Ideas for Action

Resist Harm offers these additional ideas for your use. They came from a broadly representative group of United Methodists who gathered after the Special General Conference. While the list is not exhaustive, we hope they will be helpful as you plan. They reflect the diversity of contexts around the connection.
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Bring the Resist Harm message to the consciousness of every UMC agency.

Organize a unified Resist Harm march in Minneapolis in May.

March and sing “For Everyone Born” in visible UM sites all at the same time all over the world.

Offer a worship service and rally that includes acts of repentance.

Organize a run or a walk in support of full LGBTQIA inclusion in the church.

Organize silent prayer sit-ins imploring bishops to Resist Harm by stopping trials and not processing complaints.  (“Until EVERYONE is allowed in, we sit outside in silent prayer.”)

Flood social media with pictures of clergy, either in front of or in their churches with a Resist Harm sign.

Organize Jurisdictional marches or gatherings on January 4.

Protest the Traditional Plan outside of District and Conferences offices.

Organize a mass march of United Methodists who oppose the Traditional Plan. Suggestion: Seek locations that can handle a mass of people and where there would be good media coverage.

Create a space and time where those who are harmed can talk with a person listening to their pain and providing care, prayer and comfort.

Organize a prayer service.

Organize a day of silence, fasting and prayer.

Organize a prayer walk.

Hold vigils lifting up “Resist Harm” at open doors of sanctuaries, in front of conference offices and outside WCA churches.

Open the sanctuary of your church for a Day of Prayer for strength and wisdom to Resist Harm.

Identify at least one church in very District in the UMC where people can go to pray that the church will Resist Harm.

Go to General Conference and vote but be silent. Keep the WCA from getting a 2/3rds majority to force other changes, but don't fight – just keep silent.

Stage a mass walkout of General Conference.

Engage ACLU and other organizations to Resist Harm with us.

Walk out of Clergy session in 2020.

Coordinate an effort of UM seminaries and colleges to have and disseminate 100 statements from 100 colleges.

Support those who come out on National Coming Out Day.

Consider a fundraiser something like "Red Nose Day" or "Ice Bucket Challenge" where the proceeds go to suicide prevention or Resisting Harm.

Encourage confirmands to think about Resisting Harm in all its forms and consider actions they can take.

Display the stoles of those removed from orders.

Show acts of love toward LGBTQ persons – possibly a pride party or dinner or invitation to lunch.

Make sure local churches know how much it will cost to take everyone who has a charge filed on January 1, 2020, to trial.

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.

Create art installations portraying the harm that has been done and the hope for the future.

Create a Resist Harm graffiti wall.

Organize “Quilts of Resistance” quilting bees.

Encourage and support DSes who are willing to file charges of “interfering in the ministry of a colleague” against any person bringing charges related to sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.

Develop daily devotions for a month, each including a suggested act of resistance or support of a resister.

Certify openly gay candidates for ministry (Staff Pastor Relations Committees).

Fill the phone lines of WCA affiliated Bishops and other leaders with respectful Resist Harm messages.

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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:
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*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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