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ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Six months before the global denomination of The United Methodist Church holds its first called meeting in almost 50 years to address conflict over LGBTQ inclusion, hundreds will gather in St. Louis with hope for change.
United Methodists from LYNC (Love Your Neighbor Coalition) and its 13 partner organizations, each committed to intersectional justice issues, will meet at the Hilton St. Louis Airport Hotel between July 25-29 for a national convocation, For Everyone Born, to strategize their presence and witness at the 2019 special General Conference (GC2019). The special General Conference is slated for Feb. 23-26, 2019, also in St. Louis.
GC2019 will be a pivotal decision-making moment for the future of the third largest Christian denomination as well as the LGBTQ clergy and laity called to serve The United Methodist Church. “There is a lot at stake, and not just for LGBTQ United Methodists and their allies,” says Jan Lawrence, executive director of Reconciling Ministries Network. “We don’t know what the future of The UMC looks like, but as LGBTQ people and allies working for justice, we've been creating church in uncertain circumstances for decades. So we turn to each other and trust in what we can create together as we continue to model an inclusive church.”
In addition to strategic organizing and opportunities for jurisdictional teams to meet, participants will experience worship, fellowship, and engaging workshops by trailblazing faith leaders. For Everyone Born will serve to prepare LGBTQ-affirming attendants for GC2019, the outcome of which may jeopardize the unity of this multinational denomination or may usher in an age of increased, though incomplete, acceptance of LGBTQ individuals in the Church.
Ophelia Hu Kinney serves as Communications Specialist for the Reconciling Ministries Network, part of the Love Your Neighbor Coalition.