By now we hope you’ve seen the RMN emails and social media posts introducing our 2025-2028 Strategic Plan. We also know that January has been a demanding month so if you missed it, we encourage you to take a look. Trust us: it’s worth a read! 

As part of our new plan, the Organizing Team is being reorganized and is transitioning into new roles. This is both exciting and daunting. And, if we’re completely honest, it’s a little sad too. We’ve loved being your Organizing Team!

None of us is going anywhere; we’re all still here to support you. A gradual transition is underway, allowing us to meet current and changing needs in a more focused way. 

If you would like to make a donation to honor the work we’ve done together as Organizers and as a movement, we’ll use your investment to fuel this coming iteration of our advocacy.

Each of us is taking on a lead role for a specific part of RMN’s strategic plan, and all of us will continue supporting each other, assisting with specific tasks as needed, and benefiting from the collaboration that makes us such a great team. There is a lot of natural overlap in our roles. Here are our new titles with a brief description of each.  

Rev. Dr. Israel (Izzy) Alvaran

Director of United Methodist Connections

As Director of United Methodist Connections, Izzy will nurture relationships between RMN and diverse partners across the denomination, including annual conferences, boards, agencies, caucuses, and conference-level Reconciling teams. Izzy will also support churches and groups beyond the United States who wish to become a Reconciling Ministry. In cooperation with institutional and grassroots groups alike, Izzy will support efforts to ratify and implement worldwide regionalization for a more equitable Church.

Laura Young

Director of United Methodist Connections

As Director of Congregational Engagement, Laura will serve as the staff lead on relationships with U.S. congregations of all jurisdictions and theological identities. She will support churches and groups discerning a call to become a Reconciling Ministry and equip existing ministries for greater impact – both in their local settings as well as collaboratively across the connection. She aims to nurture new church starts and strengthen partnerships between Reconciling Ministries.

Helen Ryde

Director of Mission Impact

As Director of Mission Impact, Helen will support congregational engagement and resource development. They will also contribute to improvements in RMN’s tech and operations landscape, including management of new infrastructure to be designed and rolled out in the next two years. In this role, Helen will increase RMN’s capacity and holistic impact.

We’re equally excited about the way this new structure bolsters the resources RMN will be able to offer. Relationship building and continuing education remain an essential part of our commitment to LGBTQ+ safety and affirmation.

Over the next few months we’ll be in conversation with Reconciling leaders (using our former jurisdictional boundaries) to touch base on shared ministry, important partnerships, and opportunities.  

As you can see, this is a purposeful pivot to meet the needs of the moment. We are committed to being nimble, trying new things, and tweaking the process along the way.  

Thank you for your grace as we embrace and navigate this exciting transitional season!