Queer Delegate Statement #2
To Queer People in the UMC - Words of Encouragement

We see you.

We are you.

We are quite aware of the task at hand for this body. We know the pain that you have endured…for we have endured it along with you. For decades we have grieved for a church that we love so very much but that responds in unloving ways. For decades we have labored in our beloved church only to have our work be tossed aside as irrelevant and lacking. We have witnessed queer siblings leave our church because of the harm that the church law has caused their very spirits. We also understand that for many of us, this GC may be the last chance in retaining us as United Methodist Christians.

While the pain of past gatherings gives us all pause, this General Conference feels different. The departure of many vocal conservative leaders and the joining of progressive and centrist voices for full inclusion give us cause for hope. We have hope that one day soon the Church will fully embrace the humanity of her LGBTQAI+ siblings. We hope to fully share the inclusive and Christlike love of the church God is building for the future. Thus, the Queer Delegate Caucus joins with our siblings around the connection in adding our support for the legislation of Global Regionalization, the Removal of Harmful Language from the Book of Discipline, and the passage of our Revised Social Principles.

To quote our friends at Mainstream UMC, we understand that this just brings our church polity back to “neutral.” However, this is the first step in moving our church to reconciliation with those who have been harmed in the past and to opening new doors in our common mission to “make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.”

Your Queer Delegates head to Charlotte understanding the vital importance of this year’s gathering. We covet your prayers in the days and weeks to come. We pray that our voices may represent the voices of those who have been harmed, as well as those who look to us to help our church fulfill the gospel of Jesus Christ to love God, love our neighbors, and love ourselves.

Signed,

The Queer Delegate Caucus Steering Committee