Our challenges are many. We don’t have all the answers. We don’t know what comes next. And yet, we are committed co-laborers in the work of seeing the U.S. portion of the United Methodist Church continue its movement toward perfection as a just, equitable, and inclusive denomination. As some feel called to break away, we feel led to continue our journey together, as disciples of Jesus Christ, into the future. We know that many feel a similar calling. If this describes you, we hope you'll consider joining this exciting conversation.
We acknowledge the many laity and clergy working at all levels of the church for revival, renewal, and restoration. We stand in solidarity with those who are naming the UMC’s past and current sins of oppression and exclusion and calling us to repentance. We celebrate those who are amplifying the voices of people of color and queer folx. And we are grateful for those who are speaking into and laying the groundwork for a hopeful future for the people called United Methodist in the US. All of these efforts, inspired by the Holy Spirit, will help us become the Church we are called to be.
As other groups focus on legislative measures and institutional structures related to the future of the UMC, we are hoping to gather individuals in the US to convene conversations, share local efforts and collaborate together on the vision and values of United Methodism in the US context. We are essentially asking the question, “How is God calling us to reimagine the UMC in the US?”
Who is launching this effort? We are a diverse group of leaders, laity and clergy, called the UM Strategy Group, who have been considering how we might gather United Methodists in the US to anticipate our future, specifically as the US Regional Conference of the UMC. Those participating in the UM Strategy Group are committed to staying in the UMC, moving past the impending church separation, and reimagining the future of our denomination. Collectively, we are committed to a broadly inclusive fellowship that repents of past harms, including racism, sexism, and the harm done to LGBTQ people. We are faithful disciples of Jesus Christ committed to courageous and compassionate mission and ministry.
Following months of prayer, conversation, zoom meetings and more prayer, the UM Strategy Group is launching a project that we are calling US.UMC:Reimagined. We chose the name being well aware that “big tent Methodism” conjures various images. Our hope is that the name will provoke the kind of dialogue that invites folk in both our pews and pulpits to consider how we might reimagine our connection.
US.UMC:Reimagined is not a brand. It is not a plan nor an institutional initiative. US.UMC:Reimagined is a grassroots effort to gather, inform, and inspire United Methodists living and serving in the US for faithful ministry. We hope you’ll join us as we envision how we might continue making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the United States and the world.