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.
But in 1972, United Methodist leaders voted that LGBTQ persons are not truly a part of God’s “people” we read about in Scripture. In fact, General Conferences over the years have limited clergy more and more from extending grace to LGBTQ persons. This means that, in order to be in good standing, United Methodist clergy are required to do harm in the name of Jesus.
Lest we forget, God has called and equipped all United Methodists, clergy, and lay, “to resist evil, injustice and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves.”
These days, they present themselves to the LGBTQ community in the forms of rejection, bullying, exclusion, trauma, cruelty, ridicule, abandonment, discrimination, isolation, spiritual exile, and sometimes even death. Some United Methodist clergy have resisted inflicting this harm and have paid a price for doing so, including facing charges and punishment. Some of their names are listed on this website.
These faithful resistors, like the Magi of Epiphany, chose a different path from the one ordered for them. This is our call: do likewise. We must hope that other United Methodist clergy will be encouraged and strengthened to do the same through the resources and opportunities of the Resist Harm movement.
This Call to Worship prayer was shared by the Reconciling Ministries Network as part of the #NoSuchLaw guide, designed for use in local churches in anticipation of a Judicial Council ruling regarding several issues of consequence to LGBTQ+ clergy, including the election of Bishop Karen Oliveto.
This prayer is shared by permission of M Barclay, Co-Founder and Executive Director of enfleshed, a nonprofit creating and facilitating resources of spiritual nourishment for collective liberation. Visit enfleshed.com for additional resources.
Reaffirming our baptismal commitments to resisting evil, injustice and oppression is a powerful way to ground our call to resist harm sacramentally; we think it would be especially powerful at the start of the new year.
First UMC in Austin, TX uses this blessing during Sunday worship to as a way of praying for all couples. It's designed for use with same-sex couples as well as opposite-sex couples.
These hymns may be used as appropriate in worship; some of the rounds could be sung at protests. Congregations are welcome to modify lyrics to enhance inclusion as desired.
This Blessing is a part of the library of free liturgical resources available on enfleshed.com.
This prayer was designed for use in a post-Christian context, with updated, accessible language. You can read more behind the author's intent on his blog, http://hackingchristianity.net/2016/12/wesleys-covenant-prayer-in-a-post-christian-context.html.
This idea comes from Los Altos UMC in Long Beach, California, USA.
A group of six Omaha-area Reconciling (or actively discerning) churches have joined together to promote a shared sermon series in January 2020. We will all share advertising/promoting, based on our United Methodist baptismal covenant.
These liturgical greetings are to be used at the beginning of a worship service and can be led by a liturgist or a clergyperson. Each greeting contexts the service with inclusive words of hospitality.
These suggestions are of songs and song books that give voice to our January theme: Resist.
These graphics are available to use for Epiphany-themed worship.
Created by enfleshed.com. Free to use with attribution to the author.
This Communion Prayer is a part of the library of free liturgical resources available on enfleshed.com.
These practical suggestions and advice are shared to help you plan worship that's attentive to your context and connected to our movement.
Three similar worship services will be happening in Oklahoma the evening of January 5 as a way to bring our community together and make a statement that the harm inflicted by the Traditional Plan is not acceptable. Through this worship service we will lament, resist, act and hold tightly to hope.
This could be used on PPT, bulletin covers, FB, signs, etc
Jpeg available on ResistHarm website or save pdf as a jpeg
For Epiphany with the theme #ResistHarm
Magi were already complicit in a system of oppression but now have a choice of how to proceed from here. They choose to minimize harm even if it means going out of their way. How can we go out of our way to resist and minimize harm in an oppressive context.
Signs are available at resistharm.com's Communication tools section. They may be printed on church printer or sent to a print shop. One church has printed them on dry erase boards and another made yard signs. The blanks give people the chance to especially love the people they know.
Worship service involving a diversity of people in the community including many people from the LGBTQ community.
This Blessing of Families liturgy, in which we, as individuals, couples, families of choice and families with children, are invited to come forward to be anointed. This ritual as a way to recognize the covenant relationships that existed, but had never had the opportunity of being blessed.
Use this resource to get ideas on how you could do a vow renewal service/family blessing service. This is a full worship service with Prayer of Confession, Proclamation, Great Thanksgiving and Family Blessing.
Use all of these resources or just one for a time of silent prayer or corporate worship. A service of Ashes is also included.
This could be used by any congregation who has multiple clergy or it could be done by lay people using colorful bands of cloth.
This Blessing is a part of the library of free liturgical resources available on enfleshed.com.
On January 6th a group of laity and clergy will be meeting with Bishop Graves. This meeting has been set up with Bishop Graves for 9:00 AM. We appreciate Bishop Graves meeting with us even though he is hosting the SEJ Bishops later that day. Please join us as we meet with him, ask him to be supportive of a more inclusive church, ResistHarm, and so many United Methodists who are opposed to the Traditional Plan and the other discriminatory language of The Discipline. We will also ask him if we could pray for him. This is a difficult time! We need as many people as possible to participate! Please come and be supportive!
We will gather for Epiphany worship at Topeka Countryside UMC followed by a trip to the Great Plains Conference office to deliver the letters to Bishop Saenz from the GP UMCNext letter writing campaign. To send a letter, be sure to check out the instructions in the November issue of the GP UMCNext News: https://us3.admin.mailchimp.com/campaigns/show?id=3756829 More info to come.
The service will be lgbtq led, with support from allies. The homily will be delivered by Bonnie Allen, Chicago, IL. Allen is a graduate of Rhodes College, and received her law degree from the University of Florida College of Law. She has a Masters in Theological Studies from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. Currently, Allen is the CEO of the Chicago Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights. All are welcome.
#ResistHarm worship service. LGBTQ focus and launch of book project which will comprise stories of harm received by LGBTQ people and the healing they have received at Hollywood UMC. Group photo of all those in attendance will be taken all holding #ResistHarm posters. LGBTQ Associate Pastor preaching (also is the LGBTQIA Advocacy Coordinator for the Cal-Pac annual conference). #Resistharm fence line banner will be displayed from 1/1/20.
On Ash Wednesday, we are called to repent of the wrongs we have done, and to seek God's mercy and call to love all. This year Ash Wednesday is on 2/26/2020, which is the one-year anniversary of the passage of the traditional plan. We take this opportunity to repent of harm we have caused, intended and unintended, as individuals and as a Church. United Methodists throughout the Great Plains will gather at sites in each district between 8am and 5pm to offer prayer, song and contemplation as we continue to #ResistHarm. A new person will lead prayers each hour. Saint Paul Benson is hosting the Missouri River District location. Please enter on the Southwest side of the building; we will be located in the Roth Chapel.
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.