Advent Day 17 – Joy – Reconciling Ministries Network

Proclaiming the Joy of an Inclusive Gospel
Acts 28:23-31
“He lived there two whole years at his own expense and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.” (Acts 28:30-31)

As we journey through the week of Advent centered on joy towards Christmas, the story of Paul in Acts 28 offers us a powerful reminder of the courage it takes to proclaim the good news of Christ boldly and without hindrance. Paul, though imprisoned in Rome, refuses to let his physical chains stifle the boundless joy of the gospel. Instead, he invites all who will listen to hear about the kin-dom of God – a kin-dom that welcomes everyone without exception. 

This message resonates deeply with the mission of the Reconciling Ministries Network and the LGBTQ+ members of our congregation. In a world where exclusion and marginalization still exist, Reconciling Ministries advocates for the full inclusion and participation of LGBTQ+ individuals in the life and leadership of the church. Their work is a testament to Paul’s example of boldness and perseverance, proclaiming a gospel of hope, love, and radical welcome.

Earlier this year, the General Conference of the United Methodist Church convened and passed significant changes to our governing body to remove prohibitions against same-sex marriages and the ordination of LGBTQ+ clergy. The Church made meaningful progress toward worldwide regionalization, and the Revised Social Principles eliminated the discriminatory language that LGBTQ+ people were “incompatible with Christian teaching.” 

The General Conference took place in Charlotte, North Carolina which allowed for Central members and clergy to travel down the mountain and observe the proceedings.  

Pastor Ann Owens and I traveled together and stayed at a friend’s house in the city. We didn’t know the delegates’ full itinerary but as we spent time with friends and colleagues from all over the world, we heard whisperings that “the vote” was coming soon. 

“Soon” came quickly and on the last day we planned to be there, we received word that this was it. I donned my rainbow attire and found my fellow queer clergy seated together in the observatory. We could barely breathe, and no one needed to say what we were all feeling. The morning’s proceedings started and clipped along at a quick pace.  

Austin Adkinson, an RMN organizer from the Pacific Northwest, got a text from a delegate on the floor that the big vote was next, and the already tense body froze.  

I was sitting in between two friends from the North Carolina Conference and they both grabbed my hand and held on tight. 

The vote flashed on the screen. 

The screen went blank. 

The numbers popped up on the screen. 

NINETY-THREE PERCENT APPROVAL!

The removal of discriminatory language passed! 

And still no one moved.  

I looked over at Katelyn MacDonald, a trans woman now on track for ordination in the North Carolina Conference. She was crying. 

I held tighter to Justis Mitchell, my friend from Duke Divinity Pride, mouths open in shock. 

I turned around to find the faces of my allies and friends. They were all grinning ear to ear!

The presiding bishop announced a mid-morning break. 

Then the cheers erupted! 

The dancing and the hugging! 

The impromptu sermons and singing! 

We ran to the gate between the delegates and the observers. My friend Caleb Parker, a Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference representative and lay delegate to the General Conference found me and other queer clergy and with tears in his eyes and a smile on his face, he said, “I voted yes for you!” 

After years of perseverance, true joy! 

Advent is a season of joyful anticipation – not only for the birth of Christ but for the unfolding of God’s kin-dom here and now. Yet, proclaiming joy as resistance requires courage and faith. For those who work for reconciliation, this courage manifests in the work of advocacy, education, and creating spaces where LGBTQ+ individuals can experience the full joy of belonging in the body of Christ. Our transgender siblings are harmed at higher disproportionate rates than any other identity within the community and within our denomination, disaffiliation of churches in response to changes to our Book of Discipline leaves many LGBTQ+ individuals in regions dominated by traditionalist practices without affirming church options. While there is much joy in the community, there are still many things to be done to make the world and our denomination a safer and more affirming place for our LGBTQ+ siblings.  

The work of inclusion is an Advent act – it is about preparing the way for Christ by making room for all at the table. Like Paul, we are called to share the good news boldly, even when it challenges the status quo. Like Paul, we are sustained by the joy of the gospel, a joy that cannot be diminished by the world’s barriers. One day, my memory of General Conference 2024 will be nothing compared to the joy of deeper belonging for all people in the body of Christ.

Prayer: God of boundless joy, you proclaim a kin-dom where all are welcome and all are loved. Thank you for the bold witness of our queer ancestors who shared the good news with courage and without hindrance. We lift up the work of Reconciling Ministries, who proclaim your inclusive love and fight for justice in your church. As we celebrate the coming of Christ, help us to bold in our witness, joyful in our proclamation, and unwavering in our love. Amen.

Action: Join the work of our Reconciling Ministries Group who meets every first Sunday after worship to organize and plan and dream for fuller belonging for everyone without exception. Support the work and partnership between Central and First UMC Moheto in Kenya, the first reconciling congregation on the continent of Africa. Read all about Mary Z. and Marcia Longknight’s journey to visit Pastor Kennedy Mwita and our friends in Kenya.