Who we are
Reconciling Clergy is for active and retired clergy or clergy candidates who share the vision of a Reconciled Church. It’s a collective that gathers online and in-person. We exist to:
Encourage & embolden one another
Champion LGBTQ+ justice in the UMC
Learn to better serve our communities
How to join
We’re always open to new members! All active and retired clergy (deacons, elders, and local licensed pastors) and clergy candidates are welcome. If you’d like to be part of this vibrant community that gets filled up and sent out better equipped, better supported to be about God’s kin-dom, fill out the form below. We’d love to be in touch.
Reconciling Clergy is an extension ministry of Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN).
Our Conveners
Rev. Rachel Griffin-Allison
she/her
Rev. Rachel Griffin-Allison has dedicated 28 years to full-time ministry in The United Methodist Church and currently serves as Senior Pastor at Oak Lawn UMC in Dallas, TX. A passionate disciple-maker and advocate for social justice, she extends radical hospitality to all who feel marginalized.
As the Director of Congregational Engagement for the Horizon Texas Care and Healing Commission, Rachel works to equip and nurture congregations across the new Texas Horizon Conference. She has also accepted an invitation to re-establish the Reconciling Clergy Network—an outreach ministry of Reconciling Ministries Network, which helped lead the effort to remove harmful language from the UMC Book of Discipline, thereby allowing openly gay and married clergy to serve in ministry.
Rachel holds degrees from Texas Wesleyan University, Drew Theological Seminary, and Perkins School of Theology, and has contributed to numerous educational resources, including serving as editor of the CEB Women’s Study Bible. She co-founded Safe Spaces Lebanon to support Syrian refugee children and remains actively involved in multiple nonprofit and faith-based leadership organizations.
A devoted mother of five and wife to Cheryl Griffin-Allison, Rachel and Cheryl live in Dallas with their dog, Penelope Lane.
Rev. Kaleigh Corbett Rasmussen
she/her
Rev. Kaleigh Corbett Rasmussen is an ordained elder in Greater New Jersey currently serving on loan in the New England Conference as Associate Pastor of Niantic Community Church in Niantic, Connecticut. Originally from Northern New Jersey, she graduated with a degree in Biology from Birmingham- Southern College in Alabama in 2009 and then returned back to New Jersey and graduated with her Master of Divinity at Drew Theological School in 2014.
She has served United Methodist churches as Associate and Lead Pastor in the Greater New Jersey area since 2009. Kaleigh served as a delegate to the historic 2020/2024 General Conference of the United Methodist Church and is a member of the Queer Delegate Caucus Steering Committee. She has been involved in RMN since her days at Drew Theological School and is excited to see where the energy takes Reconciling Clergy in the future.
Kaleigh is married to Leyna, and they have a 9-year old son, Jesse, who keeps them busy! In her free time, she enjoys walking, dancing, being near the water, playing the flute, and spending time with her family.