#ResistHarm

A United Methodist movement of faithful resistance to anti-LGBTQIA+ policies and practice.
February Advocacy Ideas
Original image by Mike Knell, used by CC BY-SA 2.0 license.
We invite you to join a growing movement of United Methodists who are committed to #resistharm. As we prepare to bring our witness to General Conference in 2024, we invite you to engage with this movement which includes LGBTQ+ people and allies, in solidarity, visibility, and support.

The Resist Harm Movement stands firmly within our Wesleyan tradition of the wideness of God’s grace in a broken world in need of Christ’s love. In light of the Traditional Plan passed by the Special General Conference 2019, we cannot remain silent and thereby complicit with legislation that discriminates against LGBTQ persons and that meets pastoral care with punishment.

In a spirit of humility and in a wounded Church of differing convictions, we the people of the Resist Harm movement are compelled to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves and especially as it relates to LGBTQ persons who are the target of the Traditional Plan and other discriminatory provisions in The United Methodist Church’s Book of Discipline.

Three Goals of Resist Harm

Solidarity

in opposition to the Traditional Plan and parts of The Book of Discipline that are harmful and discriminatory to LGBTQ persons and allies, in shared witness as a Church committed to justice for and in ministry with all persons.

Visibility

to illustrate the growing number of United Methodists around the world who seek a Church that affirms the full participation of people of all ages, nations, races, classes, cultures, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities.

Support

to help those directly experiencing harm because of the discriminatory and punitive provisions of the Traditional Plan and other sections of The Book of Discipline.

Each month the Resist Harm site will feature resources built to rally focus around monthly themes. The themes are:

January 2020

Resist

“On entering the house, [the Magi] saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage; …And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their country by another road.” - Matthew 2:11a, 12 (NRSV)

At Christmas, United Methodists celebrate the birth of Jesus as the revelation of God’s inclusive, redemptive love made visible in human flesh. According to John’s gospel, God sent Jesus - the light of the world - so that all of humanity can know the fullness of God’s love.

More About Resist

February 2020

Love

“Beloved, let us love one another because love is from God: everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love God does not know God, for God is love.” - 1 John 4:7-8 (NRSV)

United Methodists believe that God is Love. We believe that every human heart longs to be loved and to love. We yearn to be assured that God loves us, and we seek to grow in our love for God. Therefore, it is all the more tragic that the inclusiveness of God’s love has become the source of division within our Church.

More About Love

March 2020

Lament

“The Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, ‘Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.’ And he went out and wept bitterly.” - Luke 22:61-62 (NRSV)

We have no way to count the tears of LGBTQ people whose humanity has been denied by our denomination. The tears of LGBTQ persons whose belonging has been conditioned on their remaining in the closet and hiding who God created them to be. Nor can we report all the hours spent comforting parents lamenting that their LGBTQ children and youth no longer feel wanted or safe in the church of their baptism. There are tears still to shed for stories yet untold.

More About Lament

April 2020

Light

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” - John 8:12 (NRSV)

Jesus is the light of world. The United Methodist Church is not the light. United Methodist clergy are not the light. United Methodist laity are not the light. Jesus is the “light of all people,” “the true light, which enlightens everyone,” the light that is stronger than any darkness in this broken world (John 1:4, 9a, NRSV).

More About Light

May 2020

Witness

“…you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” - Acts 1:8 (NRSV)

In this month of General Conference, we have a responsibility and opportunity to witness to the power of God’s unconditional and redeeming love — a love that we have no power to withhold from LGBTQ persons in The United Methodist Church. To that end, our witness must be authentic and Christ-like.

More About Witness

Join with Resist Harm

Individuals, small groups, local churches, annual conferences, and other organizations can all participate and lead. Resist Harm offers tools and resources that you are invited to adapt and use in any way that fits your situation. No further permission is required to use the resources on this website. Invite and involve others as a part of the growing movement!

Join the Resistance

Enter your email address for Resist Harm news and events.
Please share this site on social media and invite others to support the Resist Harm movement.

Give to Resist Harm

Resist Harm is not an organization or a coalition. It has no employees, offices, or overhead. However, it does incur expenses for web infrastructure, promotion, printing, and organizing. We are a movement of volunteers and 100% funded by people and churches like you. Anything you give helps to make this movement more effective. To give, donate at Reconciling Ministries Network’s website and designate “Resist Harm.” 100% of your gift will pay for Resist Harm’s direct costs. RMN has graciously agreed to administer the funds donated for the Resistance movement for no charge.

Give Now

Resist Harm Partners

Resist Harm is organized by everyday United Methodists in every corner of the connection and is supported by a number of organizational partners.* To learn more about our partners, visit their websites:
Become a Partner
*The tools, resources, and opportunities posted on Resist Harm have been suggested by people or organizations associated with the movement. They are not necessarily endorsed by all of the partners.
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