LOAM on Inclusion
regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression
In June 2021, Faith completed its two-year long process of discernment as the congregation approved a reconciling statement to welcome and affirm people of every gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation, who are also of every age, race, ethnicity, physical and mental ability, level of education, and family structure, and of every economic, immigration, marital and social status. As followers of Jesus, we committed ourselves to the pursuit of justice and pledged to stand in solidarity with all who are marginalized and oppressed. Faith also voted to affiliate with the Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN), joining over 1000
other United Methodist churches, colleges, campus ministries and other groups and over 40,000 individual UMC congregants around the world who “celebrate God’s gift of diversity and value the wholeness made possible in community equally shared and shepherded by all”.
Recognizing that our movement in that direction is going to be different person-by-person because we are each at different points on the journey, the LOAM team is undertaking activities to support the congregation's shared commitment to understanding full inclusion, understanding anti-racism, and beginning to understand how works of justice are part of how we are called as disciples in the world. LOAM Is planning regular opportunities to invite members to lift up the stories of what they are doing and how they have felt and responded to a call in their lives.
To further that effort, the LOAM team encourages all members of Faith that feel the call to commit to the reconciling mission and help Faith be more reconciling and inclusive to become individual Reconciling United Methodists (RUMs). You can sign up as a RUM by clicking here which will ensure you receive timely email updates from RMN.
On the regional level, the LOAM team wants to make the church aware of the Baltimore-Washington Area Reconciling United Methodists (BWARM). Organized in 2004, BWARM seeks to affirm lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people
and ensure the full participation of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities in the ministry and life of the United Methodist Church. Made up of LGBT and straight people, BWARM members come from United Methodist churches across the Baltimore-Washington Conference. Some are members of reconciling congregations, but many are not. BWARM meets quarterly, currently via Zoom or in person. Anyone interested in helping Faith and the greater UMC be more reconciling and inclusive would enjoy and be inspired by these quarterly meetings. Go to BWARM's Facebook page for more information and the schedule for quarterly meetings and here to join the BWARM email list.