LYNC Sends Letter Calling for Open Meeting and Key Values at Leadership Gathering

Western Methodist Justice Movement, along with the 14 other members of the Love Your Neighbor Coalition (LYNC), released an open letter to the Council of Bishops urging them to fulfill their leadership role as the church faces climate change, war crimes, trafficking, full inclusion, global partnerships, genocide, and more while preparing for an upcoming meeting of select United Methodist leaders from around the world.

The bishops have called for a Leadership Gathering, October 20-24, 2026, in Calgary, Canada. The invitation-only meeting is expected to envision the future of the denomination. LYNC is pushing for the fall meeting to be transparent, include transferable leadership development for the whole denomination, and remain clearly focused on key values for the church, as exemplified at the 2024 General Conference. An invitation-only event also raises questions of favoritism and conformity with the denomination’s open meeting rules.

The LYNC statement concludes:

“In Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr.’s online invitation, he identifies rebuilding trust and strengthening our connection as key issues. He calls on young leaders and global voices to shape our imagination. The gathering itself will be a test of that trust-building, as church members will expect new movement toward justice that came from the decisions of General Conference 2024. This is an opportunity for those who have been placed on the margins by the church to be centered in inclusion, resources, and voice. We are fifteen organizations representing those on the margins.

The future of the United Methodist Church belongs to all of us as we follow Jesus. Our policies are moving toward a more inclusive, creative, and just denomination. We believe in partnerships locally, globally, and at all levels. We urge bishops and all United Methodist leaders to work together transparently and with the whole church in mind.”