RMN Announces Retirement of Executive Director Jan Lawrence
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Reconciling Ministries Network
Wednesday, January 7, 2026
Media Contact: Taylor Whitley, Director of Communications
General inquiries related to this announcement may be directed to:
admin@rmnetwork.org
Reconciling Ministries Network Announces Retirement of Executive Director Jan Lawrence
Chicago, IL — Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN), an independent 501(c)(3) working for intersectional LGBTQ+ justice within and beyond The United Methodist Church, announced today that Executive Director Jan Lawrence will retire effective April 30, 2026.
Jan shared her plans for concluding her tenure as Executive Director with the RMN Board of Directors at its October 2025 meeting. She remains fully engaged in leading the organization in the months ahead and is committed to a smooth and thoughtful transition to new leadership. Jan has served as Executive Director for more than eight years during a period of extraordinary denominational and global change.
Under Jan’s leadership, RMN strengthened its strategic direction; expanded Reconciling Ministries across the connection, including its first Reconciling Ministries outside of the United States; supported LGBTQ+ clergy and candidates; and, in collaboration with partners, advanced the movement’s goals through the 2020/2024 General Conference. During her tenure, Jan led RMN through seasons of significant denominational change, including the special session of the General Conference that addressed LGBTQ+ related matters, the Protocol for Reconciliation and Grace Through Separation, a period of separation and disaffiliation, and the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a letter shared with the RMN community, Jan reflected on the challenges and growth of this season and emphasized her continued commitment to the reconciling movement and The United Methodist Church.
“This work has shaped my faith, my leadership, and my sense of call,” Jan said. “While I am stepping away from the Executive Director role, I remain deeply committed to this movement. I leave this role with gratitude, hope, and trust in the people and the Spirit guiding RMN into its next chapter.”
Rev. David Meredith, Chair of the RMN Board of Directors, expressed deep appreciation for Jan’s leadership and confidence in the organization’s future.
“Jan has led RMN with courage, steadiness, and deep faith during some of the most complex seasons our denomination has ever faced,” Meredith said. “Because of her leadership, RMN is strong, focused, and well positioned for what comes next. The board is grateful for her continued leadership through the transition process and excited about the future of the movement.”
Colleagues and partners across the broader United Methodist connection affirmed Jan’s legacy and RMN’s ongoing role in this new season of the church.
“Jan has provided steady and faithful leadership during a critical season for the church,” said Dawn Hand, Director of Equity and Justice for the Western North Carolina Conference. “Through her work and witness, she has helped expand the church’s capacity to more fully reflect the kin-dom of God.”
Rev. Dr. Giovanni Arroyo, General Secretary of the General Commission on Religion and Race, said, “Her ministry has embodied care, advocacy, and hope during a season when LGBTQIA+ siblings were harmed by the denomination’s anti-inclusion stance on human sexuality. Because of her steadfast leadership and momentum, RMN will continue to play a critical role in this new season of United Methodism—one marked by the full inclusion of LGBTQIA+ people in the life of the church.”
Bishop Robin Dease, resident bishop of the Georgia Episcopal Area, offered a word of gratitude and hope for the future.
“I am deeply grateful for trailblazers like Jan Lawrence and others who carried the RMN movement through seasons of resistance, uncertainty, and hope,” Dease said. “Their courage, persistence, and prophetic love helped carve a path toward full inclusion long before it was safe or popular. Their legacy continues to inspire the church, reminding us that justice is holy work and inclusion is a Gospel imperative. As a new generation steps forward, may they bring fresh imagination, intersectional awareness, and renewed energy for advocacy as we continue building a church where every person is welcomed, affirmed, and empowered to serve.”
The RMN Board of Directors will share additional information about the leadership transition process in the coming weeks.
Reconciling Ministries Network remains steadfast in its mission to support congregations, leaders, and communities working to build a United Methodist Church where all people are fully welcomed, affirmed, and able to live into their call.
For more information about Reconciling Ministries Network, visit www.rmnetwork.org.
Read Jan Lawrence’s letter to the RMN community announcing her planned retirement.
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About Reconciling Ministries Network
Reconciling Ministries Network equips and supports United Methodists to resist exclusion and proclaim God’s love and justice for LGBTQ+ people. With more than 1,400 Reconciling communities worldwide, RMN advocates for full inclusion and affirmation throughout The United Methodist Church and beyond.
