Workshops include:

• Pathway to Community: Building a Reconciling Community in Your Hometown

  • What to do and what not to do when building a Reconciling Ministry and addressing myths that hold us back 

• Activism at the Jurisdictional Level for Intersectional Justice

  • The story of the Western Methodist Justice Movement; using legislation to plant seeds, transitioning from intention to action, and amplifying voice of conference level groups 

• A Vile Past Toward a Vital Future

  • Centering John Wesley’s imperative “to be more vile,” we’ll demonstrate how bending the rules to challenge the status quo is Wesleyan 

• A Family Story: Coming Out and Finding a Way

  • How storytelling creates space for difficult conversations 

• Global Social Principles Overview

  • Importance of passing new Social Principles language and tools for discussing the Social Principles in local congregation and with General Conference delegates 

• Introduction to Queer Theology

  • Going beyond affirmation to allow LGBTQ+ experience to inform our theology, spiritual practice and mission; ID 4 theological approaches to sex, gender, sexuality: non-affirming, affirming/apologetic, liberative, and queer 

• Increasing Solidarity with LGBTQ+ Candidates and Clergy

  • First hand stories from queer clergy about what is and isn’t effective in supporting their journey; how to be effective and compassionate as you offer support 

• How and Why to Talk about Sex: Creating a Positive Vision for Loving Each Other Well

  • Embracing the gift of sexuality as part of a Christ-centered, holistic, healthy life 

• Public Policy Advocacy: Building Partnerships and Maintaining Momentum for the Long Haul

  • Learn about various ecumenical and interfaith advocacy groups that your church or campus ministry can join at the local state, and federal levels 

• So You Want to be a LYNC Volunteer at General Conference

  • An overview of work areas at General Conference with breakout groups 

• Black, Queer, and Blessed: Toward a Black, Queer Theology

  • An exposition and exploration of a queer, subjugated biblical text 

• Effective Communications at General Conference

  • Join the Love Your Neighbor Coalition to learn about how to be effective in the fast-paced environment of General Conference 

• Using Your Voice for Advocacy

  • Using stories to connect for defining issues, expressing points and bringing understanding to community leaders 

• Pathways to Congregational Support for Same Gender Weddings

  • Congregational discernment process toward supporting same gender weddings 

• Incompatible No More

  • Explore the history of the 1972 General Conference and “incompatible”; placement of that moment within broader history of Christian teaching and Western psychological beliefs; a Wesleyan theology exploring the necessity of full queer inclusion 

• Understanding Transgender: What Parents and Allies Should Know

  • Basics to be more knowledgeable about the trans experience, and actions that show support or do harm 

• Though We Are Many, We Can Be One

  • Equipping churches with a new approach to conflict in your congregation; decision making techniques; turning divisive issues into growth opportunities 

• Organizing in Your Annual Conference for LGBTQ Inclusion and Justice

  • The BWARM Story: how your Annual Conference can organize to provide support for congregations and LGBTQ people 

• Understanding Regionalization

  • Explaining the process and need for regionalization in the UMC 

• Difficult Subjects in Worship: Why We Should Include Them and Best Practices for Implementation

  • How to address difficult topics, including the political, utilizing Scripture, United Methodist tradition, the person of Christ, and our calling as Christians 

• Daring Adventures

  • Helping gender diverse kids (a book discussion) 

• The Bible in One Hand and The Newspaper in the Other: Advocacy for Justice and Dialogue with Elected Officials

  • A panel combining theological reflection, practical advocacy skills, and insights from elected officials to equip for effective, and LGBTQIA+ inclusive advocacy 

• Talking to Relatives: How to Promote Justice Across The Political Spectrum

  • Utilizing theory and practice to address issues of sexuality, gender, race and social justice across the political spectrum 

• My Faith Journey: The Story of Laci Basel

  • Sharing the faith journey of a transgender woman 

• Spiritual Self-Care Practices through Writing our Stories

  • Come away with tools to connect with others, know safe space boundaries, and celebrate one’s story with scriptural and theological grounding 

• National Plans

  • A panel that considers what agencies, caucuses and plans are helping the Church decenter and center black and brown voices to lead and give us strategic direction for a new Church 

• The Importance of Pastoral Transitions in Reconciling Congregations

• “Torn”: a Book Discussion with Author Justin Lee

• Can we Change the Book of Discipline? RMN and the Upcoming General Conference

• Communicating Across the Divide

• Delegate Workshops

• Decolonizing the Church: Liberation for All Begins at the Margins

• How Annual Conference Lay Leaders can Engage with the Annual Conference

• Conflict Transformation

• Black, Queer, and Called

• Messaging in Local Congregations

• …and more