“Coalition Corner” Draws Delegates
“Coalition Corner” in the GC Exhibit Hall
The Love Your Neighbor Coalition (LYNC) is reminding attendees of the delayed 2020 General Conference, of the United Methodist Church, that a church for all must include all. From “coalition corner” in the exhibit hall at the Charlotte Convention Center in North Carolina, LYNC and partners (Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN), United Methodist Creation Justice Movement along with Fossil Free UMC, and United Methodists for Kairos Response) are engaging in conversation about Just Love. Volunteers and LYNC leadership are committed to building relationships and advocating for intersectional justice while staffing the booth.
Evan McElreath greets a visitor to the Love Your Neighbor booth in the General Conference Exhibit hall.
The exhibit hall opened on Monday, April 22, and quickly filled with international delegates and observers who had been in Charlotte for several days for the Central Conference delegates’ orientation. Many had attended the international worship and love feast at First UMC the night before and came to express gratitude and learn more about LYNC. Delegates from nearly every central conference made their way to see what was happening at the balloon arch. Another nearby vendor posted on their vlog that LYNC and RMN were the most popular booths in the exhibit hall on opening day, despite being the furthest from the entrance.
After learning about LYNC, those at the booth are offered “stars for the 3 R’s” to add to their name badge in support of Regionalization, Revised social principles, and the Removal of harmful language from The Book of Discipline. Many attendees from the Philippines were excited to learn of our support for Regionalization and eagerly affixed their stars. Other visitors inquired about legislative petitions supported by our various coalition members.
RNM resources in the exhibit hall. (Joscie Cutchens photos)
Buttons, stickers, pins, stress balls, bookmarks, candy, and lots of flyers cover the table as a means of drawing people closer. Some quickly select an item and move along, but the vast majority stay for conversation with many expressing a desire for a more just and loving church. A common refrain for individuals learning about LYNC for the first time has been, “I want to love my neighbor!” To which we respond, “Let’s love them together!” After a conversation about the coalition, one delegate from the Southeastern Jurisdiction tried to describe what he imagined leadership meetings are like - referring to a large round table. As he began to describe this hypothetical table, he interrupted his own sentence with a short gasp. He then asked aloud, “Is that what LYNC is?” A place for historically marginalized groups to have a seat at the table?”
With just three days out of twelve completed, the Love Your Neighbor Coalition booth in the exhibit hall at the General Conference has proven to be an effective tool for engagement. Hundreds of meaningful conversations and new relationships are being formed each day. If you are in Charlotte, we hope you will visit “Coalition Corner” and say hello to the friendly volunteers working the LYNC booth under the orange balloon arch.