Reconciling Ministries Network Names Rev. Andi Woodworth as Next Executive Director

Atlanta pastor, trans leader, and longtime RMN advocate to guide the organization into its next chapter

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Reconciling Ministries Network

May 11, 2026


CHICAGO, IL — Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN) is thrilled to announce that Rev. Andromeda (Andi) Woodworth (she/they) has been named the next Executive Director of Reconciling Ministries Network. Woodworth, a United Methodist elder, pastor, and deeply committed advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion in the church, will step into the role on June 1, 2026, following a nationwide search.

Woodworth brings nearly two decades of pastoral leadership, community organizing, and movement-building experience to the role. As the founding co-pastor and current solo pastor of Neighborhood Church in Atlanta — a United Methodist congregation recognized across the region as a model for liberation-focused, radically inclusive ministry — she has spent her career at the intersection of faith and justice.

A passionate preacher, gifted writer, and experienced curator of generous communities, Woodworth has led significant institutional projects throughout her ministry: renovating facilities for accessibility, securing a $4M financial reserve, launching community fundraising initiatives, and developing inclusive worship music now used across the country. She has also served as an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ rights in Georgia and beyond, including making history in 2024 as the first openly trans chaplain of the day at the Georgia State House of Representatives.

For Woodworth, this appointment is deeply personal. Her own journey into faith and leadership in The United Methodist Church unfolded alongside her journey of coming out as trans — and RMN was part of that story. Woodworth shared what this moment means to her personally:

“At every step of the way, Reconciling Ministries Network has been there, in one form or another, to help support my faith and my flourishing as a leader in The United Methodist Church. It [will] be a deep honor to be a part of leading RMN as it enters the next phases of its journey.” 

Woodworth is a graduate of Candler School of Theology at Emory University and a Phi Beta Kappa alumna of Emory’s undergraduate program. She was honored as the Emory Office of LGBTQ+ Life Alumna of the Year in 2025, and preached at the RMN Convocation that same year.

Woodworth’s appointment comes at a defining moment for United Methodism. As the denomination navigates a historic season of regionalization and works to de-colonize its mission and ministry around the globe, RMN sees in Woodworth a leader uniquely equipped to meet this moment. Her intersectional approach to faith and justice — shaped by her experience as a queer, trans woman in the church — positions her to build bridges across difference, amplify marginalized voices, and partner with United Methodists worldwide who are doing the courageous, ground-level work of inclusion and liberation.

RMN’s selection committee expressed deep enthusiasm for what Woodworth brings to the organization at this pivotal moment. Rev. David Meredith (he/him), Chair of RMN’s Board of Directors, reflected on the appointment:

“In this pivotal moment, as the denomination moves from neutral into policies and practices of affirmation, encouragement, justice, and repair, Andi brings the insight and experience this work demands. For Andi, the church is a laboratory for love and forgiveness, and she brings that same spirit to RMN and the UMC. She brings the willingness to wade out into the community, to listen, to learn, to collaborate, and to activate. She is the right person for the right time.”

Additional details about her plans for the role will be shared in the weeks ahead.

###

About Reconciling Ministries Network

Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN) mobilizes United Methodists of all sexual orientations and gender identities to transform our Church and world. RMN is committed to the full participation of LGBTQ+ people in the life of the Church — in worship, leadership, and community. Learn more at rmnetwork.org

Media Contact

Taylor Whitley | she/her

Director of Communications, Reconciling Ministries Network

taylor@rmnetwork.org

704-699-9561

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Reconciling Ministries Network

Wednesday, January 7, 2026

Media Contact: Taylor Whitley, Director of Communications

taylor@rmnetwork.org

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.

###

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.

RMN Celebrates Ratification of the Constitutional Amendments Advancing Equity, Decolonization, and Inclusion Across the Global Church

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Reconciling Ministries Network

Wednesday, November 5, 2025

Contact: Rev. Dr. Israel “Izzy” Alvaran (he/him)

izzy@rmnetwork.org

Chicago, IL — November 5, 2025 — Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN), a global movement advocating for the full inclusion of LGBTQ+ people in The United Methodist Church (UMC), celebrates a kairos moment in the life of the denomination. Constitutional amendments recently certified by the Council of Bishops express a worldwide resolve to pursue relationships rooted in equity and mutuality, dismantle racism, and affirm women and people of all abilities. The Spirit is moving.

A Worldwide Step Toward Equity and Partnership

The ratification of Worldwide Regionalization legislation—adopted by the General Conference 2020/2024 by a 78% margin—is an audacious move forward. RMN believes that genuine inclusion requires relationships grounded in grace, respect, and justice.

Originating through the Christmas Covenant team, a grassroots group mostly from central conferences and includes some Reconciling leaders, and developed in collaboration with the Connectional Table and the Standing Committee on Central Conference Matters, this polity reform signifies a decisive shift away from a U.S.–centric structure toward a more equitable and decolonized future.

“This moment calls us to reimagine connectionalism through gracious engagement  and reciprocity ,” said Rev. Dr. Israel “Izzy” Alvaran (he/him) of Reconciling Ministries Network. “Worldwide Regionalization is more than a structural change—it’s a spiritual invitation to embody mutuality, equitable partnerships, and hope for respectful dialogue across all regions of our church.”

This new structure:

  • Decolonizes our polity and relationships across regions
  • Values mutuality, equity, and trust
  • Recognizes diverse missional contexts and encourages dialogue across cultures
  • Maintains our connection as a worldwide denomination with a shared prophetic voice for justice and compassion

Annual conference delegates also voted overwhelmingly to enshrine in the Constitution a commitment to anti-racism and equality for all genders and abilities, embodying our baptismal vows to resist injustice and discrimination in every form. The Spirit is moving!

Our Hopes for This New Season

As the UMC decentralizes U.S. privilege and embraces a decolonized connection, RMN hopes this kairos moment will:

  • Build stronger relationships rooted in mutual respect and contextual understanding
  • Create space for meaningful ministry with all God’s beloved children
  • Renew our collective commitment to intersectional justice—addressing racism, colonialism, economic inequity, and all forms of oppression.

We join fellow United Methodists in dreaming of a church that embodies liberation, compassion, and courage—and we celebrate that regions of the church may now fully affirm LGBTQ+ persons and ministries according to their discernment and context.

Our Call as Reconciling United Methodists

In this season of transformation, RMN and Reconciling United Methodists across the world are called to:

  • Reflect on and transform patterns of relationship rooted in fear rather than shared mission and grace
  • Continue holding the church accountable to welcome and affirm all LGBTQ+ people
  • Renew our commitment to sustain RMN’s work as a wellspring for intersectional LGBTQ+ justice, advocacy, and partnership across all regions of the UMC

A Closing Word

We enter this new chapter with gratitude, courage, and hope. RMN looks forward to partnering with leaders, agencies, and conferences in living out the mandate of these constitutional changes—to cultivate a United Methodist Church where every LGBTQ+ person is embraced as beloved, affirmed as gifted, and celebrated as essential to the Body of Christ.

The Spirit is moving! Thanks be to God.

For more information about the Council of Bishops’ certification of constitutional amendments, read the official statement from the Council of Bishops here.

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 over 1,400 Reconciling communities worldwide, RMN advocates for full inclusion and affirmation throughout The United Methodist Church and beyond.

For reproduction or distribution by local churches and Reconciling communities, please credit Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN) at www.rmnetwork.org.