I will be at the Greater NJ Annual Conference May 28-30 in Wildwood NJ, supporting the Reconciling Ministry Network by advocating for inclusive language and support of all Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Trans people. I will also be supporting our Palisades District Lay Servant Ministries by encouraging others to become Lay Servants.
Bishop Schol wrote in his letter to the Members of the GNJAC: "The church is blessed by God with disciples who disagree. God created us and gifted us with different cultures, races, and experiences. From these differences we naturally have ideas that grow out of our individual experiences. Paul and Peter differed in belief and practice of ministry because their calling and experiences were different. Paul focused on the Gentiles and Peter on the Jews which led to different understandings of diets, worship and rites like circumcision. Within the United Methodist Church we have many different understandings about worship, theology, rites of the church and human sexuality. In my experience, it is about how we engage each other in our differences that demonstrates our discipleship maturity. I invite all of us to grow in our engagement with one another about the most challenging concerns within the life of the church."
Please keep our conference and the greater UMC in your prayers as we seek to become fully realized disciples of Christ in accordance with God's plan for us.
You can learn more about the 2015 Annual Conference and watch live streaming of key sessions at http://www.gnjumc.org/
I continue to ask that you pray for me in the role of Public Theology Advocate as I take a stand for Justice. Respond to this blog, or contact me directly, with your thoughts, ideas, and concerns about social justice in the Pascack Valley region.
In Christ's Peace, Lisa
