Day 13 of 365 - getting brave - who shall I talk with first?

When we’re launching into a new venture of being more open about our inclusive thoughts we should think about who our first conversation should be with. It’s probably best not to aim for the most conservative person in the congregation. Who is someone you suspect might also be having inclusive thoughts? Maybe you have never spoken with them directly before about LGBTQ inclusion, but you get the sense they might be open to talking about it. This is the person you should put a the top of your list 😃

Why not make an actual list? I know that might sound a little foolish, but sometimes lists help me provide a little structure when I have a goal in mind. If our goal is to let more people know we are having inclusive thoughts, then a list of people we want to talk with about this might be great. Having these kinds of conversations needs to be an intentional process. For way too long in our church there has been a “don’t ask, don’t tell” approach to LGBTQ inclusion. Almost as though it’s not a polite or appropriate conversation to be having.

Well, that time is over. The vote at General Conference 2016 asking the Council of Bishops to form the Commission on a Way Forward, and now the upcoming called General Conference in 2019 has made this conversation essential, not optional. And remember, in our conversations, we are not asking people to change their minds about anything, we are simply stating our hopes for a church that truly lives into it’s claim to have open hearts, minds, doors - to everyone!

Action: Make a list of people you want to talk to about your hopes for a UMC that is inclusive and affirming of LGBTQ people.