A Worldwide Journey

Reconciling Ministries Network

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For those who love riding trains, a cross-country trip from New York to San Francisco in a sleeper suite would be a real treat. But that ride would be longer and three times more expensive than flying. Only those privileged with time and resources can afford that train ride. The way we do church can be just like that. Some regions enjoy privilege and access, while others don’t. 

The Love Train can and should accommodate as many people as possible - from all over our United Methodist connection, especially those struggling to get on board. Surely we want to extend respect, equity, and the ability to minister effectively in each of our distinct missional contexts. We might not think alike, as John Wesley said, but we can love alike. 

We are proud to say that our RMN staff provided organizing leadership in the years leading up to and throughout General Conference. And the work continues. Our journey to a fully inclusive and affirming Church includes a critical next stop: ratifying (at the annual conference level) the Worldwide Regionalization (WWR) petitions adopted by General Conference.   

What is Worldwide Regionalization? WWR reorganizes our current Church structure into regions with equal legislative authority to enhance effective ministry in every missional setting. We are on a worldwide journey together and the Love Train spans the globe. Regionalization lays down the tracks to make this a smoother ride. This flyer sums it all up. Here is a more detailed presentation.  

What is the impact in each region? WWR gives the United States its own Regional Conference with the authority to legislate more LGBTQ+ affirming policies and practices - applicable only in the U.S. This restructuring of our polity also allows for conversations to continue in all regions still wrestling with the full inclusion of LGBTQ+ persons in the life of the Church. It is crucial that our annual conferences ratify the constitutional changes in this legislation.

What is the ratification process? The petition to “amend the Constitution to create Regional Conferences on a worldwide basis” was adopted by 78% of General Conference delegates, but that was only step one. Constitutional changes also require a two-thirds aggregate vote across all annual conferences around the world. A successful ratification vote by the annual conferences is required for Worldwide Regionalization to take effect.

How can RUMs make a difference? 

  • Host a discussion about WWR in your Sunday school class or small group ministry. Talk to your pastor about facilitating a church-wide conversation. 
  • Contact your annual conference office or your general conference delegation for resource persons. You can use these materials and the “Ask UMC series.”
  • Visit with your pastor about serving as the local church lay delegate to your AC. 
  • If the lay delegate(s) from your local church are already secured, contact your district office and volunteer to serve as a district/at large/equalizing delegate. (ACs use different terms for this same type of delegate)
  • Every clergy person, active and retired, has a vote at Annual Conference but not all retired clergy attend each year. Look for ways to encourage and support retired clergy so they can be present and cast a vote for ratification.

Watch for a future email from our Organizing Team focusing on ideas to support the ratification vote at your Annual Conference. 

In case you missed it...

We typically include links to helpful resources in each of our emails. For this Love Train series, we're going to include brief links. We'll return to our more substantial email format in September.

We hope you enjoyed this special summer Love Train series. As always, we are here to support you however we can. Email, call, or text us.

Izzy (he/him), izzy@rmnetwork.org, 510-717-4894, Western Jurisdiction,  North Central Jurisdiction, The Philippines

Helen (they/them),  helen@rmnetwork.org, 508-247-7818, Southeastern Jurisdiction, West Virginia, Baltimore-Washington, Greater New Jersey, Peninsula-Delaware, Western Pennsylvania, Africa 

Laura (she/her), laura@rmnetwork.org, 936-581-9401, South Central Jurisdiction,    Upper New York, New York, New England, Susquehanna, Eastern Pennsylvania, Europe