WMJM members gathered with fellow LYNC representatives outside the Council of Bishops Leadership Gathering in Calgary to share information about the coalition.
Photo Credit: Greg Nelson
The Western Methodist Justice Movement (WMJM) was a key supporter of Love Your Neighbor Coalition (LYNC) activities at the recent Council of Bishops Leadership Gathering in Calgary, Canada. WMJM provided financial support from both the organization and WMJM membership, and several members of the leadership team were present in Calgary.
Photo Credit: Greg Nelson
Greg Nelson, who serves as LYNC Communications Coordinator, was one of the organizers of the LYNC presence. Allison Mark, who serves as President of the General Board of Church and Society, was a gathering participant. Richard Bentley worked as part of the LYNC team and organized connections between Western Jurisdiction participants and participants from Africa, the Philippines, and Europe. Theresa Basile was part of the LYNC team and supported the United Methodists for Kiros Response presence, and Jason Takaki and Izzy Alvaran were supported by the Cal-Pac Conference to host a reception and connection time for queer participants in the Leadership Gathering.
When the Council of Bishops called for a Leadership Gathering to look at new ideas for the church, they turned to invited church leaders from their episcopal areas, church agency leaders, and themselves to be part of the conversation.
The location and design of the Leadership Gathering did not make any provision for observers to be in the building or meet with participants. While LYNC protested this decision to the bishops, they also made plans to be present outside the gathering, offering a warm welcome and letting people know LYNC was still a voice for groups historically marginalized by the church. They reminded participants that, in the rebuilding of The United Methodist Church's structure after massive disaffiliation and the historic changes voted on at the 2024 General Conference, these voices still exist.
Photo Credit: Greg Nelson
True to the LYNC slogan of “Just Love,” the volunteers greeted Leadership Gathering participants as they entered the church and offered gifts of warm scarves, LYNC pins, brochures, and question cards. Participants welcomed the greeting. Some were old friends of LYNC, and others were new friends.
But the outreach effort succeeded in letting these leaders, identified by the Council of Bishops, know that progressive voices are still a key part of the church and that these voices, some of which have been historically marginalized by the church, will continue to be involved in the conversation heading to General Conference 2028.
Links to learn more:
Learn more about the Leadership Gathering on the ResourceUMC website, including reports of its sessions and the list of 16 recommendations.
Learn more about LYNC and its members and sign up for the LYNC newsletter at LYNCoalition.org.
Get the LYNC brochure to learn and share about LYNC.
Get resources from LYNC partners from the LYNC website.
