Say everywhere that “All means all.”
Explain clearly what is being resisted: The profound harm to LGBTQ persons, their families and to the global United Methodist Church caused by the Traditional Plan.
Commit to Acts of Repentance for explicit harm that has been done and to Resist Harm going forward. Share your actions (and those of your church) widely through multiple forms of media.
Take a picture of your congregation with a Resist Harm sign and send to UM media (listed above) to show thousands of United Methodists who protest the Traditional Plan. (Reminiscent of Hands Across America).
Create and share a human rainbow photo.
Post (or send) a picture of an LGBT person you love along with your name and the message “I am a new UM or a cradle UM or a Hispanic/Black/ Caucasian UM or a conservative/moderate/progressive UM and I'm for or I resist for or I stand up for [first name of pictured loved one]."
Publish your own marriage license in opposition to the new rule on January 1.
Flood the WCA Facebook with loving Resist Harm messages.
Seek and distribute comments supportive of Resist Harm concepts from Bishops and other UM leaders.
Submit Resist Harm related stories and leads to UMC News, Ministry Matters, Textweek.com, etc., as well as to UMC Communications and local media.
Create a comprehensive "Do No Harm" or Resist Harm campaign in your UM community.
Use symbols that represent safety, inclusivity and resistance.
Have groups take photos in the front of their churches with a hashtag.
Share Resist Harm testimonies on social media thousands of times at once.
Encourage United Methodists around the world to wear rainbow symbols and a rainbow frame on Facebook.
Expand Resist Harm social media presence with an agreed-upon hashtag.
Facilitate a Resist Harm social media blitz/hashtag with story sharing and including #notmydiscipline.
Use the torn cross and flame as a public symbol of witness.
Publish names/images of people lost to suicide due to exclusionary policies. (Obtain permission from families first!)
Organize a press conference of reconciling/inclusive United Methodist churches.
Publish letters or ads on January 5, with the names of churches and pastors supporting the United Methodist Day of Repentance.
Issue a public Resist Harm statement and invite signatures of individual UMs, UM churches and annual conferences.
Engage politicians to do videos and written statements with the message “I am a United Methodist and I support an inclusive UMC.”
Place positive newspaper ads and seek coverage about welcoming UM churches.
Place a full page obituary in The New York Times, Washington Post and other major newspapers explaining how the Traditional Plan hurts both individuals and the United Methodist Church and how it even puts the entire UM Church at risk.
Place the Resist Harm message in newspaper ads and on billboards in all major markets.
Write letters to the editors of local and national newspapers.
Develop a Resist Harm media kit with video and written testimonials, press releases, photos and possibly a logo.
Plan a media blitz including press releases to all media on a coordinated day.
Create #ChurchOut in which congregations create space for individuals to share their pain, story, art and songs about the harm caused to LGTBQ individuals in the church.
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.
Is your organization or group working to resist the Traditional Plan? We welcome engagement by all opposed to the Traditional Plan and who seek to resist evil and injustice in all forms. Please complete the following form, and we will add your organization to our growing list of partners.