodists are being invited to join in conversations that aim to help Americans develop new understandings of shared values.
“Reclaiming the Common Good” encourages local congregations and individual United Methodists to host church or house parties on the evening of Jan. 20 after the inauguration of Donald J. Trump. Scheduled to take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. local time, the event is a joint project of several denominational agencies: the General Board of Church and Society, General Commission on Religion and Race, General Commission on the Status and Role of Women, General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, and United Methodist Women.
A webinar to instruct hosts in skills for holding effective gatherings will be held at 3 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, Jan. 10, according to a Church and Society announcement. The sponsoring agencies are working together to provide resources for ocal hosts to use to facilitate meaningful conversation. Click here to register.
Sites listed on the Church and Society website that have registered to hold events on Jan. 20 include University UMC in Syracuse, N.Y.; First UMC in Redondo Beach, Calif.; and Silver Spring UMC in Silver Spring, Md. United Methodists who are in Washington, D.C., to attend the inauguration are invited to attend the Silver Spring event.
Churches and individuals also can hold conversations on other dates if needed. In Raleigh, N.C., the Micah 6:8 Outreach Team of Highland UMC will hold its conversation on its traditional "3rd Tuesday" gathering, Jan. 17 from 7 to 8:30 p.m.